From the Detroit News comes this story.
"Rumblings of change are beginning to be heard from deep inside the Republican Party.
The gay Log Cabin Republicans' recent national convention offered a tantalizing peek at a possible not-so-distant future when the Republican Party has finally -- and firmly -- turned the corner and embraced equality for gay Americans.
Marquee speakers were Steve Schmidt, former senior campaign strategist for 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, a founder of the moderate Republican Leadership Council.
Representing the youth vote that will determine the GOP's fate was Meghan McCain, 24-year-old daughter of Sen. McCain and a contributor at TheDailyBeast.com. "
If the GOP intends to be player in the 21st century, it must embrace full equality for LGBT Americans. The writing is on the wall; this generation is the future, and that includes Republicans.
There is no doubt in my mind that opposition to equality will not be part of the GOP's platform in the near future.
And in other encourging news, the Advocate reports that New York's Republican Party leadership has announced it will not attempt to whip its membership:
The Log Cabin Republicans announced Tuesday that the GOP's New York leadership in both the state senate and assembly are going to allow Republican legislators to make "conscience votes" on Gov. David Paterson's marriage-equality bill rather than pressuring party members to vote against it, giving the legislation a much stronger likelihood of picking up Republican votes in both chambers.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009
As Maine Goes
Today is a very big day in the battle for equality.
Today, at 9:00 AM, EDT, the Maine Legislature is holding hearings on LD1020, "The Marriage Bill"
As Equalilty Maine puts it:
Maine’s marriage campaign is moving to the next level. The hearing on the marriage bill has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at the Augusta Civic Center. Make no mistake about it: April 22 will be the single most important day of this campaign outside of the final vote. The media, legislators, governor, and people of Maine will be watching.
I believe the biggest battle for equality is in the churches, so I am thrilled to report that the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, will testify FOR equality.
If we, as Mainers, believe that faithful, lifelong monogamous relationships are among the building blocks of a healthy and stable society, then it is in our interest to extend the rights and obligations of civil marriage to all Maine citizens. To deny those rights to certain persons on the basis of sexual orientation is to create two classes of citizens and to deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society."
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T Lane, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Maine
Momentum is on our side.
Today, at 9:00 AM, EDT, the Maine Legislature is holding hearings on LD1020, "The Marriage Bill"
As Equalilty Maine puts it:
Maine’s marriage campaign is moving to the next level. The hearing on the marriage bill has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 22 at the Augusta Civic Center. Make no mistake about it: April 22 will be the single most important day of this campaign outside of the final vote. The media, legislators, governor, and people of Maine will be watching.
I believe the biggest battle for equality is in the churches, so I am thrilled to report that the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Maine, will testify FOR equality.
If we, as Mainers, believe that faithful, lifelong monogamous relationships are among the building blocks of a healthy and stable society, then it is in our interest to extend the rights and obligations of civil marriage to all Maine citizens. To deny those rights to certain persons on the basis of sexual orientation is to create two classes of citizens and to deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society."
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T Lane, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Maine
Momentum is on our side.
Monday, April 20, 2009
SPLC Sues Mississippi County to Stop 'Shocking' Abuse of Children at Detention Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center today filed a federal class action suit to stop the "shockingly inhumane" treatment of children at a juvenile detention center and to force officials to provide sanitary facilities and mental health treatment to young people confined there.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of a 17-year-old boy who, despite attempting suicide while in the facility, has received no mental health treatment. He has been subjected to physical abuse and filthy conditions, and has been forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded, insect-infested cell.
The Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi, Miss., has been operated by a private corporation, the Mississippi Security Police, for more than nine years at an annual cost of $1.6 million.
"It is a travesty that the county has chosen to let a private company profit by neglecting and abusing our children," said Vanessa Carroll, a staff attorney for the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and counsel for the children.
Most of the children confined at the facility have not been adjudicated guilty of any crime and are awaiting court hearings. Many are there for minor offenses and so-called "status offenses" like truancy.
The lawsuit describes how the county has failed to provide the most basic, constitutionally required services to the plaintiff, known in the suit as D.W.
"Toilets and walls are covered with mold, rust and excrement," the lawsuit says. "Insects have infested the facility, and the smell of human excrement permeates the entire building. Children frequently have to sleep on thin mats that smell of urine and mold. Defendants do not provide children with adequate personal hygiene items."
Children who have been confined there describe assaults by guards, being locked in their cells for 23 hours every day, inadequate medical and mental health care, and widespread infections caused by the filthy conditions.
Marlon, 17, said children are treated like animals at the facility. "I've seen the guards slam kids, mace them and do things they wouldn't even do to their own dog, let alone a human."
D.W. said he was abused even while on suicide watch after he had tried to hang himself with a bed sheet. "A guard choked me from behind and slammed me on the floor," he said. "While that guard held me down, another guard dropped his knee in my neck, slammed my face to the floor and then pushed my face into the concrete. I couldn't breathe."
Mississippi Protection and Advocacy Inc., a congressionally authorized nonprofit organization that enforces the civil rights of people with disabilities, is also a plaintiff in the suit. It is demanding access to the facility, to which it is entitled under federal law.
"This lawsuit demands that Harrison County ensure the safety of children in its custody," said co-counsel Sheila Bedi, SPLC's regional juvenile justice attorney. "But this lawsuit also gives the county a chance to reconsider investing $1.6 million a year in a private, for-profit prison company at the expense of our children. Perhaps now the county will recognize that investing in communities and families is a wiser use of taxpayer dollars."
The lawsuit seeks class action status to protect all children who are currently confined at the detention center as well as those who will be confined there in the future.
The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of a 17-year-old boy who, despite attempting suicide while in the facility, has received no mental health treatment. He has been subjected to physical abuse and filthy conditions, and has been forced to sleep on the floor in an overcrowded, insect-infested cell.
The Harrison County Juvenile Detention Center in Biloxi, Miss., has been operated by a private corporation, the Mississippi Security Police, for more than nine years at an annual cost of $1.6 million.
"It is a travesty that the county has chosen to let a private company profit by neglecting and abusing our children," said Vanessa Carroll, a staff attorney for the SPLC's Mississippi Youth Justice Project, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and counsel for the children.
Most of the children confined at the facility have not been adjudicated guilty of any crime and are awaiting court hearings. Many are there for minor offenses and so-called "status offenses" like truancy.
The lawsuit describes how the county has failed to provide the most basic, constitutionally required services to the plaintiff, known in the suit as D.W.
"Toilets and walls are covered with mold, rust and excrement," the lawsuit says. "Insects have infested the facility, and the smell of human excrement permeates the entire building. Children frequently have to sleep on thin mats that smell of urine and mold. Defendants do not provide children with adequate personal hygiene items."
Children who have been confined there describe assaults by guards, being locked in their cells for 23 hours every day, inadequate medical and mental health care, and widespread infections caused by the filthy conditions.
Marlon, 17, said children are treated like animals at the facility. "I've seen the guards slam kids, mace them and do things they wouldn't even do to their own dog, let alone a human."
D.W. said he was abused even while on suicide watch after he had tried to hang himself with a bed sheet. "A guard choked me from behind and slammed me on the floor," he said. "While that guard held me down, another guard dropped his knee in my neck, slammed my face to the floor and then pushed my face into the concrete. I couldn't breathe."
Mississippi Protection and Advocacy Inc., a congressionally authorized nonprofit organization that enforces the civil rights of people with disabilities, is also a plaintiff in the suit. It is demanding access to the facility, to which it is entitled under federal law.
"This lawsuit demands that Harrison County ensure the safety of children in its custody," said co-counsel Sheila Bedi, SPLC's regional juvenile justice attorney. "But this lawsuit also gives the county a chance to reconsider investing $1.6 million a year in a private, for-profit prison company at the expense of our children. Perhaps now the county will recognize that investing in communities and families is a wiser use of taxpayer dollars."
The lawsuit seeks class action status to protect all children who are currently confined at the detention center as well as those who will be confined there in the future.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
President Barack Obama's Weekly Address
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Discusses Efforts to Reform Spending, Government Waste; Names Chief Performance Officer and Chief Technology Officer
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced that Jeffrey Zients, a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, will join the administration as the Chief Performance Officer, and that Aneesh Chopra, Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, will serve as the Chief Technology Officer. Zients will also serve as Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget. He will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find the best practices throughout the government. As Chief Technology Officer, Chopra will promote technological innovation to help the country meet its goals from job creation, to reducing health care costs, to protecting the homeland. Together with Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, they will help give all Americans a government that is effective, efficient, and transparent.
President Obama announced his appointments of the following individuals today:
Jeffrey D. Zients
Zients has twenty years of business experience as a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur with a deep understanding of business strategy, process reengineering and financial management. He served as CEO and Chairman of the Advisory Board Company and Chairman of the Corporate Executive Board. These firms are leading providers of performance benchmarks and best practices across a wide range of industries. Currently, he is the Founder and Managing Partner of Portfolio Logic, an investment firm focused primarily on business and healthcare service companies.
Aneesh Paul Chopra
Chopra serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology. He leads the Commonwealth’s strategy to effectively leverage technology in government reform, to promote Virginia’s innovation agenda, and to foster technology-related economic development. Previously, he worked as Managing Director with the Advisory Board Company, leading the firm’s Financial Leadership Council and the Working Council for Health Plan Executives.
The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama announced that Jeffrey Zients, a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, will join the administration as the Chief Performance Officer, and that Aneesh Chopra, Virginia’s Secretary of Technology, will serve as the Chief Technology Officer. Zients will also serve as Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget. He will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find the best practices throughout the government. As Chief Technology Officer, Chopra will promote technological innovation to help the country meet its goals from job creation, to reducing health care costs, to protecting the homeland. Together with Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, they will help give all Americans a government that is effective, efficient, and transparent.
President Obama announced his appointments of the following individuals today:
Jeffrey D. Zients
Zients has twenty years of business experience as a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur with a deep understanding of business strategy, process reengineering and financial management. He served as CEO and Chairman of the Advisory Board Company and Chairman of the Corporate Executive Board. These firms are leading providers of performance benchmarks and best practices across a wide range of industries. Currently, he is the Founder and Managing Partner of Portfolio Logic, an investment firm focused primarily on business and healthcare service companies.
Aneesh Paul Chopra
Chopra serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology. He leads the Commonwealth’s strategy to effectively leverage technology in government reform, to promote Virginia’s innovation agenda, and to foster technology-related economic development. Previously, he worked as Managing Director with the Advisory Board Company, leading the firm’s Financial Leadership Council and the Working Council for Health Plan Executives.
The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
It’s not news to say that we are living through challenging times: The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. A credit crisis that has made that downturn worse. And a fiscal disaster that has accumulated over a period of years.
In the year 2000, we had projected budget surpluses in the trillions, and Washington appeared to be on the road to fiscal stability. Eight years later, when I walked in the door, the projected budget deficit for this year alone was $1.3 trillion. And in order to jumpstart our struggling economy, we were forced to make investments that added to that deficit through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
But as surely as our future depends on building a new energy economy, controlling health care costs and ensuring that our kids are once again the best educated in the world, it also depends on restoring a sense of responsibility and accountability to our federal budget. Without significant change to steer away from ever-expanding deficits and debt, we are on an unsustainable course.
So today, we simply cannot afford to perpetuate a system in Washington where politicians and bureaucrats make decisions behind closed doors, with little accountability for the consequences; where billions are squandered on programs that have outlived their usefulness, or exist solely because of the power of a lobbyist or interest group; and where outdated technology and information systems undermine efficiency, threaten our security, and fail to serve an engaged citizenry.
If we’re to going to rebuild our economy on a solid foundation, we need to change the way we do business in Washington. We need to restore the American people’s confidence in their government – that it is on their side, spending their money wisely, to meet their families’ needs.
That starts with the painstaking work of examining every program, every entitlement, every dollar of government spending and asking ourselves: Is this program really essential? Are taxpayers getting their money’s worth? Can we accomplish our goals more efficiently or effectively some other way?
It’s a process we have already begun, scouring our budget line by line for programs that don’t work so we can cut them to make room for ones that do. That means ending tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas; stopping the fraud and abuse in our Medicare program; and reforming our health care system to cut costs for families and businesses. It means strengthening whisteblower protections for government employees who step forward to report wasteful spending. And it means reinstating the pay-as-you-go rule that we followed during the 1990s – so if we want to spend, we’ll need to find somewhere else to cut.
And this Monday, at my first, full Cabinet meeting, I will ask all of my department and agency heads for specific proposals for cutting their budgets. Already, members of my Cabinet have begun to trim back unnecessary expenditures. Secretary Napolitano, for example, is ending consulting contracts to create new seals and logos that have cost the Department of Homeland Security $3 million since 2003. In the largest Department, Secretary Gates has launched an historic project to reform defense contracting procedures and eliminate hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful spending and cost overruns. And I commend Senators McCain and Levin – a Republican and a Democrat – who have teamed up to lead this effort in Congress.
Finally, in the coming weeks, I will be announcing the elimination of dozens of government programs shown to be wasteful or ineffective. In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same.
That is why I have assembled a team of management, technology, and budget experts to guide us in this work – leaders who will help us revamp government operations from top to bottom and ensure that the federal government is truly working for the American people.
I have named Jeffrey Zients, a leading CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, to serve as Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget and as the first ever Chief Performance Officer. Jeffrey will work to streamline processes, cut costs, and find best practices throughout our government.
Aneesh Chopra, who is currently the Secretary of Technology for Governor Kaine of Virginia, has agreed to serve as America’s Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Aneesh will promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities – from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure.
Aneesh and Jeffrey will work closely with our Chief Information Officer, Vivek Kundra, who is responsible for setting technology policy across the government, and using technology to improve security, ensure transparency, and lower costs. The goal is to give all Americans a voice in their government and ensure that they know exactly how we’re spending their money – and can hold us accountable for the results.
None of this will be easy. Big change never is. But with the leadership of these individuals, I am confident that we can break our bad habits, put an end to the mismanagement that has plagued our government, and start living within our means again. That is how we will get our deficits under control and move from recovery to prosperity. And that is how we will give the American people the kind of government they expect and deserve – one that is efficient, accountable and fully worthy of their trust.
Thank you.
Protest the Ex-Gay Deception!
Join the Impact MA is shining a spotlight on the fraudulent ex-gay movement in two events in late April. First, people are rallying outside Park Street Station in Boston at noon on Tuesday, April 28th to protest the “leadership training” Exodus International is conducting at Park Street Church. Second, noted author Wayne Besen, Executive Director, of Truth Wins Out will speak at a forum on the ex-gay movement at MIT at 7 PM the evening of the 28th.
Exodus is the world’s largest ex-gay ministry. It falsely promises “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ” to Google searchers. From its perspective, Exodus ministers to individuals who are “tortured” by homosexuality (as former pastor Rev. Ted Haggard put it.) It trains religious leaders, clergy and laypeople to reach out to troubled homosexuals to encourage them to change to being heterosexuals. LGBT advocates counter that the only thing that needs to change is the homophobia the ex-gay movement feeds on.
Of course all Exodus can offer lesbians and gays is an ersatz heterosexuality based on mortifying one’s God-given nature. Exodus does not want people to know that it is impossible to replace a same-sex sexual orientation with opposite-sex attraction. Reputable medical and scientific authorities reject so-called “reparative therapy.” Having been exiled from the scientific community, the ex-gays continue with a faith-based program to assimilate gays and lesbians, Borg-style. They do not want attention given to the warnings from the American Psychiatric Association: “The potential risks of ‘reparative therapy’ are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient.” The prejudice Exodus represents lets them deny the harm they do.
As they reach out to gay people who are down on themselves, Exodus wears a mask of compassion. But they are shedding crocodile tears for suffering their own compatriots have set out to exacerbate. Exodus International is supported by the religious right in America, and fits into a multi-pronged offensive to suppress LGBT visibility and equality. On various fronts, the religious right runs interference in the pursuit of happiness by LGBT people who are simply trying to live and let live. In a most egregious example, right-wing activists oppose anti-bullying best practices which address the link to homophobia, which contributed to the recent suicide of an 11-year old boy in Springfield, MA. Anti-gay zealots would rather leave bullying unchecked, on the tenth anniversary of the Columbine Massacre, than allow LGBT-inclusive school safety strategies. Some right-wing extremists see bullying as a useful mechanism for discouraging homosexuality and gender non-conformity among adolescents.
If the Anita Bryant’s and John Briggs’ of the world had their way, LGBT people could be fired from their jobs, evicted from their apartments, and sent to prison. Before Stonewall—40 years ago—gays and lesbians could be involuntarily committed to mental institutions and forced to undergo cruel “conversion therapy,” including the torture technique of aversive conditioning. There was no pretense of compassion like today.
Consider further the insistence that LGBT people be denied the protections against hate crimes that other groups enjoy, lest our safety from bigoted violence somehow interfere with anti-gay hate speech. Conservative “Christian” groups have boycotted companies that provide equal benefits to their LGBT employees. How many fundamentalists assume that because God holds gays and lesbians in contempt, they should too?
Although they know they can’t, the ex-gay vultures would like to take society back 40 years. They would prefer that Stonewall had never happened, and that no LGBT community had ever emerged and organized. While a handshake may have eclipsed the basher’s fist as the preferred way to make contact with a struggling gay person, the ex-gay groups perpetuate the stigma attached to homosexuality which rationalizes the homophobia the basher gives the most powerful expression to.
As long as Exodus International is in fellowship with organizations which seek to stack the social contract against LGBT happiness, they cannot pose as friends of any LGBT person, troubled or otherwise. When they say they only “help” those who want to “leave” homosexuality, they leave unspoken the efforts of their co-religionists to make the lives of LGBT so miserable that some at the margins are driven to seek a way out (even though there is no scientifically valid means to change sexual orientation.) Homophobia is the life-blood of the ex-gay movement, and their work depends on LGBT people having the social status that leads bullies to taunt their targets as “gay,” to mean simply the worst thing one child can call another. We are affected by the hate they perpetuate and we protest the campaign against equality they aid and abet.
Bishop Gene Robertson's Speech for Marriage Equality in NH
I had a chance to sneak a photo with the Bishop; he's quite a nice guy.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Another Conservative Changes his Mind
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Steve Schmidt, a key architect of John McCain's presidential campaign, is making his first public return to Washington a bold one.
Schmidt will use a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group, to urge conservative Republicans to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage, CNN has learned.
"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt will say, according to speech excerpts obtained by CNN.
"I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage."
It seems like every day now, another conservative switches sides.
Schmidt will use a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights group, to urge conservative Republicans to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage, CNN has learned.
"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt will say, according to speech excerpts obtained by CNN.
"I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage."
It seems like every day now, another conservative switches sides.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
New Hampshire Resident's Take Notice; This Man Speaks for You in Your Silence!
"We will not remember the words of our enemies, but rather the silence of our friends" ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I was in Concord, New Hampshire yesterday giving my testimony when I heard several people testify for and against. If you are interested in viewing other clips I have them on YouTube.com at this link.
Oddly enough my friendship with Dr. Pat Gozemba (author of Courting Equality) made me aware of Brian Camenker's hate speak when she exposed to the Hawaiian Senate that people were citing Camenker's misrepresentations while she was testifying in Honolulu. I heard the same tired rhetoric at the New Hampshire state house and did exactly what Dr. Gozemba did; I told the Senate panel that not only was the information provably false, it was being quoted from a SPLC certified hate group called MassResistance.com. I believe I was the only one to catch this, but I was definately the only one to call it out.
So tell me is the New Hampshire state motto "Live Free or Die!" or is it "Live Free or Die! (unless you're gay)"
Get Over It, Already
This article discusses the religious freedom aspect of same-sex marriage. Way down on page two I find this gem:
"According to a 2008 survey taken by Public Religion Research, when asked whether they would favor allowing gay couples to marry "if the law guaranteed that no church or congregation would be required to perform marriages for gay couples," support for legalizing same-sex marriage jumped from 29 to 43 percent."
Good then, write it into the law. Never mind that churches already have such a right guaranteed by our constitutions, and never has a church been required to santify a marriage against its will.
In fact my church (RCC) would not sanctify my marriage just because my wife is Protestant.
Let it be so though, write it into the law. In fact let's pass a new law. Hell, make it a Constitutional Amendment.
I would word it thusly:
"In keeping with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Christians shall reserve the right to refuse to serve or to associate with anyone who does not meet their standards.
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"According to a 2008 survey taken by Public Religion Research, when asked whether they would favor allowing gay couples to marry "if the law guaranteed that no church or congregation would be required to perform marriages for gay couples," support for legalizing same-sex marriage jumped from 29 to 43 percent."
Good then, write it into the law. Never mind that churches already have such a right guaranteed by our constitutions, and never has a church been required to santify a marriage against its will.
In fact my church (RCC) would not sanctify my marriage just because my wife is Protestant.
Let it be so though, write it into the law. In fact let's pass a new law. Hell, make it a Constitutional Amendment.
I would word it thusly:
"In keeping with the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Christians shall reserve the right to refuse to serve or to associate with anyone who does not meet their standards.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Severe Beating at Gloucester Bar Leaves Questions of Hate
From the Gloucester Daily Times:
Police have made one arrest in the beating of a Salem man, which a family member is calling a hate crime, and are expecting more.
William Chadwick, 21, of 5 Elwell St., Gloucester, was arrested yesterday at 3:30 p.m. on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Police said they have another suspect and are close to making an arrest.
Injured in the fracas was Justin Goodwin of Salem, who is in his 30s. His brother, David Kain of Peabody, said Goodwin's jaw was shattered, and his nose, an eye socket and a cheek bone were broken. Kain said that his brother underwent nine hours of surgery Sunday at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and is scheduled to go through more.
According to what Goodwin told him, Kain said bouncers threw his brother out of the bar after Goodwin came to the defense of his sister, who was in an altercation with several other women. Goodwin told his brother he was escorted out through a side door that leads to the alley next to the tavern.
Police said Goodwin's sister told them she was jumped by five women in the tavern's womens bathroom, and that her brother and boyfriend tried to break up the fight when she left the restroom.
According to police, the tavern bouncers kicked out everyone involved in the melee.
Goodwin, who is a homosexual, told Kain that once he was in the alley, six men shouted anti-gay slurs at him while beating him.
Channel 7 News has video coverage.
A Beautiful Thing
People Change, and that is a good thing.
Yesterday, one of the most hostile opponents of LGBT people has admitted that she was wrong.
"It is "a beautiful thing and a healthy thing" when gay couples fall in love," said:
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
This is why we must always, even as we call out bigotry, remember that hearts and minds are changing. A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable for her.
John Avovosis has more here.
Love conquers all.
Yesterday, one of the most hostile opponents of LGBT people has admitted that she was wrong.
"It is "a beautiful thing and a healthy thing" when gay couples fall in love," said:
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
This is why we must always, even as we call out bigotry, remember that hearts and minds are changing. A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable for her.
John Avovosis has more here.
Love conquers all.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Join the Impact MA Rallies GLBT for Boston Tea Party Reinactment
Your presence is requested:
"Join us on April 15th as we throw symbolic federal tax forms into Boston Harbor, in a lively 21st century recreation of a seminal 18th century blow for freedom and equality. History will come alive that Wednesday at 5:30 on Long Wharf, near the Aquarium T-stop. Present-day patriots are encouraged to attend and wear colonial period costume if so inclined to make a statement against antiquated social policy. … Today our federal government plays favorites by denying some families tax and other legal benefits others get in the same situation. The lash of discrimination is felt particularly hard in the land of Paul Revere and John and Sam Adams. Massachusetts has recognized same-sex marriages for five years, yet gay and lesbian taxpayers are hit with a surtax that married straights don’t pay if their employer’s health insurance covers their spouses."
Organizers promise: You'll have a gay old time.
Read articles about this event:
Queerty.com
The Huffington Post
Bay Windows
The Sean Hannity Show
Exodus International Coming to Boston, Wayne Besen Called to Counter
Wayne Besen is the founder of truthwinsout.org, a website he created to help counter the misinformation campaigns being waged against GLBT people. Besen is known by many as a former spokesman of the HRC and is better known for his book Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. From wikipedia.com we find the following:
On September 19, 2000 while on a speaking tour, John Paulk was spotted at Mr. P's, a Washington, D.C. gay bar. A patron recognized him and contacted Wayne Besen of the Human Rights Campaign, Truth Wins Out, and other gay political action organizations. When Besen arrived at the bar forty minutes later and confronted Paulk, he denied that he was in fact John Paulk. Upon exiting the bar, Paulk's picture was taken as documentation that he had been in the bar. When confronted by Besen about the incident and the photographs, Paulk admitted being in the bar, but stated that he didn’t know it was a gay bar and had simply stopped in for a moment to use the restroom. However, eyewitnesses reported that Paulk stayed for more than an hour, flirted with other men, and when questioned about his sexuality, said he was gay.
Paulk was called back to Focus on the Family headquarters and was questioned by James Dobson. At first Paulk reportedly evaded a direct answer about the incident; however he later confessed that he had been in the bar for the purpose of flirting. Paulk was placed on probation, and was chaperoned on future speaking engagements to ensure that he had "support" in the event that he needed it. Dobson also removed Paulk from the Board Chair position of Exodus International. He remained on the board under probationary status only and was not allowed to attend meetings or vote.
An Exodus press release soon followed:
"John's actions represent a serious lapse in sound judgment. His decision to enter a gay establishment for any reason opens him up to all kinds of speculation by both other Exodus leaders and also the gay community."
In a September 2001 interview with the Charlotte World newspaper, Paulk stated:
"People wanted me to speak everywhere. I felt like a doll that someone would wind-up and say come give your testimony, come speak here, come fly here, come fly there. ... I started squeezing God out of my life. ... So a year ago I wanted to escape. I wanted to escape my life. I wanted to escape everything. My reputation. I wanted off the treadmill and I thought I wanted to go back to a gay bar. Well, of course, because God loves me he is not going to let me go out on a leash too long and I was discovered in there."
The incident received national headlines in newspapers and news magazines. Paulk remained in his position as manager of the Homosexuality and Gender Department until choosing to leave that position in 2003.
We are in the process of securing a location for Besen to give an informative speech prior to the arrival of Exodus International in Boston; we will keep you updated through Join the Impact MA.
God is in Control?
James Dobson, bigot extraordinaire, is a tired old man. He is throwing in the towel, and for that, I am grateful. But what an odd perspective this man has. Recently he said this:
"The battles that we fought in the Eighties now, we were victorious in many of those conflicts with the culture, trying to defend righteousness, trying to defend the unborn child, trying to preserve the dignity of the family and the definition of marriage. We fought all those battles and really it was a holding action.
[…] [W]e made a lot of progress through the Eighties but then we turned into the Nineties and the internet came along and a new president came along and all of that went away and now we are absolutely awash in evil. And we are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right?"
A new president came along in the nineties and now we are awash in evil?
Does he forget that another new president came along in 2000? A Born-Again Christian empowered with control of both houses of Congress and a compliant Supreme Court. Odd that he would blame Bill Clinton and the internet when his own people have been in control of Congress from 1994 to 2006 and the presidency for eight years.
And think about his last line:
"Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right?"
If God is in control now, and the GOP has been in control for eight years, why is his side losing?
Does it ever occur to him that either God is not in control, or maybe, just maybe, God is not on his side.?
.
"The battles that we fought in the Eighties now, we were victorious in many of those conflicts with the culture, trying to defend righteousness, trying to defend the unborn child, trying to preserve the dignity of the family and the definition of marriage. We fought all those battles and really it was a holding action.
[…] [W]e made a lot of progress through the Eighties but then we turned into the Nineties and the internet came along and a new president came along and all of that went away and now we are absolutely awash in evil. And we are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right?"
A new president came along in the nineties and now we are awash in evil?
Does he forget that another new president came along in 2000? A Born-Again Christian empowered with control of both houses of Congress and a compliant Supreme Court. Odd that he would blame Bill Clinton and the internet when his own people have been in control of Congress from 1994 to 2006 and the presidency for eight years.
And think about his last line:
"Humanly speaking, we can say that we have lost all those battles, but God is in control and we are not going to give up now, right?"
If God is in control now, and the GOP has been in control for eight years, why is his side losing?
Does it ever occur to him that either God is not in control, or maybe, just maybe, God is not on his side.?
.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Challenge to Wisconsin's Marriage Equality Ban Moves Closer to the Supreme Court
From The Superior Telegram:
Taken from the OutInWisconsin.org website:
Let me remind readers that Loving v. Virginia 1967 was a similar case in which an interracial couple had crossed Virginia states lines to marry and were arrested upon their return.
Please visit Kim @ OutInWisconsin.org and give her your support:
A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's constitutional ban on Gay Marriage took another step closer to the State Supreme Court Thursday.
The suit brought by U-W Oshkosh professor William McConkey says the 2006 referendum on Gay Marriage in the state violated the state constitution because it included two different issues. Banning gay marriage and banning civil unions. The suit claims the state's constitution requires all referendums to address only one issue. This week the state Appeals court ruled that the referendum's wording did raise constitutional questions that the high court should clarify. McConkey's lawyer Lester Pines says he's hopeful the high court will address those issues.
The Supreme Court could say well you might not have thought the law was clear in this area but we do and then just apply it and decide the case.
Gay Marriage advocates like Glenn Carlson of Fair Wisconsin hope the court will clarify the rules in a way that invalidates the states same sex union ban.
"Certainly if the suit is successful it will throw out the result of the November election in 2006 but there seems to be an awful long way to go before getting to that point."
Taken from the OutInWisconsin.org website:
About Wisconsin State Amendment Banning Gay Marriage
On November 7th, 2006 whether to allow or not allow gay marriage in the state of Wisconsin was put to a vote. An amendment to make sure it would be banned was placed on the ballet and Wisconsin voters passed the amendment by a margin of 59%-41%.
I'll give you a full detail story of this amendment and why people are working hard to get this repealed. Here is what I found out:
Article XIII, Section 13 of the Wisconsin State Constitution states "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."
Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 765. The Family Code (765-768)
states this:
765.001(2) Intent-... Under the laws of this state, marriage is a legal relationship between 2 equal persons, a husband and wife, who owe to each other mutual responsibility and support....
765.01 A civil contract-Marriage, so far as its validity at law is concerned, is a civil contract, to which the consent of the parties capable in law of contracting is essential, and which creates the legal status of husband and wife.
765.04 Marriage abroad to circumvent the laws-(1) If any person residing and intending to continue to reside in this state who is disabled or prohibited from contracting marriage under the laws of this state goes into another state or country and there contracts a marriage prohibited or declared void under the laws of this state, such marriage shall be void for all purposes in this state with the same effect as though it had been entered into in this state.(3) No marriage shall be contracted in this state by a party residing and intending to continue to reside in another state or jurisdiction, if such marriage would be void if contracted in such other state or jurisdiction and every marriage celebrated in this state in violation of this provision shall be null and void.
765.30 Penalties-(1) The following may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both:(a) Penalty for marriage outside the state to circumvent the laws. Any person residing and intending to continue to reside in this state who goes outside the state and there contracts a marriage prohibited or declared void under the laws of this state.
No marriage license or recognition, no other relationship or its recognition from other jurisdictions for same-sex couples.
When this amendment passed all hope seemed lost that equal rights and marriage for gays, lesbians, etc. in Wisconsin would be granted. Now, there is a different President, and Vice President. Democrats have control in the Senate and the House in Federal government and more Democrats have also taken over in Wisconsin State
government. Our hopes to get this amendment repealed someday and have equal rights have been restored. But we need more people standing up and standing out here in Wisconsin. We need your help. Please get involved in any way you can to help.
Let me remind readers that Loving v. Virginia 1967 was a similar case in which an interracial couple had crossed Virginia states lines to marry and were arrested upon their return.
Please visit Kim @ OutInWisconsin.org and give her your support:
Friday, April 10, 2009
Predictions by State for Marriage Equality
Nate Silver, an analyst who has correctly predicted outcomes of many different elections, has looked at data including whether a state has previously passed a ban on gay marriage, the importance of religion to local voters based on a Gallup survey, and how many white evangelicals live in a particular state. Based on that, he created a model to predict when voters in each state would be likely to vote down a ban on gay marriage.
Here's a run down by state of when marriage equality is expected to come:
2009
Vermont (already equal as of April 7, 2009)
New Hampshire
Massachusetts (already equal as of May 17, 2004)
Maine
Rhode Island
Connecticut (already equal as of October 10, 2008)
Nevada*
Washington
Alaska*
New York
Oregon*
2010
California*
Hawaii
Montana*
New Jersey
Colorado*
2011
Wyoming
Delaware
Idaho*
Arizona*
2012
Wisconsin*
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Illinois
2013
Michigan*
Minnesota
Iowa (Equal as of April 27, 2009)
Ohio*
Utah*
Florida*
2014
New Mexico
North Dakota*
Nebraska*
South Dakota*
2015
Indiana
Virginia*
West Virginia
Kansas*
2016
Missouri*
2018
Texas*
2019
North Carolina
Louisiana*
Georgia*
2020
Kentucky*
2021
South Carolina*
Oklahoma*
2022
Tennessee*
Arkansas*
2023
Alabama*
2024
Mississippi*
Asterisks indicate states which had previously passed amendments to ban gay marriage.
Here's a run down by state of when marriage equality is expected to come:
2009
Vermont (already equal as of April 7, 2009)
New Hampshire
Massachusetts (already equal as of May 17, 2004)
Maine
Rhode Island
Connecticut (already equal as of October 10, 2008)
Nevada*
Washington
Alaska*
New York
Oregon*
2010
California*
Hawaii
Montana*
New Jersey
Colorado*
2011
Wyoming
Delaware
Idaho*
Arizona*
2012
Wisconsin*
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Illinois
2013
Michigan*
Minnesota
Iowa (Equal as of April 27, 2009)
Ohio*
Utah*
Florida*
2014
New Mexico
North Dakota*
Nebraska*
South Dakota*
2015
Indiana
Virginia*
West Virginia
Kansas*
2016
Missouri*
2018
Texas*
2019
North Carolina
Louisiana*
Georgia*
2020
Kentucky*
2021
South Carolina*
Oklahoma*
2022
Tennessee*
Arkansas*
2023
Alabama*
2024
Mississippi*
Asterisks indicate states which had previously passed amendments to ban gay marriage.
Bathroom Propaganda Seems Last Act of Desperation for MFI's Call Against Trangender Rights
Ethan St. Pierre is a transgender citizen who would be forced to use the ladies bathroom according to MFI's twisted logic. Does this make any sense to you?
Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) has re-branded itself as the “Coalition of Marriage and Family”, but in reality it is the same people, entity, and goals; the religious subjugation of GLBT people. The re-branding of their name seems to be done to distance themselves from either their past failures and/or the shame their actions bring. Here is a verbatim quote from their website:
“MFI does not consider homosexual behavior to be merely an alternate lifestyle or sexual "preference"; it is an unhealthy practice and destructive to individuals, families and society.”
http://www.mafamily.org/issues/?item=27
These are the same people that in 2005 tried to put an amendment to our state constitution on the ballot by bringing in outside of the state mercenaries who stole citizen’s signatures. Kris Mineau led that failed campaign. Under his leadership MFI was responsible for handing out “Wanted: Dead or Alive” style posters of lawmakers that opposed their amendment in December 2006.
Now they want to trick lawmakers into believing that the Transgender Rights bill (HB 1728) will “…put vulnerable women and children at risk and infringe upon everyone’s right to privacy” “…while giving special protections to cross-dressers and transvestites”.
Transgender (not cross-dressers or transvestites) people feel deeply that they are born into the wrong sex. We should honor their struggle by allowing them to be recognized as the sex they assign themselves. Kris Mineau and his group want to scare you into voting against their rights without providing a compelling social interest founded in fact that negates this need.
Please don’t to listen to deliberate misrepresentations against our citizens; please question those accusations and check all facts for yourselves. To say that women and children would be at risk implies transgender people are criminals. There is no magical barrier created that prevents crime by denying transgender people the use of the proper public bathrooms of their assigned sex or by denying any other provision in HB 1728. Lawmakers of conscience should never create policy on unfounded hearsay fears rather than fact.
Please protect your transgender constituents from religious tyranny and send a message to groups like this around the world that it is time to move on from the disrespectful politics of division by voting in favor of HB 1728. Massachusetts is the “cradle of liberty”, if our elected representatives do not stand up for the equality of our most vulnerable citizens, who will?
Thursday, April 09, 2009
GOVERNOR PATRICK ANNOUNCES $163 MILLION IN FEDERAL TITLE I FUNDS FOR HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Massachusetts Recovery Plan and investments in education to promote improvement in teaching and learning efforts for students
HOLYOKE – Thursday, April 9, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced that $163 million in additional federal education Title I funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to many high-poverty school districts in Massachusetts.
Governor Patrick has committed $620 million in federal stimulus funds for K-12 education, special education and higher education programs and services. He also recently announced an additional $300 million of low-interest college loans for students.
“Title I is a vital federal education funding source that helps our neediest school districts provide educational and other services for students,” said Governor Patrick. “In these difficult budget times, we must maintain our support to help promote improvement in schools so that all students receive an education that prepares them for a future of success.”
Governor Patrick announced today that Massachusetts will receive an additional $163,391,186 in Title I federal grants to supplement the amount the Commonwealth currently receives annually ($233,353,571 in 2008). Title I funds are targeted to help the districts and schools in the Commonwealth that serve the highest concentration of low-income students.
The funds will help districts retain specialist teachers that help struggling readers, purchase books, technology, and other instructional materials that help students who are behind their peers receive the support and instruction they need. Additionally, the funds will be used to help teachers obtain training to better educate English Language Learners, and others with special learning needs.
The first half of the Title I funds will be distributed in July and the remaining funds will be allocated in the fall. A total of 258 school districts, regional technical vocational schools and charter schools are receiving this second set of funds. The list of districts to receive these funds is attached. Title I funds are distributed to school districts based on a federal formula that assesses need as measured by the number of high-poverty students served.
Governor Patrick praised members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation for their role in securing this vital funding.
"This investment is being directed where it's needed most and where it will have the biggest impact - in our state’s high-risk schools. It will help tailor learning to the unique needs of our most vulnerable students giving them the educational tools they need to be successful. I am grateful Governor Patrick is working to ensure that Massachusetts students are prepared to compete and win in today’s global economy," said Senator Kerry.
“In crafting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress boosted funding for Title I over and above annual amounts so that, even as local cities and towns grapple with challenging budgets, students who are in most need of extra support get the resources and classroom attention they need to obtain a quality education,” said Congressman John Tierney.
“We have been working hard to get additional federal funding to our cities and towns and I’m happy that Massachusetts will now receive an additional $163 million in federal funding for its high-need school districts,” Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said. “These Title I Funds will give a real boost to cities and towns throughout Massachusetts that are struggling with meeting basic funding needs in the midst of the current economic downturn.”
"Our communities can use these funds to help prevent teacher layoffs as well as to hire additional teachers and broaden curriculums where necessary," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. "Most importantly, the support our schools are receiving will help to ensure that students' academic achievement and future competitiveness are not compromised during this economic downturn."
Education investments are critical components of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
· Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
· Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future and support clean energy, broadband and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
· Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.
Governor Patrick played a key role in developing the federal recovery law’s State Stabilization Fund that is now being used to shore up state education funding as well as to prevent layoffs and cutbacks in other critical areas of government during the recession.
Over the next two years, Massachusetts will receive an estimated $1.88 billion to support early education, K-12 education and higher education. For more information about what the federal recovery law means for Massachusetts, please visit www.mass.gov/recovery.
HOLYOKE – Thursday, April 9, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced that $163 million in additional federal education Title I funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go to many high-poverty school districts in Massachusetts.
Governor Patrick has committed $620 million in federal stimulus funds for K-12 education, special education and higher education programs and services. He also recently announced an additional $300 million of low-interest college loans for students.
“Title I is a vital federal education funding source that helps our neediest school districts provide educational and other services for students,” said Governor Patrick. “In these difficult budget times, we must maintain our support to help promote improvement in schools so that all students receive an education that prepares them for a future of success.”
Governor Patrick announced today that Massachusetts will receive an additional $163,391,186 in Title I federal grants to supplement the amount the Commonwealth currently receives annually ($233,353,571 in 2008). Title I funds are targeted to help the districts and schools in the Commonwealth that serve the highest concentration of low-income students.
The funds will help districts retain specialist teachers that help struggling readers, purchase books, technology, and other instructional materials that help students who are behind their peers receive the support and instruction they need. Additionally, the funds will be used to help teachers obtain training to better educate English Language Learners, and others with special learning needs.
The first half of the Title I funds will be distributed in July and the remaining funds will be allocated in the fall. A total of 258 school districts, regional technical vocational schools and charter schools are receiving this second set of funds. The list of districts to receive these funds is attached. Title I funds are distributed to school districts based on a federal formula that assesses need as measured by the number of high-poverty students served.
Governor Patrick praised members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation for their role in securing this vital funding.
"This investment is being directed where it's needed most and where it will have the biggest impact - in our state’s high-risk schools. It will help tailor learning to the unique needs of our most vulnerable students giving them the educational tools they need to be successful. I am grateful Governor Patrick is working to ensure that Massachusetts students are prepared to compete and win in today’s global economy," said Senator Kerry.
“In crafting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress boosted funding for Title I over and above annual amounts so that, even as local cities and towns grapple with challenging budgets, students who are in most need of extra support get the resources and classroom attention they need to obtain a quality education,” said Congressman John Tierney.
“We have been working hard to get additional federal funding to our cities and towns and I’m happy that Massachusetts will now receive an additional $163 million in federal funding for its high-need school districts,” Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said. “These Title I Funds will give a real boost to cities and towns throughout Massachusetts that are struggling with meeting basic funding needs in the midst of the current economic downturn.”
"Our communities can use these funds to help prevent teacher layoffs as well as to hire additional teachers and broaden curriculums where necessary," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. "Most importantly, the support our schools are receiving will help to ensure that students' academic achievement and future competitiveness are not compromised during this economic downturn."
Education investments are critical components of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
· Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
· Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future and support clean energy, broadband and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
· Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.
Governor Patrick played a key role in developing the federal recovery law’s State Stabilization Fund that is now being used to shore up state education funding as well as to prevent layoffs and cutbacks in other critical areas of government during the recession.
Over the next two years, Massachusetts will receive an estimated $1.88 billion to support early education, K-12 education and higher education. For more information about what the federal recovery law means for Massachusetts, please visit www.mass.gov/recovery.
Barack Obama HATES Religion !!
Isn't obvious ? I mean just look at the names of the people he appointed to his Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships:
Diane Baillargeon, President & CEO, Seedco New York , NY
Anju Bhargava, Founder, Asian Indian Women of America, New Jersey
Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles, CA
Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association, Chicago, IL
The Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President-Elect, National Council of Churches USA, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Arturo Chavez, President & CEO, Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio , TX
Fred Davie, Senior Adviser, Public/Private Ventures, New York , NY
Nathan Diament, Director of Public Policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Washington, DC
Pastor Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, a Church Distributed, Longwood, FL
Harry Knox, Director, Religion and Faith Program, Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Knoxville, TN
Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, Washington, DC
Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH
Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus, Southern Baptist Convention, Taylors, SC
Eboo S. Patel, Founder & Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Core, Chicago, IL
Anthony Picarello, General Counsel , United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
Nancy Ratzan, National President, National Council of Jewish Women, Miami, FL
Melissa Rogers, Director, Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion and Public
Affairs, Winston-Salem , NC
Rabbi David N. Saperstein, Director & Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington , DC
Dr. William J. Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention, USAPhiladelphia , PA
Father Larry J. Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA, Alexandria , VA
Richard Stearns, President, World Vision, Bellevue , WA
Judith N. Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America, Philadelphia , PA
Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Executive Director, SojournersWashington , DC
Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)Indianapolis, IN
What? You don't get it?
I'll let Newt Grinchrich explain it:
"I think their goal is to have a very secular America in which government dominates everything," he said. "Why wouldn't you put an anti-religious, left-wing zealot on a faith-based group? It's a perfect pattern for this administration."
Apparently, the mere precesnce of Harry Knox, a former Methodist Minister, makes the whole list secular.
"Since 2005, Knox has served as the director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that advocates on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals."
.
Diane Baillargeon, President & CEO, Seedco New York , NY
Anju Bhargava, Founder, Asian Indian Women of America, New Jersey
Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop, Church of God in Christ, Los Angeles, CA
Noel Castellanos, CEO, Christian Community Development Association, Chicago, IL
The Rev. Peg Chemberlin, President-Elect, National Council of Churches USA, Minneapolis, MN
Dr. Arturo Chavez, President & CEO, Mexican American Catholic College, San Antonio , TX
Fred Davie, Senior Adviser, Public/Private Ventures, New York , NY
Nathan Diament, Director of Public Policy, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, Washington, DC
Pastor Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland, a Church Distributed, Longwood, FL
Harry Knox, Director, Religion and Faith Program, Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Knoxville, TN
Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, Washington, DC
Rev. Otis Moss, Jr., Pastor emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH
Dr. Frank S. Page, President emeritus, Southern Baptist Convention, Taylors, SC
Eboo S. Patel, Founder & Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Core, Chicago, IL
Anthony Picarello, General Counsel , United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
Nancy Ratzan, National President, National Council of Jewish Women, Miami, FL
Melissa Rogers, Director, Wake Forest School of Divinity Center for Religion and Public
Affairs, Winston-Salem , NC
Rabbi David N. Saperstein, Director & Counsel, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington , DC
Dr. William J. Shaw, President, National Baptist Convention, USAPhiladelphia , PA
Father Larry J. Snyder, President, Catholic Charities USA, Alexandria , VA
Richard Stearns, President, World Vision, Bellevue , WA
Judith N. Vredenburgh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers / Big Sisters of America, Philadelphia , PA
Rev. Jim Wallis, President & Executive Director, SojournersWashington , DC
Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)Indianapolis, IN
What? You don't get it?
I'll let Newt Grinchrich explain it:
"I think their goal is to have a very secular America in which government dominates everything," he said. "Why wouldn't you put an anti-religious, left-wing zealot on a faith-based group? It's a perfect pattern for this administration."
Apparently, the mere precesnce of Harry Knox, a former Methodist Minister, makes the whole list secular.
"Since 2005, Knox has served as the director of the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that advocates on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals."
.
Destination Iowa ?
Richard Land, Christian Post Guest Columnist is real worried now. He is afraid that the gays are going to come to Iowa.
"This ruling turns Iowa into a destination for same-sex 'marriages.' No doubt there are weekend travel packages already being planned. Iowa will soon be the Las Vegas of same-sex “marriage” for America."
But then he complains that the gays won't stay:
"And you know those folks won’t be resettling in the Hawkeye State, but will be heading back home–perhaps to your state. "
HUH ?
Well, Mr. Land, let me clue you in. You're a dinosaur; your side has already lost, you just don't know it yet. Not long from now, marriage will be for everyone, everywhere, and in the meantime, why don't you just take their money, it's just as green as the money spent in Michigan.
Nate Silver, statistician extraordinnaire, crunches the numbers, and the trend is clearly on our side.
.
"This ruling turns Iowa into a destination for same-sex 'marriages.' No doubt there are weekend travel packages already being planned. Iowa will soon be the Las Vegas of same-sex “marriage” for America."
But then he complains that the gays won't stay:
"And you know those folks won’t be resettling in the Hawkeye State, but will be heading back home–perhaps to your state. "
HUH ?
Well, Mr. Land, let me clue you in. You're a dinosaur; your side has already lost, you just don't know it yet. Not long from now, marriage will be for everyone, everywhere, and in the meantime, why don't you just take their money, it's just as green as the money spent in Michigan.
Nate Silver, statistician extraordinnaire, crunches the numbers, and the trend is clearly on our side.
.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Kris Mineau's Call to Action Against Iowa Equality
This is a baaaad week for the haters!
Kris Mineau, holier than thou leader of the infamous Massachusetts Family Institute is calling for all opposition to contact Iowa legislators in an urgent attempt to convince them to pass legislation that would deny marriage equality once again.
Perhaps Kris hasn't read the decision handed down from the Iowa Supreme Court detailing the many reasons for its unanimous ruling.
Perhaps Kris hasn't been able to keep up with the state of affairs in New York, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Maine, California, New Jersey and of course Vermont.
Perhaps Kris forgot that he didn't have the pull to influence legislators even in his own state, it's a real wonder why he thinks he can pull one over on others as an outsider.
Regardless of these facts Kris and his supporters can't deny reality much longer; the tide in America has clearly changed. No longer will people stand by idle while unfounded fears are passed for facts against innocent neighbors without question. Equality is being fought for on so many fronts that the big money organizations just can't spend their money fast enough to stamp it out like they did temporarily over in California. Kris Mineau is no Moses, Equality is not the Red Sea, and the tide of public opinion will not be turned back by bigots branishing baloney, not even in Iowa.
Talk Radio Throw Down With Anti-Equality Set for April 14
It's on! Mike over at Marry in Massachusetts along with Ryan from Ryan's Take and Lynne from Left in Lowell have been serving the community actively not only with their blogs, but they have a weekly radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com they schedule each Tuesday. I called in last week and we had a wonderful chat about Vermont and New Hampshire's struggle to gain full equality for their citizens among other things. You can listen to that broadcast by going to the link provided above, and while you are there note that they have me scheduled to come back on April 14 to talk about the opposition to equality's responsibility to prove what they accuse. We have put out an open challenge for any and all takers to call in and talk to us about why they feel their rights outweigh ours. This should be a fun and informative program, an hopefully we will have a few calls that have the courage to say what's on their minds.
I look forward to talking in a respectful dialog with those who disagree, but I'm also more than willing to switch gears and let the fur fly when it needs to. It's high time we start calling people out on the nonsensical rantings of the radical right and hold them accountable for what they say.
Blessed by God
Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel, poses this question: "How long can a nation founded on the laws of nature and nature's God expect to find favor in his eyes when we continue to mock God?"
When did God bless this Nation? At our Founding?
I am disturbed by the belief that God has blessed America, because if indeed God blessed us at our founding because we were in compliance with his will, then I would have to accept that God had no quarrel with the laws of 18 century America.
He blessed the genocide of Native Americans?
He blessed out "peculiar institution" of slavery?
He blessed our "democracy" that excluded all but white, land-owning men?
Just asking.
.
When did God bless this Nation? At our Founding?
I am disturbed by the belief that God has blessed America, because if indeed God blessed us at our founding because we were in compliance with his will, then I would have to accept that God had no quarrel with the laws of 18 century America.
He blessed the genocide of Native Americans?
He blessed out "peculiar institution" of slavery?
He blessed our "democracy" that excluded all but white, land-owning men?
Just asking.
.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
I Couldn't Agree More
Those who know me know that I am not just a strong defender of marriage rights for everyone, but I also believe very strongly in today's young people. And I have said many times before that my own, very traditional, 31 year marriage is stronger now that everyone in Massachusetts is treated equally.
Well, Iowa Senate Majority leader Mike Gronstal, just said something that expresses my feeling precisely.
His response to Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley:
"One of my daughters was in the workplace one day, and her particular workplace at that moment in time, there were a whole bunch of conservative, older men. And those guys were talking about gay marriage. They were talking about discussions going on across the country.
Anyway my daughter Kate, after listening for about 20 minutes, said to them: You guys don't understand. You've already lost. My generation doesn't care.
I think I learned something from my daughter that day, when she said that. And I've talked with other people about it and that's what I see, Senator McKinley. I see a bunch of people that merely want to profess their love for each other, and want state law to recognize that.
Is that so wrong? I dont think that's so wrong. As a matter of fact, last Friday night, I hugged my wife.
You know I've been married for 37 years. I hugged my wife. I felt like our love was just a little more meaningful last Friday night because thousands of other Iowa citizens could hug each other and have the state recognize their love for each other.
No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.
Amen.
Oh, and the Kids Are Alright
Well, Iowa Senate Majority leader Mike Gronstal, just said something that expresses my feeling precisely.
His response to Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley:
"One of my daughters was in the workplace one day, and her particular workplace at that moment in time, there were a whole bunch of conservative, older men. And those guys were talking about gay marriage. They were talking about discussions going on across the country.
Anyway my daughter Kate, after listening for about 20 minutes, said to them: You guys don't understand. You've already lost. My generation doesn't care.
I think I learned something from my daughter that day, when she said that. And I've talked with other people about it and that's what I see, Senator McKinley. I see a bunch of people that merely want to profess their love for each other, and want state law to recognize that.
Is that so wrong? I dont think that's so wrong. As a matter of fact, last Friday night, I hugged my wife.
You know I've been married for 37 years. I hugged my wife. I felt like our love was just a little more meaningful last Friday night because thousands of other Iowa citizens could hug each other and have the state recognize their love for each other.
No, Senator McKinley, I will not co-sponsor a leadership bill with you.
Amen.
Oh, and the Kids Are Alright
More Good News
"The D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, on the same day that Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex unions.
Domestic partnerships are already legal in the nation's capital. But yesterday's vote, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes relocated gay married couples as married.
The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District and a clash with Congress, which approves the city's laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month. "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702200.html?hpid=topnews
Domestic partnerships are already legal in the nation's capital. But yesterday's vote, billed as an important milestone in gay rights, explicitly recognizes relocated gay married couples as married.
The initial vote was 12-0. The unanimous vote sets the stage for future debate on legalizing same-sex marriage in the District and a clash with Congress, which approves the city's laws under Home Rule. The council is expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month. "
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040702200.html?hpid=topnews
Will History Be Made Today ?
Last night Governor Jim Douglas made good on his threat and vetoed a bill that would have granted full marriage equality in Vermont.
Today at 10:00, the legislature will meet to try to override his veto. If they can do it, Vermont will be come the first state to grant marriage equality without a court order.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE !!!!
It is done. Vemont's House overrides Governor Douglas veto 100-49.
I'll have to buy another bottle of champagne tonight.
.
.
Today at 10:00, the legislature will meet to try to override his veto. If they can do it, Vermont will be come the first state to grant marriage equality without a court order.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE !!!!
It is done. Vemont's House overrides Governor Douglas veto 100-49.
I'll have to buy another bottle of champagne tonight.
.
.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Traditional Marriage: America's New Jackalope
Jackalope according to Wikipedia:
"The legend of the jackalope has bred the rise of many outlandish (and largely tongue-in-cheek) claims as to the creature's habits. For example, it is said to be a hybrid of the pygmy-deer and a species of "killer rabbit". Reportedly, jackalopes are extremely shy unless approached. Legend also has it that female jackalopes can be milked as they sleep belly up and that the milk can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It has also been said that the jackalope can convincingly imitate any sound, including the human voice. It uses this ability to elude pursuers, chiefly by using phrases such as "There he goes! That way!" It is said that a jackalope may be caught by putting a flask of whiskey out at night. The jackalope will drink its fill of whiskey and its intoxication will make it easier to hunt. In some parts of the United States it is said that jackalope meat has a taste similar to lobster. However, legend has it that they are dangerous if approached. It has also been said that jackalopes will only breed during electrical storms including hail, explaining its rarity."
The call to defend "traditional" marriage is similar to pranking your friends into hunting jackalope; jackalopes don't exist and neither does "traditional" marriage. Anyone who claims otherwise is either misinformed or out to deliberately mislead others. Where are people getting the idea of "traditional" marriage from? From religious leaders and others who seem to want to pass off their religious rite of marriage as civil marriage so they can confuse law makers and voters alike. In the confusion created they hope to continue to deny equality to GLBT people, and resist the call for introspection. Civil marriage is offered by our government to avoid unnecessary intrusions into religious ceremony.
We can all smile at the expense of others when promoting the jackalope because it is harmless fun. There is no fun or honor when denying people's rights based on deliberate misinformation especially when that misinformation perpetuates both discrimination and violence. Christians are not obliged by their religion to impose their values on others, that's an individual choice. Let's review some facts so that people can be more fully informed.
From the HRC we find the following:
"Isn't marriage only between a man and a woman?
No. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa; the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, Canada; and the nations of Belgium and the Netherlands have all ruled that marriage is not the exclusive right of opposite-sex couples. Furthermore, there is a significant difference between marriage – a licensing system set up and administered by the State that affords hundreds of important protections under law – and religious marriage.
This ruling has nothing to do with religion – it has to do with the legal rights and protections provided by the government to people in long-term, committed relationships. Government cannot and should not interfere with religion or impose one religion's beliefs on everybody else. Our federal constitution already protects the free exercise of religion. Churches do not have to perform ceremonies or recognize relationships for gay couples or anybody else."
In particular, the Court said:
"Simply put, the government creates civil marriage. In Massachusetts, civil marriage is, and since pre-Colonial days has been, precisely what its name implies: a wholly secular institution. … No religious ceremony has ever been required to validate a Massachusetts marriage."
From ehow.com:
In the colonies, weddings were not religious ceremonies. Rather, they were a civil contract that set the responsibilities and duties of husband and wife.
This part of our "tradition", how far back should we look?:
Despite romantic notions to the contrary, many of the colonial wives were bought brides. Between 1620 and 1622, over 150 "pure and spotless" white women were brought to Virginia and auctioned off to men for an average of 80 pounds of tobacco.
The motivation for denying GLBT equality in marriage is simple; fear has always been a great motivator to rally people with when profits start to sag and control seems to be fading. If Church's that teach against the acceptance of GLBT equality allow civil marriages to same sex couples to go uncontested their flocks will start to question the validity of their teachings in this instance. That questioning may lead to other questions and possibly the separation of the flock from it's perspective church. The almighty dollar, not God's will, seems to be the "tradition" that's being fought for.
There is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Faerie, jackalope, or "traditional" marriage. What we do have is the opportunity to live as we promised via the social contract we empower, our Constitution, or to stand behind what we know to be false in order to perpetuate our own comfort at the cost of others. The opponents of equality have failed in their responsibility to prove what they accuse, yet some people, even law makers, seem to believe. Perhaps there was an event in their lives, perhaps they hide their same sex attraction that causes them to oppose equality in this matter. It is the verifiable facts and only the facts that law makers should value, not personal opinions no matter how impassioned.
All walks of life who have a history of being discriminated against by our fellow citizens expect that discrimination to continue. It is the free will of others to speak their minds and to believe what they wish. In contrast to that freedom we should be able to expect our government to be above this, especially since we put that promise in writing before the country was born. Now that the GLBT citizens have found their voice there will be a need to address their oppression by the government. In all instances of law where a significant compelling social interest cannot be found that outweighs the promise of equality then action is expected to right those wrongs. Perhaps once the government shows an unbiased eye to GLBT people others will follow its example. It is a source of shame that our heritage as a nation includes discrimination. It is to our credit that we correct those wrongs once enough people come forward to advocate for justice.
I do believe the inherent goodness in all people will prevail in this instance as it has in similar instances throughout time. Eventually people will see the dangerous precedent set by throwing away due process and allowing innocent individuals to be treated as criminals where their personal actions do not alter the justice delivered to them. Until the will of the majority strikes down the last bastion of government sanctioned discrimination let the cry for "traditional" marriage help us identify who in our masses base their opinions on unfounded fears, and let us who know better hunt for jackalope no more.
Friday, April 03, 2009
President Barack Obama's Weekly Address
Saturday, April 4, 2009
In this new century, we live in a world that has grown smaller and more interconnected than at any time in history. Threats to our nation’s security and economy can no longer be kept at bay by oceans or by borders drawn on maps. The terrorists who struck our country on 9/11 plotted in Hamburg, trained in Kandahar and Karachi, and threaten countries across the globe. Cars in Boston and Beijing are melting ice caps in the Arctic that disrupt weather patterns everywhere. The theft of nuclear material from the former Soviet Union could lead to the extermination of any city on earth. And reckless speculation by bankers in New York and London has fueled a global recession that is inflicting pain on workers and families around the world and across America.
The challenges of our time threaten the peace and prosperity of every single nation, and no one nation can meet them alone. That is why it is sometimes necessary for a President to travel abroad in order to protect and strengthen our nation here at home. That is what I have done this week.
I began my trip by attending a summit of the G20 – the countries that represent the world’s largest economies – because we know that the success of America’s economy is inextricably linked to that of the global economy. If people in other countries cannot spend, that means they cannot buy the goods we produce here in America, which means more lost jobs and more families hurting. Just yesterday, we learned that we lost hundreds of thousands more jobs last month, adding to the millions we’ve lost since this recession began. And if we continue to let banks and other financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, that affects institutions here at home as credit dries up, and people can’t get loans to buy a home or car, to run a small business or pay for college.
Ultimately, the only way out of a recession that is global in scope is with a response that is global in coordination. That is why I’m pleased that after two days of careful negotiation, the G20 nations have agreed on a series of unprecedented steps that I believe will be a turning point in our pursuit of a global economic recovery. All of us are now moving aggressively to get our banks lending again. All of us are working to spur growth and create jobs. And all of us have agreed on the most sweeping reform of our financial regulatory framework in a generation – reform that will help end the risky speculation and market abuses that have cost so many people so much.
I also met this past week with the leaders of China and Russia, working to forge constructive relationships to address issues of common concern, while being frank with each other about where we disagree. President Hu and I agreed that the link between China’s economy and ours is of great mutual benefit, and we established a new Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and China. President Medvedev and I discussed our shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, and we signed a declaration putting America and Russia on the path to a new treaty to further reduce our nuclear arsenals. Tomorrow, I will lay out additional steps we must take to secure the world’s loose nuclear materials and stop the spread of these deadly weapons.
Finally, I met yesterday with our NATO allies and asked them for additional civilian support and assistance for our efforts in Afghanistan. That is where al Qaeda trains, plots, and threatens to launch their next attack. And that attack could occur in any nation, which means that every nation has a stake in ensuring that our mission in Afghanistan succeeds.
As we have worked this week to find common ground and strengthen our alliances, we have not solved all of our problems. And we have not agreed on every point or every issue in every meeting. But we have made real and unprecedented progress – and will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
Because in the end, we recognize that no corner of the globe can wall itself off from the threats of the twenty-first century, or from the needs and concerns of fellow nations. The only way forward is through shared and persistent efforts to combat fear and want wherever they exist. That is the challenge of our time. And if we move forward with courage and resolve, I am confident that we will meet this challenge.
Thank you.
In this new century, we live in a world that has grown smaller and more interconnected than at any time in history. Threats to our nation’s security and economy can no longer be kept at bay by oceans or by borders drawn on maps. The terrorists who struck our country on 9/11 plotted in Hamburg, trained in Kandahar and Karachi, and threaten countries across the globe. Cars in Boston and Beijing are melting ice caps in the Arctic that disrupt weather patterns everywhere. The theft of nuclear material from the former Soviet Union could lead to the extermination of any city on earth. And reckless speculation by bankers in New York and London has fueled a global recession that is inflicting pain on workers and families around the world and across America.
The challenges of our time threaten the peace and prosperity of every single nation, and no one nation can meet them alone. That is why it is sometimes necessary for a President to travel abroad in order to protect and strengthen our nation here at home. That is what I have done this week.
I began my trip by attending a summit of the G20 – the countries that represent the world’s largest economies – because we know that the success of America’s economy is inextricably linked to that of the global economy. If people in other countries cannot spend, that means they cannot buy the goods we produce here in America, which means more lost jobs and more families hurting. Just yesterday, we learned that we lost hundreds of thousands more jobs last month, adding to the millions we’ve lost since this recession began. And if we continue to let banks and other financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, that affects institutions here at home as credit dries up, and people can’t get loans to buy a home or car, to run a small business or pay for college.
Ultimately, the only way out of a recession that is global in scope is with a response that is global in coordination. That is why I’m pleased that after two days of careful negotiation, the G20 nations have agreed on a series of unprecedented steps that I believe will be a turning point in our pursuit of a global economic recovery. All of us are now moving aggressively to get our banks lending again. All of us are working to spur growth and create jobs. And all of us have agreed on the most sweeping reform of our financial regulatory framework in a generation – reform that will help end the risky speculation and market abuses that have cost so many people so much.
I also met this past week with the leaders of China and Russia, working to forge constructive relationships to address issues of common concern, while being frank with each other about where we disagree. President Hu and I agreed that the link between China’s economy and ours is of great mutual benefit, and we established a new Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and China. President Medvedev and I discussed our shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, and we signed a declaration putting America and Russia on the path to a new treaty to further reduce our nuclear arsenals. Tomorrow, I will lay out additional steps we must take to secure the world’s loose nuclear materials and stop the spread of these deadly weapons.
Finally, I met yesterday with our NATO allies and asked them for additional civilian support and assistance for our efforts in Afghanistan. That is where al Qaeda trains, plots, and threatens to launch their next attack. And that attack could occur in any nation, which means that every nation has a stake in ensuring that our mission in Afghanistan succeeds.
As we have worked this week to find common ground and strengthen our alliances, we have not solved all of our problems. And we have not agreed on every point or every issue in every meeting. But we have made real and unprecedented progress – and will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
Because in the end, we recognize that no corner of the globe can wall itself off from the threats of the twenty-first century, or from the needs and concerns of fellow nations. The only way forward is through shared and persistent efforts to combat fear and want wherever they exist. That is the challenge of our time. And if we move forward with courage and resolve, I am confident that we will meet this challenge.
Thank you.
This Says it All
From the Iowa Supreme Court
In this case, we must decide if our state statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the Iowa Constitution, as the district court ruled. On our review, we hold the Iowa marriage statute violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. Therefore, we affirm the decision of the district court.
...The plaintiffs produced evidence to demonstrate sexual orientation and gender have no effect on children raised by same-sex couples, and same-sex couples can raise children as well as opposite-sex couples. They also submitted evidence to show that most scientific research has repudiated the commonly assumed notion that children need opposite-sex parents or biological parents to grow into well-adjusted adults. Many leading organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Child Welfare League of America, weighed the available research and supported the conclusion that gay and lesbian parents are as effective as heterosexual parents in raising children.
...When individuals invoke the Iowa Constitution's guarantees of freedom and equality, courts are bound to interpret those guarantees. In carrying out this fundamental and vital role, "we must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding." M'Culloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316, 407, 4 L. Ed. 579, 602 (1819). It speaks with principle, as we, in turn, must also. See State v. Wheeler, 34 P.3d 799, 807 (Wash. 2001) (Sanders, J., dissenting).
I will open up a bottle of champagne and drink a toast to all my lesbian and gay friends tonight.
In this case, we must decide if our state statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the Iowa Constitution, as the district court ruled. On our review, we hold the Iowa marriage statute violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution. Therefore, we affirm the decision of the district court.
...The plaintiffs produced evidence to demonstrate sexual orientation and gender have no effect on children raised by same-sex couples, and same-sex couples can raise children as well as opposite-sex couples. They also submitted evidence to show that most scientific research has repudiated the commonly assumed notion that children need opposite-sex parents or biological parents to grow into well-adjusted adults. Many leading organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Child Welfare League of America, weighed the available research and supported the conclusion that gay and lesbian parents are as effective as heterosexual parents in raising children.
...When individuals invoke the Iowa Constitution's guarantees of freedom and equality, courts are bound to interpret those guarantees. In carrying out this fundamental and vital role, "we must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding." M'Culloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316, 407, 4 L. Ed. 579, 602 (1819). It speaks with principle, as we, in turn, must also. See State v. Wheeler, 34 P.3d 799, 807 (Wash. 2001) (Sanders, J., dissenting).
I will open up a bottle of champagne and drink a toast to all my lesbian and gay friends tonight.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Statement Following President’s Meeting with President Lee of the Republic of Korea
April 2, 2009
Excel Center, London
President Obama met this morning with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and discussed the global economic crisis, North Korea, and other areas of cooperation. The South Korean leader accepted President Obama’s invitation to visit Washington on June 16.
The two leaders agreed to work closely to take strong measures to stimulate their economies and to build international consensus on reform of the international regulatory and supervisory system. They both stressed the importance of avoiding protectionism and economic nationalism. President Obama expressed his strong commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is essential to maintain peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and pledged continued cooperation in the ongoing joint efforts to strengthen the alliance further. The two presidents agreed that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement could bring benefits to both countries and committed to working together to chart a way forward. Both leaders share a vision for broadening and modernizing the Alliance to address the challenges of the 21st Century and decided to explore ideas for increasing regional and global cooperation at their meeting in June.
They discussed the issue of North Korea and promised to continue close cooperation in the effort to peacefully and verifiably eliminate North Korea’s nuclear programs, weapons and materiel through Six-Party Talks. In that regard, they urged North Korea to abide by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and agreed on the need for a unified response by the international community in the event that North Korea launches a long-range missile.
President Obama expressed appreciation for South Korea’s contributions and support for the international effort to promote stability and to assist reconstruction in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. They promised also to continue to find ways to cooperate in addressing global challenges such as climate change and clean energy technologies.
Excel Center, London
President Obama met this morning with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and discussed the global economic crisis, North Korea, and other areas of cooperation. The South Korean leader accepted President Obama’s invitation to visit Washington on June 16.
The two leaders agreed to work closely to take strong measures to stimulate their economies and to build international consensus on reform of the international regulatory and supervisory system. They both stressed the importance of avoiding protectionism and economic nationalism. President Obama expressed his strong commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance, which is essential to maintain peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and pledged continued cooperation in the ongoing joint efforts to strengthen the alliance further. The two presidents agreed that the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement could bring benefits to both countries and committed to working together to chart a way forward. Both leaders share a vision for broadening and modernizing the Alliance to address the challenges of the 21st Century and decided to explore ideas for increasing regional and global cooperation at their meeting in June.
They discussed the issue of North Korea and promised to continue close cooperation in the effort to peacefully and verifiably eliminate North Korea’s nuclear programs, weapons and materiel through Six-Party Talks. In that regard, they urged North Korea to abide by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and agreed on the need for a unified response by the international community in the event that North Korea launches a long-range missile.
President Obama expressed appreciation for South Korea’s contributions and support for the international effort to promote stability and to assist reconstruction in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. They promised also to continue to find ways to cooperate in addressing global challenges such as climate change and clean energy technologies.
Equality Marches On
Sweden has become the fifth European Country to grant full marriage equality, bringing the world's total to seven. (Eight, if you count Nepal, which is simply waiting for it's legislture to make it official).
The list of countries and their population follows:
Norway, 4,805,437
Sweden, 9,234,209
Belgium, 10,666,866
Netherlands, 16,500,019
Nepal, 29,519,114
Canada ,33,602,000
Spain, 46,157,822
South Africa, 47,900,000
This means that approximately 200 million people now live in a country where full marriage rights are now the norm.
Equality Marches On.
The list of countries and their population follows:
Norway, 4,805,437
Sweden, 9,234,209
Belgium, 10,666,866
Netherlands, 16,500,019
Nepal, 29,519,114
Canada ,33,602,000
Spain, 46,157,822
South Africa, 47,900,000
This means that approximately 200 million people now live in a country where full marriage rights are now the norm.
Equality Marches On.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Finding the Truth in the "Cross Stomping Incident" Prop. 8 Rally
Here's some information to consider when you are watching YouTube.com and viewing the cross-stomping protestors that was once held by this 69 year old woman:
Phyllis Burgess is well known by the media to be an anti-gay activist.
http://www.warrenandderrick.com/2008/11/phyllis-burgess-not-quite-the-sweet-little-ole-lady-some-would-like-us-to-believe.html
"But it turns out that Burgess is somewhat of a professional rabble-rouser and has disrupted at least several other LGBT events, including Palm Springs Gay Pride. Burgess even showed up to protest at the White Party, a giant circuit party held every spring."
"If you study the video from KESQ, you’ll see Ms Burgess emerge, not from the sidelines, but directly through the middle of the crowd. You’ll also note that the news anchor recognizes Burgess, because this is not Burgess’ first visit to an anti-Prop-8 event."-joemygod
http://www.kesq.com/global/story.asp?s=9314557
http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2008/11/truth-about-phyllis-burgess.html
One question I have for the audience; if this woman did not come there to deliberately try and video some sort of disruption she causes then why was the cross she had made out of paper mache? Seems that would look good if she could get in front of the cameras and provoke the audience, huh? I notice there is no mention of these "christian" sources about her knocking a disabled man to the ground when elbowing her way directly through all those protestors in order to get on camera. THAT'S what these men were so pissed off about, not her cross. That coupled with the fact that she was recognized as a woman who regularly shows at pro-equality rallies to counter protest.
Several days later, new cross in hand, she again appeared, this time at the Palm Springs Village Fest, telling the press, "I have a right to be here. It's not to antagonize, but it exposes where the hatred is."
Here is a link to her MySpace.com page. This says it all about this "innocent" protestor. Here is a blurb in her own words:
"Ginny Foat, Mayor pro tem has compared me to the Phelps family at the Mathew Shephard funeral."
I wonder why? ;)
I learned a new expression from her, it's called "Crowd Baiting". This is an old tactic where one whips the opposition into a froth and document that reaction as seeming inappropriate when in fact they are the aggressors rather than the victim. Clearly she pushed her way through the middle of that crowd, we can see so on the video. She claims she did not push anyone, yet how did she get through that entire crowd to be at the front if they did not allow her to pass? It seems more logical to think they allowed her to pass until she committed the act that drew their ire. It's a pity we did not have a comment from the handicapped man, that's one thing I am searching for now. However, here is an eyewitness report on the facts just before the video caught her in view:.
"At City Hall a woman with a huge styrofoam cross appeared screaming about YES on 8 at the back of the crowd of NO on 8 supporters — their rally. She wanted to get to where the speakers were up front and I saw her knock a disabled man, a NO on 8 supporter to the ground, screaming, “Get out of my way!"
Here's what REAL violence looks like, and you guessed it, it was Prop. 8 supporters who were responsible:
2.4 MILLION MASSACHUSETTS Working Families to Benefit from Work Pay Tax Credit
1.2 billion new dollars in the hands of Massachusetts workers
April 1, 2009
The United States faces the most severe economic and financial crisis in generations. Tragically, much of the damage has fallen principally on Main Street. To help middle-class families get back on their feet and restore some fairness to the tax code, President Obama in February signed one of his signature issues into law – the Making Work Pay tax credit. As a result, families across the country are seeing more money in their paychecks. This is one of the fastest and broadest tax cuts in American history.
Today, the Obama Administration is releasing a state-by-state analysis to show the impact the Making Work Pay tax credit is having across the country.
In Massachusetts that means 2.4 million working families will collectively get $1.2 billion in hand to help them weather the current economic storm. This reflects the Administration’s strong and sustained commitment to the middle class.
Nationally, the credit provides over 110 million working families—about 95%—the tax relief they need right now and will give nearly 60 billion dollars to America’s working families. The Republican alternative budget, announced today, would roll back these tax credits in 2010, thereby increasing taxes for the same 95 percent of working families.
IRS guidance asks that, by April 1, employers must have instituted the lower withholdings for their employees.
Restoring Fairness to the Tax Code and Providing Tax Relief to Working Americans. The Making Work Pay Tax Credit aims to help middle class families who are being squeezed by rising costs and stagnating wages.
· For 2009 and 2010, the “Making Work Pay” tax credit provides a refundable tax credit of 6.2 percent of earned income up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for married taxpayers.
· Families should see at least a $65 dollar per month increase in their take home pay.
· The credit will phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $150,000 for married couples filing jointly and $75,000 for other workers, and thus is fully phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $190,000 for married workers and $95,000 for other workers.
Getting Needed Cash to Working Families. In an effort to get much needed cash to hard working Americans as quickly as possible, in late February the President announced the IRS would issue a new set of withholding tables (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n1036.pdf) structured to get the tax credit to Americas’ workers in cash over the course of the year. By reducing required withholding amounts, workers’ take home pay is increased immediately.
The typical American family will have about $800 extra cash over the next year delivered to them in their paychecks to spend and to help the economy get back on track.
April 1, 2009
The United States faces the most severe economic and financial crisis in generations. Tragically, much of the damage has fallen principally on Main Street. To help middle-class families get back on their feet and restore some fairness to the tax code, President Obama in February signed one of his signature issues into law – the Making Work Pay tax credit. As a result, families across the country are seeing more money in their paychecks. This is one of the fastest and broadest tax cuts in American history.
Today, the Obama Administration is releasing a state-by-state analysis to show the impact the Making Work Pay tax credit is having across the country.
In Massachusetts that means 2.4 million working families will collectively get $1.2 billion in hand to help them weather the current economic storm. This reflects the Administration’s strong and sustained commitment to the middle class.
Nationally, the credit provides over 110 million working families—about 95%—the tax relief they need right now and will give nearly 60 billion dollars to America’s working families. The Republican alternative budget, announced today, would roll back these tax credits in 2010, thereby increasing taxes for the same 95 percent of working families.
IRS guidance asks that, by April 1, employers must have instituted the lower withholdings for their employees.
Restoring Fairness to the Tax Code and Providing Tax Relief to Working Americans. The Making Work Pay Tax Credit aims to help middle class families who are being squeezed by rising costs and stagnating wages.
· For 2009 and 2010, the “Making Work Pay” tax credit provides a refundable tax credit of 6.2 percent of earned income up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for married taxpayers.
· Families should see at least a $65 dollar per month increase in their take home pay.
· The credit will phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $150,000 for married couples filing jointly and $75,000 for other workers, and thus is fully phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $190,000 for married workers and $95,000 for other workers.
Getting Needed Cash to Working Families. In an effort to get much needed cash to hard working Americans as quickly as possible, in late February the President announced the IRS would issue a new set of withholding tables (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n1036.pdf) structured to get the tax credit to Americas’ workers in cash over the course of the year. By reducing required withholding amounts, workers’ take home pay is increased immediately.
The typical American family will have about $800 extra cash over the next year delivered to them in their paychecks to spend and to help the economy get back on track.
GOVERNOR Patrick Announces $300 Million Available for Student Loans
Affordable fixed-interest loans offered to Massachusetts families for 2009-2010 school year; education investments part of Massachusetts Recovery Plan
BRAINTREE – Wednesday, April 1, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced the availability of $300 million in low-cost, fixed-rate loans to help tens of thousands of families send their children to college this fall. This announcement follows several education investments the Governor has unveiled in recent weeks, in keeping with his efforts to expand educational opportunities to all Massachusetts students.
“The first step toward future success starts with education and securing opportunities for tomorrow’s workforce,” Governor Patrick said. “Through our continued partnership with MEFA, we are making a college education affordable and accessible for more Massachusetts students and that’s good news for all of us.”
Applications for the loans offered by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) are available beginning today for the 2009-2010 academic year. With a fixed interest rate as low as 7.75%, the loans are an affordable option for undergraduate students and families during these challenging economic times. MEFA loans also offer a predictable and stable monthly payment of $99.65 per $10,000 borrowed.
Today’s news of the loan offering comes on the heels of several education investments the Governor announced last month as part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan. Last week he announced that, with the help of federal education recovery funds, public colleges and universities in Massachusetts will receive an additional $162 million this year, preventing layoffs and program cuts and mitigating the need for schools to increase student fees to close budget gaps.
The Governor also previously committed $168 million in federal education recovery funds for K-12 schools and $280 million in federal education recovery funds for special education and preschool grants. Additionally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes substantial federal funding for Pell grants and work study programs.
The Patrick-Murray Administration also recently allocated $270 million in tax exempt bonds to MEFA to finance future education loans.
“As we continue our work to ensure all students are prepared academically for the challenges of college, we must also maintain our efforts to ensure they are able financially to access higher education,” said Education Secretary Paul Reville. “Governor Patrick has worked tirelessly to protect financial aid for students in the state budget and now we are fortunate to have this level of support for our partners at MEFA.” Secretary Reville and MEFA Executive Director Tom Graf joined Governor Patrick at Braintree High School to make today’s announcement.
“We at MEFA are grateful for the continued strong support of Governor Patrick,” said MEFA Executive Director Tom Graf. “In these uncertain economic times, students need all the help they can get in order to further their education and set themselves on a path for future success. These loans are an important tool for families as they seek to assist their children in meeting their educational goals.”
Currently, students across Massachusetts are receiving college acceptance letters and accompanying financial aid offers. MEFA loans are an attractive option for families who are seeking financial assistance beyond federal, state and institutional programs. MEFA’s standard 7.75% interest-rate loan compares favorably to the Federal PLUS loan for parents, which features interest rates of up to 8.5%. MEFA’s standard loan is also more competitive than most “direct-to-consumer” education loans offered by private banks, which can feature interest rates of up to 18 to 20 percent, and are often variable-rate, not fixed.
MEFA has trained education payment counselors available to help families evaluate higher education financing options. For added assistance, families can access www.mass.gov/studentloans, a website established by Governor Patrick last summer that includes helpful information and directs families to available resources.
Students and families can apply for loans online at www.MEFA.org/getaloan or by phone at (800) 449-MEFA.
Education investments are critical components of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future and support clean energy, broadband and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.
BRAINTREE – Wednesday, April 1, 2009 – As part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, Governor Deval Patrick today announced the availability of $300 million in low-cost, fixed-rate loans to help tens of thousands of families send their children to college this fall. This announcement follows several education investments the Governor has unveiled in recent weeks, in keeping with his efforts to expand educational opportunities to all Massachusetts students.
“The first step toward future success starts with education and securing opportunities for tomorrow’s workforce,” Governor Patrick said. “Through our continued partnership with MEFA, we are making a college education affordable and accessible for more Massachusetts students and that’s good news for all of us.”
Applications for the loans offered by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) are available beginning today for the 2009-2010 academic year. With a fixed interest rate as low as 7.75%, the loans are an affordable option for undergraduate students and families during these challenging economic times. MEFA loans also offer a predictable and stable monthly payment of $99.65 per $10,000 borrowed.
Today’s news of the loan offering comes on the heels of several education investments the Governor announced last month as part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan. Last week he announced that, with the help of federal education recovery funds, public colleges and universities in Massachusetts will receive an additional $162 million this year, preventing layoffs and program cuts and mitigating the need for schools to increase student fees to close budget gaps.
The Governor also previously committed $168 million in federal education recovery funds for K-12 schools and $280 million in federal education recovery funds for special education and preschool grants. Additionally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes substantial federal funding for Pell grants and work study programs.
The Patrick-Murray Administration also recently allocated $270 million in tax exempt bonds to MEFA to finance future education loans.
“As we continue our work to ensure all students are prepared academically for the challenges of college, we must also maintain our efforts to ensure they are able financially to access higher education,” said Education Secretary Paul Reville. “Governor Patrick has worked tirelessly to protect financial aid for students in the state budget and now we are fortunate to have this level of support for our partners at MEFA.” Secretary Reville and MEFA Executive Director Tom Graf joined Governor Patrick at Braintree High School to make today’s announcement.
“We at MEFA are grateful for the continued strong support of Governor Patrick,” said MEFA Executive Director Tom Graf. “In these uncertain economic times, students need all the help they can get in order to further their education and set themselves on a path for future success. These loans are an important tool for families as they seek to assist their children in meeting their educational goals.”
Currently, students across Massachusetts are receiving college acceptance letters and accompanying financial aid offers. MEFA loans are an attractive option for families who are seeking financial assistance beyond federal, state and institutional programs. MEFA’s standard 7.75% interest-rate loan compares favorably to the Federal PLUS loan for parents, which features interest rates of up to 8.5%. MEFA’s standard loan is also more competitive than most “direct-to-consumer” education loans offered by private banks, which can feature interest rates of up to 18 to 20 percent, and are often variable-rate, not fixed.
MEFA has trained education payment counselors available to help families evaluate higher education financing options. For added assistance, families can access www.mass.gov/studentloans, a website established by Governor Patrick last summer that includes helpful information and directs families to available resources.
Students and families can apply for loans online at www.MEFA.org/getaloan or by phone at (800) 449-MEFA.
Education investments are critical components of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan, which combines state, federal and, where possible, private efforts to provide immediate and long-term relief and position the Commonwealth for recovery in the following ways:
Deliver immediate relief by investing in the road, bridge and rail projects that put people to work today and providing safety net services that sustain people who are especially vulnerable during an economic crisis;
Build a better tomorrow through education and infrastructure investments that strengthen our economic competitiveness, prepare workers for the jobs of the future and support clean energy, broadband and technology projects that cut costs while growing the economy; and
Reform state government by eliminating the pension and ethics loopholes that discredit the work of government and revitalize the transportation networks that have suffered from decades of neglect and inaction.
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