06.25.09
What happened to Iran?
Who knows what happened in Iran today with the news of Mark Sanford, Farah Fawcet, and Michael Jackson? I don’t.
The MSM fascination with celebrity boggles the mind.
01.22.09
‘Milk’ meet Oscar
Gus Van Sant’s film “Milk” earned 8 Oscar nominations this morning including Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Film Editing, and Original Score. Congratulations all!
01.20.09
New Whitehouse.gov
The brand new Whitehouse.gov website is up and boy oh boy is it refreshing and inclusive. A few brand new features are the White House blog (an actual blog this time), a prominently displayed contact form and a page for President Obama’s weekly video addresses.
Also this is the bulk of the civil rights agenda for the new President.
Support for the LGBT Community
“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees’ domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
* Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
via Civil Rights.
BREAKING: Senator Kennedy and Senator Byrd suffer medical emergencies at inaugural luncheon
Both Robert Byrd (D, WVA) and Senator Ted Kennedy, (D, Mass) have suffered medical emergencies and have been taken away on stretchers. Our best to both and wishes for a speedy recovery.
Kennedy collapses at Obama luncheon – First Read – msnbc.com.
12.22.08
outinamerica.com – 66 Countries Back UN Statement for LGBT Human Rights
Guess who doesnt?
US and South Africa refuse, and ally with Russia, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia and Belarus.
outinamerica.com – 66 Countries Back UN Statement for LGBT Human Rights.
06.20.08
Six months later and NOW he writes something?!?!?!
Yeah, sorry guys, I’ve been so busy with the day job that I’ve hardly had time to update this site. Traveling the world and trying to maintain a long distance relationship and preparing to move make defending freedom and liberty (not to mention all the research) a difficult task.
When I have had time I’ve been writing for Pam’s House Blend. Some exciting news to come out of that. The Blend is going to Denver to blog the Democratic National Convention in August. Help send us to Colorado by clicking the donate button on the right side of Pam’s House Blend.
04.19.07
Holy Batsh*t Crazy:The lines start to blurr
There’s usually a clear line between that of Wesboro Baptist Church and organizations like the American Family Association, I’m starting to wonder though where that line has gone. Will Tim and Don Wildmon protest along side the Phelps clan at the Virginia Tech funerals? Here’s the video from the latest E-Blast “Action Alert” to come from the AFA.
I can only hope that someone will send another “Action Alert!” with the phrase “April Fools!”
03.28.07
Giving Tony Props
While this site and many others on this side of the political fence tend to give the current White House Spokesperson, and former Faux News correspondent, a lot of flak, we must take time out to acknowledge his bravery and courage in fighting his own personal and yet very public battles with Cancer. It would be hypocritical of us not to.
Just like Elizabeth Edwards he deserves our condolences and respect in this matter. And, just like Elizabeth Edwards, Tony Snow will continue on fighting his newest battle wit the big C, though his return is not known at this point.
Last year during a press briefing a reporter asked Tony Snow why he wears the yellow “LiveSTRONG” wrist band. He responded it was because of his battle with colon Cancer the year prior and the surgery he had to remove the cancer. He tried to fight back tears as he talked about it revealing that his mother had died when he was young from the same thing.
On Monday, March 26th Tony had surgery to remove a growth that had appeared in PET and CAT scans in his abdomen. It was reveald a day later by Mr. Snow that his cancer had spread to his liver and “elsewhere“.
NPR had this to say:
Snow himself broke the news to President Bush in a morning phone call.
The news came as a shock to White House staff. Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino broke down in tears when she first revealed Snow’s illness to reporters.
Later in the day, she said she couldn’t answer questions about his treatment or prognosis. But she said that Snow was on top of the news, and that he had suggested some talking points on the Iraq war funding bill.
Perino was also asked whether Snow would return to work.
“I do know that Tony Snow loves this job,” Perino said. “He says that it’s the best job he’s ever had in his life. He, in fact, has called it ‘Communications Disneyland.’”
While Snow is often combative in his work, he is also extremely comfortable at the podium and quick with a laugh.
It’s hard to overstate the value of such a persona to the White House — and to a second-term president beset by troubles at home and abroad.
Snow now faces a round of intense therapy; his return is uncertain.
While his return is unknown, President Bush is optimistic saying he looks forward to the day that his spokesman “comes back to the White House and briefs the press corps on the decisions that I’m making.”
“His attitude is, one, that he is not going to let this whip him, and he’s upbeat. My attitude is that we need to pray for him, and for his family,” Bush said. “And so my message to Tony is, ‘Stay strong; a lot of people love you and care for you and will pray for you.’ ”
Props to Tony Snow. May his treatment and recovery be short and pain free. May he and his family know that they are in the best of our thoughts and prayers as they deal with the uncertainties they face in the coming months and possibly years.
03.27.07
Tuscan Whole Milk!
Purchased on Amazon.com and shipped to your door!
Living in Hawaii, I was a bit skeptical of ordering milk from New York over the internet. But what the heck, over 900 reviews with 98.639842% positive, I decided to give it a shot. To save money on my purchase, I opted for ground shipping. It took about three weeks to move across country and then on a freighter out here. When it arrived (thankfully in a non descript plain brown box) I couldn’t wait to open it! Even though it had been sitting outside my door in direct sunlight for about 6 hours and the box was hotter than Hell in summer, the milk was still cold! I couldn’t believe it! Miracle Milk! After my first sip, I knew I was hooked! I finished that gallon and needed more. I went on-line and ordered more. I now have a connection in New York that receives it and personally flies it out here (first class, of course) with the milk in its own seat. Some might think it extravagent to pay $17,000 per gallon of milk, but this is Tuscan Whole milk!
I’m convinced! 
03.16.07
Eagerly Awaiting a Response to a Much Overlooked Issue
The following is a letter I wrote to Represtantive Meehan (D-MA). I’ll post his response when I get it.
Rep. Meehan,
I applaud your recent re-introduction of the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act.” I was the person in the corner live-blogging the event. As a gay former Airman I recognize the need to lift this hurtful ban on Military Professionals is like lifting a dark stain from Our Flag, however, I have some concerns for the effectiveness of the bill.
As I have noted in a discussion on Pam’s House Blend with Director of Communications for SLDN, Steve Ralls, the bill allows for military members to serve openly with conditions if it is passed, but it doesn’t get rid of the underlying problem of Article 125 of the UCMJ, “Sodomy.” The article is supposed to be applied to ALL members of the military equally regardless of sexual orientation specifying basically that which goes on behind closed doors is regulated to a specific position and only with a married member of the opposite sex. This means that even if the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act” is passed, it would still mean that Gays and Lesbians would not be allowed to serve openly.
Gays and lesbians would still be punished disproportionately to their heterosexual counterparts if they admitted to having a signifigant other, or boyfriend, or girlfriend, because this would imply an admission of sodomy. What this bill actually does is allow gays and lesbians to be openly celebate. It’s a reality that article 125 is not applied consistently throughout the military except in cases of homosexuality, adultry, rape, incest, or child molestation. Anyone can observe this by listening to candid conversations among military members of all branches of service. General Pace was wrong to call gays and lesbians “immoral,” but this shows how article 125 will be applied disproportionately. Simply stated, instead of gays and lesbians having to change pronouns when referring to their partners, they must eliminate pronouns out of their vocabulary all together. Where, sir, is the equality in this?
My reccomendation is to amend the “Military Readiness Enhancement Act” with either an amendment to Article 125 in the UCMJ or an elimination of Article 125 all together and still allowing punishment for Adultry, Rape, Incest, or Child Molestation. As it currently is, Article 125 negates the “MREA.”
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Daimeon Pilcher
TinyQueerFootballs.com
Get-The-Skinny.com
02.14.07
Hannity Listeners Prefer Adulterers For President
Sean Hannity who regularly has his buddy, former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich on his show, asked his listeners to identify “Which Republican would you vote for in ‘08 even if they aren’t officially running yet?” A question to which his listeners responed overwhelmingly that they’d prefer the adulterous political flunkee turned right-wing commentator.
Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House during the first part of the Clinton Impeachment debacle was discovered cheating on his ailing wife with a congressional aide.
At least they’re sensible enough to stay away from Sam Brownback.
McCain A Keynote Speaker at Creationists Meeting
February 23rd is just another day to most, but to those with a bit more geek factor it is known as Darwin Day. John “The Tool” McCain is set to deliver a Keynote speech a group of Creationists on this day. Thereby changing his previous stance on “Intelligent Design” being taught in public schools which changed his stance before that.
Think Progress has the story:
Yet, on February 23, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will be the keynote speaker for the most prominent creationism advocacy group in the country. The Discovery Institute, a religious right think-tank, is well-known for its strong opposition to evolutionary biology and its advocacy for “intelligent design.” The institute’s main financial backer, savings and loan heir Howard Ahmanson, spent 20 years on the board of the Chalcedon Foundation, “a theocratic outfit that advocates the replacement of American civil law with biblical law.”
Flip-Flop-Flip. Sounds like a fish struggling to breath out of water. Time to add another to the list.
(h/t PHB)
02.12.07
UK Putting the Bullets in the Guns for Valentine’s Day
Ladies and Gentlemen of the UK look out on Valentines Day! If you thought it was love in the air you might be mistaken.
