Politics: September 2009
Gay men are men, and some men are sexist
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 30, 2009 3:30 PM |It shouldn't really be that complicated, but there's a mini-uproar over Graham Norton (a gay, British comedian) being reprimanded by the BBC for making a derogatory comment about lesbians. He said, while pointing a picture of a large woman in...Read More
Maggie Gallagher's husband not welcome at NOM event?
Filed by Donna Pandori | September 30, 2009 2:30 PM |Anyone remotely tuned into the same-sex marriage debate has heard of Maggie Gallagher. Most know her from the national stir she has created as President of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy....Read More
Will we wait until it's too late?
Filed by Bil Browning | September 30, 2009 1:30 PM |Thomas Friedman has an excellent column in today's New York Times that's a must read. The writer bemoans the cheapening of our political debate and the potentially violent rabble-rousing the Republican party has embraced with open arms. I was in...Read More
Be a part of the National Equality March without leaving Indiana
Filed by Zac Hart | September 30, 2009 10:30 AM |When Indy Impact was first founded almost a year ago - the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) community was suffering from a massive blow from the passage of Proposition 8 in California. In a matter of 10 days, grassroots...Read More
Senator Reid, I Owe You An Apology And Thanks For Supporting Us On ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 30, 2009 10:30 AM |Dear Senator Reid: The other day, I questioned your commitment to the LGBT community on ENDA. I could not understand why you are not a co-sponsor of ENDA, though I know you had privately assured some back at the beginning...Read More
Senator Reid, I Owe You An Apology And Thanks For Supporting Us On ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 30, 2009 10:30 AM |Dear Senator Reid: The other day, I questioned your commitment to the LGBT community on ENDA. I could not understand why you are not a co-sponsor of ENDA, though I know you had privately assured some back at the beginning...Read More
Washington Post Trashes Bob McDonnell's Faux Transportation "Plan"
Filed by Michael Hamar | September 30, 2009 9:30 AM |Thank goodness someone in the MSM is going after Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell's smoke and mirrors fraud of a "plan" to fix Virginia's seriously broken and crumbling transportation system. McDonnell's house of cards "plan" is more of the "no new...Read More
Washington Post Trashes Bob McDonnell's Faux Transportation "Plan"
Filed by Michael Hamar | September 30, 2009 9:30 AM |Thank goodness someone in the MSM is going after Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell's smoke and mirrors fraud of a "plan" to fix Virginia's seriously broken and crumbling transportation system. McDonnell's house of cards "plan" is more of the "no new...Read More
Banned Books Week -- 10 LGBT Books to Keep Unbanned
Filed by Patricia Nell Warren | September 29, 2009 7:30 PM |Banned Books Week is an annual happening that celebrates the First Amendment freedom to get your hands on a book, whether for information or a good story. BBW also points up the dangers and insanities of censorship. I selected my...Read More
John Berry says ENDA is first
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 29, 2009 4:30 PM |OPM director John Berry talked a bit about LGBT legislation coming up, and he's saying that ENDA is first thing that'll have to pass: "The most important thing we can do right now is we got to ... secure the...Read More
Spanish gay billboards
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 29, 2009 1:30 PM |There are more pro-gay billboards going up, this time in the Milwaukee area. And some are in Spanish. They set up a website (with a Spanish version) where you can check all the billboards out. According to the Census Bureau,...Read More
The Morality of Health Care Reform, Pt. 5
Filed by Terrance Heath | September 28, 2009 5:00 PM |“The fundamental truth about health care in every country is that national values, national character, determine how each system works.” Prof. Uwe Reinhardt, Princeton Professor & Health Care Economist “I think health care is a privilege. I wouldn’t call...Read More
New Maine ad comes out swinging
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 28, 2009 4:00 PM |Ooohhh, this is good: Also in the news in Maine, the Diocese of Portland is calling for 40 days of prayer and fasting, which sounds remarkably like The Call from California's Prop 8 fight, which called for 40 days of...Read More
LGBT in Atlanta: "They are a swing vote"
Filed by Bil Browning | September 28, 2009 3:00 PM |Interesting. The LGBT vote is a swing vote in Atlanta. All four leading mayoral candidates -- Lisa Borders, Mary Norwood, Kasim Reed and Jesse Spikes -- sent statements urging city officials to conduct a fair investigation into the Sept. 10...Read More
Does policing Craigslist actually threaten safety?
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 28, 2009 1:30 PM |Editors' Note: Guest bloggers Andrea Ritchie and Jarad Ringer are two of New York City's foremost experts on violence against sex workers. Ms. Ritchie is the Director of the Sex Workers Project at Urban Justice Center. Mr. Ringer is the...Read More
Does policing Craigslist actually threaten safety?
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 28, 2009 1:30 PM |Editors' Note: Guest bloggers Andrea Ritchie and Jarad Ringer are two of New York City's foremost experts on violence against sex workers. Ms. Ritchie is the Director of the Sex Workers Project at Urban Justice Center. Mr. Ringer is the...Read More
The Personal Impact of "Don't Ask Don't Tell"
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 28, 2009 12:30 PM |The Virginian-Pilot ran a fascinating story yesterday looking at the impact DADT is having on the lives and families of gay and lesbian soldiers who are forced to remain closeted. Rather than focus on the political or military implications of...Read More
How Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Is Supporting ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 28, 2009 10:30 AM |Update: When I wrote this post, I was unaware that Senator Reid had enthusiastically endorsed ENDA in a public speech reported on in another blog. While I still have questions, it is important to admit when one is wrong, especially...Read More
How Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Is Supporting ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 28, 2009 10:30 AM |Update: When I wrote this post, I was unaware that Senator Reid had enthusiastically endorsed ENDA in a public speech reported on in another blog. While I still have questions, it is important to admit when one is wrong, especially...Read More
Why Polanski, After All These Years?
Filed by Brynn Craffey | September 28, 2009 9:30 AM |George Bush remains free and charged with no crimes, despite lying the American people into an illegal war and occupation that has so far cost taxpayers $700 billion (by the time you read this) and resulted in the deaths of...Read More
Why Polanski, After All These Years?
Filed by Brynn Craffey | September 28, 2009 9:30 AM |George Bush remains free and charged with no crimes, despite lying the American people into an illegal war and occupation that has so far cost taxpayers $700 billion (by the time you read this) and resulted in the deaths of...Read More
America's Fastest Growing Religious Segment: Those with No Religion
Filed by Michael Hamar | September 28, 2009 9:30 AM |A new Trinity College report looks at what ought to be frightening to all religious denominations (perhaps the Catholic Church the most): the fact that the fastest growing segment of the American population in terms of religion is those people...Read More
Rick Warren, Paul Kagame is no man of peace
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 27, 2009 4:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Nakhone Keodara is the Campaign Coordinator of A Peaceful Legacy: Campaign to Remove Bombs from Laos, and sits on the Advocacy Committee of Legacies of War. He is a community organizer and founder of the Gays...Read More
Rick Warren, Paul Kagame is no man of peace
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 27, 2009 4:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Nakhone Keodara is the Campaign Coordinator of A Peaceful Legacy: Campaign to Remove Bombs from Laos, and sits on the Advocacy Committee of Legacies of War. He is a community organizer and founder of the Gays...Read More
Sorry I Haven't Written
Filed by Rebecca Juro | September 27, 2009 2:30 PM |It's been a busy summer. Between trying to find the parts to fix my 20-year-old car (after three months we were successful and the car is being worked on as I write this), looking for some paying work as a...Read More
The Morality of Health Care Reform, Pt. 4
Filed by Terrance Heath | September 27, 2009 10:00 AM |...[Q]uality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to. This is...Read More
The Morality of Health Care Reform, Pt 3.
Filed by Terrance Heath | September 26, 2009 4:00 PM |"I don't understand you Americans. You blow billions on a useless war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and billions more to bail out banks that nearly bankrupted the world economy, but you don't ensure healthcare for your own people. Even...Read More
Socialism and Gay Marriage -- Horse and Carriage?
Filed by Patricia Nell Warren | September 26, 2009 2:00 PM |There seems to be no limit to right-wingers' inventiveness when they start elaborating on the awfulness of "gay evil." With righters inveighing against both socialism and gay marriage, it was inevitable that some lightbulb was going to link those two...Read More
Socialism and Gay Marriage -- Horse and Carriage?
Filed by Patricia Nell Warren | September 26, 2009 2:00 PM |There seems to be no limit to right-wingers' inventiveness when they start elaborating on the awfulness of "gay evil." With righters inveighing against both socialism and gay marriage, it was inevitable that some lightbulb was going to link those two...Read More
Legal issues in ENDA 2009 version, Round 1
Filed by Nan Hunter | September 26, 2009 12:00 PM |Wednesday's hearing before the House Education and Labor Committee probably could not have gone better for supporters of ENDA. You can watch it and access copies of all the written testimony at the Committee's website. Special cheers to witnesses Vandy...Read More
DC LGBT News Round Up: AIDS forum, gay police, and gay love
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 26, 2009 10:30 AM |There's more than a little LGBT related news in the DC metro area. Here's a quick round up of some stories I thought you'd be interested in: The White House held a community forum on HIV/AIDS in D.C. D.C. has...Read More
Florida LGBT News Round-Up: A Little Bit of This and That
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 25, 2009 12:00 PM |Here's a little round-up of this and that from around the state that I thought you should know! As always, leave more stories and links that we might have missed in the comments! * Former Congressman Mark Foley on the...Read More
Thank You, Senator Michael Bennet: Senate Movement on ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 25, 2009 10:30 AM |The office of Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado has confirmed that he has signed on as a co-sponsor of S1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009. Senator Bennet is the first Senator to co-sponsor since the Senate bill was introduced...Read More
Thank You, Senator Michael Bennet: Senate Movement on ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 25, 2009 10:30 AM |The office of Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado has confirmed that he has signed on as a co-sponsor of S1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009. Senator Bennet is the first Senator to co-sponsor since the Senate bill was introduced...Read More
Melina Kennedy gets early endorsement for 2011 mayoral race
Filed by Bil Browning | September 25, 2009 9:30 AM |While Democrat Melina Kennedy has already announced she'll be seeking the party's nomination for the 2011 mayoral race, yesterday's endorsement of her campaign came as a mild shock. The Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 120 (Indianapolis) announced...Read More
Los Angeles Group Files Ballot to Repeal Prop 8
Filed by Karen Ocamb | September 24, 2009 7:30 PM |A coalition of grassroots groups seeking to repeal Prop 8 in California next year filed an initiative with the state Attorney General Thursday morning. However, there is still no consensus on strategy or ballot language. The proposed initiative submitted by...Read More
The Morality of Health Care Reform, Pt. 2
Filed by Terrance Heath | September 24, 2009 5:30 PM |"We are determined to make every American citizen the subject of his country's interest and concern; and we will never regard any faithful law-abiding group within our borders as superfluous. The test of our progress is not whether we...Read More
The Conversation America Won't Have on Race
Filed by Rev Irene Monroe | September 24, 2009 4:30 PM |If we resided in a post-racial society then William Faulkner's words uttered in the 20th century would not ring true in this century - "The past isn't dead and buried. In fact, it isn't even past." With the election of...Read More
FL Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Slams U.N. Leader for Anti-Gay Comments
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 24, 2009 2:30 PM |Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has issued a scathing statement against the new president of the United Nations General Assembly, Ali Abdessalam Treki (who is a former foreign minister of Libya) for recent remarks that seemed to favor the criminalization of...Read More
Yesterday's ENDA Hearing: Use It To Pass ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 24, 2009 11:30 AM |Yesterday morning, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on ENDA. It was very good for the bill, raising awareness in many different ways and among many different consituencies. (See Austen's summary and our liveblog, as well...Read More
Yesterday's ENDA Hearing: Use It To Pass ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 24, 2009 11:30 AM |Yesterday morning, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on ENDA. It was very good for the bill, raising awareness in many different ways and among many different consituencies. (See Austen's summary and our liveblog, as well...Read More
Gay marriage is Socialism
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 24, 2009 9:30 AM |Rep. Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, thinks same-sex marriage is part of the socialist cabal: If there's a push for a socialist society where the foundations of individual rights and liberties are undermined and everybody is thrown together living...Read More
Congressional hearing on ENDA: great success!
Filed by Austen Crowder | September 23, 2009 7:30 PM |This morning's meeting on ENDA was crucial to the bill's passage. Thankfully, the witnesses really knocked the ball out of the park; hard facts, touching stories, and legal implications were all handled in turn. Rep. Barney Frank's testimony and its...Read More
New UN President: Being Gay Is "Unacceptable"
Filed by Bil Browning | September 23, 2009 5:30 PM |The new President of the United Nations, Ali Abdussalam Treki, held a press conference today on a wide range of topics. Treki is from Libya, an Arabic country with a poor track record on LGBT rights. When Treki was asked...Read More
Washington's R-71 updates: Polling, the 50's that neither lived nor died, and everyone's a victim
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 23, 2009 4:30 PM |New poll! According to internal polling released yesterday by the Approve R-71 (the pro-gay side), they're up 51-45. That's a whole lot closer than earlier polling that suggested domestic partnerships were favored 66-33. The Seattle P-I speculated that the discrepancy...Read More
Harry Jackson at the Values Voter Summit
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 23, 2009 3:30 PM |I wrote the other day about Harry Jackson's speech at the Values Voter Summit where he pleaded with his fellow right-wingers to tone down their racist attacks against President Obama because they were making it hard for him to Blacks...Read More
Larry Kramer: "We get what we fight for. And we are not fighting."
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 23, 2009 12:30 PM |Larry Kramer gave a speech at Dallas Gay Pride on Sunday and in typical Larry Kramer style he was tough and aggressive. We get what we fight for. And we are not fighting. Every single one of us is not...Read More
Protect Maine Equality Needs Effective Response to School Fear Mongering
Filed by Dana Rudolph | September 23, 2009 12:30 PM |"Stand for Marriage Maine" has just released "Everything to Do With Schools," the latest TV ad in their campaign to revoke marriage equality. Some of you may recognize the name from an ad used during the Prop 8 campaign. As...Read More
Liveblogging the ENDA Hearing
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 23, 2009 10:00 AM |This morning is the hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, H.R. 3017, before the House Committee on Education and Labor. This hearing is crucial to ENDA's passage. At the same time as the live webcast, we will be...Read More
Liveblogging the ENDA Hearing
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 23, 2009 10:00 AM |This morning is the hearing on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, H.R. 3017, before the House Committee on Education and Labor. This hearing is crucial to ENDA's passage. At the same time as the live webcast, we will be...Read More
Honoring Rep Carson and Joe Miller
Filed by Bil Browning | September 23, 2009 9:30 AM |Indiana Stonewall Democrats will honor Congressman Andre Carson and local businessman and philanthropist Joe Miller for their work on LGBT issues on October 11. The Frank O'Bannon award will be presented to Congressman Andre Carson for legislative leadership on LGBT...Read More
Honoring Rep Carson and Joe Miller
Filed by Bil Browning | September 23, 2009 9:30 AM |Indiana Stonewall Democrats will honor Congressman Andre Carson and local businessman and philanthropist Joe Miller for their work on LGBT issues on October 11. The Frank O'Bannon award will be presented to Congressman Andre Carson for legislative leadership on LGBT...Read More
ENDA liveblog tomorrow & some inspiration tonight
Filed by Bil Browning | September 22, 2009 6:30 PM |Tomorrow morning at 10am Eastern, Dr. Jillian Weiss will be liveblogging the ENDA hearing in front of the Committee on Education and Labor. This hearing is crucial to ENDA's passage. You can sign up here to be e-mailed a reminder...Read More
Should men use condoms while cruising for sex?
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 22, 2009 5:30 PM |I love the stories about peopel who just plain don't like cruisers. It's always "They're having unprotected sex!" followed by "We know that because we found condoms!" Just say you don't like the idea that people are having sex and...Read More
Congrats to Russell Brown
Filed by Bil Browning | September 22, 2009 5:00 PM |Congratulations to Russell Brown, the new Lawrence Township Trustee. Russell replaces Mike Hobbs an openly gay politician who was forced to resign the position after pleading guilty to stealing $500 from the Township fire department to pay his rent. Russell...Read More
ENDA Hearing Witnesses: Who Are They And What Will They Say?
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 22, 2009 10:30 AM |The Congressional hearing on ENDA this Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 am ET, before the Committee on Education and Labor, is crucial to its passage. The hearing by the full Committee on Education and Labor will be available to watch...Read More
ENDA Hearing Witnesses: Who Are They And What Will They Say?
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 22, 2009 10:30 AM |The Congressional hearing on ENDA this Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 am ET, before the Committee on Education and Labor, is crucial to its passage. The hearing by the full Committee on Education and Labor will be available to watch...Read More
All the latest National Equality March news
Filed by Bil Browning | September 21, 2009 3:30 PM |Tons of news about the National Equality March lately... Equality Across America released a long list of events happening that weekend. A huge group of celebrities and faith leaders are now endorsing the March. Need a ride? Broadway stars are...Read More
Harry Jackson's latest Blacks vs gays talking points
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 21, 2009 3:18 PM |Anti-equality activist Bishop Harry Jackson is at it again. A featured speaker at the Value Voter Summit over the weekend, Jackson called on his fellow right-wingers to tone down their overtly racist attacks against President Obama because it made it...Read More
What's Barney Frank thinking?
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 21, 2009 2:30 PM |While I still think this is all abstract considering the fact that DOMA repeal won't be happening for at least four years, I'm wondering what Barney Frank is thinking: "I do think it can complicate things electorally for Members" supporting...Read More
Help the Yes Men prank a climate change conference
Filed by Don Davis | September 21, 2009 1:30 PM |It's time, once again, to bring you the news that is not yet news. For those not yet aware, there will be a climate change conference in New York City next week, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations....Read More
Help the Yes Men prank a climate change conference
Filed by Don Davis | September 21, 2009 1:30 PM |It's time, once again, to bring you the news that is not yet news. For those not yet aware, there will be a climate change conference in New York City next week, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations....Read More
Naked women will turn America's boys gay
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 21, 2009 11:30 AM |Michael Schwartz, Tom Coburn's chief of staff, seems to have gotten ahead of himself at the Value Voters Summit. According to him, male homosexuality can be cause by looking through a Playboy. All porn in gay porn, and we need...Read More
31 US Senators call for swift action on Ryan White - None from Florida
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | September 21, 2009 11:00 AM |As a Floridian living with AIDS, I'm extremely concerned with the deafening silence from both of Florida's United States Senators Bill Nelson and George LeMieux on the urgency to extend the Ryan White program. When you factor in that approximately...Read More
House ENDA Committee Hearings Start Wednesday: Salted With ENDA Opponents
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 21, 2009 10:30 AM |There will be an extremely important Congressional hearing on ENDA this Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 am ET. It is before the Committee on Education and Labor. It will have a lot to do with whether ENDA succeeds or not....Read More
House ENDA Committee Hearings Start Wednesday: Salted With ENDA Opponents
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 21, 2009 10:30 AM |There will be an extremely important Congressional hearing on ENDA this Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 am ET. It is before the Committee on Education and Labor. It will have a lot to do with whether ENDA succeeds or not....Read More
DC and marriage equality: our time is now
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 21, 2009 9:30 AM |Editor's Note: Guest blogger Monique Ellison is an ordained minister and LGBT activist in Washington, DC. The LGBT community has a great opportunity this fall. Council Member David Catania is expected to introduce legislation that will bring marriage equality to...Read More
Exceptions
Filed by Brynn Craffey | September 21, 2009 9:30 AM |I try to check the headlines in the UK's Guardian, if not on a daily basis, at least every few days. On Saturday, I came across a tragic story of two young, British, working-class men in love with each other,...Read More
Maine, The Way Life Should Be
Filed by Sara Whitman | September 20, 2009 7:00 PM |I love the sign that marks the entrance into Maine on I95. "Maine: The way life should be." Every time I cross the Piscataqua bridge, I heave a big sigh of relief. I love Maine. Everything about it. Today, I...Read More
Arguments Against ENDA - Are We Ready? (Part III)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 20, 2009 5:30 PM |One of the major underlying and often-unstated arguments against ENDA, in addition to concerns about pedophilia, fear of loss of religious freedom a sudden flood of litigation and concerns about gay quotas, is transphobia - an irrational fear of transgender...Read More
Arguments Against ENDA - Are We Ready? (Part III)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 20, 2009 5:30 PM |One of the major underlying and often-unstated arguments against ENDA, in addition to concerns about pedophilia, fear of loss of religious freedom a sudden flood of litigation and concerns about gay quotas, is transphobia - an irrational fear of transgender...Read More
Thank you Jeremy Bishop
Filed by Gloria Nieto | September 19, 2009 12:00 PM |There are big changes happening at Pride at Work. Yesterday was the last day for long time Executive Director (and fellow Bilerico Project contributor), Jeremy Bishop. He is another talented gay man scooped up by the administration. Jeremy has done...Read More
Florida LGBT News Round-Up: Get Your News On!
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 19, 2009 12:00 PM |Here's a little round-up of this and that from around the state that I thought you should know! As always, leave more stories and links in the comments that we might have missed! * National Center for Lesbian Rights: Training...Read More
More polling in Maine
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 18, 2009 3:00 PM |Here's the most recent polling in Maine from Research 2000 by DailyKos: The numbers aren't too bad right now; this could go either way. The break-down is what we've seen in all these campaigns before: women, younger people, Democrats, and...Read More
IAAF Official Wants to Sweep the Caster Semenyas Under the Rug
Filed by Mercedes Allen | September 18, 2009 1:00 PM |Sprinter Caster Semenya has been placed on suicide watch in the wake of leaked tests apparently showing evidence of intersexuality as well as the negative press she's received. The news of this has prompted Lord Coe, a vice-president of the...Read More
Laos: An LGBT Issue and Ally
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 18, 2009 11:00 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Nakhone Keodara is the Campaign Coordinator of A Peaceful Legacy: Campaign to Remove Bombs from Laos, and sits on the Advocacy Committee of Legacies of War. He is a community organizer and founder of the Gays...Read More
Laos: An LGBT Issue and Ally
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 18, 2009 11:00 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Nakhone Keodara is the Campaign Coordinator of A Peaceful Legacy: Campaign to Remove Bombs from Laos, and sits on the Advocacy Committee of Legacies of War. He is a community organizer and founder of the Gays...Read More
Florida's George LeMieux: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 18, 2009 10:30 AM |There is something new under the sun: a new Senator from Florida. After the resignation of Senator Mel Martinez, Governor Crist appointed George LeMieux, his former Chief of Staff. Senator LeMieux only recently has a shiny new Senate telephone number...Read More
Florida's George LeMieux: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 18, 2009 10:30 AM |There is something new under the sun: a new Senator from Florida. After the resignation of Senator Mel Martinez, Governor Crist appointed George LeMieux, his former Chief of Staff. Senator LeMieux only recently has a shiny new Senate telephone number...Read More
When all else fails, just lie, lie, lie
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 18, 2009 9:30 AM |Here's the yard sign (via Slog) that the homophobes are putting up in Washington to defeat R-71, the ballot question that asks voters to approve of the major expansion of domestic partnerships the state legislature passed earlier this year. Notice...Read More
No Impact Man and the Bizarre Notion that Heteronormativity Lacks Impact
Filed by Jessica Hoffmann | September 17, 2009 6:00 PM |The new documentary No Impact Man is about a man who tried to reduce his environmental footprint as much as possible for a year. Actually, as Jonathan Hiskes pointed out at Grist, it's a documentary about an entire household (husband/father,...Read More
Death Toll Climbs as Congress fails to Act Swiftly on Ryan White
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | September 17, 2009 3:00 PM |Moments ago I learned the life of a second friend has been claimed to AIDS-related complications, all within 1 week. Both individuals served valiantly in this fight. In the absence of any meaning healthcare reform, we must mobilize our communities...Read More
Let's Stop Talking About Failure and Go Win
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 17, 2009 12:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest bloggers Kip Williams and Robin McGehee are the Co-Directors of the National Equality March. As Co-Directors of the National Equality March scheduled for October 10-11 of this year, we were moved yesterday by Toni Broaddus's post reminding...Read More
Let's Stop Talking About Failure and Go Win
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 17, 2009 12:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest bloggers Kip Williams and Robin McGehee are the Co-Directors of the National Equality March. As Co-Directors of the National Equality March scheduled for October 10-11 of this year, we were moved yesterday by Toni Broaddus's post reminding...Read More
Ohio's Voinovich: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 17, 2009 10:30 AM |Ohio is a key state in the fight for ENDA. Senator Voinovich is a fair-minded Republican who seems to be leaning yes on ENDA. Please call him today to ask for his support. Facts and contact info after the jump....Read More
Ohio's Voinovich: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 17, 2009 10:30 AM |Ohio is a key state in the fight for ENDA. Senator Voinovich is a fair-minded Republican who seems to be leaning yes on ENDA. Please call him today to ask for his support. Facts and contact info after the jump....Read More
FL Co-Sponsors of DOMA Repeal Legislation
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 17, 2009 10:30 AM |Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) has announce the introduction of the "Respect for Marriage Act." The legislation would repeal the odious Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which passed Congress and was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996. There are...Read More
D.C. Center 's Distinguished Service Award to Phil Mendelson
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 17, 2009 10:00 AM |Editor's note: Guest blogger Bob Summersgill is a long-time GLBT rights activist in the District of Columbia who has successfully led numerous human rights efforts. He delivered the following remarks while presenting a Distinguished Service Award to Councilmember Phil Mendelson...Read More
Maine's No on 1 Campaign responds to the Perfesser
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 17, 2009 9:30 AM |It looks like the No on 1 Campaign in Maine learned a lot of the right lessons from the No on 8 Campaign in California 2008. Here's an ad that responds to the silly, poorly-produced rightwing "Perfesser" ad against same-sex...Read More
Rep. Earl Blumenauer: DOMA "Worst Vote of My Political Career"
Filed by Bil Browning | September 16, 2009 6:00 PM |Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) published a column on the Huffington Post today entitled, "Proudly Changing My Position on DOMA". The Congressman details his decision making process and takes responsibility for his vote. On July 12, 1996, I cast the worst...Read More
Love your inner lesbian
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 16, 2009 3:00 PM |Here's a new poster ad campaign being run in the UK by Stonewall, an LGBT group, directed towards lesbian and bisexual women. I think it's cute, but do you think it's effective? The other two posters in the campaign are...Read More
Judy the "Teabagger" disrupts meeting of Broward's AIDS advocates and Senator Nelson's staff
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | September 16, 2009 1:30 PM |It was a hot and humid afternoon yesterday in South Florida when I accompanied a team of clients from The Poverello Center to meet with US Senator Bill Nelson's Broward district office staff. These courageous individuals were determined to communicate...Read More
Danish unwed mother tourism ad FAIL
Filed by Bil Browning | September 16, 2009 1:00 PM |WTF? Who signed off on this Danish advertising gimmick of an actress posing as an unwed mother looking for the foreigner who fathered her child? The Danish tourism agency called the faked video, "a nice and sweet story about a...Read More
What is equality, really?
Filed by Amy Hunter | September 16, 2009 1:00 PM |Equality; being involved in LGBT politics means that I probably utter or hear this word a hundred or more times every day but, do I truly understand what it means? What are the implications it carries for my private as...Read More
What is equality, really?
Filed by Amy Hunter | September 16, 2009 1:00 PM |Equality; being involved in LGBT politics means that I probably utter or hear this word a hundred or more times every day but, do I truly understand what it means? What are the implications it carries for my private as...Read More
Montana's Max Baucus: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 16, 2009 10:30 AM |Montana is a key state in the fight for ENDA. Senator Baucus's colleague, Senator Tester, has indicated his support for ENDA privately. Will Senator Baucus support ENDA? Please call him today to ask for his support. Facts and contact info...Read More
Montana's Max Baucus: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 16, 2009 10:30 AM |Montana is a key state in the fight for ENDA. Senator Baucus's colleague, Senator Tester, has indicated his support for ENDA privately. Will Senator Baucus support ENDA? Please call him today to ask for his support. Facts and contact info...Read More
Repeal DOMA bill introduced in Congress
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 16, 2009 9:30 AM |Yesterday Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Respect for Marriage Act, which would overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA.) was passed by Congress and signed into law in 1996. The Respect for Marriage Act, which is a brilliant name...Read More
Joan Walsh @ Salon: The Blackening of the president
Filed by Pam Spaulding | September 15, 2009 6:30 PM |There's a portion of America that has insisted, despite ample evidence to the contrary, that the nomination and election of the first black president was proof that we've reached a post-racial society. The President's status as a biracial man largely...Read More
Joan Walsh @ Salon: The Blackening of the president
Filed by Pam Spaulding | September 15, 2009 6:30 PM |There's a portion of America that has insisted, despite ample evidence to the contrary, that the nomination and election of the first black president was proof that we've reached a post-racial society. The President's status as a biracial man largely...Read More
DOMA repeal legislation introduced
Filed by Bil Browning | September 15, 2009 4:30 PM |Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) had a press conference today to announce the introduction of the "Respect for Marriage Act." The legislation would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act that passed Congress and was signed into law by President Clinton in...Read More
Loose ends in same-sex marriage bans: divorce
Filed by Austen Crowder | September 15, 2009 4:30 PM |From the Chicago Tribune: Indiana court turns down same-sex divorce request: An Indiana judge has turned down a divorce request from two women married in Canada, ruling that state law doesn't give courts the authority to dissolve same-sex marriages. These...Read More
Take Action - Ryan White program expires in 2 weeks
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | September 15, 2009 1:00 PM |On September 30, 2009, the Ryan White Act will expire endangering the essential access to care, treatment and support services to many people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Last week, 72 Members of Congress joined Congressman Hank Johnson...Read More
Chai Feldblum nominated to EEOC
Filed by Nancy Polikoff | September 15, 2009 12:30 PM |The White House announced Monday that it will nominate Chai Feldblum, LGBT rights scholar and advocate, to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Chai is a Georgetown Law Professor, former law clerk to former Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, a primary...Read More
EQCA: What should our priorities be?
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 15, 2009 11:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Geoff Kors is the Executive Director of Equality California. It's been a stunning year in California. We've seen partisan gridlock and a budget showdown that led to millions of dollars being cut from critical programs that...Read More
EQCA: What should our priorities be?
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 15, 2009 11:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Geoff Kors is the Executive Director of Equality California. It's been a stunning year in California. We've seen partisan gridlock and a budget showdown that led to millions of dollars being cut from critical programs that...Read More
Indiana's Lugar: Fighting ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 15, 2009 10:30 AM |Last week, Indiana's Senator Richard Lugar was our ENDA Legislator of the Day. Reports were that he was one of a few fair-minded Republican Senators who favored ENDA. But those reports were apparently wrong. Betty Greene Salwak has posted a...Read More
Indiana's Lugar: Fighting ENDA
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 15, 2009 10:30 AM |Last week, Indiana's Senator Richard Lugar was our ENDA Legislator of the Day. Reports were that he was one of a few fair-minded Republican Senators who favored ENDA. But those reports were apparently wrong. Betty Greene Salwak has posted a...Read More
The Catholic Church enters Maine's marriage battle
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 15, 2009 9:30 AM |The Catholic Church is revving up for the ballot initiative in Maine. Does anyone think it's appropriate for the Church to be saying that a legal contract is defined by God? Notice the children being forced to participate in this...Read More
On loyalty oaths
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 14, 2009 6:00 PM |I'm sure you've all heard by now that Rep. Jerry Nadler plans on introducing a bill to repeal DOMA in the House, and that Barney Frank isn't co-sponsoring because he's worried that the "certainty principle" will be a poison pill...Read More
5 reasons why same-sex marriage in D.C. would be huge
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 14, 2009 12:30 PM |Editor's Note: Guest blogger Michael A. Jones blogs about LGBT issues for Change.org. He is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human...Read More
North Dakota's Conrad: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 14, 2009 10:30 AM |North Dakota is a key state in the fight for ENDA. North Dakota's Senator Kent Conrad may be a supporter of ENDA, but his vote is unconfirmed. Please call him today to ask for his support of S.1584. Facts and...Read More
North Dakota's Conrad: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 14, 2009 10:30 AM |North Dakota is a key state in the fight for ENDA. North Dakota's Senator Kent Conrad may be a supporter of ENDA, but his vote is unconfirmed. Please call him today to ask for his support of S.1584. Facts and...Read More
Funny guy
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 14, 2009 9:30 AM |John Marcotte has filed the paperwork to start collecting signatures to get a proposition on the ballot in California to overturn divorce. To be clear, I'm a big fan of divorce, short-term relationships, and people moving on with their lives...Read More
Senator Lugar Responds
Filed by Betty Greene Salwak | September 13, 2009 11:00 PM |A recent post by Jillian Weiss asked Projectors to contact Indiana Senator Richard Lugar about supporting ENDA legislation. She provided links and asked if he responded to let her know. In August, Dr. Weiss made it just as easy then...Read More
Are We Ready? Arguments Against ENDA (Part II)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 13, 2009 7:00 PM |ENDA is coming, and we must get ready for the coming onslaught of illogical arguments. Anything involving religion in politics, even peripherally, is sure to frighten some that the government is infringing their right to practice their religion. Fortunately, ENDA...Read More
Are We Ready? Arguments Against ENDA (Part II)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 13, 2009 7:00 PM |ENDA is coming, and we must get ready for the coming onslaught of illogical arguments. Anything involving religion in politics, even peripherally, is sure to frighten some that the government is infringing their right to practice their religion. Fortunately, ENDA...Read More
The Religious Right is Swiftboating Same Sex Marriage in Maine
Filed by Karen Ocamb | September 13, 2009 4:00 PM |"God has no grandchildren," the evangelical ex-Marine father of my late friend Chip Howe said, explaining how he surrendered judgment and came to accept Chip's homosexuality. Chip, a Lieutenant in the Navy during the Vietnam War, was supposed to get...Read More
The Religious Right is Swiftboating Same Sex Marriage in Maine
Filed by Karen Ocamb | September 13, 2009 4:00 PM |"God has no grandchildren," the evangelical ex-Marine father of my late friend Chip Howe said, explaining how he surrendered judgment and came to accept Chip's homosexuality. Chip, a Lieutenant in the Navy during the Vietnam War, was supposed to get...Read More
Marriage Equality and Sept 11: The Connection You Might Have Missed
Filed by Gloria Nieto | September 13, 2009 2:30 PM |Friday was a sad day in the annals of this country. Eight years ago we lost so many Americans which led to losing so many more Americans in a war started on lies, pomposity and subterfuge. I better be careful...Read More
Mormon Men of Power and Authority in our Governments: Why They're Big trouble!
Filed by Bobby Parker | September 12, 2009 2:00 PM |I'm an 'inactive Mormon.' That means I don't go to church and don't give 'em money anymore. For my grandchildren's sakes, it sounds better in Mormon parlance for Grandpa Parker to be inactive rather than a nonbeliever. Semantics...but don't we...Read More
White Whine
Filed by Kate Clinton | September 12, 2009 12:00 PM |For all I know, Keith Olberman might still be doing his special extended commentary on the You Lie Guy, but I had to get to bed. I have not checked this morning to see if he is still going strong...Read More
Caster Semenya is a woman, now what?
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 12, 2009 10:00 AM |There's a lot to talk about when it comes to Caster, but I'll preface this by saying that finding out that there are some people who are unwilling to accept her gender (using that term intentionally) at face value, online...Read More
My House Made Headlines at 5 a.m. This Morning, or, America Is Falling Apart
Filed by Patricia Nell Warren | September 11, 2009 6:00 PM |Last night, around 3 a.m., our corner was suddenly the frantic focus of Los Angeles municipal emergency services. I was actually awake and working at my computer, when the water pipes in the house made a strange whooshing sound. Lights...Read More
My House Made Headlines at 5 a.m. This Morning, or, America Is Falling Apart
Filed by Patricia Nell Warren | September 11, 2009 6:00 PM |Last night, around 3 a.m., our corner was suddenly the frantic focus of Los Angeles municipal emergency services. I was actually awake and working at my computer, when the water pipes in the house made a strange whooshing sound. Lights...Read More
DC gearing up for marriage bill introduction
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 11, 2009 1:30 PM |I wrote last week that now is the time for marriage equality in DC and the City Council is gearing up to make that happen. 10 of 13 members of the Council are reportedly co-sponsors a marriage bill that is...Read More
Florida LGBT News Round-Up
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 11, 2009 1:00 PM |Here's some news I thought everyone should read about things going on around the state that impact the LGBT community. Feel free to leave more stories and links in the comments! * Florida's LGBT seniors seek resources, face concerns -...Read More
Gordon Brown apologizes to Alan Turing
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 11, 2009 11:30 AM |Alan Turing, a gay mathematical genius from a half-century ago, finally got an apology from the British government after a petition gathered 30,000 signatures for it. Without Turing's work, the computer age would have looked quite different. His work on...Read More
False Apologies
Filed by Storm Bear | September 11, 2009 11:00 AM |click to enlarge Yesterday Joe Wilson did not fail to entertain again. He emitted several apologies that really weren't. In one interview he claims the GOP leadership told him to apologize, it wasn't something that came from his heart....Read More
ENDA Hearing Scheduled, and Montana's Senator Baucus
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 11, 2009 10:30 AM |I have heard tell that there is a hearing on ENDA scheduled in the House for next Friday, September 18. Things are starting to move, and move quickly. Time to starting linking hands and singing! Today I'm off to the...Read More
ENDA Hearing Scheduled, and Montana's Senator Baucus
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 11, 2009 10:30 AM |I have heard tell that there is a hearing on ENDA scheduled in the House for next Friday, September 18. Things are starting to move, and move quickly. Time to starting linking hands and singing! Today I'm off to the...Read More
The Wingnut View Of Reality
Filed by Storm Bear | September 10, 2009 11:30 PM |click to enlarge Sometimes you have to wonder about Republicans, especially those elected. I know some Republican citizens who work for a living and they have their heads on straight, but these ass clowns in Congress make me scratch...Read More
Same-sex partners benefits and the state of Virginia
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 10, 2009 2:24 PM |Editor's Note: Guest blogger Bob Witeck, native citizen of Virginia, is a graduate of the University of Virginia (1974) and CEO/co-founder of Witeck-Combs Communications, which specializes in consulting with corporations and nonprofits on LGBT households, marketing, and public relations. For...Read More
Netroots Magic: Joe Wilson's trashing is Rob Miller's treasure
Filed by Phil Reese | September 10, 2009 1:30 PM |UPDATE:According to Rob Miller's Act Blue site, he's raised over $510,000 in under 24 hours. Bil Browning noted that this is about $1,000 a minute! Last night when the tweets began flooding in about S.C. G.O.P. Rep. Joe Wilson's misguided...Read More
University of South Florida to offer Domestic Partner Benefits
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 10, 2009 1:00 PM |USF President Judy Genshaft said the Tampa-based school plans to start offering full domestic partner benefits to employees. The benefits would cover both heterosexual and same-sex couples, although the university is still hammering out the final details and eligibility requirements....Read More
Indy Impact raises $1000 for Lambda Legal
Filed by Zac Hart | September 10, 2009 1:00 PM |Last week was Indy Impact's first fundraiser, a Taste of Equality, a wine tasting supporting marriage equality. I am glad to report that the event was a HUGE success! With almost 100 people in attendance, with the wine flowing freely,...Read More
Indiana's Richard Lugar: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 10, 2009 11:30 AM |Indiana has a fair-minded Senate Republican, Senator Lugar, who may very well vote in favor of ENDA. Please contact him today to ask for his support on S1584 in the U.S. Senate. Facts and contact info after the jump....Read More
Indiana's Richard Lugar: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 10, 2009 11:30 AM |Indiana has a fair-minded Senate Republican, Senator Lugar, who may very well vote in favor of ENDA. Please contact him today to ask for his support on S1584 in the U.S. Senate. Facts and contact info after the jump....Read More
What the birthers really believe
Filed by Bil Browning | September 10, 2009 10:00 AM |The next time you visit Advance Indiana and read one of Gary Welsh's birther screeds about Obama's birth certificate and citizenship status, remember this video. If you lay out all the conspiracy theories he's been pushing, this is what he...Read More
Marriage is between one man and one woman, his mistress, and his other mistress
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 10, 2009 9:30 AM |One of the great lies of the conservative "family values" crowd is they oppose marriage equality because they are protecting the so-called "sanctity of marriage." "Marriage is a union of one man and one woman," they scream and anything else...Read More
Black Episcopal Congregation Celebrates Lesbian Marriage
Filed by Rev Irene Monroe | September 09, 2009 6:00 PM |Since the liberal arm of the U.S. Episcopal Church passed a resolution in July to bless same-sex unions - particularly in states like Massachusetts that legalize such marriages - so too has, at least, one black congregation within the Massachusetts...Read More
Hi, my name is Harman & I'm here to beat and rob you
Filed by Bil Browning | September 09, 2009 3:00 PM |Over the past month or so, I've been getting tons of friend requests on Facebook from Middle Eastern, Asian and African gay guys. I've had requests from Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Thailand, South Africa, and Egypt. Most of them are also...Read More
Equality costs and right here is where we start paying in sweat
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 09, 2009 1:30 PM |You've likely seen the recent comments from Steve Hildebrand, deputy campaign manager for the Obama campaign, about the lack of progress on LGBT equality at the federal level. "The problem is, Obama isn't listening enough," Hildebrand said, according to the...Read More
Rep. Kathy Castor - A Voice of Leadership for Floridians living with HIV/AIDS
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | September 09, 2009 12:00 PM |On August 25th, I posted an entry on Bilerico, Members of Congress, 6 weeks left to Save Ryan White!, since that time 12-Members of Congress from Florida led the way in a bipartisan way to answer Congressman Hank Johnson's call...Read More
Archbishop Rembert Weakland: A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 09, 2009 11:00 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Father John McNeill is a pioneer in the gay liberation movement. John helped found Dignity New York City, a spiritual support group for gay and lesbian Catholics, in 1972. In 1976 he published The Church and...Read More
House ENDA hearing this month: FL Sen Bill Nelson next target
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 09, 2009 10:30 AM |Last night, the National Center for Transgender Equality held a conference call on ENDA. The recording of about 45 minutes is available on the NCTE site. The bottom line is that a hearing is planned for September in the House,...Read More
House ENDA hearing this month: FL Sen Bill Nelson next target
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 09, 2009 10:30 AM |Last night, the National Center for Transgender Equality held a conference call on ENDA. The recording of about 45 minutes is available on the NCTE site. The bottom line is that a hearing is planned for September in the House,...Read More
24 hours left to double your money
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 09, 2009 9:30 AM |Bil wrote yesterday about a generous Bilerico reader will match up to $1000 total raised on Bilerico if at least 12 people donate to the Protect Maine Equality campaign before noon tomorrow. So far we have enough donors, but we're...Read More
Angry Response to Obama's Speech to Children
Filed by Sara Whitman | September 08, 2009 6:30 PM |The cutest anti-sex brigade ever
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 08, 2009 5:30 PM |I have no idea if he's homophobic or not, but I get that it's annoying to have people on your property who weren't invited. This Coventry farmer let pigs go on his farmland at night to keep cruisers off: "It...Read More
Carmel is crazy
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 08, 2009 5:00 PM |I can't stop laughing at this. Evan Bayh thought he had the system beat by becoming a conservative Democrat (the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, which is actually a feat), but apparently that doesn't satisfy the wingnuts out there....Read More
Soldier killed after re-enlisting to ensure his family had health care
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 08, 2009 3:30 PM |If this story doesn't convince you of the need for health care reform that provides universal care to all Americans, nothing will. Army SPC Greg Missman re-enlisted in the military after he lost his civilian job in order to ensure...Read More
A real Congressional town hall
Filed by Matt Comer | September 08, 2009 1:30 PM |Do you have a somewhat sadistic fetish for all the yelling, screaming and downright crazy antics at the U.S. House members' and Senators' town halls across the country? Well then, you might want to join U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC)...Read More
Godwin's Law Fail
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 08, 2009 11:00 AM |This ad was made to run in Germany: There really isn't anything creative about this ad, as shocking as its creators think they are. Showing sexy, firm bodies having sex to get attention, directing an ad message to straight people,...Read More
Delaware's Carper and Kaufman: Legislators of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 08, 2009 10:30 AM |How will Delaware's Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman vote on S1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act? We don't know, since they have not yet indicated their positions. Please call them and ask them to co-sponsor S1584. Contact info and more...Read More
Delaware's Carper and Kaufman: Legislators of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 08, 2009 10:30 AM |How will Delaware's Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman vote on S1584, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act? We don't know, since they have not yet indicated their positions. Please call them and ask them to co-sponsor S1584. Contact info and more...Read More
Just say no to the March on Washington
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 08, 2009 9:30 AM |Editor's Note: Pauline Park is a New york based activist and co-founder of the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy. She is also the writer of PaulinePark.com. What is being billed as the 'National Equality March' called by Cleve...Read More
Coming (Out) to Terms...
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 08, 2009 9:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger John Squires and his partner Steve have been together for 7 years and are at the stage in their life where having a baby feels...well right. John is documenting their experience in the blog, John and...Read More
Do ya feel it too?
Filed by Amy Hunter | September 07, 2009 1:00 PM |Do you feel it too? The energy. The excitement. The focus? I feel it. Here in Kalamazoo, it's palpable. It's in the air. Iowa, Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and, yep, Kalamazoo. (Remember? I'm your gal in Kalamazoo?) All...Read More
Do ya feel it too?
Filed by Amy Hunter | September 07, 2009 1:00 PM |Do you feel it too? The energy. The excitement. The focus? I feel it. Here in Kalamazoo, it's palpable. It's in the air. Iowa, Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and, yep, Kalamazoo. (Remember? I'm your gal in Kalamazoo?) All...Read More
Arguments Against ENDA: Are We Ready? (Part I)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 07, 2009 11:30 AM |No one in the national media is yet focusing much on the upcoming Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and neither the proponents on the left nor the opponents on the rights have said much either. But there is much to be said,...Read More
Arguments Against ENDA: Are We Ready? (Part I)
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 07, 2009 11:30 AM |No one in the national media is yet focusing much on the upcoming Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and neither the proponents on the left nor the opponents on the rights have said much either. But there is much to be said,...Read More
Please help Fair Districts Florida get petitions processed!
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 07, 2009 10:00 AM |Editor's Note: This is an important message from our good friend Cathy James of Securing Our Children's Rights and OUT about the Fair Districts Campaign, which is dedicated to fairness in drawing Congressional districts in Florida and ending gerrymandering. Please...Read More
Rev. Rob Hardies: I believe it is wrong to use the language of war to speak about matters of love
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 06, 2009 12:30 PM |As we prepare for the introduction of a marriage bill in the D.C. City Council, opponents of equality are ratcheting up their violence rhetoric. They've used phrases such as "declaration of war" and "civil war" to whip D.C. residents into...Read More
A Preventable Epidemic - Thoughts for National Suicide Prevention Week
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 06, 2009 11:30 AM |E ditor's Note: "Stories from the Helpline" is a recurring feature on The Bilerico Project, bringing in the personal accounts of Helpline counselors from The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide...Read More
Church Chat, Bilerico Style
Filed by John Shields | September 06, 2009 10:00 AM |Here's what's coming up for the major network morning news shows today. In alphabetical order, that would be ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX and NBC. Check channels and air times for a station near you. It's Labor Day Sunday and likely...Read More
This is Meant to Scare You
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 05, 2009 10:00 AM |Editor's Note: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents Florida's 20th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. She is also Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations' Legislative Branch Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the House LGBT Equality Caucus. The...Read More
The time is now for marriage equality in D.C.
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 04, 2009 1:30 PM |As some of you know, I have been working to win marriage equality in Washington, D.C. Currently marriages from other jurisdictions are recognized in D.C. and we expect a bill allowing marriages to be performed in D.C. to be introduced...Read More
ENDA and gender identity protections
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 04, 2009 12:30 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Tobias Barrington Wolff is Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, the Jesse Climenko Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard, a civil rights lawyer, and the former LGBT policy advisor to presidential candidate Barack Obama....Read More
ENDA and gender identity protections
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 04, 2009 12:30 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Tobias Barrington Wolff is Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania, the Jesse Climenko Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard, a civil rights lawyer, and the former LGBT policy advisor to presidential candidate Barack Obama....Read More
Colorado's Michael Bennet: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 04, 2009 10:30 AM |Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Here's to a year in which U.S. labor is freed from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity! Congress is coming back in session on Tuesday and I expect the votes will take place...Read More
Colorado's Michael Bennet: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 04, 2009 10:30 AM |Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone! Here's to a year in which U.S. labor is freed from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity! Congress is coming back in session on Tuesday and I expect the votes will take place...Read More
Maddow on Massachusetts: Turns out gay marriage is a "defense of marriage" act
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 04, 2009 9:30 AM |Let the fundie head exploding begin! Rachel Maddow took on the "marriage equality will destroy 'traditional' marriage" crowd last night when she reported on her show about a fact that's really hard to twist (although I'm sure the anti-gay folks...Read More
Homosexuality as a Weapon of Torture
Filed by Karen Ocamb | September 03, 2009 7:00 PM |Update:Both CNN and ABC News reported Friday morning that 8 ArmorGroup contact guards identified in the pictures by a US State Department investigator have been fired. Two others have resigned; other guards are still under investigation. We await word to...Read More
You Made the Bed, Now Sleep In it (Alone)?
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 03, 2009 6:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Adam Bink is the Online Strategy Manager at Progressive Strategies, LLC, and manages design and advertising at OpenLeft.com, a blog covering national progressive politics. He is a Dupont Circle resident and enjoys cooking, cycling, ultimate frisbee,...Read More
Dan Savage, Chill With Your Race Baiting
Filed by Monica Roberts | September 03, 2009 5:00 PM |Dan Savage just won't give up pimping that thoroughly discredited meme about the Prop 8 loss in Ca-lee-forn-ia. "I do know this, though: I'm done pretending that the handful of racist gay white men out there--and they're out there, and...Read More
Gay bar bombed in Rome
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 03, 2009 4:00 PM |Two small bombs were thrown from motorcycles at a bar in a gayborhood in Rome last night. Several people were injured, fortunately no one died. While several European countries recognize same-sex marriage, and the European Union's Court has occasionally recognized...Read More
Maine's Marriage Equality Repeal Makes Ballot: An Overview of the Fight
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 03, 2009 2:00 PM |As expected, equality opponents Stand for Marriage Maine managed to get enough signatures to place Question 1, a repeal of Maine's newly passed Marriage Equality bill, on the November ballot. The drive to put the "People's Veto" on the ballot...Read More
Servicemembers United & HRC Bring Tour to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to Florida
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 03, 2009 1:00 PM |Servicemembers United and the Human Rights Campaign are bringing their National Tour to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to Florida. LGBT and straight service members will highlight "Voices of Honor: A Generation Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" in Miami, Orlando,...Read More
Things looking up in Washington's domestic partnership battle
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 03, 2009 12:00 PM |This is some good polling to enter a ballot initiative campaign with (from Washington state, where they'll have an initiative to overturn a law that made domestic partnerships marriage in everything but the name): But by 2008, 66 percent of...Read More
Arkansas's Senator Mark Pryor: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 03, 2009 11:30 AM |Arkansas has two key Senate votes in the fight for ENDA: Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln. There is a poignant back story on Sen. Pryor and the failure of ENDA in 1996 by a single vote. Please call them...Read More
Arkansas's Senator Mark Pryor: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 03, 2009 11:30 AM |Arkansas has two key Senate votes in the fight for ENDA: Senators Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln. There is a poignant back story on Sen. Pryor and the failure of ENDA in 1996 by a single vote. Please call them...Read More
Andre Bauer outed, news coverage one-sided
Filed by Matt Comer | September 02, 2009 3:30 PM |First, a note: I've had some great conversations with friends since first publishing this on my blog at InterstateQ.com. I'm glad Columbia's mainstream press is covering this. So often, Mike Rogers' reporting goes unnoticed by traditional news outlets. This time,...Read More
DC Archbishop comes out against marriage
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 02, 2009 1:30 PM |In an unsurprising move DC Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl has joined anti-equality activist Harry Jackson in urging continued discrimination against gay and lesbian families. Wuerl sent a letter to 300 local Catholic priests Tuesday reminding them about the Church's opposition...Read More
Goshen Amendment Fails
Filed by Donna Pandori | September 02, 2009 1:00 PM |Around 1:00 am this morning the Goshen City Council voted against an amendment which would have included "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in the city's civil rights ordinance. The vote came after the second reading of the amendment and approximately...Read More
Money Well Spent? NOM-Backed Candidate Defeated in Iowa
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 02, 2009 12:00 PM |Republican Stephen Burgmeier was defeated by Democrat Curt Hanson in a special election to fill Representative John Whitaker's seat in Iowa. Why was so much attention focused on this small race? And why is it likely to be one of...Read More
Bilerico Project's interview with Cleve Jones: National Equality March questions
Filed by Bil Browning | September 02, 2009 11:00 AM |This segment from our interview with Cleve Jones focuses mostly on the questions submitted about the National Equality March - including the recent controversy about an HIV/AIDS vigil during the march. Readers and social networking followers sent in the questions...Read More
I Couldn't Say It Better: Florida Says Yes to Beating Kids, No to Gays Adopting
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 02, 2009 10:30 AM |This is one of the best juxtapositions of backwards Florida laws I have seen. Glenna Milberg's blog, Milberg's Musings, recently had a great entry called "Who's Your Daddy", which looked at two different court cases happening at the same time...Read More
Alaska's Murkowski: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 02, 2009 10:30 AM |I've featured Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, before in this space. So why am I recycling? The reason is that I have already featured, as Legislator of the Day, all of the 18 unconfirmed Senate votes (details here) who...Read More
Alaska's Murkowski: Legislator of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 02, 2009 10:30 AM |I've featured Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, before in this space. So why am I recycling? The reason is that I have already featured, as Legislator of the Day, all of the 18 unconfirmed Senate votes (details here) who...Read More
Bob McDonnell: Sex Life May Be Used Against Judges
Filed by Michael Hamar | September 02, 2009 10:00 AM |With Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonald trying to frantically disavow the religious extremism exposed in his CBN University thesis - see the MSNBC clip above - and making claims that his some of his views have change, the Daily Press, which...Read More
Bob McDonnell: Sex Life May Be Used Against Judges
Filed by Michael Hamar | September 02, 2009 10:00 AM |With Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonald trying to frantically disavow the religious extremism exposed in his CBN University thesis - see the MSNBC clip above - and making claims that his some of his views have change, the Daily Press, which...Read More
The Equality March Endorsement List and Me
Filed by Phil Reese | September 02, 2009 9:30 AM |Yesterday, Towleroad unveiled a massive roster of A-list supporters for the National Equality March. We'll be marching next to my boyhood crush Chad Allen, Mad Men's Bryan Batt, my current crush Dustin Lance Black, Alan Cummings, Harvey Fierstein, the ever-gorgeous...Read More
Moral values across America
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 01, 2009 7:00 PM |They're expecting to certify R-71 in Washington by tomorrow, despite the suit by gay activists to keep it off the ballot. If they're successful (and if even some of their accusations are accepted by a judge, they should be), then...Read More
Growing Support for the National Equality March: 140 New LGBT Activists and Allies Sign On
Filed by Waymon Hudson | September 01, 2009 6:00 PM |The momentum for the National Equality March, organized by Equality Across America seems to be reaching a fevered pitch. The March, scheduled for October 10th and 11th in Washington DC, has given blogger Andy Towle of Towleroad a list of...Read More
I'm not about to get me some Hubby Hubby
Filed by Alex Blaze | September 01, 2009 4:00 PM |Vermont started performing same-sex marriages today, and congrats to the couples doing that. As has been reported everywhere in gay new and old media, the Unilever conglomerate's Vermont-based division Ben & Jerry's switched the name of Chubby Hubby to Hubby...Read More
The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn: the Rebirth of the CA Equality Movement
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 01, 2009 3:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Jane Wishon is a straight mother-of-three who has been married nearly 33 years. She actively campaigned for No on 8 and has started a cause for straight allies on Facebook. Jane also volunteers for AIDS Project...Read More
The Night is Darkest Before the Dawn: the Rebirth of the CA Equality Movement
Filed by Guest Blogger | September 01, 2009 3:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Jane Wishon is a straight mother-of-three who has been married nearly 33 years. She actively campaigned for No on 8 and has started a cause for straight allies on Facebook. Jane also volunteers for AIDS Project...Read More
Anti-gay minister calls on anti-equality activists to undercut home rule in DC
Filed by Michael Crawford | September 01, 2009 1:30 PM |Bishop Harry Jackson is stepping up his attacks against gay and lesbian families. He has stated his plans to seek a Prop 8 style ballot fight to ban marriage equality in DC. A previous attempt by Jackson and other anti-marriage...Read More
Broward County, FL Passes Resolution Against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Filed by Anthony Niedwiecki | September 01, 2009 12:30 PM |Congratulations go to the Broward County Commission which unanimously approved a resolution asking President Obama and Congress to repeal the military's discriminatory policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The vote today directs county administration to send a copy of...Read More
Cleve Jones: The Man Behind the Curtain
Filed by Bil Browning | September 01, 2009 11:00 AM |I had the opportunity to meet veteran activist Cleve Jones Sunday during his recent visit to Chicago. Readers left questions for Jones in the comment section and sent in more via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail and I did the interview...Read More
West Virginia's Byrd and Rockefeller: Legislators of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 01, 2009 10:30 AM |In West Virginia, quite a conservative state in many ways, two Democrats hold sway in the U.S. Senate: Robert Byrd, the oldest and longest-serving member of the Senate, and Jay Rockefeller IV, also a longtime Senator. Despite the state's conservatism,...Read More
West Virginia's Byrd and Rockefeller: Legislators of the Day
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 01, 2009 10:30 AM |In West Virginia, quite a conservative state in many ways, two Democrats hold sway in the U.S. Senate: Robert Byrd, the oldest and longest-serving member of the Senate, and Jay Rockefeller IV, also a longtime Senator. Despite the state's conservatism,...Read More
VA gov race: extremist Bob McDonnell - Pat Robertson's pick - also supported by BET founder
Filed by Pam Spaulding | September 01, 2009 9:30 AM |Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has been desperately trying to present himself as a moderate (for a winger) to voters, and one of the ways he has done this is pimp on his web site the support for his...Read More
