Politics: October 2010
The Scariest Holloween Sight
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 31, 2010 | 7:00 PM |Seen in Tuxedo, New York tonight:...Read More
Is the Virginia Pilot Trying to Hide GOP Rigell's Ant-Gay Extremism?
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 31, 2010 | 4:00 PM |I have written a number of times about the religious extremism of GOP candidate Scott Rigell (on right pictured with former Virginia Beach GOP party chair who resigned due to his distribution of racist e-mails) who is running for the...Read More
RED ALERT: One Iowa Needs Help Saving Equality Judges
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 31, 2010 | 1:00 PM |While the nation's eyes are on the Republican/Tea Party's campaign to take over Congress, the National Organization of Marriage - flush with money from the Catholic and Mormon churches - have their own under-the radar campaigns supporting antigay, anti-abortion candidates....Read More
Numbers Alone Don't Move a Movement
Filed by Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz | October 31, 2010 | 10:00 AM |I come from the school of community organizing--often referred to as movement building--that seeks to connect issues, communities and identities. I engage in organizing from this place because, frankly, I don't know how to do it any other way. It...Read More
#SSS: The Big Election Special Podcast
Filed by Phil Reese | October 31, 2010 | 8:30 AM |This week on SameSexSunday, Joe chats with Human Rights Campaign's Kevin Nix and OneIowa's Justin Uebelhor about the National Organization for Marriage's efforts to influence the Iowa elections this year. Then, we get election predictions and highlights from GOProud's Chris...Read More
Voting For HIV
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 30, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Note from Greg Smith: Guest blogger Frank Oldham, Jr currently leads a dynamic movement of people living with HIV/AIDS as the Executive Director of the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA-US). Oldham's nearly two decades of HIV/AIDS service and...Read More
4 days and counting
Filed by Michael Crawford | October 29, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Who was it that said the Tea Party doesn't care about social issues such LGBT equality? Whoever it was got it so wrong. Witness Republican senate candidate Sharon Angle's recent comments about marriage: I confess that we are a nation...Read More
Again, the South shall lead us
Filed by Susan Raffo | October 29, 2010 | 1:00 PM |There I was, sitting in a hotel lobby in Dallas, TX in 1994. A new friend, just met, was sitting next to me on the fake leather couch. This new friend, Pam McMichael, was telling me about the work of...Read More
Homophobic schools don't have to exist
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 29, 2010 | 12:00 PM |This is as close to a policy statement as there's been in Europe on the subject of discrimination against gay teachers. Now we'll have to wait for a test case: The European Commission has said that Roman Catholic schools in...Read More
The Thought of A Republican Future Makes Me Feel Sick
Filed by Joe Mirabella | October 29, 2010 | 11:00 AM |My stomach hurts. I can't sleep at night. I'm having a hard time concentrating, and I've been described as "grouchy" by my partner. It is election time and with just a few days left before the Republicans could take over...Read More
Vote For Health Care
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 29, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Still looking for a reason to vote? Here’s a three word answer: health care reform. I’m not sure why Democrats aren’t running on it, but it’s a big step towards "change we can believe in" — the kind that some...Read More
The Path Forward
Filed by Jarrod Chlapowski | October 29, 2010 | 8:30 AM |I know, I know, everyone is worried about the elections on Tuesday. We have a ton of work to do, however, and a very small timeframe in which to do it. We need to be ready to start on Wednesday....Read More
Lt. Dan Choi & I: Together at last on Democracy Now
Filed by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore | October 28, 2010 | 3:00 PM |I'm moving to Santa Fe on Sunday, and what could be a better going-away present than an appearance on Democracy Now? And, not just that, but in conversation with Lieutenant Dan Choi, about one of my favorite topics! And, after...Read More
Ed Potosnak Rocks New Jersey And You Can Help Him Do It In Congress
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 28, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Ed Potosnak, Democratic nominee for Congress in New Jersey 7th District, is rocking the Garden State. He authored a guest post this past week, and reiterated his support of LGBT rights, but more particularly, the very important issue of teen...Read More
President Obama on the Daily Show
Filed by Bil Browning | October 28, 2010 | 1:00 PM |Did you catch President Obama's appearance on the Daily Show last night? What do you think? Should the President be doing a sit down interview with a comedian while denying a sit down to the LGBT press (except for Americablog's...Read More
The Pope is very sensitive
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 28, 2010 | 12:00 PM |After all that the Church has done for/to the world, I'm still amazed that it's off-limits to say anything that could be interpreted as an insult to Catholicism in Europe. Take, for example, how Facebook banned a group organizing a...Read More
Building a more tolerant & inclusive climate
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 28, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Peter Shumlin, the Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore. Senator Shumlin is currently running for Governor of Vermont and has been an incredible force in the fight for marriage equality. The struggle for equal rights for gay...Read More
New Santa Monica Ordinance Would Help to Protect Same-Sex Couples
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 27, 2010 | 5:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Geoff Kors is the Executive Director of Equality California. Last night, Santa Monica City Councilmember Richard Bloom introduced an Equal Benefits Ordinance. This ordinance would require any company that contracts with the city of Santa Monica...Read More
Notorious Homophobe New Head Of Montana Tea Party Group
Filed by D Gregory Smith | October 27, 2010 | 4:00 PM |You heard me. KXLH News is reporting that: Tim Ravndal, who headed the Big Sky Tea Party until he was ousted following a controversial message he posted on Facebook, has been tapped for a leadership post in the Lewis &...Read More
VA GOP's Scott Rigell Lists Hate Group Leader as Endorser
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 27, 2010 | 12:30 PM |Click image to enlarge: Imagine my surprise at finding Lou Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition proudly listed as an endorser of Scott Rigell, the GOP candidate for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. After all, the Southern Poverty Law Center...Read More
Just $200 left to double your money!
Filed by Phil Reese | October 27, 2010 | 10:30 AM |Yesterday, I posted about America's oldest liberal political organization, Americans for Democratic Action, offering to double up to $1000 every donation made to Patrick Murphy at this link. You turned it out. We raised almost $800 in two days. Today...Read More
Socarides: Incrementalism Is Dead; Protesters Are Heroes
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 27, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Last night, Richard Socarides spoke at Seton Hall Law School, my alma mater. Mr. Socarides is well-known as a former advisor to President Clinton, and he is currently of counsel to the New York and Los Angeles law firm of...Read More
What I Can't Say
Filed by Diane Silver | October 26, 2010 | 6:00 PM |I'm in awe of my friend Jennifer Lawler, who writes so movingly about raising Jessica. I wish I had half of Jennifer's talent. But this morning in meditation I finally stopped picking at myself for spending the last few days...Read More
Republicans are only concerned with economic issues this cycle
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 26, 2010 | 5:00 PM |I haven't been following the midterms as closely as I did the presidential election two years ago or even the midterms four years ago. I'll fully cop to being one of those unenthusiastic left-leaning voters this time around, and not...Read More
Grim Remembrance: Gay Nazi prisoners photo
Filed by Gloria Brame, Ph.D. | October 26, 2010 | 4:30 PM |My parents were Holocaust Survivors (Polish Jews), so any and all material about that episode in human history always catches my eye. This image popped up on my radar the other day, showing gay prisoners at Sachsenhausen. It is one...Read More
Indiana: South Bend HRO fails again
Filed by Bil Browning | October 26, 2010 | 3:30 PM |Once again the South Bend Common Council has voted down an amended human rights ordinance that would expand protections to cover sexual orientation. The ordinance has been brought before the council two other times and has failed each time. Indiana...Read More
Allen West on Gays in Military Barracks "tumultuous things happen"
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 26, 2010 | 2:30 PM |Once again last night I was subjected to more of disgraced retired Colonel Allen West who is campaigning to be elected to Florida's 22nd Congressional District. West was asked by the moderator to explain why he supports the military's discriminatory...Read More
New York Times Boosts Trans Political Candidates
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 26, 2010 | 9:30 AM |The New York Times yesterday ran an article about several transgender political candidates running in various parts of the country. It's interesting to note how many such candidates there are. Are transgender people finally entering the political life of our...Read More
Potosnak: We Must Do Better
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 26, 2010 | 8:30 AM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger Ed Potosnak is running for Congress in New Jersey. Ed is one of a handful of openly gay candidates this season and could really use your support. National Stonewall Democrats have raised $838 for him as...Read More
Could Gays Cost Democrats the Election?
Filed by Joe Mirabella | October 25, 2010 | 7:00 PM |The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the LGBT community is so angry about the lack of movement on LGBT rights that many plan not to vote. Some are even voting against the incumbent even if that means voting Republican....Read More
NOM's financial transparency challenges are about more than marriage
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 25, 2010 | 5:00 PM |The Washington Post recently profiled a few of NOM campaign finance challenges in a few states. NOM's main activity, it seems, is to challenge disclosure law arguing that the radical homosexual activists are going to hunt down their donors and...Read More
Military Endorsements: Another Weird Christine O'Donnell Story
Filed by Don Davis | October 25, 2010 | 3:00 PM |I have a ton of things on the desk at the moment, and I don't have the time to really run out this story before Election Day, but I want to bring to your attention something very strange that I...Read More
Rep Holt: The Next Chapter in the Civil Rights Struggle
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 25, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Editors' Note: Today's guest blogger is New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt. You can donate to Rep Holt's campaign for re-election at the National Stonewall Democrats Elect Equality Act Blue page. Ending all forms of discrimination against LGBT individuals is the...Read More
Rep Holt: The Next Chapter in the Civil Rights Struggle
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 25, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Editors' Note: Today's guest blogger is New Jersey Congressman Rush Holt. You can donate to Rep Holt's campaign for re-election at the National Stonewall Democrats Elect Equality Act Blue page. Ending all forms of discrimination against LGBT individuals is the...Read More
A Come to Jesus Moment
Filed by Phil Reese | October 25, 2010 | 1:00 PM |Over here in the Midwest, we have a little thing we call having a "Come To Jesus" moment. Despite what it may sound like, or its likely origins, it almost never refers to a religious event. A "Come To Jesus"...Read More
GOProud launches homophobic ad against Barney Frank
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 25, 2010 | 12:00 PM |Here's GOProud's ad against several Democrats, including Barney Frank. They call him "catty" and a "housewife." Makes me think of those kids who'd join in with the gay bashing extra-hard at school because they were afraid that their sexualities would...Read More
Some Hispanic people actually do look Asian
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 24, 2010 | 7:00 PM |Sharron Angle, the Republican contender for Harry Reid's Senate seat in Nevada, created a stir this week as she responded to a group of Hispanic students' concerns over several of her ads that demonize immigrants as people who come to...Read More
The Glee Political Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | October 24, 2010 | 1:00 PM |Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's advertising strategy has caused quite a stir in the media lately. First he was given the honorific of "America's Nastiest Political Ad" for an attack ad against his opponent, conservative Bill Brady. The ad painted Brady...Read More
When Past Meets Present
Filed by Bil Browning | October 23, 2010 | 10:00 AM |Dr. Franklin Kameny, World War II veteran and lifelong civil rights activist, with West Point grad and former U.S. Army infantryman Dan Choi. The two activists seeking repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" joined forces at the Smithsonian's National Museum...Read More
Florida Attorney General Will Not Appeal Adoption Ban
Filed by Nadine Smith | October 22, 2010 | 6:00 PM |Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has announced he will not appeal the Third District Court of Appeals ruling that the state's anti-gay adoption ban is unconstitutional. Since Sept 22nd, Florida's ban on gay people adopting has been over. We are...Read More
Election night 2004: The worst night of my life
Filed by Phil Reese | October 22, 2010 | 4:00 PM |September 2004 was an optimistic time for me. I was starting my first term as Vice President of the Gay Straight Alliance at Central Michigan University, and I was gearing up to apply for the Membership and Community Events co-chair...Read More
Teasing Accountability out of a Convoluted Situation
Filed by Jarrod Chlapowski | October 22, 2010 | 1:00 PM |Don't Ask, Don't Tell has always been inconsistently enforced. As a vaguely written policy based on a vaguely written law enforced at a very low level, the law was doomed to be a failed policy in a very true sense,...Read More
Obama - It Gets Better
Filed by Bil Browning | October 22, 2010 | 10:30 AM |The administration released a video today of the President's message for LGBT youth for the It Gets Better project. Check it out and let us know what you think:...Read More
With Equality on the Line, Your Vote is Critical
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 22, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Conservative right-wing extremists are working harder than ever to get elected and trample on the rights and hopes of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. While many of us may be angered and frustrated with the slow progress for...Read More
More united than divided: Coming together for Patrick Murphy
Filed by Adam Bink | October 21, 2010 | 7:30 PM |For those of you who follow LGBT politics, you'll know there's a lot of what some call "infighting". Infighting over tactics, messaging, how much Obama should be supported vs. criticized, and the like. It can get distracting and sometimes very...Read More
Allen West on Gays in the Military: "Unfortunately, they are serving "
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 21, 2010 | 5:30 PM |On September 21, 2010, I attended a candidate's forum hosted by the Pompano Beach Civic Association to listen to a friend running for the Florida State House. I showed up in dressed in jeans and a polo shirt and upon...Read More
Whitman campaign tweets transgender cosplay video
Filed by Bil Browning | October 21, 2010 | 4:30 PM |Meg Whitman's campaign learned the importance of making sure a tweet doesn't go over 140 characters yesterday and they learned it the hard way. After senior campaign consultant Mike Murphy tweeted that the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County...Read More
War on Christmas gets judge rejected?
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 21, 2010 | 3:30 PM |Chuck Schumer recommended an openly gay lawyer, Daniel Alter, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, who'd be the first openly gay judge to serve on a federal court. Obama rejected that nominee, and unnamed...Read More
Legends for equality
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 21, 2010 | 2:30 PM |Author's Note: I serve on the Equality Virginia Legends Committee. The following is an op-ed piece that we hope to have published in the Virginian Pilot and the Daily Press. Among other things, Equality Virginia believes in a truly inclusive...Read More
Live chat with Rep Patrick Murphy
Filed by Bil Browning | October 21, 2010 | 1:00 PM |We're proud to be hosting a live chat with Representative Patrick Murphy today in conjunction with Open Left, AmericaBlog, Good As You, and Pam's House Blend. Congressman Murphy, the lead sponsor for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell in...Read More
Choi Triumphs at Ramapo College, While 9th Circuit Stumbles
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 21, 2010 | 12:00 PM |Former Lt. Dan Choi spoke to a capacity crowd last night at Ramapo College. The students were very excited to see him speak, and while he and I sat down for a cup of tea in the college cafeteria, students...Read More
Rep Tim Bishop: I'll continue the fight
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 21, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Editors' Note: Representative Tim Bishop (D-NY) is today's guest blogger. Congressman Bishop was picked by National Stonewall Democrats as an Elect Equality candidate for his record of supporting LGBT issues. You can donate to his campaign if you'd like to...Read More
Rep Tim Bishop: I'll continue the fight
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 21, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Editors' Note: Representative Tim Bishop (D-NY) is today's guest blogger. Congressman Bishop was picked by National Stonewall Democrats as an Elect Equality candidate for his record of supporting LGBT issues. You can donate to his campaign if you'd like to...Read More
Hillary always classes up the joint
Filed by Bil Browning | October 21, 2010 | 8:30 AM |This shot of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Situation Room yesterday with President Obama and other civilian and military leaders is simply striking. Clinton is wearing purple in solidarity for Spirit Day to honor the recent LGBT youth...Read More
Minimal Wages for All
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 20, 2010 | 3:00 PM |Here’s another reason to vote in the mid-term elections this November: Conservatives think you need a pay cut. As I’ve said once or twice before, conservatives’ bottom line message is simple: America has economic problems because too many people...Read More
Last gay Nazi survivor speaks
Filed by Bil Browning | October 20, 2010 | 12:30 PM |This is a fascinating bit of LGBT history. Rudolf Brazda, the last gay survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, spoke with reporters recently and gives a personal glimpse into what it was like to wear the pink triangle. For all...Read More
Unemployment Stats
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 20, 2010 | 11:30 AM |Today, in my Gender, Work and Family Class, we looked at employment stats, and discussed theories of why they look the way they do in terms of gender, race and class. Of course, we called them "theoretical frameworks," so I...Read More
Rep Paul Hodes: Equality Is a Cornerstone
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 20, 2010 | 10:30 AM |Editors' Note: New Hampshire Representative Paul Hodes is this morning's guest blogger; he is running for the Senate this year. Since Hodes is an actual champion of LGBT rights, I'd encourage you to donate to his campaign. We're going to...Read More
Rep Paul Hodes: Equality Is a Cornerstone
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 20, 2010 | 10:30 AM |Editors' Note: New Hampshire Representative Paul Hodes is this morning's guest blogger; he is running for the Senate this year. Since Hodes is an actual champion of LGBT rights, I'd encourage you to donate to his campaign. We're going to...Read More
Yes on 8 Attorney Andy Pugno Trying to Mislead Voters
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 19, 2010 | 3:30 PM |Every political season, some candidates fashion their biography to win the primary, and then scrub or eschew their more extreme positions to court moderates and independents in the general election. This is especially true in California, which is far more...Read More
Why Meghan McCain's Wrong About 'Nut Job' O'Donnell
Filed by Andrew Belonsky | October 19, 2010 | 12:30 PM |Meghan McCain may have sparked a Republican war yesterday when she said the Delaware Senatorial candidate Christine O'Donnell, the right wing's latest darling, comes off as a "nut job." McCain's word choice may be spot on, sure, but her argument...Read More
Why This Year Matters, Part Two
Filed by Amy Hunter | October 19, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Part One of "Why This Year Matters" was a semi-humorous look at the mood shared by many of this year's electorate. It is indeed "scary out there". Despite the attempt at humor, please do not misunderstand; I am completely serious....Read More
Fight! Rand Paul has a meltdown
Filed by Bil Browning | October 19, 2010 | 8:30 AM |Did you see the debate between Rand Paul and Jack Conway for Kentucky's Senate seat? The event turned contentious after Conway brought up charges that Paul had joined a group in college that was anti-religious. Paul loses his cookies and...Read More
Advancing Equality in the 112th Congress
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 18, 2010 | 6:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger David Cicilline is the openly gay Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He is running for Congress and could use your support. Mayor Cicilline is one of the pro-equality candidates picked by National Stonewall Democrats to support...Read More
Advancing Equality in the 112th Congress
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 18, 2010 | 6:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger David Cicilline is the openly gay Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He is running for Congress and could use your support. Mayor Cicilline is one of the pro-equality candidates picked by National Stonewall Democrats to support...Read More
Gay bathhouse raided, police find gay sex, police arrest 11
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 18, 2010 | 12:00 PM |Eleven men were arrested in a gay bathhouse raid in Dallas on public lewdness and indecent exposure charges last week. It turns out that, in the same state where it's illegal to drink alcohol in a bar (a law that's...Read More
Halliburton Gets $2 Billion Contract For Florida "Cardboard Condos"
Filed by Don Davis | October 18, 2010 | 8:30 AM |Miami, Florida, September 13, 2018 (FNS)--Facing pressure from voters to "do something" following the disaster caused by the privatization of Social Security, the White House today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is awarding a $2 billion contract...Read More
"It Gets Better" isn't perfect, but it will save lives
Filed by Austen Crowder | October 17, 2010 | 7:00 PM |I contributed my voice to the "It Gets Better" project. I know there's some guff coming toward this project from all comers - both inside and outside the community - but I think it's a worthy cause if for nothing...Read More
Why Don't the State Bars Enforce Ethics Rules Against Introducing False Evidence?
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 17, 2010 | 2:30 PM |At Equality Virginia's legal seminar at the University of Richmond on October 16, during the course of the discussion of legitimate medical and mental health research in the context of litigation, the point was brought up about the fraudulent testimony...Read More
You Can Save an LGBT Youth from Suicide - I Did
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 17, 2010 | 1:00 PM |Editors' Note: Guest blogger John R. Selig is a gay dad, writer, photographer, podcaster and activist living in Dallas, Texas. Selig produces and his "John Selig Outspoken" podcast to provide role models to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. Though...Read More
#SSS Where Republicans & Democrats Battle!
Filed by Phil Reese | October 17, 2010 | 10:00 AM |We had the single most heated debate in SameSexSunday history this week--I actually had to jump in, play referee and send our Lefities and our Righties to their respective corners. What got our round table so fired up this week?...Read More
The Case for Not Voting on November 2nd
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 16, 2010 | 2:00 PM |I realize up front that I will likely be savaged and trashed for my opinions in this post. However, after receiving a plethora of e-mails from Democrats with the catch phrase "Not Voting is a Vote for Tea Party Republicans,"...Read More
Why This Year Matters. Part One
Filed by Amy Hunter | October 16, 2010 | 12:00 PM |Let me state, unequivocally, that I detest canvassing. I dislike the rejection intensely. People, whom you can see sitting in their Barcaloungers, look-up, annoyed that the doorbell has broken their rapt attention to "Biggest Loser." One glimpse of the clipboard...Read More
White House advisor: Gay is 'lifestyle choice'
Filed by Bil Browning | October 14, 2010 | 6:00 PM |Updated at the end of the post. What the hell is wrong with the Obama administration? This takes their LGBT snafus well beyond the "this is not a fierce champion" meme and into the realm of incredibly offensive. White House...Read More
Dear. Mr. Paladino, That's So Gay
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 14, 2010 | 5:00 PM |How on earth anyone with the very public history of Carl Paladino becomes a serious candidate for governor of any state -- let alone New York -- is a mystery to me beyond all understanding. But, these are strange political...Read More
Maddow interviews two active duty gay soldiers
Filed by Bil Browning | October 14, 2010 | 3:00 PM |On last night's Rachel Maddow show, Rachel interviewed two active duty gay fighter pilots. The two men were hidden in shadows so the military couldn't see who they were although I noticed right away that their voices weren't masked and...Read More
21 Senators Urge Obama's Justice Department Not to Appeal DADT Injunction
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 14, 2010 | 2:00 PM |We have heard repeatedly that the legislative repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell would be handled after the election, in the lame duck session of Congress. However, polls show that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, despite the GOP distancing itself...Read More
Log Cabin Republicans R Us
Filed by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer | October 13, 2010 | 7:00 PM |A friend reminded me last night--I'd forgotten this--that, in the case in which a federal court ruled DADT unconstitutional yesterday, the plaintiff is Log Cabin Republicans. And we all know, because we talk about how politically brilliant it was, that...Read More
GetEqual from the inside
Filed by Antonia D'orsay | October 13, 2010 | 6:00 PM |On Monday, October 11th, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi visited a DCCC fundraiser held at the Miami home of a basketball player who makes way too damn much money for playing a game. You've no doubt heard about the Get...Read More
The Castro: historic photo
Filed by Gloria Brame, Ph.D. | October 13, 2010 | 2:30 PM |An amazing, poignant and joyous photo of the 1979 Castro Street Fair, in those halycon pre-AIDS days when the cry rang out for Gay Liberation. I did not attend but, oh, I remember and, oh, how inspiring they were to...Read More
Thoughts on Those Cookies...
Filed by Chris Douglas | October 13, 2010 | 8:30 AM |Here's my perspective on the cookie situation. First, when I came out of the closet in 1996 here in Indiana, I did so publicly by founding an organization (the Indiana Chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans), issuing a press release,...Read More
Florida's Anti-Gay Adoption Law Ends Today
Filed by Nadine Smith | October 12, 2010 | 8:00 PM |It's over! Moments ago, Department of Children & Families' (DCF) Director, George Sheldon, announced that the agency will not appeal last month's court ruling which struck down Florida's ban on gay and lesbian adoption as "unconstitutional." It is now legal...Read More
"Don't Ask Don't Tell" Protest of Obama Fundraiser Makes Local and National News
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 12, 2010 | 5:00 PM |In the crush of local and national and international news, getting a line in an article can be considered a major victory. GetEqual succeeded in getting a toe in that door. Yesterday evening, GetEQUAL and other Floridian activists, unleashed a...Read More
I get bitter
Filed by Kate Clinton | October 12, 2010 | 3:30 PM |How far back did Cher turn time? Neanderthal NY Republican Gubernatorial wannabe Carl Paladino, looking like that other homophobic-spewer Pope John Paul, knuckle-drags out tired old anti-gay tropes - brain-washing, pride parade indecencies, I wouldn't want my nieces, etc. Paladino...Read More
Fmr. Lt. Dan Choi Speaking At Ramapo College of NJ October 20
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 12, 2010 | 11:30 AM |Next Wednesday, Former Lieutenant Dan Choi will be speaking at Ramapo College of New Jersey, located in Mahwah, NJ (about 30 min from NYC). If anyone in the area would like to come, I can get you tickets if you...Read More
City councillor: Coming Out Day is like an Aryan Nations march
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 11, 2010 | 1:30 PM |For those of you not following Cupcakegate, a bakery, Just Cookies in Indianapolis, refused to fill out an order of rainbow cupcakes for an LGBT student group, citing multiple reasons (we don't have all the colors of the rainbow, we...Read More
1960s Gay Intellectual Life: Vintage magazine
Filed by Gloria Brame, Ph.D. | October 11, 2010 | 10:00 AM |Sometimes I think people today imagine that all of gay theory, activism and political debate didn't begin until Stonewall (or maybe even the Interrnet -- agh!). But, hard as it may seem to believe, your grandparents' and their grandparents' were...Read More
What Would You Tell a Frustrated Gay Voter?
Filed by Don Davis | October 10, 2010 | 11:30 AM |I have a story that just went up here on the site that is also posted at numerous other places around the Web, and a question has been raised at another site that has brought me here today looking for...Read More
Actions of Clarence Thomas' Wife Raise Judicial Ethics Issues
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 09, 2010 | 4:00 PM |Maybe I am biased, but from my experience with judges, the worst ones for abiding by ethical mandates are the social conservatives. In my own divorce case and in a number of others, judges have ignored the Canons of Judicial...Read More
Could You Outrun the Toxic Red Flood?
Filed by Don Davis | October 09, 2010 | 10:00 AM |It is about a week before early voting begins for a bunch of us around the country, and that means this may be one of the last times I have to convince you that, frustrated progressive or not, you better...Read More
Indianapolis is back in the gay news
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 08, 2010 | 12:00 PM |Yesterday Bil posted that the city of homophobic cupcake/cookie artisans is finding itself with another gay scandal, although this one is a lot more banal. According to an arrest report from Indianapolis Metro Police, the arrest took place at 110...Read More
Stalked UofM student talks to Anderson Cooper
Filed by Bil Browning | October 08, 2010 | 11:00 AM |The gay University of Michigan student council president who's being stalked by Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell has broken his silence and spoke with Anderson Cooper about the experience. Cooper, who brought Shirvell to national attention with an interview in...Read More
Mark Kirk is gay-blind
Filed by Phil Reese | October 08, 2010 | 9:30 AM |Representative Mark Kirk had better get his Gaydar tuned. On two recent occasions, Kirk has severely underestimated the number of gays in his life. Like estimated zero. It may just be a "see-no/hear-no" approach to things that bring him discomfort,...Read More
Beyond the Scandal: Indiana's BMV Head in Sex Sting
Filed by Bil Browning | October 07, 2010 | 6:00 PM |Indiana's head of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Andrew Miller, was caught yesterday in a sex sting at a public bathroom after masturbating in front a plain clothes officer. He has since resigned his position. There's been quite a bit...Read More
MetroWeekly's Analysis of LGBT Movement: Evolution and Failure
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | October 07, 2010 | 4:00 PM |DC's MetroWeekly Magazine came out today with an analysis of the LGBT movement based on conversations with 15 LGBT leaders. The analysis, entitled "State of Play," and written by MetroWeekly's Senior Political Writer, Chris Geidner, concludes that the LGBT movement...Read More
Fred Phelps and Goodness
Filed by Diane Silver | October 06, 2010 | 3:00 PM |As I continue work on The Goodness Project, I can't ignore the day's news: The Rev. Fred Phelps gets to make his case to the U.S. Supreme Court today. A friend noted this morning that all the media attention is...Read More
Enough is Enough: Andrew Shirvell Creates Climate of Harm & Hostility
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 06, 2010 | 8:30 AM |Editors' Note: Shane Windmeyer is the executive director of Campus Pride, the only national organization for student leaders and campus organizations working to create a safer college environment for LGBT students. Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D., is Associate Professor in the...Read More
After Bathtub Accident, O'Donnell Changes Position
Filed by Don Davis | October 05, 2010 | 2:30 PM |Dover, Delaware (FNS)--Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell shocked the crowd at a Delaware political breakfast meeting when she announced that she has changed her thinking about masturbation following a weekend bathtub "incident." Spike Fromula, O'Donnell's press secretary, explained to the press...Read More
"Cupcakegate" Debate Video
Filed by Betty Greene Salwak | October 05, 2010 | 1:30 PM |Opposing written opinions can be found on the Fox News site. If you elect to leave a comment on the news website, I would ask that you consider speaking to those readers who can be swayed. It won't be Mr....Read More
The progressive march that wasn't
Filed by Bil Browning | October 04, 2010 | 5:00 PM |Over the weekend I had the chance to attend the One Nation Working Together march that was billed as the "progressive" march to answer last month's Glenn Beck rally for teabaggers. The event had been planned for months - mostly...Read More
Lame Duck ENDA: Rep Polis 'Optimistic' & Sen Merkley 'Hopeful'
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 04, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Editors' note: Pam Daniels is a writer and activist with 23 years experience in broadcast news and media including the staff of a former Governor. "The Speaker has said that she plans to bring it up this session so I...Read More
Lame Duck ENDA: Rep Polis 'Optimistic' & Sen Merkley 'Hopeful'
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 04, 2010 | 2:00 PM |Editors' note: Pam Daniels is a writer and activist with 23 years experience in broadcast news and media including the staff of a former Governor. "The Speaker has said that she plans to bring it up this session so I...Read More
Atlanta PD's LGBT liaison during the Eagle bar raid out of a job
Filed by Alex Blaze | October 04, 2010 | 12:00 PM |After the police raid on Atlanta's Eagle gay bar last year, where people were systematically searched, had their cell phones confiscated, and insulted by homophobic police officers, officer Dani Lee Harris, the Atlanta PD's LGBT liaison, who was not told...Read More
Moscow's Gay Mayor?
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 03, 2010 | 5:30 PM |Editors' Note: Named "the godfather of gay sensitivity training" by The New York Times, Brian McNaught is considered the world's leading corporate diversity consultant dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues in the workplace. He has worked with corporate...Read More
#SSS: Safe Schools, Vote Naked & HIV Criminalization with Michael Crawford, Todd Heywood, Chris Johnson & Meghan Stabler
Filed by Phil Reese | October 03, 2010 | 10:00 AM |This week on your SameSexSunday, Stuart Biegel stops by to discuss protecting LGBT youth from bullying and his book, the Right to be Out. We are also joined by Bernard Cherkasov, the CEO of Equality Illinois, as he launches their...Read More
Gay Teen Suicide, Homophobia, Bullying and the Elephant in the Room: Religious Bigotry
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 02, 2010 | 2:00 PM |In the aftermath of a cluster of gay teen suicides, there has been a great deal of commentary and discussion in the media, both LGBT and mainstream, about bullying and its destructiveness. A number of bloggers and commentators have skirted...Read More
"Queen Bess" Coleman: vintage photo
Filed by Gloria Brame, Ph.D. | October 01, 2010 | 10:30 AM |Worth remembering! Born in 1892, the beautiful, tough, determined and incredibly inspiration, professional aviator Bessie "Queen Bess" Coleman was the first African American (in the world) to attain a pilot's license. At age 30, she was considered "the world's greatest...Read More
