Politics: November 2011
Call for LGBTs to March in Solidarity with Occupy LA
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 30, 2011 | 3:00 PM |An LGBT march in solidarity with the Occupy movement is planned for Saturday, Dec. 3 in Los Angeles after city officials evicted the encampment late last night.Read More
UPDATED: TN Tea Party Tweets Anti-Gay Slur at Barney Frank
Filed by Bil Browning | November 30, 2011 | 10:00 AM |So much for that whole meme that "The Tea Party doesn't care about social issues. It's all about the money!" Seems the Tennessee Tea Party didn't get the memo.Read More
Barney Frank on ENDA's Future After His Retirement [Open Thread]
Filed by Bil Browning | November 29, 2011 | 6:00 PM |Presented without commentary... I'd rather hear what y'all have to say about Representative Barney Frank's idea on how to pass ENDA after he retires in 2012. Read More
Race for CA's 50th Assembly District Is Getting Gritty
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 29, 2011 | 4:00 PM |In the redrawn 50th Assembly District that stretches from Malibu through the Westside to West Hollywood, the race pits progressive Assemblymember Betsy Butler against challengers Torie Osborn, a longtime lesbian activist and nonprofit executive, and Santa Monica Mayor Richard Bloom. Read More
Applying Soft Power to Achieve Hard Results
Filed by Don Davis | November 29, 2011 | 1:00 PM |There's news to report across a variety of issues; that's why today we'll be talking about trade, human rights, cybersecurity, poverty and development, and the methods by which you can apply "soft power" to achieve hard results.Read More
Catholic Archbishop: 'These People' Don't Deserve Jobs
Filed by Bil Browning | November 28, 2011 | 7:30 PM |Archbishop Dolan's remarks about being "deceived" by politicians that marriage equality wouldn't pass have garnered some attention in the LGBT blogosphere. What Dolan said after that segment is what should be highlighted though if we want to win full equality nationwide.Read More
Rep Frank Statement on Not Seeking Re-Election
Filed by Bil Browning | November 28, 2011 | 3:00 PM |Representative Barney Frank's office has released a statement from the Congressman explaining his decision not to seek re-election in 2012. Read More
Do As I Say: Putting OWS in Perspective
Filed by Bil Browning | November 28, 2011 | 1:00 PM |While the US government has encouraged the Arab Spring uprisings as "people seeking a chance to contribute and to have a role in the decisions that will shape their lives," they've not been so tolerant of dissent here.Read More
Transgender Political Trends
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | November 28, 2011 | 12:00 PM |There's a lot happening in the trans political world, and I name what I see as the top three trans political trends. I'd love to hear your analysis of our top political trends. Read More
UPDATED: Congressman Barney Frank to Retire
Filed by Bil Browning | November 28, 2011 | 10:15 AM |News is currently breaking that openly gay Representative Barney Frank will retire at the end of this term. The 16 term Congressman will hold a press conference at 1pm today in Massachusetts to announce his decision.Read More
Anti-Gay Lobbyist Tries to Hide Moralism with "Pro-Business" Arguments
Filed by Nan Hunter | November 27, 2011 | 4:00 PM |It is surely a sign of the times that the successful lobbyist for the Tennessee Family Action Council used a strategy of not highlighting religious or moral objections to homosexuality when doing outreach to members of the state legislature.Read More
Buffy the Democrat Slayer: Celebrity Republicans
Filed by Bil Browning | November 27, 2011 | 1:00 PM |Buzzfeed brings us an interesting look at celebrities who are either registered Republicans or conservative activists. Some of the folks on the list will shock you.Read More
Occupy LA to Be Evicted from City Hall Park on Monday
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 27, 2011 | 11:30 AM |Last Friday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced that City Hall Park will be closed on Monday at 12:01am, thus evicting the Occupy LA protesters.Read More
GOProud Leader 'Likes' Obama Assassination Idea
Filed by Bil Browning | November 27, 2011 | 10:00 AM |What kind of fresh hell is this? There's a huge difference between being on opposite sides of the political aisle and tacitly approving of assassinating the President.Read More
After the Supercommittee: Round Two
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 26, 2011 | 6:00 PM |The supercommittee is down for the count, and everyone from the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street, and even Grover Norquist is credited with throwing the knockout punch. It's tempting to do a victory dance, but we'd better make it a short one.Read More
Prop 8 Plaintiff's Thanksgiving Video
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 25, 2011 | 4:30 PM |The American Foundation for Equal Rights distributed a video about what Thanksgiving means to Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo, the two couples challenging the constitutionality of Prop 8.Read More
Republican Leaders In Clown Make-Up
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 25, 2011 | 10:30 AM |Sure, you've seen it already. Yes, this is redundant. But nonetheless.Read More
Legislation in Russia Would Ban Gay 'Propaganda'
Filed by Drew Cordes | November 23, 2011 | 1:00 PM |A bill put forth by the conservative political party United Russia in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly calls for a fine of up to $1,600 for "public actions aimed at propaganda of pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors."Read More
Queer Rising Advocates for NYC's Homeless Youth
Filed by Adam Polaski | November 23, 2011 | 10:00 AM |On Saturday, Queer Rising successfully executed a demonstration in Times Square of New York City by taking advantage of a pedestrian street camera to broadcast a message to the governor demanding more recognition for queer homeless youth.Read More
Meet the One Percent... And the 99 Percent
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 22, 2011 | 12:00 PM |Being in the 99 percent, and living in Washington, DC, is to live and work in close proximity to the 1 percent. (Especially if you work in Capitol Hill.) When you do so on a daily basis, it's easy to forget that - as F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote - "The rich are different from you and me."Read More
The Last Thanksgiving
Filed by Steve Ralls | November 22, 2011 | 9:00 AM |Benjamin Anderson will spend this Thanksgiving packing. The Coast Guard resident is preparing to leave the United States because current immigration laws have made it nearly impossible for him to remain in the country he honorably served.Read More
First Lady Booed at NASCAR Event
Filed by Bil Browning | November 21, 2011 | 12:00 PM |Is it fair? Hell no. Is it a mammoth racist crowd practically pelting the First Lady with rotten tomatoes? Hardly. It's a time honored tradition of expressing disapproval. They booed. Get over it.Read More
The Guardian: 99% or 99.99%?
Filed by Bil Browning | November 20, 2011 | 4:00 PM |The UK's Guardian takes a look at the 99% movement in the United States and examines the truth of the matter. Their conclusion? It's not the 99%; it's the 99.99%.Read More
Robin Tyler & Diane Olson on CA Prop 8 'Standing' Opinion
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 20, 2011 | 2:30 PM |Robin Tyler and Diane Olson - the married lesbian couple who filed the first lawsuit in 2004 to win marriage rights and were the first couple in Southern California to marry in 2008 - react to the California high court's opinion.Read More
Herman Cain: Repeal the Supreme Court
Filed by Bil Browning | November 20, 2011 | 1:00 PM |I know the guy's shown a complete lack of knowledge about how our government works, but could someone give him a popup storybook about our Constitution? Read More
Sec of Labor Issues Statement for Transgender Day of Remembrance
Filed by Bil Browning | November 18, 2011 | 3:45 PM |Now this is a big deal. Following on the heels of HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan's speech at a national transgender organization's gala fundraiser, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis has issued a statement recognizing the Transgender Day of Remembrance.Read More
Antigay Forces File Proposed Initiative Against CA FAIR Education Act
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 18, 2011 | 11:00 AM |The Committee to Repeal SB 48 - a newer version of the antigay StopSB48 crowd - filed a proposed initiative on Wednesday with the California Attorney General's office to again try to eliminate LGBTs from the California FAIR Education Act.Read More
I'd Like to Ask a Favor Please
Filed by Bil Browning | November 17, 2011 | 6:00 PM |It's not often that I write and ask you for a favor, so I hope you'll consider my request. No, I'm not asking you to vote for Bilerico in some sort of blog contest; this is for something much more important.Read More
Remembering Our Dead & Our Living
Filed by Rebecca Juro | November 17, 2011 | 5:00 PM |Every year I wonder how many more transgender people will have to be murdered in acts of hate-fueled violence before the politicians finally get it. People are losing their lives because of their cowardice and it needs to stop.Read More
Perry Challenges Pelosi to a Debate
Filed by Bil Browning | November 17, 2011 | 4:00 PM |Rick Perry continues his assault on Congress today by challenging Minority Leader (and former Speaker) Nancy Pelosi to a debate on his proposal to slash Congressmembers' salaries and make them part-time representatives.Read More
Flat Tax: Back in the USSR
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 17, 2011 | 2:00 PM |After labeling Barack Obama a "socialist," you wouldn't think conservatives would be taking their cues from socialists, right? You'd be wrong.Read More
CA Supreme Court Issues Prop 8 Standing Ruling
Filed by Bil Browning | November 17, 2011 | 1:15 PM |The California Supreme Court has issued their ruling on whether or not proponents of ballot initiatives have authority to represent the state of California when the state's public officials decline to do so.Read More
The Occupy Movement Is an Incubator for the Nation's New Leaders
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 17, 2011 | 11:00 AM |"What looks like a disorganized mess is, in many respects, a training ground for those who will join the next generation of leaders."Read More
DNC Responds to Perry 'Lazy' Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | November 17, 2011 | 10:00 AM |Earlier this morning, we showed you Rick Perry's new attack ad on Obama; he claims the President called Americans lazy. The DNC responds with the truth.Read More
Examples: Boycott Koch Products
Filed by Bil Browning | November 16, 2011 | 6:00 PM |Tired of dealing with the teabagger and general rightwing bullshit that's being financed by the extremist Koch brothers? Were you aware of all the companies that Koch Industries owns and the products you could be buying every day?Read More
Herman Cain: Real Men Eat Sausage
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 16, 2011 | 3:00 PM |There's nothing more manly than longing for a mouthful of nice, hard sausage.Read More
HUD Secretary Donovan Makes LGBT History
Filed by Bil Browning | November 16, 2011 | 12:00 PM |At the National Center for Transgender Equality gala awards banquet last night, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan made history.Read More
Michigan Bullying Bill Won't Have Religious Loopholes
Filed by Bil Browning | November 16, 2011 | 9:00 AM |We were due for some good news and here it is. Michigan's proposed bullying bill will not include loopholes to allow religious bullies to intimidate LGBT students or those from other religions.Read More
Domestic Partnerships: Montana Tries Another Door
Filed by D Gregory Smith | November 15, 2011 | 3:00 PM |In light of the District Court dismissal of the same-sex domestic partnership case Donaldson and Guggenheim vs The State Of Montana in April, The Montana ACLU has filed an appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.Read More
Join Washington State's New Push for Marriage
Filed by Joe Mirabella | November 14, 2011 | 12:00 PM |It is going to take all of us who support civil marriage for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples to make sure our representatives understand how important it is to us that they pass this bill.Read More
COW: A Back & Forth Over DOMA Repeal
Filed by Bil Browning | November 13, 2011 | 7:00 PM |Was the hearing and and passage of the bill just a dog and pony show since it would never make it through the full House and Senate or an important public statement about where we are in the struggle for marriage equality?Read More
Stand With Veterans: The Worthy 1 Percent
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 12, 2011 | 4:00 PM |Across the country, veterans of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are standing with the joining the 99 percent. Beyond Veterans Day, let's stand up with and for veterans - our worthy 1 percent - and demand better.Read More
Why George Will Thinks Losing 24,000 Jobs Is a Good Thing
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 11, 2011 | 3:00 PM |I am beginning to understand George Will. Normally, that realization would worry me in too many ways to count, and would be cause enough for my progressive friends to stage an intervention.Read More
AFER Breaks Down the DOMA Repeal Vote
Filed by Adam Polaski | November 11, 2011 | 11:00 AM |Matt Baume of the American Federation for Equal Rights gives a good summary of the issue with some explanations of what could or may happen next, in this new video. Read More
Letterman: Rick Perry's Top 10 Excuses
Filed by Bil Browning | November 11, 2011 | 10:00 AM |Rick Perry appeared on Letterman last night to do the Top Ten list. His topic? The top ten excuses for his debate performance Wednesday night.Read More
Senate Committee Passes DOMA Repeal Bill
Filed by Bil Browning | November 10, 2011 | 6:30 PM |The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Respect for Marriage Act today. The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which bans same-sex marriages from federal recognition.Read More
Perry: Major GOP Debate Gaffe Won't End His Campaign
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 10, 2011 | 5:30 PM |Thursday morning, Perry told AP, "Oh, shoot, no,"when asked if the major gaffe would end his presidential run. "This ain't a day for quitting nothing."Read More
Time To Retire the 'Greedy Geezers' Myth
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 10, 2011 | 4:45 PM |A report on wealth gap between younger and older Americans - which is being spun by the right as "proof" that we "spend too much" on grandma, at the kids' expense - is a reminder that what we're spending is keeping both out of poverty.Read More
New Equality MD Director Carrie Evans And Trans Rights
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | November 10, 2011 | 1:00 PM |After last year's Maryland debacles and the Equality Maryland's organizational issues, which way should ED Carrie Evans go on trans issues?Read More
Oregon Abandons Marriage Equality Initiative for 2012
Filed by Joe Mirabella | November 10, 2011 | 11:00 AM |Oregon was poised to be the first state to overturn an anti-marriage equality state constitutional amendment in 2012. Basic Rights Oregon sent an email to supporters announcing their plan to wait until they are ready to win.Read More
Kenyan Newspaper Cartoon Mocks Gay Rights
Filed by Bil Browning | November 10, 2011 | 10:15 AM |After British Prime Minister David Cameron threatened to cut aid to nations that abuse their LGBT citizens, African nations have erupted in anger. Yesterday, The Kenya Star published this editorial cartoon mocking gay people and international pressure for basic human rights.Read More
Victory Fund-Endorsed 22-Year-Old Wins Mayoral Race
Filed by Adam Polaski | November 09, 2011 | 1:00 PM |Last night, a 22-year-old, Alex Morse, won his race for the mayoral seat in Holyoke, Mass. The openly gay man had previously been endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. Read More
Equal Benefits Ordinance Enacted in Broward County, Florida
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | November 09, 2011 | 12:00 PM |Yesterday Broward County, Florida sent a strong message to assure its LGBT-residents that they embrace the county's rich diversity and value all families who call south Florida home.Read More
Liz Mathis Wins! Marriage Safe in Iowa for Now
Filed by Joe Mirabella | November 09, 2011 | 9:00 AM |Pro-equality Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal will welcome Liz Mathis to the Iowa Senate. She supports marriage for all of Iowa's families, and has guaranteed a Democratic majority for the pro-marriage Iowa Senate for now.Read More
Openly Gay Man Wins Indy City-County Council Race
Filed by Bil Browning | November 08, 2011 | 10:30 PM |Zach Adamson will become Indianapolis' first openly gay City-County Councilor after today's election. Adamson is a board member of the Indiana Stonewall Democrats and was endorsed by the Victory Fund.Read More
Sec Hillary Clinton Lays Out US Plan to Fight HIV/AIDS
Filed by Dan O'Neill | November 08, 2011 | 5:00 PM |Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the NIH today to give a major speech, in which she presented a new vision for the fight against HIV/AIDS.Read More
The Poor Have It So Good Today
Filed by Don Davis | November 08, 2011 | 2:00 PM |You know what the problem is with America? The poor don't get just how great they have it. If the poor want things to get better, let 'em pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Read More
A New Player in the DOMA Game
Filed by Nan Hunter | November 08, 2011 | 11:00 AM |Last week, when briefs were due from amicus groups supporting the plaintiffs' challenge to DOMA, ten were filed. Most were from the usual suspects of gay-supportive organizations, but there was a surprising new player in the game.Read More
Connect the Dots: VA's Anti-Gay Campaign Flyer & the Traditional Values Coalition
Filed by Michael Hamar | November 08, 2011 | 9:00 AM |News about a hideous anti-gay flyer circulated in a Virginia state senate race hit most national LGBT blogs yesterday, but what happens when you connect the dots between the Republican campaign and the Traditional Values Coalition?Read More
Obama Is Not a Radical Leftist
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 07, 2011 | 4:00 PM |This political test has been around for years. Obama was in the upper-right quadrant in 2008 based on his Senate record, which, in 2011, doesn't seem surprising at all.Read More
White House AIDS Czar Jeff Crowley Leaving Post
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 06, 2011 | 4:00 PM |This letter from White House AIDS Czar Jeff Crowley was distributed on Thursday. Crowley is leaving his post as the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy.Read More
Policing the 99%, Part 2
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 06, 2011 | 2:00 PM |The spread of the Occupy movement, and its increasing popularity, shows that not only do Americans want Wall Street held accountable for its role in the economic crisis and ensuing recession, but it's painfully clear to that there has been no accountability.Read More
NAACP's Ben Jealous: Stand Up 4 Freedom
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 06, 2011 | 12:00 PM |On Friday, NAACP President Ben Jealous sent a message to supporters asking for help fighting the latest assault on the US Constitution.Read More
Shoplifting is Political, or: Kleptomania for the 99%
Filed by Alex Blaze | November 06, 2011 | 10:00 AM |Stealing is a politicized topic. I'm not the sort of person who would turn anyone in for stealing a handful of mushrooms while I would get mad if someone's employer forced them to hand over half their tip money.Read More
Legislative Malfeasance in Michigan
Filed by Amy Hunter | November 04, 2011 | 3:00 PM |In a stunning misrepresentation of the public trust, ultra-conservatives in Michigan pushed an "anti-bullying" initiative through the state Senate Wednesday after attaching an amendment that radically changed the legislation's impact.Read More
What Would Adam Smith Say?
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 04, 2011 | 12:00 PM |Elizabeth Warren really hit a nerve among conservatives with her winning message about the the social contract and America's economy. What I didn't know is that she did it with an assist from the right's favorite philosopher on economic policy.Read More
Policing the 99% Part 1
Filed by Terrance Heath | November 03, 2011 | 11:30 AM |From using pepper spray to lobbing flash bombs, the police tactics are chilling enough by themselves, but he policing of the 99 percent by the 99 percent on behalf of the 1 percent is truly ominous.Read More
Stop SB 48 Is Back: Equality California Isn't
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 02, 2011 | 5:00 PM |The antigay Capitol Resources Institute and their antigay Stop SB 48 "coalition" are now considering launching an initiative, which would allow them more time to get signatures. Equality California isn't ready to fight back.Read More
LGBTs Push for Education Act with Anti-Bullying Policies
Filed by Adam Polaski | November 02, 2011 | 2:00 PM |Today, a number of LGBT advocacy organizations and the American Civil Liberties Union have joined together in requesting that the anti-bullying language be incorporated into the Elementary and Secondary Education Reauthorization Act of 2011 before it is approved.Read More
California Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani Comes Out
Filed by Karen Ocamb | November 02, 2011 | 12:00 PM |It's a simple headline that will change the life of California Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani - and she apparently hopes - the lives of LGBT teens, as well.Read More
How to Make Occupy Wall Street More Trans-Inclusive
Filed by Toshio Meronek | November 01, 2011 | 5:00 PM |A big problem with social justice movements? Forgetting to include the people who are the most oppressed in the process. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project knows the problem first-hand, and stopped by Occupy Wall Street last week to help other protesters understand.Read More
Rep Cantor Booed Over Defending DOMA
Filed by Bil Browning | November 01, 2011 | 2:00 PM |Rep Eric Cantor's visit to the University of Michigan wasn't as positive as he'd hoped. Not only did students and staff turn their backs on him during his speech, they booed him when he reiterated his support for "traditional marriage."Read More
