Sunday, January 17, 2010

from JMG: Friendly Voices - Margaret Hoover

"Some Republicans support gay rights, but prefer progress through legislative action or majority rule at the ballot box, rather than judicial action. But what if a democratic election imposes mandates that violate a citizen’s constitutional freedom? In the event that majority rule insufficiently protects individual liberty, our system of checks and balances puts forth that it is the role of the courts, to guarantee and protect the rights to individual Americans.

"That’s why the Supreme Court, in 1967 Loving v. Virginia, legalized interracial marriage –six years after our current president was born to an interracial couple. At that time 73% of the population opposed “miscegenation.” How long would it have taken to change popular opinion, for the minority to democratically win their constitutional rights? As Martin Luther King, Jr. famously asserted, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

"For those of you who would label me a 'RINO' (Republican In Name Only) for taking this stand, I direct you to Vice President Cheney, whose conservative credentials are impeccable, and who answered a question on the topic before the National Press Club audience on June 1, 2009 by saying simply, 'freedom means freedom for everyone.'" - Fox News contributor Margaret Hoover, coming out for marriage equality on FoxNew.com, of all places. Hoover directs readers to the Facebook page Republicans For Marriage Equality.

another great find on JMG

FROM JMG: God's Control Panel



Joe says: RELATED: Today is Religious Freedom Day in America. Sadly, there is no Freedom FROM Religion Day.

(Via - Maneggs and JMG)

Keeping Same-Sex Marriage in the Dark

Marjorie Cohn, Jurist: "On Wednesday, a conservative majority of the Supreme Court overturned a ruling made by a federal trial judge that would have allowed limited television coverage of a trial that will decide the fate of California’s Proposition 8. The trial, which is currently proceeding in San Francisco, is one of the most significant civil rights cases of our time. The plaintiffs are seeking to overturn a ballot initiative that makes same-sex marriage illegal in California."

Jump here to read the Article

Saturday, January 16, 2010

a message from Joe Solmonese / HRC:

Dear Daniel,

On Monday our nation will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, our national holiday dedicated not only to this leader but to the civil rights legacy that he and millions of other brave Americans left us. Dr. King and the civil rights movement moved us from a nation of laws to a nation of laws and rights. Each time we invoke the constitutional and human rights behind LGBT equality, economic justice, and peace, we build that legacy. It is a legacy in progress.

In America, there is work to do in underserved communities. Many will mark this day with community service. Learn more about the MLK National Day of Service. You can make a difference.

In 2008, voters in California stripped same-sex couples of equal rights when they passed Proposition 8. For many, Proposition 8 stands as an ugly symbol of how far we are from living up to our Constitution's promise and Dr. King's dream. This week in California, a federal trial court will hear a challenge to that law. We were disappointed that the Supreme Court prevented the court from making the proceedings accessible to every interested viewer. The defendants—Prop 8's supporters, had argued that broadcasting the trial would expose them to threats and harassment. As someone who debated many of these anti-equality leaders on television and in public, and who had to watch their deceptive advertisements, I am amazed that anyone would believe this. We—LGBT people and allies, activists, marchers, neighbors, are the real story. We will all continue to petition our government with honor and with the power of truth.

In the District of Columbia, the Superior Court ruled that a Prop 8-like ballot initiative cannot go forward. The D.C. Council recently passed a marriage equality law, and opponents are trying to put a repeal to the voters. On Thursday, January 14, Superior Court Judge Macaluso ruled that such a ballot measure would violate D.C.'s Human Rights Act. No one's civil rights should be subject to the popular vote. We hold equal rights as human beings, not because of a popularity contest.

The American civil rights vision has meaning around the world, but we have a long way to go to realize Dr. King's dream. In Uganda, legislators have introduced a bill to increase criminal penalties for same-sex sexual relations, including the death penalty for “serial offenders.” Anti-LGBT activists from the United States visited Uganda to spread false information about “ex-gay” therapy last year, and this legislation seems to be the bitter result of their mission of deceit. Read HRC Religion and Faith Director Harry Knox's views on the subject here.

We were heartened to learn that a Congressional commission has scheduled a hearing on this abominable legislation, and will hear testimony about it next week. Already, many in Congress are calling for the United States to ensure that the Ugandan government does not impose a de facto death sentence on its LGBT people.

Finally, on Tuesday, January 12, the world saw a devastating tragedy unfold in Haiti, the western hemisphere's poorest country. A massive earthquake shook the island nation, its epicenter near the populous capital Port au Prince. Tens of thousands are feared dead, and the nation's weak infrastructure leveled. Poverty is our world's most egregious civil rights violation, and the nation's poverty contributed enormously to the carnage in Haiti. Shoddy construction caused buildings to tumble. Limited resources affected rescue efforts, which are still ongoing. To learn how you can help, visit the Rainbow World Fund's website. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and with the many Americans who have lost or are searching for family abroad.

Have a good weekend, and a peaceful MLK holiday.

Fondly,

Joe Solmonese
President, Human Rights Campaign

P.S. If you are looking for plans this Sunday evening, consider joining us at one of our inaugural Her HRC events around the country. Building on the momentum of our L Word premiere parties of the past, thousands of women from around the country will gather for a national night of celebration. Find the event nearest you at www.hrc.org/herhrc.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Em nome de Deus?

OPINIÃO
Em nome de Deus?
GILBERTO SCOFIELD JUNIOR


Em sua avaliação anual dos acontecimentos mundiais, o Papa Bento XVI tratou de condenar o que ele chama de "casamento gay", alegando que sua existência é uma "ameaça à criação". O raciocínio embutido nesta tese é tão absurdamente primário que qualquer pessoa com o mínimo de compreensão de mundo e de psicologia jamais perderia tempo tentando debatê-la não fosse por um simples fato: ela não é verdadeira. Gays e lésbicas não querem entrar de terno, véu e grinalda na igreja e receber de padres católicos ou protestantes suas bênçãos diante de Deus. O assunto nunca foi e nunca será da esfera dos conceitos religiosos. Trata-se da discussão de um tema de ordem do direito civil e das garantias individuais, direito que já há muito deveria constar dos nossos códigos civis e cujo lapso transforma gays e lésbicas, em vários países do mundo, em cidadãos de segunda categoria.

O que se prega, aqui e em outros países do planeta, é o direito à união civil, um direito que dará aos parceiros de casais estáveis do mesmo sexo benefícios civis dos quais gozam casais heterossexuais, como o direito aos bens construídos pelo casal no caso de falecimento de um deles, direito de declarar imposto de renda em conjunto, direito de usar a renda do casal para a compra de casa própria, entre outros itens. Céu? Inferno? Purgatório? Não, não. O que preocupa gays e lésbicas do mundo inteiro não é o julgamento de Deus, mas a opressão dos homens, e está no terreno dos vivos, e não dos mortos.

A Igreja Católica possui um histórico no mínimo polêmico em termos de direitos humanos, que exige do Papa e de todos os representantes desta religião uma boa dose de cautela antes de saírem pelo mundo pregando intolerância. A História está repleta de exemplos que vão dos abomináveis tribunais da inquisição até o recente caso da Igreja Católica irlandesa, que se calou diante das 320 queixas de pedofilia envolvendo 60 crianças molestadas em quatro décadas. E o que dizer de Galileu, condenado pela Igreja em 1633 por sua teoria heliocentrista (segundo a qual a Terra gravita em torno do Sol, e não o contrário), também considerada na época "uma ameaça à criação"?

Há os exemplos individuais e, neste caso, me exponho. O sonho de muitos jornalistas é, em algum momento de sua carreira, atuar como correspondente internacional, especialmente em países que são o centro das atenções mundiais, como a China e os EUA, onde passei meus últimos seis anos (quatro e meio na China e pouco mais de um ano nos EUA, onde ainda resido). Agora, vejo meu momento singular na carreira jornalística ser interrompido justamente porque não tenho, aqui ou nos EUA, a proteção da lei de um casal que está há sete anos junto.

Na China, meu parceiro possuía seu visto de trabalho individual. Eu tinha o meu de jornalista estrangeiro. Nos EUA, um país mergulhado numa crise econômica sem fim, meu parceiro tem que entrar com um visto de turista em que está anotado que seu visto se liga ao meu porque somos uma união estável há sete anos. O Consulado Americano no Rio sempre foi extremamente compreensivo e atencioso com a situação, buscando a melhor saída possível para o problema. Mas, como a entrada depende da mente mais ou menos homofóbica do funcionário da imigração americana (as leis de união civil são leis estaduais, e não se aplicam ao processo de imigração dos EUA, que é assunto federal), meu parceiro já foi parar na famosa "salinha de interrogatório da imigração americana" para explicar que ele não estava ali disposto a entrar nos EUA para ilegalmente limpar privadas. Era parte de uma união estável, união esta que não possui o amparo da lei porque não há visto de cônjuge para parceiros de mesmo sexo. Nos EUA ou no Brasil, diga-se de passagem.

O resultado é que estou voltando ao Brasil porque não quero que meu parceiro se arrisque a estes momentos de humilhação desnecessária. Momentos de humilhação que só se tornam piores à medida em que o representante maior da Igreja Católica me chama de "ameaça à criação". Isso num mundo onde as ameaças à criação de verdade andam com explosivos colados ao corpo ou sequestram aviões e os jogam sobre arranha-céus. Tudo em nome de Deus, curiosamente. Há algo estranhamente fora do contexto nisto tudo ou são apenas divagações de uma "ameaça à criação" ambulante?

GILBERTO SCOFIELD JUNIOR é jornalista.

Play it Loud...

from JMG: No Prop 8 Clips For Internet

Perry vs. Schwarzenegger Judge Vaughn Walker has abandoned his plan to post clips of the trial on YouTube. And now the cowardly bigots on the other side want all the video of the trial destroyed.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker said Thursday he's withdrawing his application to have the landmark case video-recorded under a pilot program approved last month by the governing body for federal courts in the West. Walker says he doesn't want the issue to distract from the trial itself. He made the announcement a day after the U.S. Supreme Court indefinitely blocked his plan to record the trial so it could be transmitted to other federal courthouses. Walker rejected a defense lawyer's request to destroy any videotapes produced during the first days of the trials He says he wants the option to review them first.

Jump here to read the rest on JMG

From JMG: Petula Clark "I couldn't live without your love"

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Pat Robertson's Racist Blaming of Haitian Victims; and the Televangelist Misuse of History

h/t Daily Kos: Evangelist Pat Robertson manages to blame Haitians for the earthquake, instead of a shift in tectonic plates:


And you know Christy, something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French, uh you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True Story, and so the Devil said OK it's a deal. And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they've been cursed by one thing after the other desperately poor. That island is Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On one side is Haiti on the other side is the Dominican republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc.. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island.

read the rest of the discussion on Informed Comment

This is the Sound of Hatred

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Prop 8 Trial Tracker

Follow the Courage Campaign's Rick Jacobs live blogging from the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial. He's typing as people speak and it can be a bit confusing, but Jacobs is doing a great job getting the gist of what everybody is saying. You'll need to refresh to see the updates. Bookmark the site for the remainder of the trial.

also: http://seminal.firedoglake.com/

Thanks to JMG for this

Sunday, January 10, 2010

JMG:

"Shouldn't there be safeguards against the majority voting on the rights of a minority? If people voted on civil rights in the 60s, it would have never happened. It took somebody like [President] Lyndon Johnson going, 'F all of you! I'm going to do this.' Obama won't do it. He's a huge disappointment to me." - GLEE star Jane Lynch, speaking to the UK's Guardian.

courtesy of JMG

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Bil Browning sent a message to the members of The Bilerico Project.

Subject: Weekly Reader: Teabaggers, Sherlock Holmes, & a Catholic Rebel

The first week back after the holidays is always the hardest, isn't it? Everyone is struggling to get back into the swing of things at school, work, or around the house as we clean up after hosting a bazillion family members. On TBP, we kept plugging along to bring you our award-winning posts like these:

Sunday
Should We Scrap the Word "Transgender"?
Filed by: Dr. Jillian T. Weiss
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/is_it_unfair_to_define_the_transgender_community_t.php

Saxx Apparel - it's a romper room for your boys
Filed by: Nathan Strang
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/saxx_apparel_its_a_romper_room_for_your_boys.php

Monday
How a transgender prisoner gets tougher punishment because of her gender identity
Filed by: Alex Blaze
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/how_a_transgender_prisoner_gets_tougher_punishment.php


Crazy tea baggers and liberal blogger friends
Filed by: Jerame Davis
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/crazy_tea_baggers_and_liberal_blogger_friends.php

Tuesday
Sherlock Holmes sequel in jeopardy after Downey's gay comment
Filed by: Bil Browning
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/sherlock_holmes_sequel_in_jeopardy_after_downeys_g.php


Marriage equality safe in Iowa until at least 2014
Filed by: Joe Mirabella
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/marriage_equality_safe_in_iowa_until_at_least_2014.php

Wednesday
Description, Affinity, Politics, and Identity
Filed by: Antonia D'orsay
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/description_affinity_politics_and_identity.php

Scott Lively doesn't want you to think he hates you
Filed by: Phil Reese
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/scott_lively_doesnt_want_you_to_think_he_hates_you.php

Thursday
Ridicule, the federal jobs site, and an ENDA prescription
Filed by: Bil Browning
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/ridicule_the_federal_jobs_site_and_an_enda_prescri.php

16 Years Old And Already A Catholic Rebel
Filed by: Father Tony
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/in_which_i_turn_a_16_year_old_into_a_rebel_catholi.php

Friday
What are the best ways to show interest in someone?
Filed by: Michele O'Mara
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/what_are_the_best_ways_to_show_interest_in_someone.php

Death of Denise King is a Call to Our Community
Filed by: Michael Emanuel Rajner
http://www.facebook.com/l/f6caa;www.bilerico.com/2010/01/death_of_denise_king_is_a_call_to_our_community.php


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Thursday, January 7, 2010

And now for something completely different....

From JMG: #teapartypickuplines

From last night's favorite trending topic on Twitter...
  • Hey baby, only my government is small.
  • I wanna whisper sweet anti-immigrant, homophobic, racist, xenophobic nothings into your ear.
  • How about you and me go have sex - lights out, missionary position, for the sole purpose of reproduction?
  • I wanna unravel your conspiracy so my revolution can erupt all over you.
  • The real reason I'm against tax increases? So I can spend all my money on you, girl.
  • You're hotter than the burning cross I put in my black neighbor's front lawn.
  • Is that a Glenn Beck bobblehead in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
  • On the border I'm a Minuteman, but in the bedroom I'm alllll night.
  • Lets go back to my place and declare independence from our clothes.
  • Wanna see my paintings of an eagle crying over the New York skyline on 9/11?

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Thanksfor JMG for this