Saturday, July 16, 2011
Via AmericaBlogGay: 9th Circuit again tells Obama administration to stop discharging gays
From Lambda Legal's Jon Davidson, via Rex Wockner:
Today's order from the Ninth Circuit rather modestly states that it reinstates the stay of the injunction against enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell "in all respects except one." The order goes on to provide that the injunction remains in effect "insofar as it enjoins [the government] from investigating, penalizing, or discharging anyone from the military pursuant to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy." In other words, all that today's order does is allow the military to once again stop accepting or processing applications from openly lesbian, gay or bisexual people, for now. Discharges, discharge proceedings, and investigations remain on hold.
The order reflects that the judges are upset that the government provided "considerably more detailed information concerning the implementation of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act ... than [it] did in [its prior] opposition to the motion to lift the stay" and orders the government to supplement its motion for reconsideration by 5 p.m. this Monday "to address why [it] did not present in [its] May 20, 2011 opposition to lift the stay the detailed information now presented in the motion for reconsideration." In addition, the order gives Log Cabin Republicans until 5 p.m. on July 21st to respond to the motion for reconsideration, but then gives the government only until noon the next day to reply. (Can we say "annoyed?")
This whiplash is surely confusing for many people. The administration needs to stop saying that certification under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act is coming soon and just issue it. But, even then, the actual end of the policy won't happen for 60 days after certification. The government has failed to show any reason why the policy cannot be halted immediately other than to claim that the military will respond better if it is not having to do so pursuant to a court order. Imagine if other people ordered by courts to stop violating people's rights similarly argued, don't issue an injunction, just let me fix the problem myself, on my own timetable, while I continue breaking the law!
Oral argument of the appeal has now been set for September 1st, in Pasadena.
Jon W. Davidson - Legal Director Lambda Legal
Friday, July 15, 2011
Via Faith in America:
Please watch. You'll enjoy......as longtime LGBT advocate and Faith in America Founder Mitchell Gold disarms one of the most vitriolic voices within the anti-gay religious industry. This is how we confront religion-based bigotry toward the LGBT community and the hostility the Religious Right and its anti-gay organizations promote toward our community.http://www.youtube.com/watch? |
Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Marcus Bachmann
"I was talking in reference to children. Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality. That's not my mindset. That's not my belief system. That's not the way I would talk. I think the strongest myth is the myth that I have ever called a homosexual a barbarian. We don't have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone." - Ladybird Marcus Bachmann, claiming that the audio tape in which he calls gays "barbarians" was doctored.
Robert and Stylianos sent this picture to us last night, upon hearing that after 15 years of DOMA, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first-ever hearing on repealing the horrendous law. No matter your marital status or sexual orientation, please follow their lead and click here to send in your "Please repeal DOMA for..." photo for our new video project!
Dear Daniel,Two years ago, when 18,000 California same-sex couples and their marriages were under attack, we launched "Fidelity," a multimedia video featuring Regina Spector's hit song and photos of members like you. We did it to send the California Supreme Court a message: don't let Prop 8 forcibly divorce same-sex families. It became the most-watched video in California political history, viewed 1.2 million times on YouTube and Vimeo.
Now, we're under attack again: this time by anti-gay activists who want to protect the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Fortunately, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a first-ever hearing next week on repealing DOMA. So it's time for Fidelity II.
Is your family impacted by DOMA? Do you know anyone who pays thousands more in federal taxes or can't sponsor their husband or wife for permanent residency? Or would you just like to express your support for the thousands harmed by this discriminatory law?
If so, please take a picture with a plain 8.5" by 11" piece of paper that sends a special message, like "Please Repeal DOMA for my family," "Please Repeal DOMA for my mothers," "Please Repeal DOMA for my friends, Name and Name," or "Please Repeal DOMA for all happily married couples." Print it out, or write it clearly in big, block letters. Then click here to send us your photo to include in our new video.
The time has come for Fidelity II because the Senate Judiciary Committee has the votes to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. Winning in committee -- which we have the votes to do -- would make headlines around the country, educate the public, and inject new momentum into the national movement, helping push more Senators to co-sponsor the bill.
This is your opportunity to play a big role in educating the public, Daniel. Click here to send in your photo, holding up a sign that says "Please Repeal DOMA."
Opportunities to change the hearts and minds of Americans on DOMA don't come along very often. The Senate Judiciary Committee is giving us one. Let's make sure to take it.
Thanks for all you do,Opportunities to change the hearts and minds of Americans on DOMA don't come along very often. The Senate Judiciary Committee is giving us one. Let's make sure to take it.
--Rick, Cait, Arisha, Adam, Anthony, and the rest of the team at the Courage Campaign
..............
To power our campaign to repeal DOMA, please chip in what you can today:
Via JMG: Hate Groups React To CA History Bill
Catholics For The Common Good
Claims that this bill is needed to reduce bullying against children that are experiencing gender confusion or take on 'gay' or 'lesbian' identities are absurd. Children must be taught respect for all persons because of their intrinsic value, not because they agree with their behavior or like their characteristics. In fact, reducing people to merely a sexual identity obscures the fact that they are so much more than that.Traditional Values Coalition
SB 48 was priority number 1 for Traditional Values Coalition. We committed all the resources we had to try to make sure that SB 48 failed. We are talking about molesting the minds of young impressionable youth, as young as Kindergarten, with an agenda and message that is not age-appropriate and that is offensive to the values of a vast majority of California’s families. We have failed at our core educational mission and yet we are now going to inject gay studies into the classrooms. It’s absurd and offensive.Save California
It's ridiculous that Jerry Brown says he's making history 'honest'. The bill he signed prohibits teachers and textbooks from telling children the facts that homosexuality has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS and other STDs, higher cancer rates, and earlier deaths. These important facts about lifestyles children will being forced to admire will be omitted. And Brown calls this 'honest'? This revisionist history will actually make more children believe a lie -- that homosexuality is biological, which it's not, and healthy, which is isn't."
Labels: California, Catholic Church, education, hate groups, LGBT History, Mark Leno, Save California, Traditional Values Coalition
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Via JMG: LGBT Characters Map
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