From Rachel Maddow Show

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

President Obama Signs Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill Into Law

todays best blog comment

I keep a can of spray under the sink for creatures like this.

- anon post in reference to the Tony Perkins on JMG below

Tony Perkins: Why Spend Money On LGBT Seniors? Gays Don't Live That Long Anyway

A few days ago it was announced that the Department of Health & Human Services has authorized a $250K grant to establish the National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders. That's a meager amount by federal standards, to be sure, but an important and unprecedented recognition of LGBT seniors.

But staying true to evil form, the vile Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council says it's a waste of money because homos don't live long enough to become senior citizens.

Apparently, our nation is never too broke to advance a radical social agenda. The agency released a statement on the Center last week, saying its purpose would be to "help community-based organizations understand the unique needs... of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers..." In the release, HHS regurgitates the Left's propaganda to justify the waste, claiming that "1.5 to 4 million" LGBTs are age 60 and older. In reality, HHS has no idea how many LGBT seniors exist. No one does! The movement is only a few decades old, and people who are 80- or 90-years-old didn't grow up in a culture where it was acceptable to identify with this lifestyle. Of course, the real tragedy here--apart from the unnecessary spending--is that, given the risks of homosexual conduct, these people are less likely to live long enough to become senior citizens! Yet once again, the Obama administration is rushing to reward a lifestyle that poses one of the greatest public health risks in America. If this is how HHS prioritizes, imagine what it could do with a trillion dollar health care overhaul!

Repulsive.courtesy of JMG

Yay!

Attachments:

Dear Daniel, Today, something extraordinary happened. Love conquered hate. After more than a decade, the inclusive hate crimes bill we've fought so hard for has been signed by the president and sealed in law. I cannot overstate the importance of this moment. This is the first time ANY federal equality measure protecting LGBT rights has become law. The very first time. And it is the first federal law to explicitly protect transgender people. It is a touchstone in our movement, a triumph of what is right. And I truly feel things will never be the same. Daniel, you made this day possible, along with thousands like you who called, wrote to Congress, met with lawmakers, and never gave up. I am inspired and humbled, and I thank you for all you've done. As I left the White House, my thoughts turned to two crucial tasks immediately ahead – the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Tomorrow, we will wake up emboldened to fight those battles. So will our enemies. This victory gives us momentum, and we cannot slow down. Will you make a donation today to help HRC make sure this isn't the last time we see this image? With your help, this moment will be a beginning, not a culmination. Help us put more pro-equality legislation under that pen! Hate crimes legislation was the first piece of creating a safe environment for LGBT people – prohibiting workplace and military discrimination are the next. When LGBT people live in fear of violence or discrimination, we cannot be who we are. And when we must hide our true selves, we cannot change hearts and minds. It took twelve years, over one million emails, faxes and phone calls to Congress, and 14 separate votes on the floors of the House and the Senate to turn the hate crimes bill into law. Right-wing groups opposed us ferociously until the very end; they knew having a pro-LGBT law on the books would be a game-changer, and it is. We've learned invaluable lessons. Now we know the next victory will take at least that much effort. But it must not take that much time. That means we need your help now. Today, I am more determined than ever to put more pro-equality legislation on the president's desk – let us galvanize ourselves in the fire of this moment. Your support right now will give our nationwide network of staff and volunteers the power to fight for equality across the country. Thank you again for standing with us to make this historic victory possible. Your hard work has made this country a safer place for millions of LGBT people. Warmly, Joe Solmonese President

Quote of the Day

"If Dick Cheney can support marriage, so can every Senator. So can every Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative. Equality should know no bounds, and we must not rest until we have marriage in all fifty of these United States."

- Senator Charles E. Schumer

X Factor Ordinary Geezer Olly Murs

Tell Congress to pass The Uniting American Families Act!

To: The President of the United States, Your U.S. Senators and Your U.S. House Representative

Started by: Xavier Von Otwell

The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA, H.R. 1024, S. 424) is a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.

Every year, thousands of same-sex couples are separated or live in constant fear of being stopped by officials who demand to see documentation and threaten detention. In some cases, same-sex partners face prosecution by the Immigration and Naturalization Service - including hefty fines and deportations. U.S. citizens are sometimes left with no other choice but to immigrate with their partners to a country with more fair-minded immigration laws.

The UAFA was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on May 8, 2007 by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). There are currently 118 cosponsors of this bill in the United States House of Representatives.

The UAFA was introduced in the United States Senate on May 8, 2007 by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). There are currently 18 Cosponsors of this bill in the United States Senate.


By writing your lawmakers today, you bring us one step closer to equal immigration rights, so citizens can sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration!


Help Congress get the message loud and clear: America supports passage of the Uniting American Families Act!


No more separation. No more deportation. No more fear!

http://www.immigrationequality.org/

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/uafa_0508

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moQu4tuVdyo

Thank Yoi Obama for Signing the Hate Crimes Bill!

Just feeling a bit campy...

Quote of the Day

Miko on Stuart Gaffney's facebook status:

""If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.""

and


""Marriage is like pi - natural, irrational, and very important" 3.1415..."

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Bil

Dear Friend:

The Matthew Shepard hate crimes bill will at long last become law. Last week, the Senate agreed to final passage of legislation that included the Matthew Shepard hate crime provision, and President Obama is expected to sign it into law. This law will strengthen the ability of federal, state and local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

Hate crimes are particularly offensive because they are propelled by bias, ignorance and bigotry. These crimes do not just inflict harm on one victim, but they also instill fear in entire communities. And no person – simply because of who they are – should ever have to live in fear.

Earlier this year, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill. It adds gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity to the list of protected categories under federal hate crimes laws. The measure also provides additional federal support to state and local authorities investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.

It has been more than 10 years since the senseless and brutal death of Matthew Shepard, and I look forward to watching President Obama sign this much-needed legislation into law.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Quote of the Day

"Who would give a law to lovers? Love is unto itself a higher law."

- Boethius

(thanks to Stuart Gaffney)

Tis the Season, or it?

From: purposequest.blogspot.com

How many times have you walked in or out of your local grocery store and felt pressured to give a handful of change to the Salvation Army volunteer, ringing his little bell? I think we've all probably dug into our pockets, at one point or another, and pulled out a crumpled dollar bill, proudly exchanged merry, merries and then dropped the cash into the little red kettle. It is after all Christmas-time, and the Salvation Army is out in full force.

They do good things with the money, right? Well, I hate to be the Grinch, but the answer is yes and no. According to the official website of the Salvation Army, 83 cents of every dollar collected goes directly to client service. Sounds impressive. The Salvation Army delivers aid to 36 million people through a national network of soup kitchens, drug-treatment centers, hospitals, shelters for battered women, nursing care and day-care centers run by low-paid workers or volunteers. The Army even does great work for AIDS care. That's the good.

jump her to read more

Judge To Prop 8 Backers: Turn Over The Paperwork NOW

On Friday a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that the backers of Proposition 8 must immediately turn over their internal documents.

The sponsors had sought to keep the documents while challenging the order to turn them over in an appeals court. But in a ruling late Friday, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San Francisco said backers of Proposition 8 had failed to show that disclosing internal memos and e-mails would violate their freedom of speech or subject them to harassment. He said they had refused to identify any documents that needed special protection and noted that he could order their opponents to keep any sensitive material confidential. "It simply does not appear likely that (Prop. 8's) proponents will prevail on the merits of their appeal," Walker said. He said he doubts that a federal appeals court even has jurisdiction to consider the dispute at this early stage of the case.

Those behind the push to overturn Prop 8 say the campaign was based on anti-gay bias, not the need to protect "traditional marriage." Prop 8 proponents say their motives are irrelevant.

Labels: California, feds, marriage equality, Proposition 8

posted by Joe

Gay Family Values: "King & King"

Thanks for the Heads up BoxTurtle!

Starbucks Says Approve Ref. 71

Jim Burroway

October 24th, 2009

This comes to us via SLOG:

In a statement, the company said that approving R-71 “ensures that basic benefits and important protections are not taken away from committed couples, so they are able to take care of each other, especially in times of crisis.” Starbucks wants voters to approve the measure “because it is aligned with our business practices, providing domestic partner benefits, and one of our core values of treating people with respect and dignity.” [emphasis in SLOG's post]

Starbucks hasn’t contributed to the campaign, but they did send this message out to their employees. Starbucks has 3,000 employees in its Seattle headquarters and maintains 667 stores in Washington state, and each of them got this statement. That’s quite a venti.

Starbucks’ endorsement follows similar appeals from Microsoft, Boeing, Nike, and many other companies that employ large numbers of people in the Pacific Northwest.

With all the attention being paid to Maine, Washington’s LGBT citizens are feeling ignored. Karen Ocamb says they’re sweating bullets because they may well lose their hard-won Domestic Partnerships. Please show them your love by donating to Approve Ref. 71 today.

Subject: Weekly Reader: LGBT politics, Rosie, & holding hands

The past week has been huge for forward progress in LGBT political news. Between the administration's clarified definition of "family," HHS's announcement of the creation of an LGBT senior resource center, HUD's new study on LGBT discrimination in housing, and the Senate's passage of hate crimes legislation, the fundies must be going apoplectic. We, however, kept delivering some of the best LGBT content on the web like these gems:

Bilerico Nation
Martinis With Fred Phelps
Filed by: Peter Monn and Alex Paredes (Bilerico-Indiana)
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;indiana.bilerico.com/2009/10/martinis_with_fred_phelps.php

Norfolk Country Club Bars Same-Sex Family Membership in Vote
Filed by: Michael Hamar (Bilerico-DC)
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;dc.bilerico.com/2009/10/norfolk_country_club_bars_same-sex_famil.php

Dan Gelber Garners LGBT Endorsement in hotly contested FL AG race
Filed by: Nadine Smith (Bilerico-Florida)
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;florida.bilerico.com/2009/10/dan_gelber_garners_lgbt_endorsement_in_h.php

Sunday
Equality Across America wants you
Filed by: Diane Silver
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/equality_across_america_wants_you.php

My Cleaning Trolley, just in case real cleaning wasn't fun enough
Filed by: Alex Blaze
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/miriam_at_feministing_highlighted_this.php

Monday
The APLA AIDS Walk, the Age of Aquarius, and people like me
Filed by: Karen Ocamb
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/the_apla_aids_walk_the_age_of_aquarius_and_people.php

Click Here To Email 36 U.S. Representatives Unconfirmed on ENDA
Filed by: Dr. Jillian T. Weiss
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/click_here_to_email_36_us_representatives_unconfir.php

Tuesday
High School Hand Holding as Punishment... with a Dash of Internalized Homophobia
Filed by: Waymon Hudson
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/high_school_hand_holding_as_punishment_and_our_int.php

Sexy and queer religious imagery
Filed by: Alex Blaze
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/sexy_and_queer_religious_imagery.php

Wednesday
Glee star Corey Monteith thinks you're the jazz
Filed by: Bil Browning
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/glee_star_corey_monteith_thinks_youre_the_jazz.php

Growing Calls for Immigration Reform That Leaves No Family Behind
Filed by: Steve Ralls
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/growing_calls_for_immigration_reform_that_leaves_n.php

Thursday
Rosie and Kelli Working on Their Issues; So Is the Media
Filed by: Dana Rudolph
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/rosie_and_kelli_working_on_their_issues_so_is_the.php

Inside baseball: The all-male college "gay problem"
Filed by: Austen Crowder
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/inside_baseball_the_all-male_college_gay_problem.php

Friday
Histórica aprobación de ley federal para prevenir crímenes de odio
Filed by: Pedro Julio Serrano
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/historica_aprobacion_de_ley_federal_para_prevenir.php

Top 10 Out Gay Male Pop Stars
Filed by: Phil Reese
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/top_10_out_gay_male_pop_stars.php

BONUS:
Obama administration moves forward on LGBT rights via HUD & HHS
Filed by: Bil Browning
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/obama_adminstration_moves_forward_on_lgbt_rights.php

Hate crimes passes Senate: Goes to President's desk
Filed by: Bil Browning
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;www.bilerico.com/2009/10/hate_crimes_passes_senate_goes_to_presidents_desk.php

Don't forget:

Subscribe to the Bilerico Project Report to get all of the previous day's posts sent to you every night at midnight.
http://www.facebook.com/l/480c7;feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=BilericoProject&loc=en_US

How American Evangelicals are Killing Gay People in Africa

Hate never made for a good export. But that hasn't stopped a prominent group of American evangelicals from trying to ship their anti-LGBT principles abroad. One glaring example of right-wing theology run amuck across the globe is fresh out of Uganda, where legislative efforts to attack Ugandan LGBT people reached fever pitch this week.

Uganda is an interesting example of how the radical religious right in the United States has sought to take their battle against all things related to homosexuality to a global level. Earlier this year, a prominent group of evangelicals -- among them representatives from Exodus International and Defend the Family International -- attended a conference in Uganda aimed at discussing ways to fight homosexuality. The goal of the conference was to brainstorm ways that the government, schools and churches in Uganda could "wipe out" homosexuality from the country.

From American religious leaders to participate in something like this shows some pretty gross disrespect for human rights. What's worse, their support has lent credence to a bill introduced in Uganda's parliament this week that will imprison people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, and will imprison straight people who support gay rights. Oh, and let's not forget that the bill also calls for HIV-positive gay people to be put to death.

All of that and a bag of chips, and it's all courtesy of American evangelicals.

Wayne Besen, a leading LGBT rights activist who monitors "ex-gay" religious groups, nails a description of the shady stuff going on in Uganda.

read the rest here