Via Courage

"[A] gay judge's sexual preference will, without any question whatsoever, 'interfere with their job.' It's not possible for it to be otherwise... We simply should not elevate to the highest court in the land people who are known for engaging in sexually abnormal behavior which would technically make them felons in a quarter of the states over which they will have jurisdiction." -- Bryan Fischer, American Family Association

Dear Daniel --

Disqualified.

That's what the American Family Association and Focus on the Family -- both right-wing religious organizations -- think of gays and lesbians potentially serving on the Supreme Court following the retirement of venerable liberal Justice John Paul Stevens.

Their outrageous position is that gays and lesbians are "sinners" and since character is a consideration in approving judges, they should be automatically disqualified.

Sexual orientation should NOT be a factor in the appointment of a Supreme Court justice. Period.

With Focus on the Family, the American Family Association and the rest of the religious right firing up their massive lobbying machine, we need you to make your voice heard right now. Sign our letter to President Obama ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/NotAFactor

Last year, we thought that Focus on the Family -- the leading organization lobbying on behalf of the religious right -- might be turning over a page when they said being LGBT should not automatically disqualify someone from serving on the Supreme Court.

But now Focus on the Family wants a "do over" because they still think gays and lesbians are unfit immoral sinners. Check out their latest statement:

"To be honest, this is one of those conversations we'd like to 'do over.' We can assure you that we recognize that homosexual behavior is a sin and does not reflect God's created intent and desire for humanity. Further, we at Focus do affirm that character and moral rectitude should be key considerations in appointing members of the judiciary, especially in the case of the highest court in the land."

This truly scandalous attempt to marginalize and dehumanize LGBT people, shared by countless others in this country, is exactly why we need legislation like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. And it is exactly why we need to draw attention to this discrimination.

It's time to take a stand and say no to discrimination, especially on the highest court in the land. Sign our letter to President Obama and invite your friends to join you now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/NotAFactor

In the coming years, the Supreme Court will adjudicate several historic cases, including Perry v. Schwarzenegger -- the Prop 8 case that will soon be decided in federal district court.

That's why it is so important that President Obama -- no matter the sexual orientation of his nominee -- gets this decision right.

Thanks for all you do in the name of equality.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

The Courage Campaign is a multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country.

To show your support for this critical campaign, please chip in what you can today:

Via JMG: CNN On Obama's Hospital Ruling

President Obama's hospital visitation rights order late yesterday was heavily covered by the networks. Last night Anderson Cooper hosted Janice Langbern, whose story about being blocked from seeing her partner in a Miami hospital made national news. Obama called Langbern yesterday shortly before his order became public and apologized for the manner is which she and her late partner had been treated.


(Via - Towleroad)a repost from JMG

Via JMG: Today: GLSEN's Day Of Silence

Today is GLSEN's national annual Day Of Silence in which students draw attention to anti-gay bullying by pledging to remain silent at school (except during class when required.) GLSEN is asking to students to Tweet The Silence to remind others. Anti-gay groups have called for Christian students to walk out of class today in an effort to punish participating schools financially.

"Every child that stays home on Friday in protest will take almost $100, in California at least, from the government school system in the form of ADA -- average daily attendance funds," (Save California's Randy Thomasson] explains. "We think that's appropriate punishment for a school district that allows homosexual indoctrination of children." He adds that it is the only type of lesson to be learned for public schools which value money much more than morality. Other groups calling for parents to keep their children at home as a protest of the Day of Silence include the American Family Association and the Illinois Family Institute.

a repost via JMG

via rawstory.com

Obama grants hospital visitation, power of attorney rights to gay and lesbian couples | Raw Story

The White House issued a memo Thursday directing all hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid to end discrimination against same-sex couples, thereby granting full visitation and medical power of attorney rights to gay and lesbian partners at the vast majority of hospitals nation-wide.

make the jump here to read the full story

Via O Globo:

Projeto de lei transforma em crimes a discriminação por orientação sexual

Quem praticar, induzir ou incitar a discriminação contra homossexuais, além da prisão, fica sujeito a pagar multa.

“Vai discriminar homossexual por que? Não são seres humanos como nós?“.

“Eu sou a favor, porque eu acho que não deve ter nenhum tipo de discriminação na sociedade brasileira”.

É fato que o preconceito existe. Uma mulher que não quer ser identificada, conta que já foi discriminada. "Fui me despedir da minha namorada beijando a bochecha dela, quando o caixa da lanchonete expulsou a gente do local... E ele falou que era proibido beijar ali. Aí eu falei: ‘ta nas normas o preconceito?’ aí ele: ‘ta nas normas a intolerância com a homossexualidade aqui dento do clube. Então, por favor, se retirem do local’”.

veja mais aqui

Quote Of The Day - Dorothy Hamill

"If I hadn't been born a woman I would have certainly been gay, because I love sparkles and ruffles and color." - Olympic figure skating legend Dorothy Hamill, when asked what it means to be a woman. Hamill was in NYC attending the 125th anniversary party for Good Housekeeping Magazine.a repost via JMG

Via JMG: Out Magazine's 50 Most Powerful Gays

Out Magazine has just published their annual Power 50 list of the most prominent gays in the country.

Out, the world’s leading gay fashion and lifestyle brand, presents the fourth annual Power 50, a veritable who’s who of prominent gay men and women representing all walks of life. From entertainers to politicians, writers, and cultural icons, the Power 50 honors the influencers affecting the cultural and social landscape for the LGBT community. Taking into account political clout, personal wealth, and an individual’s media profile, the list recognizes men and women living the good fight. Ellen DeGeneres tops this year’s list, with America getting a double dose of the multi-Emmy winner via her hugely popular talk show and her new gig as American Idol judge. DeGeneres traded spots with Massachusetts congressman Barney Frank, whose outspoken demeanor has made him a rare political figure: a progressive with a visible spine.

Each person has their own page on the site (oy) so I'll just recap the top ten.

1. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Barney Frank
3. Anderson Cooper
4. Rachel Maddow
5. Adam Lambert
6. Barry Diller
7. Neil Patrick Harris
8. Joe Solmonese
9. Tammy Baldwin
10. Jared Polis

Other notable listings: Matt Drudge (15), Christine Quinn (23), Dan Choi (28), Andrew Sullivan (31). I'll admit I didn't recognize about a dozen of the names on the list, mostly the folks from film and fashion.another repost from JMG

Via JMG: Burned Rainbow Flag Hung Outside Of NYC LGBT Community Center

Staffers at the NYC LGBT Community Center in Manhattan's West Village found a burned and torn rainbow flag affixed to their front wall this morning. Executive director Glennda Testone:

"This morning our building staff arrived and discovered a burned rainbow flag hanging on one of the poster display cases outside our building. We called the NYPD, and they immediately dispatched detectives from the hate crimes unit and our local precinct. They are currently investigating the crime. We at the Center will not stand for anyone who thinks they can come into our community and try to intimidate us. We work hard to create a safe environment and provide a safe space for all LGBT New Yorkers. Hate and intolerance against us will not be accepted in New York, and it is so important the Center is a safe space in our city. It is sad that such incidents still happen in this day and age, but we appreciate the NYPD and especially the hate crimes unit doing everything they can to ensure the safety of all LGBT people in New York."

Testone reports that the perpetrator was captured on the Center's security camera, but she encourages anybody with additional information to call the NYPD at .a repost from JMG

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Anonymous Soldier

JMG reader and Afghanistan veteran R.D. tells his story today on the blog of conservative columnist David Frum.

"I had a very bad session with my workout partner tonight. He is the person I am closest to in Afghanistan yet even he knows very little about my life. He asked if I was married and I lied, telling him I was divorced. Damn. I hate lying; I can count on one hand how often I have told a lie in the past 20 years. Yet if I told him I was a never-married, 42-year-old male it would have been too risky. If I told the truth I could be fired and go home to face unemployment. Why in the world would any soldier be fired for being honest? Because I am a gay soldier and it is illegal to say so. It is illegal for me to tell not just anyone in the military but anyone in the world – my parents, my siblings – even my best friend.

"Despite repeated studies by the Pentagon over the past 50 years that clearly suggest gays pose no threat to unit cohesion or morale; social conservatives insist that it is so and have passed laws demanding that gay Americans be fired if we are honest – even with our closest friends or family members. Being honest should never be illegal. This law results in gay military members being socially isolated from our peers, our friends and our families so that others will not get to know us lest they discover that we are gay. We could be turned in by anyone. It also means we cannot date anyone – even on our own time and out of uniform. So we can only keep our jobs if we lie, pretend, and remain isolated — celibate and alone. How is a law with such cruel consequences considered Christian? Lying is never good but it is the law so what else can I do? As a result of being so angry I was quiet during the workout and my gym partner expressed concern but I could not tell him why. It would have been illegal."

Read R.D.'s entire essay.

reposted from JMG

Liberalism and Religion - We Should Talk

http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=co...

Shambhala Sun | July 1999
Liberalism and Religion - We Should Talk
By: Ken Wilber

...
The way it is now, the modern world really is divided into two major and warring camps, science and liberalism on the one hand, and religion and conservatism on the other. And the key to getting these two camps together is first, to get religion past science, and then second, to get religion past liberalism, because both science and liberalism are deeply anti-spiritual. And it must occur in that order, because liberalism won’t even listen to spirituality unless it has first passed the scientific test.
...
In one sense, of course, science and liberalism are right to be anti-spiritual, because most of what has historically served as spirituality is now prerational, magic or mythic, implicitly ethnocentric, fundamentalist dogma. Liberalism traditionally came into existence to fight the tyranny of prerational myth and that is one of its enduring and noble strengths (the freedom, liberty, and equality of individuals in the face of the often hostile or coercive collective). And this is why liberalism was always allied with science against fundamentalist, mythic, prerational religion (and the conservative politics that hung on to that religion).
But neither science nor liberalism is aware that in addition to prerational myth, there is transrational awareness. There are not two camps here: liberalism versus mythic religion. There are three: mythic religion, rational liberalism, and transrational spirituality.
...
---end excerpt---

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/a-g...

The Real Gay Agenda

Via JMG: Rock For Equality: Hundreds Rally In CA For Social Security Benefits

Hundreds of activists and politicians rallied in West Hollywood this weekend calling for equality in Social Security benefits. Speakers included Sen. Barbara Boxer and NGLTF head Rea Carey.

State and local officials joined hundreds of people outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in Hollywood on Sunday morning to kick off a national grass-roots campaign demanding equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples. The rally and march -- dubbed Rock for Equality -- was put together by the center and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in conjunction with the Aids Community Action Foundation, said Jim Key, a spokesman for the center.

At the rally, Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood), who is a member of the House Subcommittee on Social Security, announced that she would sponsor legislation to provide equal Social Security benefits for same-sex couples. "I don't think it's right that Americans should be treated differently by the country they love because of who they love," she said, triggering thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. "Right now, same-sex marriage couples pay equally into a system that they don't receive equal benefits from in return," Sanchez told the crowd. "Shame on this country for allowing that to happen." As of now, people in same-sex relationships are denied Social Security survivor benefits from their deceased partners because the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriages or domestic partnerships as valid relationships.

Go here for many more photos of the event. In the clip below, West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land addresses the crowd.
reposted from JMG

Via JMG: Green Light For Gay Marriage In Portugal

Portugal's Constitutional Court has approved a marriage equality bill recently passed by the nation's legislature. The bill only needs the signature of the president to become law.

Portugal's Socialist-controlled Parliament, led by Prime Minister Jose Socrates, approved the gay marriage bill on February 11. The president still has the option of vetoing the legislation, but Socrates has said he is prepared to overturn the veto. The Vatican has vociferously opposed laws that grant gay couples the right to marry. Pope Benedict has called for the ouster of Socialists in Spain who approved a gay marriage law in 2005, but the church's opposition in the Catholic stronghold of Portugal has been muted. However, Benedict is widely expected to criticize the bill when he visits Portugal next month.

President Silva opposes marriage equality, but his expected veto will likely be overridden.reposted from JMG

Via JMG:

PhoboQuotable - Mike Huckabee

"I think there’s been a real level of being disingenuous on the part of the gay and lesbian community with their goal of civil unions. You don’t go ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that is against the ideal. That would be like saying, well, there are a lot of people who like to use drugs, so let’s go ahead and accommodate those who want who use drugs. There are some people who believe in incest, so we should accommodate them. There are people who believe in polygamy, so we should accommodate them.

"I think this is not about trying to create statements for people who want to change the basic fundamental definitions of family, And always we should act in the best interest of the children, not in the seeming interest of the adults. Children are not puppies. This is not a time to see if we can experiment and find out, how does this work?” - Fox News host and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, speaking at the College of New Jersey.

another repost from JMG

Sarah Palin Wins "Worst Mother in America" Award

The Sarah Palin Network

Via JMG:

HomoQuotable - Greg Quinlan

"We now know that Pepsi has given over a million dollars to the Human Rights Campaign and to another hate group called PFLAG, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- an organization that tells parents that their children are born homosexual. Therefore they must accept them and that the only way to love them is to accept, embrace that homosexual lifestyle. This is extremely troubling because now what is happening is that the PepsiCo Corporation is using our money -- whether you're a shareholder or whether you're a customer -- [they're] using your money to promote hate against Christians and other people of faith. " - PFOX "ex-gay" spokesdouche Greg Quinlan, who plans on confronting Pepsi executives at their annual stockholders meeting.

a repost via JMG

Adam and Andy

Via Belirico:

Conservatives hate that our families count on the 2010 Census

Filed by: Joe Mirabella

April 8, 2010 5:00 PM

The Arkansas News reported:

LITTLE ROCK -- An advertising campaign by the U.S. Census Bureau directed toward same-sex couples isn't sitting well with some conservatives in Arkansas.

State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, a candidate for Arkansas' 3rd District congressional seat, said Wednesday she opposes the campaign "not only because it's an improper message, but because it's an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars."

Whenever a politician starts talking about "wasting taxpayer dollars" my ears perk up. Really State Senator Cecile Bledsoe? Let's take a look at some of the projects you thought were worthy of your state's money, and the time the state paid you to work on those projects.

Continue reading "Conservatives hate that our families count on the 2010 Census" »