May 17th International day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

May 17th International day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) The International day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is coming up soon! The World Congress of GLBT Jews has declared its support for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO), which will take place on May 17, 2010. The organizers of this campaign are protesting the use of religion to propagate intolerance on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. As the worldwide Jewish voice of the GLBT community, the World Congress supports the goals of IDAHO, and envisions a world in which all religions promote full inclusion, acceptance, and celebration of the diversity of humanity. We urge you to visit the website www.idahomophobia.org to connect with the international organizers of IDAHO. Find out about the International Media Project, the Global Kiss-in, and how to sign the International Appeal. Events are planned around the world, including in Israel, where you can find out more at http://www.havana.org.il/. Let's mobilize everywhere against homophobia and transphobia! ESPAÑOL 17 de MAYO Día Internacional contra la Homofobia y la Transfobia (IDAHO) El Congreso Mundial de Judío/as GLBT declara su apoyo a IDAHO (Día Internacional Contra la Homofobia) El Congreso Mundial de Judío/as GLBT ha declarado su apoyo al Día Internacional Contra la Homofobia (IDAHO, en Inglés), a llevarse a cabo el día 17 de Mayo del 2010. Los organizadores de esta campaña estarán protestando por el uso de la religión como modo de propagar la intolerancia basada en la orientación sexual. Como una organización Judía Mundial que lleva la voz de la comunidad GLBT, el Congreso Mundial de Judíos/as GLBT apoya los objetivos de IDAHO, y desea un mundo donde todas las religiones promueven la completa inclusión, aceptación, y celebración de la diversidad. Les pedimos que visiten su sitio web www.idahomophobia.org para tomar contacto con los organizadores de IDAHO y para informarse sobre el Proyecto Internacional de los Medios, el Besuqueo Mundial y como firmar el pedido internacional. Los eventos planeados alrededor del mundo, incluyendo Israel donde pueden encontrar la información aquí http://www.havana.org.il/. Es tiempo de hacer algo contra la homofobia y transfobia! FRANCAIS Le 17 mai, la Journée Mondiale contre l'Homophobie et la Transphobie (IDAHO) sera une fois de plus célébrée dans de nombreux pays à travers le monde. N'oubliez pas de nous faire part de vos projets et activités, pour que d'autres puissent avoir l'information et être inspiré(e)s par vos idées ! Par ailleurs, sur le site international de la Journée vous trouverez toutes les informations sur nos projets internationaux, auxquels nous vous invitons à participer : - la campagne internationale « Religions, homophobie, transphobie ». Pour s'opposer à l'utilisation des religions par les extrémistes et favoriser l'émergence de voix progressistes, signez et faites circuler l'appel international ! http://idahomophobia.org/ - l'initiative du Grand KISS-IN mondial. Organisez vous aussi un kiss-in dans votre ville et/ou participez au kiss-in en ligne sur www.gays.com . Nous éditerons pour le 17 mai une video internationale (souvenez vous de IDAHO 2009 : http://gays.com/idaho/2009 ) - le projet « Média contre l?homophobie et la transphobie » : un même texte sera publié à travers le monde pour le 17 mai par des quotidiens, webzines, blogs,etc Tous les détails du projet sur http://idahomophobia.org/wp/?p=1841&lang=en pour contacter vos médias nationaux, LGBT ou non. Pour plus d'information sur ces projets, et nous faire part de vos initiatives : Contact@idahomophobia.org Nous vous souhaitons une bonne mobilisation pour la Journée Internationale contre l'Homophobie et la Transphobie ! L'équipe du comité IDAHO

BuzzFlash's GOP Hypocrite of the Week Award

George Alan Rekers Wins BuzzFlash's GOP Hypocrite of the Week Award for Working to Deny Gay People Civil Rights While Sneaking Off With 'Rentboy' Cutie. Long-time readers knew this was coming as soon as the news broke about the un-gay magician being caught with a young male escort at the Miami International Airport. Come on, how could we not?

Alpha Dog of the Week - George Rekers

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Alpha Dog of the Week - George Rekers
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

And now... a Lady GaGa Moment...

Via JMG

University Of South Carolina Erases Dr. George Rekers From Their Site

Whoops, who used to occupy this faculty page for the University of South Carolina? Man overboard! Box Turtle Bulletin's Timothy Kincaid asks:

I’m curious as to the exact criteria for removing any mention of Dr. Rekers. Was it because the University of South Carolina was delighted to have an anti-gay activist as a respected and privileged emeritus professor, but not so delighted to have a man who was revealed to be engaged in behavior that is homosexual in nature?

Hit the above link for the original pre-scandal image.reposted from JMG

Via JMG: Department Of Defense Launches Internal DADT Dialog Site For Active Duty Soldiers

Could this be part of the DADT repeal implementation study?

A new online inbox that enables servicemembers and their families to comment anonymously about the impact of a possible repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law has gone live. The inbox will enable servicemembers and families to offer their thoughts about how a repeal of the law that prohibits gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military might affect military readiness, military effectiveness and unit cohesion, recruiting and retention, and family readiness, a defense official explained. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates created an intradepartment, interservice working group to conduct a fair, objective, comprehensive and dispassionate review of these issues, the official said. The online inbox is one method the group will use to systematically engage with the force and their families. A non-Defense Department contractor will monitor comments made through the inbox and eliminate any identifiable information inadvertently submitted to ensure anonymity, the official said.

The site is located here, but seems to be inactive at the moment, so we can't yet tell how it will screen out anti-gay non-military commenters.reposted via JMG

Via HRC:

Dear Daniel,

Over 300 veterans like me will be in D.C. on Tuesday, fighting to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." We need your help in Sacramento to call Congress and join the conversation online! www.VeteransLobbyDay.org

Late Friday afternoon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress in a letter that it would be "damaging" to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" before the Pentagon studies it further.

While this presents a major challenge, it is not insurmountable. I've never seen my fellow veterans – both gay and straight – so determined to repeal this law. This challenge can mean only one thing: we need to push harder.

That's why I'm traveling to D.C. for an unprecedented Veterans Lobby Day with over 300 fellow veterans on May 11.

We're going to need all hands on deck this Tuesday – even if you aren't joining us in person, we're still counting on you to back up our message:

· Set aside a few minutes to make a call to Congress. Help us flood the Congressional switchboard (202-224-3121) with calls this Tuesday, May 11. Put a reminder in your calendar or on your phone today so you won't forget!

· Follow me and other vets on Twitter to get real-time updates from our meetings with members of Congress. Just follow David Hall (@davidhalldc), Mike Almy (@mikealmy), Brian Fricke (@brianfricke), me (@EricAlvaUSMC) or @HRCBackStory.

· Join the conversation on Twitter and call for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by including #DADT in your tweets between now and Tuesday. (It's easy to sign up for a Twitter account if you don't already have one.)

· Follow the action on the HRC Back Story blog. You can read:

o HRC Field Organizer Adrian Matanza's post from Indiana, where volunteers are organizing a free bus to D.C. for veterans in Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia.

o And follow HRC Back Story throughout the Lobby Day on May 11, when we'll be posting highlights from the lobby day as soon as they come in.

May 11 will be a milestone in my own three-year campaign to share my story and help repeal this discriminatory law. And I've seen first-hand how important this campaign is to hundreds of my fellow veterans.

Your voice on Tuesday can add strength to ours.

I hope you'll stand with me, and with all my brothers and sisters in uniform, as we fight to end this injustice once and for all.

Sincerely,

Eric Alva
Retired Marine Staff Sergeant
Veterans Lobby Day Volunteer

Via Belirico: Immigration reform in a recession

A few months ago there was a lot of hand-wringing among LGBT progressive activists over the possibility that comprehensive immigration reform might not include same-sex partner sponsorship. If it benefits LGBT immigrants but doesn't include same-sex partner sponsorship, do we support it? What a conundrum!

Well, looks like the opposite is happening. The Democrats released their framework for immigration reform last week, and it includes binational, same-sex families:

Included in the "framework" are key provisions of the Uniting American Families Act. The legislation was previously offered as a standalone bill by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont in the Senate and Representative Jerrold Nadler in the House.
The measure would allow gay Americans to sponsor an immigrant partner for citizenship.

But it isn't all that progressive when it comes to reform for undocumented workers:

Continue reading "Immigration reform in a recession" »

Via JMG: Argentina's House Says AFFIRMATIVO To Same-Sex Marriage

Argentina's House Of Deputies (similar to the U.S. House) has just voted 125-109 to approve same-sex marriage. The debate now moves to the Senate, where opposition is expected to be strong. I watched the last few minutes of the House vote via a livestream and even though I speak little Spanish, it was quite amusing to me to identify the Argentine counterparts of the familiar players we see here. (The blowhard ranting homophobe, the slightly too-smug liberals, etc.) But when the result was gaveled into officialness and rainbow banners unfurled from the gallery to ecstatic cheers and singing, well, hello, hand me una Kleenex, por favor.

un repost cortesía de JMG

Via JMG: TOMORROW: GLAD Challenges DOMA In Federal Court

Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) will represent eight married same-sex couples and three widowers tomorrow in their Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) challenge against the federal government. Via press release:

Represented by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the plaintiffs in Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management, all married in Massachusetts, have each been harmed by DOMA treating them as unmarried. Gill was filed on March 3, 2009, and has been called the case with the greatest potential for national impact by the National Law Journal.

“Every day DOMA is hurting couples and families – not just by denying them benefits and rights, but by denying that their marriages exist,” said Mary L. Bonauto, GLAD’s Civil Rights Project Director. “Under our Constitution’s equal protection guarantees, there is no justification for this.” Bonauto will be arguing on behalf of the plaintiffs before U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro.

Judge Tauro will hear GLAD’s motion for summary judgment as well as the federal government’s motion to dismiss. The hearing will address the issue of whether DOMA Section 3 is constitutional six years after the first same-sex couples in the country started marrying in Massachusetts, the result of GLAD’s groundbreaking marriage case, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health.

Follow along on GLAD's DOMA blog.

reposted from JMG

Via Utne

Coming Home A Gay Christian speaks to fundamentalists. Read More >>