I have a great US Senator: Thank you Mrs. Boxer!

Dear Dr. Orey:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for repealing the military's discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of S.3065, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010, which would repeal the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and prohibit discrimination of service members on the basis of sexual orientation.

As you may know, a version of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act was incorporated into the Department of Defense Authorization bill for Fiscal Year 2011. Unfortunately, the minority members of the Senate have blocked the defense bill from being considered by the full Senate. I am hopeful that we will have another opportunity to consider this important legislation before Congress adjourns this year. 

Most Americans believe that qualified young men and women should be able to serve their country regardless of their sexual orientation.  Thousands of service men and women have been discharged from the military under DADT, costing taxpayers at least $290 million to replace discharged soldiers. 

Be assured that I will keep working to end sure this hurtful policy as soon as possible and I will continue my efforts to achieve full equality for all Americans both in military and civilian life. 

Again, thank you for writing to me on this important issue.  Please free to contact me again about this or any other issue of concern to you. 

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

I have a great Congresswoman...Thank you Mrs Matsui!

Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui

October 5, 2010

Dr. Daniel C. Orey


Sacramento, California 95821

Dear Daniel:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for the Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 4530). I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H.R. 4530.  As you know, this legislation would prohibit public schools from discriminating against a student on the basis of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. It would provide the federal departments and agencies with the authority to suspend educational assistance to institutions that violate these requirements. 

H.R. 4530 was introduced in the House on January 27, 2010 and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, where it is pending further action. Please know that as a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I have continuously supported efforts that seek to promote civil rights and encourage equality, and I will persist in working with my colleagues towards equal rights for all Americans.  Additionally, I will be sure to keep your support in mind should H.R. 4530 come up for a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives. 

Thank you once again for taking the time to share your views with me regarding the Student Non-Discrimination Act. To learn more about my work in Congress, or to sign up for periodic e-mail updates, please visit my website at www.house.gov/matsui. 

Sincerely,                               DORIS O. MATSUI                     Member of Congress

Via JMG: Margaret Cho & Louis van Amstel - Samba

Via JMG: Celebrities Speak Out On Bullying

Last night CNN's Larry King hosted Nate Berkus, Tim Gunn, Wanda Sykes, Kathy Griffin and Lance Bass for an extended discussion on bullying and gay teen suicide. Bass revealed that he used to bully gay kids himself in order to provide cover to his own sexuality.

Make the jump here to see the full article on JMG and see the videos

Via JMG: CALIFORNIA: Courage Campaign Staffer Attack By NOM Bus Tour Supporter

The Courage Campaign reports that the man pictured above attacked their cameraman during a stop on NOM's bus tour in California.

The man, who claimed to be the owner of the property, angrily told Anthony that this was private property, and quickly struck Anthony in the arm, knocking the camera to the ground. Our tour camera has been damaged, and we’re not sure that footage can be recovered. (Update: Anthony is shaken up, but fine. Thanks to all of you for inquiring.) The Santa Ana police were quick to respond. They quickly stopped the Vota Tus Valores Bus from making a quick getaway, and a complaint has been filed with the police for battery. More to come on the legal proceedings as it comes in.

NOM's latest hate tour has been even more unattended than the last one with little to no advance publicity for its stops. Many are wondering what the actual purpose of the entire tour may be.

Labels: 2010 elections, bigotry, California, Carly Fiorina, Courage Campaign, NOM

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Quote Of The Day - Daniel Radcliffe

"Learning about the suicide deaths of Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Asher Brown, Billy Lucas and Justin Aaberg has been heartbreaking for me. These young people were bullied and tormented by people that should have been their friends. We have a responsibility to be better to each other, and accept each others' differences regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ability, or religion and stand up for someone when they're bullied. When a friend is feeling depressed or says they're thinking of killing themselves, we must take it seriously and get them help. You can make a difference in someone's life by learning the warning signs for suicide and how you can help someone who is suicidal by visiting the Trevor Project.

"My deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of these excellent young people. And to all the young people who are being bullied right now, you are not alone. Call the Trevor Lifeline at 866 4-U-TREVOR, because there's always someone there who will listen and who can help." - Actor Daniel Radcliffe, as quoted on MTV.com.

Labels: Daniel Radcliffe, LGBT youth, MTV, Quote Of The Day, suicide, Trevor Project

reposted from Joe

Gay Cop, Gay Marine - IT GETS BETTER!

Via JMG: American Family Association Endorses DeMint's Call For Banning Gay Teachers

"Common sense and clear thinking dictates that if we love America’s teenagers, we will resolve to put healthy, mature role models in front of them right at the time when they are making sexual decisions of enormous and lasting impact. I’m happy to openly, publicly and unreservedly declare that Sen. DeMint is right. We should see to it that our teachers provide the kind of examples for our youth that are worthy of imitation in every way, including sexual expression. If we love America’s students, and love America and want only the best for her, we can do no less." - American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer, quoted by Right Wing Watch who notes that DeMint is a frequent guest on Fischer's show.

RELATED: The Quislings at GOProud have finally found a GOP position they can't support, but they still manage to twist DeMint's hatred into an opportunity for them to endorse the Tea Party.

"It is clear that the socially conservative big government wing of the Republican Party is desperate to undermine and co-op the message and enthusiasm of the tea party movement. After a year and a half of attacking the tea party movement for not being focused on their pet issues, it is clear that Tony Perkins and his crowd have embraced a new strategy – if you can’t beat’em, join’em. The tea party movement is about limiting the size and scope of the government and empowering indiviudals. The grassroots tea party activists should reject attempts by Washington Republicans like Jim DeMint to corrupt the movement’s conservative message."

Labels: AFA, bigotry, Bryan Fischer, GOProud, Jim DeMint, religion, Senate, South Carolina

 

reposted from Joe

Chris Colfer for The Trevor Project - It Gets Better

Via JMG: GetEQUAL: Close The GayTM

GetEQUAL has launched an internet campaign calling on its followers to "withhold time and money from political entities that are not fighting as hard for our equality as they are for our checkbooks."

We're not the first ones to voice frustration with both Democrats and Republicans for holding our equality hostage (see here, here, and here). And we're not going away -- despite the efforts of Democratic apologists who continue to raise the specter of President Palin to scare us into donating. Are we asking you not to vote? Absolutely not -- too many social movements have fought for that hard-earned right that must not be thrown away. Are we asking you not to donate or support pro-equality candidates? That's up to you -- there are several pro-equality candidates that need support, especially because they are minority voices in their party. Are we asking you to withhold money and time from those who refuse to find concrete ways to work toward our collective equality? YES!

They provide a link detailing "broken promises" made by the Democrats and include this pledge:

For too long, LGBT Americans and straight allies have donated to and volunteered for political parties that have promised the world and delivered nothing. For too long, we have have been counted on to fund candidates who, time and time again, vote against our equality. We’re tired of being taken advantage of and we’re tired of broken promises. We’ll give and we’ll volunteer when we GetEQUAL. I pledge that I will not support a political party or political committee that is funding anti-equality candidates, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Organizing for America (OFA), Republican National Committee (RNC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), Democratic Governors Association (DGA), and Republican Governors Association (RGA).

Labels: 2010 elections, activism, Democrats, GetEQUAL, GOP

reposted from Joe

Dan Savage Blasts The Religious Right!

HATE CRIMES: WE GIVE A DAMN

A Message from Kathy Griffin

Via HimalayaCrafts:

However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them? - (सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

Via Courage Campaign Equality:

Dear Daniel --

A Courage Campaign staffer was just assaulted by a man associated with the National Organization for Marriage's bus tour across California -- a statewide tour launched in support of Carly Fiorina.

Anthony Ash, a Courage field staffer, was assaulted when he tried to film the latest stop on NOM's "Vota Tus Valores/Vote Your Values" tour across California. Anthony's arm was struck by a man attempting to obstruct the filming and Anthony's video camera was knocked to the ground. Anthony is OK, but the camera is now permanently damaged, as is the footage taken on it.

The Santa Ana police were quick to respond, stopping NOM's bus from making a quick getaway. Our lawyers have filed a complaint with the police for battery and are now considering what other action may be taken.

Last week, we sent Anthony, along with staffers Arisha Hatch and Phyllis Lozano, on the road to follow NOM so that we could track and expose the reality behind their poorly-attended tour as part of our "NOM Exposed" web site launched with the Human Rights Campaign. This coverage follows up on the comprehensive NOM Tour Tracker work we did over the summer in collaboration with Freedom to Marry.

On their summer tour, NOM demanded that the Maryland Capitol Police remove our videographer from an event -- and then threatened him with arrest. The police apologized to Courage for this incident, but NOM still has not sent an apology.

NOM's bullying has got to stop. And we need your help to stop them. Can you help us cover the legal fees resulting from this assault by making a contribution of $25 or more now? Just click here to help us hold NOM accountable for their bullying and expose their right-wing extremism over the final days of the tour:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StopNOMbullying

Last week, the attention of our nation was captivated by the suicide of the fifth and sixth gay teens in the past month alone. The rationale that drove them to such a tragic end was bullying, plain and simple.

This is a different kind of bullying, but NOM's intent is the same: To make people feel like they are second-class human beings, inferior to those who bully.

Brian Brown and NOM don't like that LGBT and allied supporters of equality are standing up and exposing him and his organization. That's why NOM tried to have us evicted in Annapolis in July and why NOM's "Vote Your Values" tour leaders have tried to intimidate us from documenting their anti-equality tour now. It's all emblematic of the same problem: to make people feel like they are second-class citizens.

Will you help us stop NOM's bullying today? Please contribute $25 or more now to help us cover the legal fees resulting from this assault so we can hold NOM accountable and expose their right-wing extremism:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StopNOMbullying

Thank you for your support for Anthony and for Courage.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign   

Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's 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 get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

To support our work to hold NOM accountable, please chip in what you can today:

Via HimalayaCrafts:

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - (सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

Via HRC: Do we need more proof than the suicides of teens as young as 13 that words like these can do unimaginable damage?

Dear Daniel, Add your name: Mr. Packer, I hope you will cease putting young people in real peril and acknowledge the scientific truth: Sexual orientation cannot be changed, nor should it be. The recent suicides of several gay teenagers have made national headlines. Yet this is the moment – of all moments – that a top Mormon leader decides to broadcast a verbal rampage against gays to millions of viewers. I couldn't believe it either. Boyd K. Packer, the second-highest leader in the Mormon Church, said in a sermon broadcast to millions yesterday that same-sex attraction is "impure and unnatural" and can be overcome, and that same-sex unions are morally wrong. Do we need more proof than the suicides of teens as young as 13 that words like these can do unimaginable damage? We cannot stay silent. By speaking out together, we can show the Mormon Church hierarchy that it has literally risked the lives of children by inciting their tormentors. And we can ensure that the young people who heard this sermon know that it is scientifically wrong and profoundly misguided. Add your name to our open letter debunking Boyd Packer's lies. Speaking before 20,000 people and broadcasting to millions more, Packer said same-sex unions are morally wrong and "against God's law and nature" – and that the church hierarchy would continue to support marriage bans like Proposition 8 (which was funded largely by Mormons). It makes me physically sick to think how many young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender kids had to sit in those pews and listen to that venom. Comments like these are exactly what makes young LGBT kids think there's no way out but suicide – that their parents will reject them, that their communities will shun them, and that living openly will bring pain or violence – that even God looks on their very identity as a sin to be "overcome." And these lies fuel the bullying, harassment, and violence that plague our schools. Packer's lies have been disproven over and over again by science and by the spiritual experience of Americans who know their LGBT neighbors and care about them. We know sexual orientation cannot and should not be changed and that two people falling in love is beautiful, not evil. But unless we refute these lies whenever groups like the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Mormon Church repeat them – whether through letters like this or projects like HRC's www.NOMexposed.com – we risk another young person hearing them and believing that LGBT people are "defective." And that belief contributes to violence and suicide. Help us speak out so young people understand the truth – and so that Mormon leaders know that spreading this poison puts lives at risk. Americans are sick of the Mormon hierarchy trying to dictate what they should believe. They know commitment and love when they see it. That's why they are turning away in droves from limitations on their friends' and neighbors' freedom to marry. Thank you for helping take a stand for the truth. Sincerely, Joe Solmonese President  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter This link is specific to you, so please take action before you forward to your friends. Having trouble clicking on the links above? Simply copy and paste this URL into your browser's address bar to reach the action page: http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=945

© 2010 The Human Rights Campaign. All rights reserved. Human Rights Campaign | http://www.hrc.org/ 1640 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-3278 Phone: 202/628-4160 TTY: 202/216-1572 Fax: 202/347-5323

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Via HimalayaCrafts:

He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye. - (सिद्धार्थ गौतम)

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Joe Solmonese

“Words have consequences, particularly when they come from a faith leader. This is exactly the kind of statement that can lead some kids to bully and others to commit suicide. When a faith leader tells gay people that they are a mistake because God would never have made them that way and they don’t deserve love, it sends a very powerful message that violence and/or discrimination against LGBT people is acceptable. It also emotionally devastates those who are LGBT or may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identify. His words were not only inaccurate, they were also dangerous." - Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese, responding to Mormon leader Boyd Packer's address to millions of LDS members.

Labels: bigotry, HomoQuotable, Joe Solmonese, LDS, LGBT youth, Mormons, religion, suicide

reposted from Joe