Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
JMG Quote Of The Day II - Jimmy Carter
"Step-by-step, we have realized that this issue of homosexuality has the same adverse and progressive elements as when we dealt with the race issue 50 years ago, or 40 years ago. So I would say that the country is getting acclimated to a president who might be female, who might, obviously, now, be Black, and who might be as well a gay person." - Former President Jimmy Carter, in a video commentary on Big Think.Via JMG: HomoQuotable - USMC Staff Sgt. Eric Alva
"He pretty much spit on me, my Purple Heart, and my 13 years of service. I would definitely ask Amos for a meeting to explain his comments, and I’d bring my Purple Heart with me. I wish Obama would invite [Amos] to the White House and fire his ass on the spot." - Former USMC Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, responding to USMC Commandant General Amos' comment that repealing DADT would cost Marines their limbs due to the "distraction" of all those homo soldiers. In 2003 Alva became the first Marine to be injured in Iraq when he lost his leg due to a landmine.
Via JMG: GLAAD Action Alert: Tell Apple To Stay Strong On The Manhattan Declaration
Two weeks ago, I asked to you to use the Family Research Council's own link to thank Apple for keeping the Manhattan Declaration app off the iPhone. (And thousands of you did.) Responding to yesterday's video from NOM, today GLAAD echoes that request.
The 'Manhattan Declaration' calls gay and lesbian couples "immoral," it calls the recognition of their relationships "false and destructive," and claims that allowing them to be married will lead to "genuine social harms." The original application also contained a quiz in which the "right" answers were those that oppose equality for gay and lesbian people. This application fuels a climate in which gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are put in harm's way. Apple did the right thing in recognizing that this application violates the company's guidelines. Join GLAAD in thanking Apple for their action to remove the app and urging them to stay strong in the face of anti-gay activism.Sign GLAAD's petition to Apple.
Today's Little bit of Crazy Via JMG: USMC Head James Amos: DADT Repeal Could Cause Marines To Lose Their Legs
General James Amos, Commandant of the USMC, says the "distraction" of openly gay soldiers will cause more casualties on the battlefield. "When your life hangs on a line, on the intuitive behavior of the young man ... who sits to your right and your left, you don't want anything distracting you," Amos told reporters at the Pentagon. "I don't want to lose any Marines to distraction. I don't want to have any Marines that I'm visiting at Bethesda (hospital) with no legs," he said. He added that "mistakes and inattention or distractions cost Marines' lives. That's the currency of this fight." His comments were the toughest yet on the issue, after he testified at a congressional hearing that he opposed lifting the ban in a time of war. Amos said Marines in combat in Afghanistan sent a "very strong message" in the Pentagon's study released earlier this month, expressing opposition to repealing the ban in a survey."I have to listen to that," he said.Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner reports that Amos' comments have sparked outrage among pro-repeal groups.
Aaron Belkin, the director of the Palm Center, told Metro Weekly, "Among those U.S. Marines who know a gay or lesbian peer in their unit, 88.1 percent say that the unit functions effectively. Gen. Amos is cherry-picking the data to support his 20th century views, and everyone knows it." Belkin added, "Gen. Amos admitted [in his testimony on Dec. 3] that he is the only Service Chief who did not take the time to ask his colleagues in foreign militaries whether allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly undermines combat effectiveness." [snip]
Servicemembers United executive director Alex Nicholson, meanwhile, said in a statement that Amos's "commentary is moving from the realm of reasonable disagreement in the provision of professional military advice to hysteria-inducing absurdity on this topic that reflects very poorly on DOD and on the administration." SLDN's Sarvis went on in his statement to say of Amos's comments, "He had his say before the Senate and House. General Amos needs to stop lobbying against his Commander-in-Chief, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. If he cannot do that, the President should ask for his resignation."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Via JMG: PFLAG Co-Founder Dies At Age 90
Adele Starr, the co-founder and first president of PFLAG, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 90. In 1976, Starr founded the Los Angeles chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a gay rights and acceptance organization known then as Parent FLAG, now as PFLAG. In 1979, she spoke on the steps of the U.S. Capitol at a march for gay rights — a seminal event often credited with uniting a then-nascent movement. Two years later, she became PFLAG's first national president; she served in that capacity until 1986 and remained a forceful advocate for civil rights and, in later years, for the legalization of same-sex marriage. Starr served at the helm of PFLAG during the onset of the AIDS crisis, said her longtime friend and collaborator Terry DeCrescenzo, founder of another advocacy group formed to reach out to gay and lesbian youth. "In that time, a lot of us lost hope," said DeCrescenzo, 66, of Studio City. "Not Adele. And PFLAG became enormously important because it was rock solid.... She was a good woman. She'll be missed.Adele Starr: "We cannot understand those arrogant people who have decided that a heterosexual lifestyle must be imposed on everyone and that they have a monopoly on morality. The American way is respect for diversity with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Via JMG: Quote Of The Year - I'm Not A Witch
Yale librarian Fred Shapiro's annual list of the year's most memorable quotes is out and Christine O'Donnell lands on the top ten twice, including at #1.1. (TIE) "I'm not a witch." Christine O'Donnell, television advertisement, Oct. 4.
1. (TIE) "I'd like my life back." Tony Hayward, comment to reporters, May 30.
3. "If you touch my junk, I'm gonna have you arrested." airline passenger John Tyner, remark to Transportation Security Administration worker at San Diego airport, Nov. 13, 2010
4. "Don't retreat. Instead — reload!" Sarah Palin, Tweet, March 23.
5. "Chi! Chi! Chi! Le! Le! Le! Los mineros de Chile!" Chant at Chilean mine rescue, Oct. 13.
6. "I hope that's not where we're going, but you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies. They're saying: My goodness, what can we do to turn this country around?" Sharron Angle, radio interview in January.
7. "We have to pass the (health care) bill so you can find out what is in it." Nancy Pelosi, speech to National Association of Counties, March 9.
8. "I'm going to take my talents to South Beach." LeBron James, television broadcast, July 8.
9. "You're telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?" Christine O'Donnell, Delaware senatorial debate, Oct. 19.
10. "They should never have put me with that woman. ... She was just a sort of bigoted woman who said she used to be Labour." Gordon Brown, comments about a voter he met while campaigning for British general election, Apr. 28.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
via jmg: Naples News Columnist Pamela Grothaus: "I'm Going For JMG Bigot Of The Year"
Last week we crowned Naples News columnist Pamela Grothaus our Bigot Of The Day for her shrill article complaining that "homosexuals inform me of their homosexuality within minutes of our introduction." Today Grothaus fires back in a new column that she's hoping to be named the JMG "Bigot Of The Year." As a result of my last blog post against open homosexuality in the military, I was crowned “Bigot of the Day” on JoeMyGod—some twisted, homosexual Weblog I’d never heard of and hope to soon forget. (If you click on the above link, be warned: it’s X-rated.) Last I checked, JoeMyGod readers had left 132 comments spewing filth and hate speech at yours truly. And I’m the bigot?! How queer. [snip]The inconsequential Ms. Grothaus wouldn't even make this year's Top 100, not by a long shot. But at least the word "bigot" is now the #1 Google result associated with her name. That's kinda fun.
Incidentally, I am also intolerant of illegal immigrants, terrorist Muslims, militant blacks a la Reverend Wright, baby-killing abortionists, and socialists. I’m not too crazy about unions, feminists, or most politicians, either. Each of these groups — in addition to the homosexuals stated above — is in some way a threat to our nation and/or our morals. Perhaps they all have Web sites on which they’d like to plaster my photo as their particular Bigot of the Day. Bring it on! Maybe I’ll earn Bigot of the Year designation.
Via Belrico: Weekly Reader: Oprah, the Male Form, & a White Lie
Filed by: Bil Browning
December 11, 2010 6:00 PM
The Senate's inability to pass legislation repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell was this weeks' hot queer news, but we brought you plenty of other posts on a variety of topics. Which posts were must-reads? Every week I 
pick two posts from every day that you shouldn't miss. Here are this week's picks:
Idolization of the Male Form: 1890 Photo Filed by: Gloria Brame Ph.D.
Chris Colfer: The Face of Hope Filed by: Betty Greene Salwak
Salvation Army donations down dramatically this year Filed by: Bil Browning
Thumbs up for 'Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys' Filed by: Rev Irene Monroe
The White Lie Filed by: Father Tony
DADT Repeal is Dead, Long Live DADT Repeal Filed by: Jarrod Chlapowski
Don't forget:
pick two posts from every day that you shouldn't miss. Here are this week's picks:Sunday
Three Trans-Focused Web Tools You Should Know About Filed by: Toshio MeronekIdolization of the Male Form: 1890 Photo Filed by: Gloria Brame Ph.D.
Monday
Glee: Stepford Gays Filed by: Steven Cheslik-DeMeyerChris Colfer: The Face of Hope Filed by: Betty Greene Salwak
Tuesday
Obama admits: I was born in Morocco Filed by: Alex BlazeSalvation Army donations down dramatically this year Filed by: Bil Browning
Wednesday
Oprah loves Gayle, but not like that Filed by: Alex BlazeThumbs up for 'Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys' Filed by: Rev Irene Monroe
Thursday
Nothing for the 99ers (And Not Much for Anyone Else) Filed by: Terrance HeathThe White Lie Filed by: Father Tony
Friday
Screw playing the game, let's take it all to the courts Filed by: Phil ReeseDADT Repeal is Dead, Long Live DADT Repeal Filed by: Jarrod Chlapowski
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 Eastern time.
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Via Belirico: Why Tom Brokaw Is Wrong on Covering Antigay Viewpoints
Filed by: Michael Hamar
December 12, 2010 11:30 AM
I bookmarked an article in the Advocate earlier this week wherein former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw basically said it was fine to continue to air the views of hate groups like American 
Family Association and Family Research Council.
As is typical of the mainstream news media, Brokaw blathered about free speech, etc., as an excuse for not monitoring what lies and untruths are being given a semblance of veracity by virtue of being aired on national news shows and other network programing. We know full well - as does Brokaw - that neo-Nazi groups, white supremacy groups and the Klu Klux Klan are not afforded similar opportunities to spew poison on network news, so why the exception for Christianist anti-gay hate groups?
Oh, I forgot - religion, especially Christianity gets special rights not afforded to the rest of the public.
Continue reading "Why Tom Brokaw Is Wrong on Covering Antigay Viewpoints " »
Family Association and Family Research Council.As is typical of the mainstream news media, Brokaw blathered about free speech, etc., as an excuse for not monitoring what lies and untruths are being given a semblance of veracity by virtue of being aired on national news shows and other network programing. We know full well - as does Brokaw - that neo-Nazi groups, white supremacy groups and the Klu Klux Klan are not afforded similar opportunities to spew poison on network news, so why the exception for Christianist anti-gay hate groups?
Oh, I forgot - religion, especially Christianity gets special rights not afforded to the rest of the public.
Continue reading "Why Tom Brokaw Is Wrong on Covering Antigay Viewpoints " »
Friday, December 10, 2010
Via Human Rights Campaign
 |
| Dear Daniel, Yesterday, the United States Senate failed to bring up for consideration the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," by a vote of 57-40. They failed to uphold our country's principles by allowing a bigoted law to stay on the books. They failed to protect us by allowing senseless discharges of skilled service members to continue in a time of war. They failed our troops. Not only the thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women serving in silence, in fear of discharge; they failed their fellow troops who rely upon them for their safety and effectiveness. Our troops have never failed us, and we cannot fail them. We can still end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Yesterday, a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a stand-alone bill to repeal the law. Repeal of DADT still enjoys broad public support, as well as support from military leaders, but make no mistake, getting this stand-alone bill over the finish line will be a heavy lift. Senate and House leadership along with the White House need to prioritize this new bill and get it passed by both chambers before the end of the year. Last night, I appeared on CNN with John King to discuss what had happened, and how we move forward. Yesterday we also made clear that ultimately the responsibility to end the discharges rests on President Obama, the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. If the Congress doesn't act, he has several tools we’ve encouraged him to use – including stopping the legal defense of the statute and ending the discharges through a stop-loss order. With this new legislative option on the table, it's even more critical that the President help get a durable solution on his desk. As we move forward, we will continue to engage our elected officials in every way that we can. In addition to our national efforts, next week we will be targeting key swing senators and engaging our membership in their constituency on the actions that they can take to keep up the pressure. The fight for open service has had many twists and turns, but until "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is left in the dustbin of history we will never give up the fight.  Joe Solmonese President, Human Rights Campaign  |
Via Truthout: William Rivers Pitt | Back to Basics
William Rivers Pitt, Truthout: "The 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' repeal has fallen to dust. The DREAM Act has collapsed. The president is speaking perfect Republican with his talk of simplifying the tax code, freezing federal wages, and best of all, his feral attacks on his own supporters for having the gall to try and hold him to his word. Mr. Obama lavishes praise and apologies all over his opponents, even as they try to annihilate him, while attacking viciously the people who wore out shoe leather and gave money they couldn't afford to give in order to see him into the office he has thus far not graced at all."
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