Thursday, June 23, 2011
Via JMG: FLASHBACK: Crazy Eyes Spies On Gay
Buzzfeed reminds us of the incident in which then state legislator Michele Bachmann squatted down in some bushes to spy on an LGBT rights rally in Minneapolis. Bachmann later claimed she wasn't hiding, she was "resting her heels."Via AmericaBlogGay: AC360: Is Obama’s opposition to marriage "real or just political posturing"
Great segment on AC360 last night, via Andy Towle. Anderson plays a clip of Obama's interview with Rick Warren back in August of 2008. In the wake of Prop. 8 and so many advancements, the answer that he opposes marriage because "God is in the mix" seems archaic.
Let's be clear here: Supporting marriage would be a very good political move for the President. Public opinion is on our side and gets better every day. Conversely, he looks more and more out of touch on this issue every day.
Last year, the geniuses in the White House, led by then-Deputy Chief of Staff/now-Campaign Manager Jim Messina, concocted a plan to repeal DADT in 2011. When the Pentagon officials said it would complete its report on December 1, 2010 and wanted no legislation til the report was done, they weren't thinking lame duck. They were thinking 2011. But, a lot of us, including some great allies on Capitol Hill, pushed ahead. Now, repeal of DADT is touted as one of the Obama administration's great victories. I checked through some of the speeches Barack and Michelle Obama are giving at DNC fundraisers. Here are some recent excerpts:
The President on June 20, 2011:
Last year, the geniuses in the White House, led by then-Deputy Chief of Staff/now-Campaign Manager Jim Messina, concocted a plan to repeal DADT in 2011. When the Pentagon officials said it would complete its report on December 1, 2010 and wanted no legislation til the report was done, they weren't thinking lame duck. They were thinking 2011. But, a lot of us, including some great allies on Capitol Hill, pushed ahead. Now, repeal of DADT is touted as one of the Obama administration's great victories. I checked through some of the speeches Barack and Michelle Obama are giving at DNC fundraisers. Here are some recent excerpts:
The President on June 20, 2011:
We've made tremendous progress on a whole host of social issues, from ending "don't ask, don't tell" so that every American can serve their country regardless of who they love, to making sure that we've got equal pay for equal work, to making sure that we've got national service so that our young people can use their talents to help rebuild America.Michelle Obama in San Francisco on June 14, 2011:
We’re working to live up to our founding values of freedom and equality. And today, because this President ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.It's a great applause line for them. And, we helped Obama and his team achieve that great victory -- against their wishes. Same can be said of marriage.
Every time I see another article where Messina claims the campaign is going after the youth vote, I wonder how'll they'll do that if Obama is opposed to marriage. For example, in Virginia (one of the 2012 battleground states and not a liberal bastion in any way), 73% of 18-29 year old voters support marriage. Not saying all young voters make their choice for President on marriage equality, but it could influence whether some of them actually vote. The current position of the President is dated and looks way out-of-touch -- and it doesn't inspire the base.
When Kerry Eleveld and I hosted Mike Signorile's show on May 3, 2011, one of our guests was Nate Silver who had just written a post titled, "Gay Marriage Opponents Now in Minority." He told us that Obama was already behind the trend of public opinion, "It's too late for [Obama] to get ahead of the trend." But, it's not too late for him to get on the right side of history.
Evolve already, Mr. President. It's the right thing to do on so many levels, including politically.
Now, if only the donors attending the big LGBT fundraiser in NYC tomorrow would convey the same message.....
Via AmericaBlogGay;
Why is everyone forgetting NGLTF's role in GLAAD-gate?
1. GLAAD writes to FCC over Net Neutrality on January 4, 2010, notes how important the Internet is to gay advocacy. (It's the second letter via the link.)That's not a coincidence.
2. NGLTF writes to FCC over Net Neutrality on January 5, 2010, notes how important the Internet is to gay advocacy.
3. NGLTF "corrects" previous Net Neutrality letter to FCC on January 14, 2010.
4. GLAAD "corrects" previous Net Neutrality letter to FCC on January 15, 2010.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Via JMG: CANADA: Major Party Opposes Charity Status For "Ex-Gay" Groups
Canada's New Democratic Party has adopted a resolution opposing federal charity status for so-called "ex-gay" advocacy groups. Ex-Gay Watch provides a quote from a party delegate:
"Delegates, an investigation published in September 2010 by [the] LGBT news blog Slap Upside The Head revealed that Exodus Global Alliance, an ex-gay organisation, enjoys registered charity status with the Canada Revenue Agency. Ex-gay organisations claim that gay, lesbian, and bisexual people can be made straight. They take advantage of LGB people, often in vulnerable family situations or at grips with depression and self-hatred, and browbeat them—saying that LGB people never live happy lives, that we are unhealthy and unwhole, and that we never experience love and that the only hope lies in their therapies. [...] We see that they are selling snake oil with benefits given to them by the Canada Revenue Agency at present."You can follow the campaign to revoke these groups' non-profit status on the blog Slap Upside The Head. We need to bring this movement here.
Via JMG: Pride 2011
Make sure you pick up a copy of Pride 2011 when you head out for your local events this weekend. I was the guest editor this year and I wrote the cover story interview with Dan Savage. Brag!Via Moveon.org: Remember When?
Most of the things that spread fast on Facebook are pretty silly—videos of cats and the like. But recently, we noticed a new contender: a feisty political point that's spreading like wildfire.
We think there's a real opportunity for it to go viral and introduce millions of people to this cheeky, spot-on reframing of the economic crisis we're in. Can you help make that happen? Click here to share this message on Facebook today:
If you didn't click on the link above, or on the image itself, you can click here to share this great message on Facebook: http://www.moveon.
And if you'd prefer to share this message via email instead, just forward this email to all your friends and family.
Thanks for all you do.
–Peter, Laura, Michael, Amy, and the rest of the teamP.S. Check out what MoveOn's Justin Ruben called "An Inconvenient Truth for our economy—on steroids," tomorrow night at 8:15 p.m. ET. It's equal parts tent revival, dance party, and gripping story about what's happened to our economy and how we can rebuild the American Dream, led by inspirational leader Van Jones and powered by MoveOn.org. Click here to RSVP and catch it online in HD: http://front.rebuildthedream.
Via 365Gay News: Study finds half of college-educated gays in the closet at work
Almost half of college-educated gay Americans hide their sexual orientation at work despite company policies to extend protection and benefits to gay employees, according to a new study by The Center for Work-Life Policy.
The study said that 48 percent of gay workers are closeted – and about a third of those closeted workers are nevertheless out in their personal lives, causing them to a lead a “double-life.” The result is that they “are more likely to report job-related stress and isolation than their peers and more likely to say they want to leave their current jobs,” said Yahoo News.
Most Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and extend benefits to workers’ same-sex partners, but the study found that people aren’t always aware of these policies or what they mean.
It is also possible, the authors suggest, that some closeted employees may be responding to their environment. Some straight co-workers (37 percent of women and 52 percent of men) say that they would prefer gay people to keep their personal lives private.
Only 21 states prohibit employers from discriminating against LGBT workers.
make the jump here to read the full article
The study said that 48 percent of gay workers are closeted – and about a third of those closeted workers are nevertheless out in their personal lives, causing them to a lead a “double-life.” The result is that they “are more likely to report job-related stress and isolation than their peers and more likely to say they want to leave their current jobs,” said Yahoo News.
Most Fortune 500 companies prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and extend benefits to workers’ same-sex partners, but the study found that people aren’t always aware of these policies or what they mean.
It is also possible, the authors suggest, that some closeted employees may be responding to their environment. Some straight co-workers (37 percent of women and 52 percent of men) say that they would prefer gay people to keep their personal lives private.
Only 21 states prohibit employers from discriminating against LGBT workers.
make the jump here to read the full article
Via AmericaBlogGay: Did Obama nudge history, or did history nudge him?
The White House response is to plead for maneuvering room by arguing that Obama has played an important role in nudging history in the right direction on the issue. Whether this will be enough remains to be seen. It’s hard to imagine gays deserting him in significant numbers, though enthusiasm and fundraising could suffer. But it seems clear that the White House has settled on its approach to this problem.I don't think the President has nudged history at all. Like most Democrats, he's far behind both history and the American public on our issues (Joe calls this "political homophobia"). The public was consistently at 70% to 80% in the polls with regards to repealing DADT, they have the same views on ENDA, and recent polls are finally showing a majority in favor of marriage equality.
Why is it then that we had to beat the bejeesus out of the President to get him to finally move on DADT, and to get him to simply stop defending DOMA (something he did far too late, giving the Republicans the chance to now defend it instead)? He didn't bend the arc of history, we did. The President, and the party, are far behind the arc of history when it comes to our civil rights. And rather than attempting to bend it in the right direction, they seem to be doing all they can to run from it as fast as they can, while offering us a tantalizing platter of b-rate advances that should have all been done on the first day of the new administration.
Yes, the President has done some good things. (Though much of it is standard stuff that doesn't really count as fierce advocacy (such as appointing a gay ambassador after Clinton and Bush already both did the same), or issuing a Pride proclamation and holding a cocktail party that routinely black lists any gay Democratic leader who has stood up to the President.) But the good the President's done on our top three issues - DADT and DOMA repeal, and the passage of ENDA - has so far been marginal at best.
Once DADT is fully repealed - and sadly the administration is dragging its feet on that now too, while many of us fear a delay will only embolden the GOP to try to some legislative funny business in the fall - that will be a true feather in the President's cap. But let's not forget that Barack Obama had the opportunity to do so much more, on gay rights, on health care reform, on the stimulus, on eliminating tax cuts, on the budget, on immigration, on civil liberties, and he didn't. And the only reason he did as much as he did on gay rights, even though it wasn't enough, is because a great many of us in the Netroots took the arc of history and threw it in his face.
Via AmericaBlogGay: Amazing words on DADT repeal from top enlisted Marine
The article is short, rather than try to excerpt it, just go over. It's great.
Via AmericaBlogGay: Kerry Eleveld: What Will Obama Tell The Gays Under The Shadow Of Lady Liberty?
The pressure is building for Obama to Evolve Already.
Look, everyone knows this is a political calculation. President Obama was for marriage equality as a state senator in 1996 before he was against it as an aspiring presidential candidate in 2004 (the evolution of his positions are traced here). But as he heads into the 2012 election cycle, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for him to have it both ways on same-sex marriage – to carry the magic mantle of hope and change, to appeal to the better angels of our nature, while literally falling behind the trend lines on supporting something as fundamentally American as the expression of our liberty.
Here’s just a few notes on the shift in dynamics since the ‘08 election: Obama doesn’t have the cover of two competing Democratic candidates who also hold the same position of not supporting marriage equality; when he took office, only one state had legalized marriage and now five have plus the District of Columbia; a federal judge has ruled the crux of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and Obama himself has concurred; another federal judge ruled a California ballot measure stripping marital rights from gays unconstitutional; five major consecutive polls, including Gallup, have now found that a majority of Americans support the right of same-sex couples to marry; “don’t ask, don’t tell” has been repealed (but not lifted yet) and although GOP lawmakers are still waging the battles of yesteryear in Congress, the rest of America barely batted an eye.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, all this adds up to one thing: Drama. But more importantly, it’s about people’s lives, who they are to the core of their being, the fact that their heart pounds just as truly as everyone else’s. It’s about a longing for leadership that adds up to something more than a cold political calculation for the next election cycle.
But if calculate we must, let’s face it, the next election – like every election – will be about the economy, not marriage equality. So why not come full circle and stake your claim on the right side of history, Mr. President?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Do UOL Notícias: Corregedora do TJ cassa decisão de juiz que anulou união homoafetiva em Goiás
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Mesmo com decisão do STF, casal gay teve união estável cancelada em Goiás
O juiz Jerônymo Pedro Villas Boas, da 1ª Vara da Fazenda Pública Municipal e de Registros Públicos de Goiânia, anulou, na última sexta-feira (17), a união estável de um casal mesmo depois de o Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) equiparar os direitos dos gays aos dos casais heterossexuais. Com isso, os homossexuais passaram a poder firmar contratos de união estável em cartórios de todo país.
Na decisão, o juiz de Goiás contestou o Supremo, e disse que a Corte não tem competência para alterar normas da Constituição Federal. O artigo 226 traz em seu texto que, “para efeito da proteção do Estado, é reconhecida a união estável entre o homem e a mulher como entidade familiar, devendo a lei facilitar sua conversão”. Esta seria a norma que o juiz entendeu inviolável. Villas Boas afirmou a Folha.com que a decisão do STF "ultrapassou os limites" e é "ilegítima e inconstitucional".
No domingo, o presidente em exercício da OAB nacional, Miguel Cançado, divulgou nota afirmando ser “um retrocesso moralista” a decisão do juiz. Segundo Cançado, ao decidir sobre a união estável, o STF exerceu o papel de guardião e intérprete da Constituição. “As relações homoafetivas compõem uma realidade social que merecem a proteção legal”, afirmou.
Na segunda-feira, o ministro do STF Luiz Fux afirmou que a decisão poderia ser considerada "um atentado" passível de revisão.
para ler mais
Via Acapa: Casamento gay anulado volta a ter validade em Goiás
Por Redação em 21/06/2011 às 20h06
O juiz da 1ª Vara de Fazenda Pública de Goiânia, Jeronymo Pedro Villa Boas, que anulou o contrato de união estável entre Leo Mendes (foto, à esq.) e Odílio Torres, teve sua decisão revogada pela desembargadora Beatriz Figueiredo, do Tribunal de Justiça de Goiás.
Na época, o juiz alegou que o Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) teria "alterado" a Constituição ao reconhecer as uniões entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. Villas Boas determinou então que os cartórios da cidade não deveriam registrar uniões estáveis entre homossexuais. Depois que o STF reconheceu a união gay como entidade familiar, o casal Leo Mendes e Odílio Torres foram os primeiros a oficializar a união estável.
Mesmo com a validação da desembargadora Beatriz Figueiredo, Leo Mendes e Odílio Torres decidiram ir até o Rio de Janeiro, onde irão oficializar novamente sua união estável.
Na época, o juiz alegou que o Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) teria "alterado" a Constituição ao reconhecer as uniões entre pessoas do mesmo sexo. Villas Boas determinou então que os cartórios da cidade não deveriam registrar uniões estáveis entre homossexuais. Depois que o STF reconheceu a união gay como entidade familiar, o casal Leo Mendes e Odílio Torres foram os primeiros a oficializar a união estável.
Mesmo com a validação da desembargadora Beatriz Figueiredo, Leo Mendes e Odílio Torres decidiram ir até o Rio de Janeiro, onde irão oficializar novamente sua união estável.
Via Bilerico: How Obama's 'Evolution' on Marriage May Help Us
Have we stopped to consider how Obama's "evolution" on marriage has benefitted us in media and public consciousness? By having this process of "evolving" on marriage, the media has kept a spotlight on the marriage debate in a way they likely would not have if he'd just kept his mouth shut or if he'd just come out in support of marriage and been done.We know that most people don't sit around every day thinking about same-sex marriage or any other LGBT issues. With Obama's position on marriage still up in the air, every time something on the ground changes, you can be sure a question about the President's position on marriage equality will come up in a White House press briefing. This gives the people who are sitting on the fence the space to think, as well as someone they can relate to in the process - the President of the United States, no less. This is not a small thing.
Make the jump her to continue reading
Repassando: Homofobia na escola cresce 160% em SP
| Estudo baseado no ENEM diz que há um aumento 160% da homofobia nas escolas. Paraná e segundo estado mais Homofóbico. Toni Reis Toni Reis O ESTADO DE S. PAULO - SP | VIDA LGBT 19/06/2011 Homofobia na escola cresce 160% em SPEstudo feito com base em questionário do Enem, de 2004 a 2008, expõe discriminação Isis Brum - O Estado de S.Paulo É mais com raiva que saudade que o tradutor e editor de livros Alexandre Camarú, de 41 anos, lembra do ensino médio. Naquele período, foi perseguido e humilhado por colegas de sala e professores por ser gay. Foram tempos difíceis no ambiente escolar, de exclusão e angústia, que o tempo não ajudou a reduzir - não para os adolescentes homossexuais. Um levantamento inédito, feito com base no questionário socioeconômico do Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (Enem), entre 2004 e 2008, mostra um crescimento de 160% no número de pessoas que se declararam vítimas de homofobia no Estado de São Paulo. O índice é superior à média do País, cujo aumento foi de 150%, e coloca o Estado na lista dos cinco mais homofóbicos do Brasil - atrás de Santa Catarina (211%), Paraná (175%), Rio Grande do Norte (162,5%) e Alagoas (164,7%). Em 2004, 1,5% dos estudantes paulistas afirmou ter sofrido preconceito por causa de sua orientação sexual. Quatro anos depois, o porcentual passou para 3,9%. Foram analisadas as respostas de 6,4 milhões de estudantes concluintes do ensino médio, com idades entre 16 e 25 anos, que prestaram o Enem entre 2004 e 2008. Após esse ano, as questões relativas à homofobia foram retiradas dos questionários. Mais denúncias. Para especialistas em diversidade sexual, o aumento da homofobia está relacionado à maior consciência da discriminação por parte das vítimas - o que faz aumentar as denúncias. Outra hipótese relaciona o crescimento da discriminação ao maior número de adolescentes que assumem a sua homossexualidade desde cedo. "Esse é um problema de influência de vários níveis, de como a escola se organiza e da cultura", afirma Josafá Cunha, da Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste (Unicentro), um dos pesquisadores. "A reação dos nossos colegas nos ajuda a saber que comportamentos estão corretos e quais não são tolerados pela sociedade. As crianças adotam esses valores como reflexo da cultura e os replicam na escola", continua. O problema é que a discriminação e a violência causada pela intolerância à diversidade sexual fazem da escola um ambiente muito menos acolhedor. Em uma escala de zero a dez pontos, a percepção da qualidade do ensino foi, em média, meio ponto maior entre os que não relataram perseguição homofóbica. Vítimas relatam anos de sofrimento Isis Brum - O Estado de S.Paulo Ainda criança, quando nem sabia o que eram sexualidade e desejo, Alexandre Camarú, de 41 anos, sentia atração pelos meninos e não entendia, ao mesmo tempo, por que era "tão diferente" deles. Os anos da pré-adolescência não foram "idílicos", mas não chegaram a ser sofríveis como os dois primeiros anos do ensino médio, em uma escola particular da capital paulista, onde estudou com bolsa. "Os meninos da sala eram homofóbicos. E dois deles, especialmente, eram piores. Mas tinha ao menos um professor que fazia piada sobre mim na sala de aula", conta o tradutor e editor. Dois colegas furtaram seus passes e documentos. Foi o único alvo da sala durante o intervalo. Foi a gota d"água para pedir transferência para uma instituição da rede estadual. "Mas o pior preconceito que enfrentei foi com o meu pai. Faz 20 anos que não nos falamos. Ele simplesmente me excluiu da família", conta. O editor de vídeos D.M.A., de 24 anos, também era vítima das piadas dos colegas de escola. "Eu queria ser como eles e tentava ser igual, para conviver com os outros garotos", relembra D, que pediu para ter sua identidade preservada. "Mas era totalmente excluído e não entendia o porquê", afirma. Depois de passar alguns anos sofrendo calado as humilhações por causa de sua orientação sexual, D. se rebelou. Assumiu-se HOMOSSEXUAL e passou a se defender das agressões verbais com a mesma intensidade com que as recebia. As recordações dos tempos de colégio, para ele, também não são das melhores. "Olho para trás e não sinto falta de nada. Vejo o D. de antes e sinto pena daquele garoto inocente e indefeso", conclui. "As escolas precisam ensinar o valor das pessoas não por serem gays ou lésbicas, mas como humanos, simplesmente", defende Josafá Cunha, professor do Departamento de Psicologia da Unicentro. Capacitação. Para Araci Asinelli, professora de pós-graduação em Educação na Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), "a escola e os professores têm um papel preponderante na formação da personalidade". Por isso, "é preciso olhar para os professores e capacitá-los", diz. "As escolas devem ensinar que a única diferença entre homos e heterossexuais é a orientação do desejo", afirma Sandra Vasques, psicóloga e coordenadora de projetos do Instituto Kaplan, especializado em sexualidade humana. |
Via JMG: NOM's League Of Bigots
You must click over to Good As You for Jeremy Hooper's excellent bigot-by-bigot breakdown of the fuckweasels in this photograph and all the repulsive, horrible, lying bullshit they've said about LGBT people.Via JMG: From The Top Enlisted Marine
"Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution is pretty simple. It says, 'Raise an army.' It says absolutely nothing about race, color, creed, sexual orientation. You all joined for a reason: to serve. To protect our nation, right? How dare we, then, exclude a group of people who want to do the same thing you do right now, something that is honorable and noble? Right? Get over it. We’re magnificent, we’re going to continue to be. Let’s just move on, treat everybody with firmness, fairness, dignity, compassion and respect. Let’s be Marines." - Command Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Michael Barrett, speaking to troops in South Korea.Via JMG: WI Judge Upholds Domestic Partners
Saying the system does not violate the state's ban on same-sex marriage, a judge has upheld Wisconsin's domestic partners registry.
Dane County Circuit Judge Daniel Moeser ruled that the 2009 law does not create a legal status for partners that is identical or substantially similar to that of marriage and therefore it does not violate the constitutional ban approved by voters in 2006. “The state does not recognize domestic partnership in a way that even remotely resembles how the state recognizes marriage,” Moeser said in the ruling. “Moreover, domestic partners’ have far fewer legal rights, duties, and liabilities in comparison to the legal rights, duties, and liabilities of spouses.”The anti-gay Christian group that brought the suit says they will now appeal to the state Supreme Court.
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