Via AmericaBlogGay: 9th Circuit again tells Obama administration to stop discharging gays

From Lambda Legal's Jon Davidson, via Rex Wockner:

Today's order from the Ninth Circuit rather modestly states that it reinstates the stay of the injunction against enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell "in all respects except one." The order goes on to provide that the injunction remains in effect "insofar as it enjoins [the government] from investigating, penalizing, or discharging anyone from the military pursuant to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy." In other words, all that today's order does is allow the military to once again stop accepting or processing applications from openly lesbian, gay or bisexual people, for now. Discharges, discharge proceedings, and investigations remain on hold.

The order reflects that the judges are upset that the government provided "considerably more detailed information concerning the implementation of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act ... than [it] did in [its prior] opposition to the motion to lift the stay" and orders the government to supplement its motion for reconsideration by 5 p.m. this Monday "to address why [it] did not present in [its] May 20, 2011 opposition to lift the stay the detailed information now presented in the motion for reconsideration." In addition, the order gives Log Cabin Republicans until 5 p.m. on July 21st to respond to the motion for reconsideration, but then gives the government only until noon the next day to reply. (Can we say "annoyed?")

This whiplash is surely confusing for many people. The administration needs to stop saying that certification under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act is coming soon and just issue it. But, even then, the actual end of the policy won't happen for 60 days after certification. The government has failed to show any reason why the policy cannot be halted immediately other than to claim that the military will respond better if it is not having to do so pursuant to a court order. Imagine if other people ordered by courts to stop violating people's rights similarly argued, don't issue an injunction, just let me fix the problem myself, on my own timetable, while I continue breaking the law!

Oral argument of the appeal has now been set for September 1st, in Pasadena.

Jon W. Davidson - Legal Director Lambda Legal

Via Faith in America:

Please watch. You'll enjoy...  ...as longtime LGBT advocate and Faith in America Founder Mitchell Gold disarms one of the most vitriolic voices within the anti-gay religious industry. This is how we confront religion-based bigotry toward the LGBT community and the hostility the Religious Right and its anti-gay organizations promote toward our community. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khlMOEHqW0g

Via JMG: HomoQuotable - Marcus Bachmann

"I was talking in reference to children. Nothing, nothing to do with homosexuality. That's not my mindset. That's not my belief system. That's not the way I would talk. I think the strongest myth is the myth that I have ever called a homosexual a barbarian. We don't have an agenda or a philosophy of trying to change someone." - Ladybird Marcus Bachmann, claiming that the audio tape in which he calls gays "barbarians" was doctored.

Labels: "ex-gay", brainwashing, closet cases, cults, frauds, liars, Michele Bachmann, scam artists

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Robert and Stylianos sent this picture to us last night, upon hearing that after 15 years of DOMA, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold the first-ever hearing on repealing the horrendous law. No matter your marital status or sexual orientation, please follow their lead and click here to send in your "Please repeal DOMA for..." photo for our new video project!

Dear Daniel,
Two years ago, when 18,000 California same-sex couples and their marriages were under attack, we launched "Fidelity," a multimedia video featuring Regina Spector's hit song and photos of members like you. We did it to send the California Supreme Court a message: don't let Prop 8 forcibly divorce same-sex families. It became the most-watched video in California political history, viewed 1.2 million times on YouTube and Vimeo.

Now, we're under attack again: this time by anti-gay activists who want to protect the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Fortunately, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a first-ever hearing next week on repealing DOMA. So it's time for Fidelity II.
Is your family impacted by DOMA? Do you know anyone who pays thousands more in federal taxes or can't sponsor their husband or wife for permanent residency? Or would you just like to express your support for the thousands harmed by this discriminatory law?

If so, please take a picture with a plain 8.5" by 11" piece of paper that sends a special message, like "Please Repeal DOMA for my family," "Please Repeal DOMA for my mothers," "Please Repeal DOMA for my friends, Name and Name," or "Please Repeal DOMA for all happily married couples." Print it out, or write it clearly in big, block letters. Then click here to send us your photo to include in our new video.

The time has come for Fidelity II because the Senate Judiciary Committee has the votes to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA. Winning in committee -- which we have the votes to do -- would make headlines around the country, educate the public, and inject new momentum into the national movement, helping push more Senators to co-sponsor the bill.

This is your opportunity to play a big role in educating the public, Daniel. Click here to send in your photo, holding up a sign that says "Please Repeal DOMA."

Opportunities to change the hearts and minds of Americans on DOMA don't come along very often. The Senate Judiciary Committee is giving us one. Let's make sure to take it.

Thanks for all you do,

--Rick, Cait, Arisha, Adam, Anthony, and the rest of the team at the Courage Campaign

..............

To power our campaign to repeal DOMA, please chip in what you can today:

Via JMG: Hate Groups React To CA History Bill

Catholics For The Common Good

Claims that this bill is needed to reduce bullying against children that are experiencing gender confusion or take on 'gay' or 'lesbian' identities are absurd. Children must be taught respect for all persons because of their intrinsic value, not because they agree with their behavior or like their characteristics. In fact, reducing people to merely a sexual identity obscures the fact that they are so much more than that.

Traditional Values Coalition

SB 48 was priority number 1 for Traditional Values Coalition. We committed all the resources we had to try to make sure that SB 48 failed. We are talking about molesting the minds of young impressionable youth, as young as Kindergarten, with an agenda and message that is not age-appropriate and that is offensive to the values of a vast majority of California’s families. We have failed at our core educational mission and yet we are now going to inject gay studies into the classrooms. It’s absurd and offensive.

Save California

It's ridiculous that Jerry Brown says he's making history 'honest'. The bill he signed prohibits teachers and textbooks from telling children the facts that homosexuality has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS and other STDs, higher cancer rates, and earlier deaths. These important facts about lifestyles children will being forced to admire will be omitted. And Brown calls this 'honest'? This revisionist history will actually make more children believe a lie -- that homosexuality is biological, which it's not, and healthy, which is isn't."

Labels: California, Catholic Church, education, hate groups, LGBT History, Mark Leno, Save California, Traditional Values Coalition

reposted from Joe

THE LAVENDER SCARE - Trailer

VIVIENNE_VYLE-Islands in the Stream

Via JMG: LGBT Characters Map

A reader sends us his map of where TV's gay characters live. Can you add more?

Labels: gay artists, maps, television

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Marcus Bachmann On Homosexuality

JMG Tweet Of The Day - Cher

Labels: Cher, Michele Bachmann, Tweet Of The Day

reposted from Joe

SACBEE.COM BREAKING NEWS ALERT

Jerry Brown signs bill requiring schools to teach gay history

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation requiring public schools to include the contributions of gay and lesbian people in their curriculum, making California the first state to adopt such a requirement.
Read more.

SUPPORT EQUALITY - Dave Koz sings "This Guy's in Love With You", directed by Graham Streeter

Thought Becomes Form

The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings...

As the shadow follows the body, as we think, so we become.

— The Dhammapada

(Sayings of the Buddha via Thought Becomes Form)

Sassy Gay Friend: The Odyssey

Via JMG: The Real Costs Of "Ex-Gay" Therapy

Think Progress comments on the real cost of "ex-gay" therapy like that performed by Marcus Bachmann:

Beliefs that gay people need to be “cured” of their sexual orientation also contribute to harassment and violence against gay people and anyone else who doesn’t conform to rigid stereotypes of gender and sexuality. In 2008, more than 2,400 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people were victims of crimes perpetrated against them on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Significant underreporting means that the actual number of hate crimes against gay and transgender people is probably much higher than the statistics show. Ex-gay therapy tears at the mental health of gay people while contributing to the poisonous attitudes that mark them as targets for violence and discrimination. And for this “therapy,” it’s society as a whole that foots the bill: every blow at the ability of gay people to take care of themselves and their families has its costs, whether in the loss of a job because of harassment, days missed at school because of bullying, or medical bills for dealing with depression or the aftermath of violence.

Labels: "ex-gay", 2012 elections, frauds, GOP, Michele Bachmann, scam artists

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Crazy Eyes: Gays Are Part Of Satan

"Any of you who have members of your family that are in the lifestyle—we have a member of our family that is. This is not funny. It’s a very sad life. It’s part of Satan, I think, to say this is gay. It’s anything but gay. And so we are not here tonight -- in fact, I wish this whole room was filled with the gay community -- because we'd reach our hand out in love. The Love Won Out conference was here not too long ago in the Twin Cities, and it’s profoundly sad to recognize that almost all, if not all, individuals who have gone into the lifestyle have been abused at one time in their life, either by a male or by a female." - Rep. Michele Bachmann, speaking in 2004.

Labels: bigotry, liars, Michele Bachmann, religion

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Romney Rejects Iowa Marriage Vow

Mitt Romney has refused to sign the virulently anti-gay pledge that the hate group Iowa Leader is demanding of all GOP presidential candidates.

Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Romney, told The Associated Press in a written statement Tuesday that Romney "strongly supports traditional marriage," but that the oath "contained references and provisions that were undignified and inappropriate for a presidential campaign." Bachmann and Santorum have been campaigning hard to court the influential social conservatives in Iowa, which holds the nation's first caucuses. Romney's rejection of the pledge reflects his diminished focus on winning Iowa, where he spent $10 million during his 2008 presidential campaign only to finish second. None of the other GOP presidential hopefuls, including former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, have said whether they will sign the pledge.

Labels: 2012 elections, GOP, hate groups, Iowa, Mitt Romney

reposted from Joe

AC360 - Keeping The Bachmann's Honest On Controversial Clinic

Via JMG: Will CA Jerry Brown Sign History Bill?

It remains unclear whether California Gov. Jerry Brown will sign the LGBT history bill approved earlier this month by the state legislature. Brown is under enormous pressure from anti-gay hate groups nationwide. Equality California weighs in:

As a community we must convince Governor Brown to sign the FAIR Education Act (SB 48 - Leno). We don't have a lot of time. Please email him today. http://tinyurl.com/sb48-b . This critical bill would ensure that students in public schools learn about the LGBT civil rights movement and the contributions of LGBT people to other movements and to society. With this bill, we will have the opportunity to define who we are, instead of being defined by harmful messages filled with bigotry that dehumanize us. We believe that learning about the heroic struggles of LGBT individuals and our diverse LGBT communities brings an understanding that prevents violence against our LGBT youth and those perceived as LGBT regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We are shifting the conversation. Instead of being stigmatized, marginalized and demonized, people will understand that we have a proud legacy and heritage of struggle and contribution.

Hit this link to sign Equality California's petition to Brown. Or call his office directly: 916.445.2841.

Labels: education, Jerry Brown, LGBT History, Mark Leno

reposted from Joe