Congressman Lungren is a disgrace... I am ashamed to have to register in his district

Dear Dr. Orey,

 

Thank you for contacting me regarding legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (H.R. 1116).  I appreciate the opportunity to learn of your views on this important matter.
 
It is my belief that marriage is a foundational societal institution.  As the United States Supreme Court itself recognized in 1878, "upon it society may be said to be built, and out of its fruits spring social relations and social obligations and duties..."   In short, marriage is a fundamental element of civil society itself.
 
In this regard, it is entirely appropriate for the supreme law of the land to uphold the institution of marriage.  The Constitution should recognize the civilizational precept that marriage consists solely of the union between a man and a woman.
 
Another aspect of this issue which is central to the question of governance, concerns the role of the judiciary in our society.  It is not the function of judges to act as policymakers or quasi-legislators.  When the judiciary assumes the role of the legislative branch it has overstepped its proper function.  The effort by some state courts to redefine the institution of marriage, coupled with a generally expansive interpretation of its own power by the federal judiciary, poses a serious challenge to the very notion of self-government.  Our founding fathers did not envision that we would be governed by philosopher kings and it was for that reason they conceived a limited judicial power which would render the judiciary "the least dangerous branch."
 
Recently, the Executive branch has also posed a serious challenge to the notion of self-government.  As you know, the Constitution requires in Article II Section 3 that the President "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."  The Administration's unilateral determination – apart from the wishes of Congress, which passed DOMA by a bipartisan vote of 342-67 in the House and 85-14 in the Senate – that DOMA does not pass constitutional muster is an affront to our system of government, to the checks and balances established by the Constitution, and to the rule of law. 
 
In remarks on the House floor, I elaborated on this affront: 

 

Mr. Speaker, while Congress was out of session last week, the United States Department of Justice made an unfortunate decision. They announced they would no longer defend an Act of Congress that was signed into law by President Clinton. That law is the Defense of Marriage Act.

 

The statement that came out of the Justice Department said they could find no constitutional basis for defending that law. I recall we had the same thing happen in my home state where then Attorney General Jerry Brown said he could not defend Proposition 8 which dealt with the definition of marriage.

 

Having served in that office in California, I can tell you, I defended laws I disagreed with. I defended laws I had voted against. I thought it was my solemn obligation to uphold the Constitution and the laws duly enacted in my state just as I believe the Attorney General of the United States has that obligation.

 

I believe it is a dereliction of duty. To somehow now find that there is no constitutional basis for defending that law is incredible. I think it is regrettable and I think we ought to look into it.

 
While we may disagree on this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on matters important to you.
 
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your views with me.
 
If you would like to stay informed about federal legislation introduced in the 112th Congress, as well as local issues that may interest you, please take a moment to subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter at www.lungren.house.gov.
 
I look forward to discussing this or any other issue affecting our 3rd Congressional District with you in the future.  For upcoming Town Hall meetings, or for information on issues or legislation pending before Congress, please visit my website at www.lungren.house.gov.  If you need assistance with a federal agency, please call my Gold River office at (916) 859-9906.  My staff and I are always available to address your concerns, answer your questions, and listen to your ideas.
 
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress

Note: Please do not respond directly to this e-mail.  To better serve the constituents of the Third District I have established a Feedback Form on my website.  If you wish to contact me with any concerns, I would ask that you please utilize the following link and I will respond shortly (https://forms.house.gov/lungren/forms/email.shtml).

Via Kate Clinton: Great Sports

Via AmericaBlogGay: Anti-gay bigots offer counseling services to gay man who testified at DOMA hearings

As the man told the Advocate, the last people he'd go to for help is some anti-gay hate group.  I wonder if they weren't offering to "cure" him. From Andrew Harmon: 

Puzzling remarks by anti-marriage equality witnesses were legion at the hearing, but perhaps no more so than those of Focus on the Family senior vice president Tom Minnery, who spoke directly after Wallen's heartfelt testimony about his group’s firm stance against repealing DOMA. Minnery expressed his condolences for Wallen’s loss, then seemed to offer him counseling and outreach services from his organization, which until two years ago had sponsored an ex-gay summit known as Love Won Out. 

“I had read his prepared testimony the night before, so I knew what he was going to say,” Wallen told The Advocate. “But I was shocked when he offered condolences, and was in disbelief when he was offering his services. If I were looking for help, his [organization] would be the last place I would go to.”

Asked what services they might provide, Focus on the Family vice president of communications Gary Schneeberger said in a statement to The Advocate, “We offer a variety of print and online resources, as well as free counseling referrals, to help people deal with the myriad challenges of life.

Via Harvey Milk Foundation: Pelosi endorses executive order against LGBT job discrimination

Harvey Milk Foundation and Equality America shared a link.

www.washingtonblade.com

Democratic leader calls workplace protections 'long overdue'

US House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed today President Obama issuing an executive order barring federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT job discrimination.“I have long in my time in Congress supported ending discrimination in the workplace for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders,” Pelosi said.

Our law makers need to feel what we feel!!

I have totally cleaned this e-mail from all  other names, sending it to you in hopes you will keep it going and keep it clean.  This is something I will fight for and  I hope you all read it all the way through.  You will be glad you did.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified!  Why?  Simple!  The people  demanded it.  That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of  the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the  land...all because of public pressure.

I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list;  in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message.  This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of  2011

1.   No Tenure / No Pension.
A  Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

2.   Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately.  All  future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.  It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.  Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congress are void effective 1/1/12.  The American people did not make this contract with Congress.  Congress made all these contracts for themselves.   Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career.  The  Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the  U.S. ) to receive the message.  Maybe it is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!!

If  you agree with the above, pass it on.   If not, just delete.

You are one of my 20+.  Please keep it going.

Lawrence O'Donnell - Focus On The Family Busted For Lying At Doma Hearing By Sen. Al Franken

Stephen Colbert - It Gets Better

Via JMG: The Changing Face Of AIDS

Hit this link for a huge interactive version of the above image. Definitely worth a few minutes of your day.

Labels: HIV, HIV/AIDS, pharma, science

reposted from Joe

JMG Tweet Of The Day - Rosanne Cash

Labels: country music, religion, tweet of the day

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: MINNESOTA: Gay Barbarians Glitter-Bomb Ladybird Bachmann's "Ex-Gay" Clinic

Think Progress has the story.

Labels: "ex-gay", activism, brainwashing, frauds, Michele Bachmann, Minnesota, scams

reposted from Joe

Via HimalayaCrafts:

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure. ~ Buddha

♥ Namaste ♥  

HimalayaCrafts

Via AmericablogGay: Anti-gay leader in Iowa is a birther

Big shock that an anti-gay religious right leader is also a fan of racist theories about African-Americans (they were all born in Kenya, you know).  I am intrigued, however, that this family values leader looks all about 12.  I know lots of gay men who come off far younger than their age, but not a lot of straight men.  I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

Via JMG: Tweet Of The Day - Steve Martin

Labels: "ex-gay", religion, tweet of the day

reposted from Joe

Today in WTFland: American Family Association: The First Amendment Only Applies To Christians

"The First Amendment was written neither to guarantee freedom of religion to Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus nor to prohibit their free exercise of religion. It wasn’t written about them one way or another. It was written for one specific purpose: to protect the free exercise of the Christian religion. We must be clear: the First Amendment does not prohibit the free exercise of alternative religions, but neither does it guarantee it. It simply does not address the issue at all." - American Family Association spokesman and national radio host Bryan Fischer.

Labels: AFA, Bryan Fischer, Christianists, dominionists, First Amendment, hate groups, liars, theocracy

reposted from Joe

Via JMG: New York Episcopal Bishop Orders Gay Clergy To Marry Their Partners

That's a headline you probably didn't expect.

Long Island Episcopal Bishop Lawrence Provenzano has put his foot down against gay clergy who residing in homosexual relationships, and has given a nine month deadline for them to either get married or stop living together, according to the News Observer. “I need to be mindful that the church has always asked people to live in committed monogamous, faithful relationships. I won’t allow heterosexual clergy to live in a rectory or church housing without the benefit of marriage. When one puts it in that context, then you see how it all begins to make sense,” said Provenzano. Reverend Christopher Hofer, pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. Jude agrees with Provenzano, “I think his statement was not only fair, but beyond generous. It gives people time, acknowledging that there’s a financial component involved and recognizing that some may not choose to live together.

Labels: marriage equality, New York state, religion

reposted from Joe

Franken Destroys Focus On The Family Witness

Via Bilerico: Worst. Yard Sale. Ever

After posting an ad on Craigslist for a yard sale in northern Virginia, a woman sent an e-mail to people inquiring about some of the items for sale. Instead of answering each one separately, she put a bunch of photos on Facebook and sent a mass e-mail to respondents telling them they could see the second hand goods there.

One slight problem - no gays, Muslims or "illegal immigrants" need show up; she won't sell her stuff to you.

Make the jump here to see the woman's e-mail and her response to a pissed off potential customer

Via Gay Politics Report:

• Fight against marriage equality propelled Bachmann's career, some say
  Rep. Michele Bachmann's time in the Minnesota Senate was marked by a near-obsession over the consequences of allowing gays and lesbians to marry, her former colleagues recall. Bachmann was able to thrust herself into the political limelight by making herself the focal point of a crusade that was dubbed the "Bachmann marriage wars" by one Minnesota state senator. "That's her recipe: Find the issue, then use it politically to mobilize previously marginalized or disconnected groups," said Lawrence Jacobs, a political scientist at the University of Minnesota. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/16)     

• LGBT groups strategize against Bachmann: LGBT organizations say they are going to counter efforts by presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., to distance herself from her long record of taking divisive, anti-LGBT stances. "We're going to be looking for opportunities to get her record and her rhetoric out there," said Michael Cole-Schwartz of the Human Rights Campaign. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (7/18)     

• Giuliani urges Republicans to drop anti-gay rhetoric: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani advised his fellow Republicans this week to stop talking about trying to prevent same-sex couples from legally marrying. "I think the Republican Party would be well advised to get the heck out of people's bedrooms and let these things get decided by states. We'd be a much more successful political party if we stuck to our economic, conservative roots," Giuliani told CNN's Candy Crowley. CNN (7/17)     

• U.S. troops' same-sex spouses won't get benefits
  Legally married gay and lesbian service members will not be offered the same spousal benefits as heterosexual troops after the "don't ask, don't tell" policy ends, according to this article. The military must adhere to current federal law, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/16)     

NYC Mayor Bloomberg To Officiate Same-Sex Wedding