Melanie Nathan, May 20,2011,
This picture depicts the entry to OutServe Website… read more below.

We have been getting tips that OutServe is counting down to something big!  So I visited the website of OutServe, the non-profit group of  Servicemenbers in the US military ,at the helm of activism for those gay and lesbians now serving, who have yet to come out since the repeal of DADT.  When the site opened, I thought I had been spammed by some gambling enterprise and that the tips were come-on’s.  SO I called JD Smith, the co-founder and Director of OutServe.

“This is not an announcement regarding the repeal of Don’t ask Don’t Tell, but rather about something OutServe is working on.”

Minnesota congresswoman and potential Republican presidential contender (URGH) Michele Bachmann delivered Scripture-crazed speech Monday in Iowa, where she said that marriage equality defied “5,000 recorded years of human history.”

Politicoreports on the speech.   In addition to her comments about marriage, she called for abolishing the tax code, the Department of Education and labeled Planned Parenthood the “LensCrafters of big abortion.”

Quoting from scripture, the congresswoman said it was her faith that drove her to push for a ballot measure to criminalize same-sex marriage in the state — something she said might be possible this year because both state legislative houses are held by Republicans.

“In 5,000 years of recorded human history… neither in the east or in the west… has any society ever defined marriage as anything other than between men and women,” Bachmann said during the latest installment of the Iowa Family Leader’s presidential lecture series. “Not one in 5000 years of recorded human history. That’s an astounding fact and it isn’t until the last 12 years or so that we have seen for the first time in recorded human history marriage defined as anything other than between men and between women.”

Judges are “black-robed masters,” she said, echoing a line she used during another recent trip to Iowa to lambaste the state Supreme Court justices whose ruling effectively legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

“That’s what you had here in Iowa: black-robed masters,” Bachmann said. “They are not our masters. They are not our morality. They are not put there to make the decisions.”

“For seven generations, we had our family born here, raised here, all in northeastern Iowa,” she said. “I feel like I know you, I’m one of you, and it’s wonderful to be able to be here today.”

What Bachmann fails to realize is that she has blown her OATH to uphold the Constitution of the USA – and all its related terms- in favor of scripture – now THAT IS what ought to be criminalized!!

melanie nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Stand by your man or stand up to your man?  To be or not to be? Sex or no sex?  Oh what the heck is the difference between these questions?

ET COME HOME

Well if you are a wife of a Republican Congressman- now is the time to hold back – Do not stand by your man – do not sleep by your man and do stand up to your man!!

This is my question and call to revolution.

While medical necessities for women seem  of  little concern to the Republicans at this time, wives must rise up and refuse their men their reproductive (ahem) “rights.”

The ‘right’ to spew their sperm!

While government function and the Country is being held hostage to their perspective…. ideology or fiscal responsibility could be in the hands of the republican wives…. while women’s reproductive health is in the masturbatory  hands of their beloved husbands. !

Uganda has entered the final month of its 8^th Parliament seated. What is clear is that the fate of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, as Warren Throckmorten says, indeed is “UNLCEAR!”  That is why, when David Bahati called me again today, I was determined to find answers.  It was in that determination and after much repetitive questioning that I reached my own fortuitous conclusion.   David Bahati – the author of the Anti Homosexuality Bill in Uganda and I have developed  an ongoing telephone dialogue over a period of some six months and we talk about the progress of the BILL, while trying to convince each of the others positions with regard thereto.

Today I immediately mentioned the confusion surrounding the status of the AHB in this eighth parliament.  I asked Mr. Bahati if it was true that the Bill has been scrapped and he asserted – “absolutely not” and that it is a matter still in the hands of the Parliament and that it can be passed at anytime.

The best update preceding this call can be found on the site of Warren Throckmorton, posted the following series of updates on his Blog Post: In Sum: On March 24, 2011 Throckmorton notes: “This afternoon I have heard from two sources in Uganda that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) has been shelved…” Then on March 25^th NTV Uganda provided a report noting that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill had yet to be decided, it was not shelved but that the Museveni administration spokesperson indicated that the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda is sufficiently covered by other legislation.

David Bahati, as prime defender of the AHB spoke in the report that appeared on Throckmorton’s site , clearly noting his dissatisfaction with the idea that the law should remain as is for lack of clarity on certain issues that he believes ought to be specifically dealt with.

Today Mr. Bahati informed me categorically that the AHB has not been shelved and that he still hopes it will be “decided” by the 8^th Parliament.  He informed me that the 8^th Parliament will continue until the President is sworn in again in MAY 2011 to herald the new 9^th Parliament, and that the AHB can be decided upon anytime up until then. He insisted it is still being considered by Committee.

It was very difficult for me to get clarity on my specific questions – such as precision as to timing and process.  However from what I gathered, the call of the Committee for hearings is according to Mr. Bahati, going to happen and “we hope the bill will come before we close..”   He explained that anyone who wanted to give their side of the issue would be invited to the hearings and then they would be a debate in the Parliament. I asked if foreigners could come too and he said he saw no reason why not.

I kept asking the same questions over and over and the answers seemed somewhat evasive.  However – “it is a very simple matter,” he reiterated, “Ugandans want this Bill so it will happen.”   But he could not be sure if it would come before the 8^th Parliament closed. Then he said that if it did come up it would be likely to pass easily.

What I deduced from this conversation is the tacit internal conflict between Mr. Bahati and the Museveni Administration; as glimpsed in the TV interview on Mr. Throckmorton’s site. (see below.)

The frustration and obvious fight for Bahati seems to rest on specific aspects of the anti-homosexual bill, that unless accomplished, take the criminalization of Homosexuality back to square one – where it presents as vague, in other legislation, just as it had been, preceding the 2009 introduction of this AHB by Bahati.

This is evidenced by Mr. Bahati’s assertion on the phone today where he said, that the following aspects must be dealt with- that were yet covered by Uganda’s law – an exact quote:

-          “Recruitment

-          Promotion

-          Same-sex Marriage

-          Counseling & Caring for the Victims

-          Education of the International Treatise”  – (I asked what he meant by the latter and he said it was important for the Parliament to enact that Uganda’s foreign policy would never accept pro homosexual treatise or Statements pertaining to International Human Rights).

“It’s a simple matter and you people have been making a lot of unnecessary noise,” he said.

Mr. Bahati, then brought up the article in the Christian News by Timothy Shah’s -

“…the legislation has received widespread attention not primarily because of its draconian provisions, whose very harshness has repelled virtually all of Uganda’s major political and religious leaders—including the President, the Catholic Bishops Conference, and a parliamentary committee that recommended the bill be thrown out as unconstitutional, effectively stopping it in its tracks. Instead, a major reason for the attention focused on the bill is that many believe it is the fruit of American evangelical homophobia.”

When he brought this to my attention, it was clear that this conversation with me was in line with the article on Mr. Throckmorten’s site and that Mr. Bahati is finding his way to reconcile what may be viewed as a loss for him, when Parliament ultimately chooses to refute the AHB or simply ignore it.

Bahati offers this quote as proof of a conspiracy, giving pro-Gay Americans license to believe that now Americans have the right to interfere in Uganda’s sovereign laws on the subject of criminalizing homosexuality. He says that the belief that the BILL stemmed from the American Evangelicals, gives pro gay lobby the grounds they need to attack the AHB and interfere in Uganda’s  sovereignty. He says that these people are lying and that it has nothing to do with the American Evangelicals.

This is perhaps the “red herring” now offered by Bahati, as he is gearing us towards the failure of AHB and stepping up the ante for his internal fight within his own Party, in a voracious attempt to save the AHB and the specifics it adds to the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda.  We have seen the Scott Lively tapes that indicate this is anything but a conspiracy as we have clear proof of Evangelical interference. In addition to which I would like to think that regardless of the Evangelical prompt or promotion of AHB, we would need no excuse and still be “interfering” as Mr. Bahati refers to it, in exactly the same manner, with a huge and sustained international outcry against any and all criminalization of homosexuality, especially with regard to BILLS such as AHB – which goes so far as to include death penalties for so called repeat offenders.

What I have gathered from all this is the fact that the Museveni Administration’s desire to water down the anti homosexual laws, is simply to leave them as they are – vaguely criminalizing homosexuality, and remove it from the limelight – which is now pitted against Bahati’s desire to ensure its strengthening in this Parliament, the latter continuing to draw the attention of the International Press.

One thing is for sure and that s Bahati is not putting it to sleep and is still pushing to have it pass during the 8^th parliament session, while at the same time preparing himself and us for what may be perceived as his loss of the battle.

Here is my fortuitous conclusion I mentioned in my introduction to this post and I would wage a guess that Bahati’s  AHB is not going to succeed during this session of Parliament and he knows it – and his way out will be to blame a conspiracy theory regarding Evangelical input that gave the Americans the impetus to interfere, resulting in its failure.

However, that said, I must note we should not let our guard down, because Bahati is still fighting and the Parliament has yet to close its 8^th Session.  It could happen and it may happen – it is not an impossibility that AHB in some form can pass – and if it does not – what next?  It can come up again at any time.  Regardless of its passage the bottom line is homosexuals and lesbians are criminalized in Uganda – at this time already –  and the persecution is pervasive already at this time.

Regardless of this Anti Homosexual Bill, the UN, the WEST, the USA and LGBT activists must push to enforce the International Declaration of Human Rights, and wage a serious war to decriminalize homosexuality in all 37 African Countries at this time.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The Department of Internal Affairs website has been temporarily offline after a threat from a group of hacktivists known as Anonymous.  The DIA’s homepage and the Civil Defence website are among those experiencing problems.

A group calling itself Anonymous posted a video on Youtube last month threatening to target the department over claims it is censoring use of the internet in New Zealand.

“Internet censorship… has become one of the greatest atrocities to free speech and government transparency since the Cold War,” the video claims. It said the “denial of service” attacks would start in five days time, on March 29, at 11am New Zealand Time.

Does this lend credence to the warning by “anonymous South Africa” in the latest Video post which can be found at http://lezgetreal.com/2011/03/anonymous-speaks-south-africa-rise-up-or-is-it/comment-page-1/#comment-149637

How seriously should we take them, he she, it us ?  Well we have yet to verify that the SA You Tube Video is  in fact from the same group – although all about the Video this far points in the right direction that its you me and us and them and they.

If you are confused you are supposed to be and you are supposed to understand!

In the South African Video, the usual Anonymous voice asks for an uprising in SA because of a myriad of reasons outlined.   It points to many aspects of service delivery that has proven to be the biggest problem in SA – however the target Video does not mention corruption in SA as being the underlying source and speaks more to the old wealth history vs. poverty as a basis that has yet to be corrected, instead.   I think ANONYMOUS misses the mark – it is about corruption in SA.   But I like anonymous nonetheless because it gives all us would be “anony-mouses” a voice!!

Back to NZ, The Department of Internal Affairs senior communications manager, Tony Wallace, told the National Business Review that 41 of the department’s websites had been intermittently down since Tuesday. He could not confirm why the sites were unavailable.   “We don’t know that it’s a hacker” he said.

The Department has defended itself against the claims of censorship, saying it offers a filtering system to internet service providers on a purely voluntary basis.

It says the filter, which went live in February 2010, is aimed at reducing the trade in child sexual abuse and only blocks sites linked to the illegal practice.

So far six ISPs have adopted the system: Airnet, Maxnet, Telecom, Telstra Clear, Watchdog and Xtreme Networks.

A temporary Civil Defence website has been set up with important information

WHO IS ANONYMOUS:-

The asnwer is easy – Anonymous is you me and everyone who wants to be anonymous its not something that anyone own we can all be anonymous – its all of us ….you and me whomever may so choose. For that reason anonymous can spread like wildfire and no one can claim its is I me or them!   Its a live internet concept.

Judge for your selves.

Here is the Anonymous Video on Scientology.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the plaintiffs’ motion to lift the stay in the case challenging Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that stripped the freedom to marry from same-sex couples in California. That ruling means that the district’s court decision striking down Prop 8 remains on hold, and same-sex couples in California will be denied the right to marry while the litigation continues.

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughan Walker issued a decision in August 2010 holding that Prop 8 is unconstitutional. Before that ruling took effect, however, the Ninth Circuit put it on hold by issuing a “stay” while the decision is appealed. At the same time, the Ninth Circuit put the case on a fast track.

The plaintiffs who are challenging Prop 8 filed a motion last month asking the Ninth Circuit to lift the stay because the Ninth Circuit has asked the California Supreme Court to rule on an issue related to the case, thereby causing significant additional delay, and because same-sex couples in California suffer harm every day they are denied the right to marry.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, Lambda Legal, and ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed an amicus brief with the Ninth Circuit in support of lifting the stay. The Ninth Circuit rejected that request in a very short opinion issued this morning.

Join us at NCLRights.org, our Out for Justice blog, Facebook, and Twitter for more updates throughout the day.

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.

NCLR’s life- and law-changing work depends on the support of individuals like you. Donate now using our secure website.

Dear MELANIE,

We’re deeply disappointed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just decided not to lift the stay on marriages for same-sex couples in California – forcing loving couples to continue waiting for the freedom to marry as the federal case against Prop. 8 slowly progresses.

What a devastating decision for same-sex couples and their families! Every day that passes, LGBT people remain second class citizens, and real families experience real harm.

It’s time to speak out against this injustice and demand full equality now. We can’t stand around and wait while the courts, who are supposed to ensure equal treatment under the law, continue to deny us our basic humanity.

We know that personal conversations are the best way to help others understand why LGBT rights matter. Please, speak to three people you know today and tell them how denying loving couples the right to marry harms them and their families. Ask these three people to stand with you as the case progresses.

Then, tell us on Facebook or Twitter that you had these conversations, and let us know how they went. Having a conversation might seem like a small act, but we know it makes a tremendous difference in support.

Then, keep your eyes on your email in the weeks ahead for more ways to help overturn Prop. 8 and advance full equality across California. While today’s decision is disappointing, if we work together, all the heartbreak of waiting for the end of Prop. 8 will soon be a memory.

In solidarity, Geoff Kors

Today, the Ninth Circuit decided to uphold its stay and further deny gay and lesbian couples their constitutional right to marry. But, their decision in no way impedes the progress of our case to win the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian Americans.

AFER will continue to aggressively fight for the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian Americans with our court case challenging Prop. 8, and in the court of public opinion.

In court, AFER’s legal team, led by Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, is aggressively defending our August 2010 district court victory, which declared Prop. 8 unconstitutional. The proponents of fear and discrimination are using every trick and legal maneuver to keep discrimination on the books, and our legal team is countering every one of their attacks.

In the court of public opinion, AFER is changing the debate about marriage for gay and lesbian couples. We are bringing together people from across the political spectrum, conservatives and progressives alike, to prove that marriage is not a political issue, but an American value. We are gaining support in areas where few thought it was possible.

We must continue to work together with renewed vigor to show the state, and the nation, why equality means so much to gay and lesbian couples, their families, and everyone who believes that discrimination has no place in our laws.

Now, more than ever your financial support of our case is critical.

Become a monthly supporter of the case to win equality. Your tax-deductible gift will help us achieve lasting equality.
We are challenging Prop. 8 in court because we firmly believe that no American’s civil rights should ever be put to a vote. AFER will not stop until all Americans have the equal rights they deserve.  (AFER)

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

ANTI GAY MOONEY

Posted by Melanie Nathan- Feb 22-2011 -

The Senate in Maryland is poised to pass the Marriage Equality Bill, despite the Republicans trying to rally Senators over the weekend, against the bill.

Senator Robert Garagiola:  The Bill provides specific protection of rights concerning religious freedom – thwarting the argument that religious organizations and others may be forced to condone and participate in same-sex ceremonies and events.

“Under the terms of the Act, an official of a religious institution or body who is authorized to solemnize marriages, may not be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, or Article 36 of our Constitution. As amended, the bill also provides that a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit operated by one, may not be required to provide services accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request is related to the solemnization of a marriage or celebration of marriage that is in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.”

Alex Mooney wrote:

“Dear Fellow Republican, Help us take a stand in defense of traditional marriage. A few key state Senators will soon decide whether or not the Maryland Senate will change the law to redefine marriage. Our state’s long standing tradition of promoting marriage as between one man and one woman will be drastically altered to legally define marriage as between two men or two women.”

Noted from the audio on video:- Three amendments were included – making the language is gender neutral; prohibits marriage between relatives. Needs to pass a second reading and then will go to floor in Senate after committee session.

Melanie Nathan -Feb. 18-2011

A Pentagon survey of troops released in November before Congress approved the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, revealed that of all the armed services, the Marines held the most negative views about lifting the ban. More than four out of 10 said serving with openly gay Marines would negatively affect their work; 58 percent of those in combat arms units voiced opposition.

The Marine Corps commandant general Amos who once said openly gay and lesbian service members would be a dangerous “distraction” and was among the most outspoken opponents of repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy said today he does not expect to lose troops over the change.

What makes us think that the initial stance was political pandering?  Well who cares DADT is done!

But now this dramatic flip flop / cartwheel “before the ink could dry” on the law which  was emphasized in a video Gen. Amos taped.  In it, he said the service “will step out smartly to faithfully implement this new law. It’s important that we value the diversity of background, culture and skills that all Marines bring to the service of our nation.”

“”I haven’t had any indication yet at all, not at all,” Gen. James Amos told reporters when asked if he expected the mass exodus of troops that Sen. John McCain and other critics predicted if the ban was lifted, reports Andrea Stone, “Senior Washington Correspondent, AOL News.

Nothing like taking orders with a smile!  But why o why did we have the resistance in the first place?

“It would be naive to think that somewhere down the road there’s not going to be issues,” Amos told reporters. “I think there probably will be in probably all the services, but I don’t think it’s going to be of any magnitude that’s going to cause much more than a blip. So I’m very optimistic.” Reports Stone.

Amos said training of military lawyers, counselors and chaplains began Feb. 7. He said he and the service’s three-star generals and their spouses underwent a training session recently in New Orleans, and he expects all leaders down to company commanders and platoon sergeants to have been briefed by the middle of next month.

The Air Force, Navy and Army also have begun training in preparation for the policy’s demise sometime later this year.

Earlier this week, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said the military’s largest service would need until mid-July to finish training the active duty force of 565,000 and until mid-August to brief the 567,000 Guard and Reserve members.

Related articles

• Marine Commandant Amos Wants Foist DADT Repeal Implementation Off On Small Unit Leaders (lezgetreal.com)
• General Amos, Command Sgt. Major Hill Say That Marines Will “Step Forward Smartly” With Repeal Of DADT (lezgetreal.com)
• Gen. Amos Urges Respectful DADT Repeal (advocate.com)
• Marine Commandant James Amos Suggests ‘Distracted’ Troops Could Lose Legs in Combat if ‘DADT’ is Repealed (towleroad.com)

SMILE Cos MY HEART IS BREAKING

Melanie Nathan- Feb 10-2011

Dick Cheney shows up BIG SURPRISE at CPAC to introduce his Bush administration cohort , beloved soul mate – Donald Rumsfeld.  Ron Paul supporters turned an expected  friendly stage of  like-conservatives into a showdown and protest action that resembled “what a Cheney-Rumsfeld hug at the Netroots Nation convention might look like”. (Drudge report)

Rumsfeld is to receive  CPAC’s “Defender Of The Constitution” award, a concept that apparently annoyed Paul supporters in the crowd. Many of them got up and walked out en masse at the mention of Rumsfeld, though some stayed behind in the conference hall to heckle the architects of the invasion of Iraq.  One shout of “where’s Bin Laden?” rang out as Cheney spoke of Rumsfeld.

WAR CRIMINAL APPLAUSE.

Melanie Nathan Jan 27 -2011 -This is what Giles Muhame continues to rile our hero David Kato, beloved LGBT Gay Activist -  who was murdered  yesterday in a brutal beating, which we believe would not have happened but for the vitriol and hate expressed in the Magazine Ugandan Rolling Stone.  Read the slap in the face to the family of fallen soldier – activist David Kato.

By GILES MUHAME : Rolling Stone newspaper has just learnt from the media about the murder of David Kato.   This gentleman is said to have been a human-rights activist, according to Human Rights Watch.

According to the organization, witnesses told police that a man entered Kato’s home in Mukono at around 1 p.m, hit him twice in the head and departed in a vehicle. And that Kato died on his way to Kawolo hospital. Police told Kato’s lawyer that they had the registration number of the vehicle and were looking for it.

“Kato featured in a case between Rolling Stone and homos.” The latter had sued the investigative newspaper, which will soon metamorphose into a daily online newspaper, for outing their pictures thus invading their right of privacy.

They won the court case. Rolling Stone was ordered by Justice Kibuuka Musoke to pay the three complainants shs1.5 each, including Kato, as compensation. The newspaper early this year tendered a notice of appeal in the Court of Appeal. The lawyers are working on the submissions.

Earlier, during the high court hearing, a former homosexual, one Kagaba, told High Court in a sworn affidavit that  Kato was seriously recruiting kids into homosexual circles. He further stated that Kato had been fired from a Christian-founded school in Nkoni, Masaka district where he was a head teacher.

He said it could have been because of sodomizing kids including one Douglas whom he stayed with.

Kagaba, who said he was recruited into homosexuality, intoxicated with drugs and then sodomized by Kato, later took another bold step and provided evidence to the government-controlled Media Council in December at the Prime Minister’s office. He said Kato had been chased from Nansana, a suburb of Kampala, by the area security officer over sodomy allegations. He was residing there.

Kagaba told the council chaired by Dr. Gorreti Nassanga that the security man who chased Kagaba is a retired low-ranking army officer. That the officer had received a huge chunk of complaints from concerned neighbors that Kato was terrorizing the boys in the area.

Kato, according to evidence provided to the Council, later fled to Mukono, where he has been staying before the attack.

Mukono has of recent been a sanctuary of iron-bar wielding men. In the past two months alone over 15 people have been attacked and others killed in cold blood.

Rolling Stone feels sorry for the family of Kato and prays that his soul rests in eternal peace.

In a play A Man For All Seasons, Thomas Moore says: “Death comes to all of us”.

Issued by

Giles Muhame

To say the least this is disingenuous and Gile Muhame  and Rolling Stone as well as their Christian Evangelical funders should be ashamed  perpetuating a lie in the name of a brutally murdered hero. There is no proof of an recruiting or promotion of homosexuality.  The story told here by Giles is disgusting in the wake of the death of KATO- Under pretense of extending sympathy he demonizes the murder victim.   I am even more convinced that Giles Muhame is complicit in the murder of KATO and he is trying to justify his actions. This is just too sick for words.

When Rachel Maddow interviewed Ugandan MP,  David Bahati, the author of the Kill the Gays Bill, he told her he had evidence of this – and she asked him to provide it to her, which I know he has not done.  I called Mr. Bahati and asked him if he had sent Ms. Maddow the Evidence. He seemed dumbfounded by the question.   I asked him if he would send it to me.   He said to me -” go on the internet – you will find it.”  I reminded him that he was asserting ti to be HIS evidence – if I found it on the internet it would no longer be HIS evidence. He then agreed to send it to me. That was two weeks ago and I still await.   The point here is that Giles Muhame is echoing exactly  the language of Bahati, both in this accusatory feigned note of condolence, and in the interview with me.   Everything Bahati said on Maddow,  Giles said to me… They are beating the same drum  …. Clearly the two are in bed together ( well not in that way I don’t think! )

Nothing Giles says or does from this moment on will remove suspicion that he could have ordered the hit against Mr. Kato . In fact surely the very publication and vitriol that went with it is tantamount to ordering a hit on Mr. Kato.   Mr Giles Muhame should be investigated as should the tabloid ROLLING STONE which has become the mouthpiece for the Evangelical Christian University / Church in Uganda.  Muhame inadvertently revealed the connection to me in the conversation I had with him.   We have no resources to construct our own investigation but I challenge the authorities in Uganda to look into its funding.

Funding could also be coming from David Bahati to Giles Muhame at the Tabloid.  Now in the wake of this death I  believe authorities must look at the possible money chain between David Bahati, Scott Lively, Rolling Stone and the US San Diego based church that is operating in UGANDA as the Ugandan Christian University.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
Facebook Melanie
twitter @oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles

• Tragedy as Gay Activist David Kato Murdered in Kampala, Uganda – Impact on Ugandan Lesbian Seeking UK Asylum (lezgetreal.com)
• Sec of State Clinton Issues Statement on David Kato Murder (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan-  Jan 18, 2011- San Francisco -  Two young men who filmed themselves having sex have been sentenced to death by stoning in Iran.  The film was discovered on the mobiles of Ayub and Mosleh, 20 and 21 years old, by agents of the Iranian regime in the Kurdistan city of Piranshahr in northwest Iran.

Pictures of President Ahmadinejad and a headshot of Supreme Leader Khamenei pasted over a donkey were allegedly incorporated into the film.  Reports say that the  stoning was immediately ordered for this Friday “to instill fear in the people of Iran”.

News of the sentence originates from a Kurdish newspaper and has been distributed by The International Committee Against Stoning, who launched the worldwide campaign against the stoning of Sakineh Ashtiani for adultery.  It has since been confirmed by other sources.

Iranian LGBT activists and human rights organizations have reported a number of other death sentences for homosexuality in the past two years.  However the Iranian government maintains that “most of these individuals have been charged for forcible sodomy or rape.”  The original newspaper report claimed that the boys raped another.

Soheila Vahdati, an independent human rights defender for Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Iranian Queer Organization based in San Francisco, said:  “They don’t differentiate between rape and homosexual acts. As well, there is a culture of shame. The families won’t defend their loved ones from this brutal punishment.”

“We are very concerned even though we haven’t got all the details. We’ll try to save their lives but unfortunately Iran has quickly executed people in the past.”    Judges order execution by stoning under a 1983 law detailing offences proscribed by God, and then under the general Islamic penal code. Some senior Shia clerics have spoken out against stoning.

The International Committee Against Stoning have urged “the young people of Piranshahr to hasten to the aid of Ayub and Mosleh and declare that they will not permit this tragedy to occur.”

The Association of British Muslims, alongside an international coalition of Muslim organisations, has condemned the sentence and said that they do not see anything in the Koran to justify such punishment.

They said: “Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “…if anyone slays a human being unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth – it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind…””

Last month Human Rights Watch published a large scale report on the repression of LGBT in Iran. It said that those charged with same-sex offenses stand little chance of receiving a fair trial.

There are few reliable statistics on the frequency with which stoning takes place in Iran. Recent years have seen a rising number of cases reported. Some members of parliament are reportedly hoping that the Supreme Leader will pass a fatwa against stoning.

Story by Paul Canning, Editor, LGBT Asylum News , LGBT Asylum News

Posted by
melanie Nathan
nathan@privateourts.com

–

Melanie Nathan- Jan 15 -2011- More like 160 eyes for 2- As more than 80 people have been arrested and charged with the murder of a man in Bizana on Friday, Eastern Cape, South Africa, according to the SAP.   Captain Mlungisi Matidane said 82 people were arrested at Dutyini village after they allegedly assaulted 34-year-old Mzawufunwa Madikizela causing his  death.

Matidane said  Madikizela attended a meeting about a shooting the night before,  “During their meeting on Friday, they were not satisfied with his answers. He was assaulted and died on the scene.” The 82 were arrested and would appear at the Bizana Magistrate’s Court on Monday. -

Related articles

• South Africa Accused Corrective Rapist Breaches Bail Conditions (lezgetreal.com)
• South Africa flooding leaves 50 dead, hundreds homeless (cnn.com)
• Wife Uses Husband’s Gun to Shoot His Genitals (rawjustice.com)

Melanie Nathan:- December 24, 2010 – Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) today expressed his concern to members of Congress that some of President Obama’s judicial nominees have American Civil Liberties Union affiliations and exhibit an “ACLU chromosome.”

Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office responded “Senator Sessions’ reference to ‘ACLU DNA’ in President Obama’s judicial nominees should be greeted as a welcome discovery by all Americans, regardless of party. For 90 years, the ACLU has defended the rights enshrined in the Constitution for everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. While not everyone agrees with us on every issue, Americans have come to rely on the ACLU for its unyielding dedication to principle.

“There is a long record of highly respected ACLU-affiliated lawyers who have been appointed to the federal bench, including luminaries such as Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall, Felix Frankfurter, Arthur Goldberg and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. All have demonstrated their dedication to the Bill of Rights in important decisions supporting freedom of speech, the right to due process and gender and racial equality. There are also dozens of highly regarded district court and appellate court judges who have served or serve now on federal benches throughout the nation. Their ACLU background has helped them bring to the judicial system a steadfast commitment to constitutional values and an understanding of the critical role that the judiciary plays in safeguarding them.

“If you ask us, ACLU chromosomes make for a pretty remarkable gene pool.”

Senator Sessions is anti-gay, anti-immigrant and often finds himself in the soup with his nonsensical comments. At least the ACLU made good sense of this one…love it!

In the meantime way back in the day before becoming a Senator,  Sessions was lambasted by Senator Ed Kennedy for being less than ethical -

Posted by – Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Posted by Melanie Nathan- Dec 01-2010  World AIDS Day 2010 is all about raising awareness to tackle HIV prejudice and help stop the spread of HIV.

A Georgia-based Evangelical ministry is linking up with church leaders in Uganda and neighboring countries, to campaign against homosexuality in the African region.  Carl Jenkins, founder and presiding bishop of Christ Central Christian Ministries Worldwide in Albany, Ga., argues that east Africa’s economic potential is suffering and that a stronger morality needs to be instilled. Reports Ioannis Gatsiounis of AOL News. . Does this sound like Hitler scape-goating?  This is extremely serious affront and in my opinion tantamount to American grown terrorism on Africa’s LGBT population. It is this very talk that leads to genocide.

“Overall, we’re not seeing the moral change and economic change that Christ can give if you are obedient and dedicated to the word of God,” Jenkins told AOL News.

“Jenkins is spending much of November in east Africa to finalize Christ Central’s organizational structure. On Sunday, the organization consecrated 16 bishops from Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.  The movement is based in Teso, Uganda, where a Christ Central Academy and Health Center will be opened. It claims about 30 branch affiliates in Uganda alone and hopes to double that number by next year. Another 55 are being planned for Kenya.”  “I’m not homophobic,” Jenkins said. “But I can glean from the Bible that God is not pleased with homosexuality.”

This past week SDGLN posted a piece by my friend REV. Canon  Albert Ogle of San Diego’s St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation, where he was points out that According to The Associated Press, Presiding Bishop Carl Jenkins, founder of Dale City Christian Church in Virginia, was convicted in 2002 of arson and sentenced to five years in jail and fined $100,000. Details of the case can be read in Firehouse Forums and the Fredericksburg Star.

Responding to this latest outrage is retired Anglican Bishop Christopher Senyonjo of Uganda, who is in San Diego and who will receive a Senate Resolution in his honor at Eden at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2.

“The last thing Uganda needs is more religious fundamentalism from the United States to fuel the fires of hatred and violence against gay and transgender Ugandans,” Bishop Christopher said.

“Just weeks ago, a tabloid paper published a front page death threat with names and photos of gay and transgender advocates as well as my photo on the cover. They called for our hanging. People have been attacked and are running into hiding for fear of their lives.”

Activists should out the Criminal past of Jenkins so that all in Uganda will see that this man is nothing more than a common felon!  At the same time I always come back to wondering what the US responsibility is regarding renegade missions to Africa, where in essence an act of hate and terrorism is being committed against foreign nationals.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles

• ‘Hang them’: Uganda Tabloid Publishes Photos & Adds of Top 100 Gays (lezgetreal.com)
• Ugandan Newspaper Blocked From Publishing Names, Photos Of Gays As Bahati Promises Kill The Gays Bill Will Pass Soon (lezgetreal.com)
• US Sate Department Must offer Ugandan Gays Visas to USA (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan; Nov 28-2010  -What I noticed while viewing Senators Claire McCaskill and Lindsey Graham,  on FOX  News was a new Mantra emerging from the Republican Lexicon, and its not one that should surprise anyone.  This one though will be sure to attest  President Obama’s biggest challenge; which may overtly seem possible given the GOP drone!  No its not quite as blatant as “move the goal post,” instead its couched in the usual rah rah – a simple talking point – of course!

It is clear from today’s Press rounds that the new drum beat is “thou shalt pass nothing” for as long as President Obama is President!”   Oops sorry that was the old one – the new one is a little more specific, as conveyed today by Senator Lindsey Graham, the yet to come out Senator, who was adamant in his echo “Don’t’Ask Don’t Tell will not pass the lame duck session – because they do not have the votes and the main new drum roll which initially traversed the senile throat box of McCain is ”The study I would be looking for is asking military members: Should it be repealed, not how to implement it once you as a politician decide to repeal it,” the latter being the new roar.  Since when is the military a democracy – I though the USA was the democracy.  As a lesbian I don’t ever remember electing a military servicemember.  This administration must do  the right thing in changing laws and policy to keep up with the rest of the civilized world;  we must shape up and repealing DADT is a political decision and the Democrats are still in charge Mr. Graham and some of your colleagues may declare a familiar “thy protesteth tooooo loud!

There is no groundswell of opposition to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell coming from our military. This is all politics. I don’t believe there is anywhere near the votes to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. On the Republican side, I think we will be united in the lame duck,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. on FOX News Sunday.

GOP politicians  are clearly wanting to oppose the repeal of DADT period and if it will not be one mantra to effect feigned legitimacy to their obstructionism, it will simply be another. What came out of the house was the necessity for the report now due this week.  Has Graham, and gang seen it and afraid that it is too supportive of repeal? Too bad Lindsey but its too late to change the strategy on this Congress and so lame duck it shall be.  You are not psyching me out ; with thanks for the heads up Activists are now going to step up the ante instead of allow your male fideis to rule again.

Lindsey failed to purge any narrative whatsoever when it came to the very obvious question – “What about the Defense Budget desperately needed to fund our at war troops?”

Mmmmm to I detect a silence or is there a mantra for that too?

Graham said the results the new Pentagon study is not as important as finding out whether the military rank-and-file believe gay and lesbian troops should be able to serve openly. ”The study I would be looking for is asking military members: Should it be repealed, not how to implement it once you as a politician decide to repeal it,” Graham said. Too late Mr Graham – time is up – you should have won that point some months ago – but this is wjhat congress requested as the next step…… so Leila tov…

The Huffington Post said Graham’s comments may not reflect the sentiments of all of his GOP colleagues.

While Graham’s top ally in the chamber — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — has also moved the goalposts for DADT repeal, others have been more sympathetic to revising or overturning the law. That list includes Sens. Lisa Murkowksi (R-Alaska), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and even Jon Ensign (R-Nev.).

Yes its all politics damn right…..

Now Repeal DADT and Fund the Military enough of your horse crap already!

BY MELANIE NATHAN
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Related articles

• John McCain Says That DADT “Is Working” (towleroad.com)
• Lindsey Graham: ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Is Not Going Anywhere’ (huffingtonpost.com)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Melanie Nathan – Nov 27-2010-  Bay Area,  California

Now School officials, told parents at a recent board hearing that their children will be required to take a Gay rights course.  Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will be shown three movies portraying toleration behavior towards Lesbian & Gay students in a class, said Vallejo Unified School District officials, and parents cannot opt-out.

Floyd Gonella, district superintendent said parents could not opt their kids out”. While the decision has outraged many Vallejo parents, a small Bay Area town ABOUT 50 minutes from San Francisco, known for being un-progressive, Bay Area activists such as myself applaud this critical stand.

When a parent says “No one should (have the) right to tell me what can be shown to my child,”  my response would be – your child, when attending school must learn to conform to a code of conduct required by the school – that would include awareness via education if the rights of all people, especially safety at school. Parents have clearly failed to teach their children the essential elements that equip them to function in a society of diversity.  Gay. Lesbian and Transgender people are just that – human beings with same- sex  and gender orientation.  The schools will teach about factual existence and not sexual content.

“Now what you do in your home, that’s your home but as far as me and mine, my children are not ready for this,” a parent said. Despite parents’ resistance, officials say the viewings are non-negotiable and court-ordered.    The response ought to be – that when they come into the schools where they spend so much time, they must be socially and consciously aware of diversity being acceptable – it is every bit society’s business and society does start in the schools.

Clearly underlying this parental fear is the homophobic notion that it could turn their kids gay – as if they are being given an option. Being gay is not optional and if a mother’s kid does happen to be gay, he will have a better community to function in.

I have two daughters, a thirteen year old and a five year old. Recently I went with my youngest to a rally to talk about the two teen suicides that week in our County.  I spoke briefly about the availability of the County Human Rights Commission to young teens and anyone who needed to report school bullying.  My child has always been quite comfortable with the fact that she has 2 moms.  She thinks its perfectly fine considering her awareness of other family structures.  When we got to the Rally I asked hjer if she knew what the rainbow flag meant.  She said no and so I told her it simply meant families where there were 2 moms or two dads and that we wanted to tell people to understand that all families love their kids the same.

A gay rights group is circulating a petition to ensure Vallejo officials don’t buckle under pressure from parents.

“Fighting school bullying should be everyone’s business, whether that bullying is based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or more,” wrote an editor for the group’s Web site. “And that’s exactly what the Vallejo Unified School District in California was trying to do, by expanding their anti-bullying curriculum.”

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

UPDATED  12/12/2010

A Perfect Family is one That Loves and Speaks Against Hate

The Family Research Council responded to what it terms “slanderous  attacks” made by the Southern Poverty Law Center; after the group made the list that  Southern Poverty Law Center, monitors and tracks.  SPLC includes Family Research Council  as a hate groups operating in the United States – amongst 18 anti-gay groups/  To make this list them S P L C says :

Even as some well-known anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family moderate their views, a hard core of smaller groups, most of them religiously motivated, have continued to pump out demonizing propaganda aimed at homosexuals and other sexual minorities. These groups’ influence reaches far beyond what their size would suggest, because the “facts” they disseminate about homosexuality are often amplified by certain politicians, other groups and even news organizations. Of the 18 groups profiled below, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) will be listing 13 next year as hate groups (eight were previously listed), reflecting further research into their views; those are each marked with an asterisk. Generally, the SPLC’s listings of these groups is based on their propagation of known falsehoods — claims about LGBT people that have been thoroughly discredited by scientific authorities — and repeated, groundless name-calling. Viewing homosexuality as unbiblical does not qualify organizations for listing as hate groups.”    The list can be found here…. http://lezgetreal.com/2010/11/18-anti-gay-groups-make-southern-poverty-law-center-hate-group-list/

This is the Perkins counter statement -Family Research Council Statement  Southern Poverty Law Center

“Family Research Council has, for nearly 30 years, advanced faith, family, and freedom in public discourse. We do so with civility and compassion. We hold to the indisputable fact that the family – a Dad, a Mom, and children – is the best building block of a good society, which is why we oppose efforts to transform it based on personal sexual preference.

“The Southern Poverty Law Center is a massively funded liberal organization that operates under a veneer of public justice when, in fact, they seem more interested in fundraising ploys than fighting wrongdoing.

“This is a deliberately timed smear campaign by the SPLC.  The Left is losing the debate over ideas and the direction of public policy so all that is left for them is character assassination.  It’s a sad day in America when we can not, with integrity, have a legitimate discussion over policy issues that are being considered by Congress, legislatures, and the courts without resorting to juvenile tactics of name calling.

“The Left’s smear campaigns of conservatives is also being driven by the clear evidence that the American public is losing patience with their radical policy agenda as seen in the recent election and in the fact that every state, currently more than thirty, that has had the opportunity to defend the natural definition of marriage has done so.  Earlier this month, voters in Iowa sent a powerful message when they removed three Supreme Court justices who imposed same-sex marriage on the state.  Would the SPLC also smear the good people of Iowa?

“Family Research Council will continue to champion marriage and family as the foundation of our society and will not acquiesce to those seeking to silence the Judeo-Christian views held by millions of Americans.  We call on the Southern Poverty Law Center to apologize for this slanderous attack and attempted character assassination.”

Well of course this remains the perfectly insidious agenda of the far right anti-gay political machine of inter alia neo nazis who hide behind Christianity and their version of Judeo-Christian values, as an opportunity to couch their anti-gay slander and rhetoric.  To deny the de facto existence of LGBT families, via the continued attack of the LGBT people and family right  to equality and happiness, is according to the thinking of many Americans, liberal or not, Orthodox and all Reform Rabbis, many Christian Churches, contrary to true family values.

In fact Mr. Perkins may find he will lose his self serving battle and continue to be observed as a fanatical extremist on many a list of  those who fight for equality, as more and more Rabbis  inform congregations that acceptance beyond mere tolerance and is essential to the Jewish Religious way; and as Christian leaders are able to remind that hate is contrary to the teaching of Jesus.

Also a reminder nothing that can be proven true will be considered slander!With Thanks to the SPLC on this Thanksgiving Day,

The  Southern Poverty Law Center has revealed that Anuzis defended and endorsed a vocal right-wing extremist named Kyle Bristow, who was the head of the Michigan State University chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (MSU-YAF). “This is exactly the type of young kid we want out there,” Anuzis said on a radio program in May 2007. “I’ve known Kyle for years and I can tell you I have never heard him say a racist or bigoted or sexist thing, ever.”

However a lie could not be more bold as one reflects on those  “years” Anuzis professes to have know Bristow.  As that is precisely when Bristow’s  and MSU-YAF  engaged in a series of overt racist and homophobic activities.

Think Progress. reports: MSU-YAF staged events like “Catch an Illegal Immigrant Day,” held a “Koran Desecration” competition, jokingly threatened to distribute smallpox-infested blankets to Native American students, and posted “Gays Spread AIDS” fliers across campus,

Bristow is on record saying “Homosexuality kills people almost to a degree worse than cigarettes,” adding, “these [pro-gay rights] groups are complicit with murder.” He also invited Holocaust denier Nick Griffin, who is the leader of the whites-only British National Party, to give a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, MI.

Queers Unite to spread the word – Birds of a Feather -  …

Mel Nathan

Who to FUND for the Coming Year-

Melanie Nathan: November 18-2010:-Who to fund ought to be a reflection on the movements bottom line -  what next? How? When? Do we agree to  one bench mark – a Goal – a Unified Mission- How can it be anything less than full inclusion via a Civil Rights quest for FULL  EQUALITY through a legislative act for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity  as a fully protected and equal minority.

This brief synopsis leads me to invite all LGBT groups to support this one mission and serves as my offer to offer funding support to those who will commit  to this GOAL:

After a week of interesting developments in the quest for LGBT equality, I have come to believe that ALL forms of action  on all fronts, in all forms and from all realms in the LGBT advocacy world are  potent, if viewed as a concomitant of a synchronicity that no one person or group has control over.  We are a community that has indeed been subject to fragmentation caused by our own fear of a front door approach to our rights and equality, resulting in a schism ensconced in piecemeal legislation.

This week a series of events occurred via various groups, and if any legislation were to result from it, there would be no one victory- but rather an acknowledgment of the effectiveness of years of hard work on the part of some, and the willingness to take risks on the part of others. It all works to make what happens happen.

The only missing fragment that we have had as a movement is the clear mission – so we too can one day declare ‘mission accomplished’ instead of bedding ourselves in ‘mission impossible.’

The current political climate, however, dictates the need for a movement in a new way – one that has one GOAL – “A Pink-Party”- if you will – with a PINK PLAN, where perhaps ALL the LGBT groups can function as the impetus or nucleus for the emerging movement and then vice versa; but all must in principle come out in support of the ultimate goal for full LGBT equality through inclusion in the Civil Rights Act or other form of Omnibus that guarantees LGBT a ticket to full citizenship.

It is clear to me that many activists have come to realize that whatever does not happen this lame duck session must happen soon – with one difference, as a movement next year we are going to mobilize and get thousands on the streets – in true civil-rightesque protest.  At the same time we are going to hope that GAY Inc. will recognize the  LGBTQI Civil Rights Movement and join in endorsing the ultimate mission and providing whatever resources their missions allow.

Those in Gay Inc. are well funded and will continue their regular donor appeals; and hopefully all LGBT donors will think when writing checks – who is here for  the big picture the goal of the movement. As a donor we have a right to ask the BIG question:  where do we go from here and are you willing to commit to a front-door-approach asking for full Civil Rights?

Personally – I support the work of NCLR, LAMDA LEGAL, GetEQUAL, OUT4Immigration, PFLAG, GLSN, GLAAD, COLAGE, AFER, MEQUSA, MEQCA, EQCA, Marriage Equality, KESHET,  all LGBT CENTERS, OUTSERVE and others; specifically I do not support Immigration Equality and HRC.  My question to all is where  do we go from here:-

Having asked the question of Get Equal;

“GetEQUAL is committed to the continued fight for full legal and social equality. We’re eager to turn to more “on the ground” training and organizing as we head into 2011, turning from a legislative focus to a moral/civil rights focus. Though we will continue to use direct action as a strategic tactic, we will also be building up organizers and organizing structures that can win local fights that generate energy for our movement. We’re grateful for the support of the LGR community and the LGR editors for recognizing the value of our work, and we hope that you’ll consider supporting our work financially as we gear up for 2011.” DONATE TO GET EQUAL

This article serves as an invitation for other Groups to answer that very Question: Where do we go from here and if I am as satisfied with the response, I would be more than willing to use this BLOG to raise the necessary funds. But for now GetEQUAL is on the money and will bring a new tone with our well deserved front door approach.

Every indication shows me that next year GetEQUAL will be speaking the “CIVIL RIGHT” as our equality goal. So you want to see change I suggest you click and pay…… to DONATE TO GET EQUAL

Melanie Nathan

nathan@privatecourts.com

@oblogdeeoblogda

Melanie Nathan
Private Courts INC.
Senior Editor LGR Media.

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/09/kate-kendell-of-nclr-says-no-to-dadt-is-a-wake-up-call/

http://lezgetreal.com/?s=NCLR

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/11/green-cards-for-same-sex-couples-lowest-priority-by-lgbt-org-and-congress/

http://lezgetreal.com/?s=getequal

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/11/dramatic-arrest-video-of-robin-mcgehee-dan-choi-in-dadt-protest/

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/11/what-getequals-robin-mcgehee-told-the-white-house-today/

Melanie Nathan; Nov 08-2010- Recently the staff attorney from Immigration Equability was interviewed for Ambiente Online; what a great opportunity.  However while shedding light on the divisive laws impacting same-sex couples in binational relationships, the Immigration Equality staffer lost a valuable opportunity to truly reflect the emotional and social conditions as suffered by the same-sex binational community, while also reflecting a lack of strategy to find appropriate remedies and urgent relief.

The question I elucidate in this post is when the attorney Victoria Neilson, who represents the Immigration organization that touts itself as pre-eminent leader for LGBT equality immigration legislation, was asked by  Eddie Sierra “What  would you like to see done in D.C. to end the divisive policies and safeguard the couples and the children affected by these policies?” her response was -

“Well, that’s a bigger question than I can answer,” said Neilson, “I do think that pretty much everyone is in agreement that our current immigration system is broken and that it needs a comprehensive fix. We’re very excited that the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill  (CIR) just announced by Senator Menendez includes a provision that would allow Americans to sponsor their lesbian or gay partners for immigration benefits. No immigration reform would be truly comprehensive if it continues to leave out our families.”

This inadequate response reflects and confirms  the lack of direction by Immigration Equality, at a time when their strategy to include the very legislation that may have helped Binationals, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) into  Comprehensive Immigration Reform,  has not worked.  Rachel Tiven, IE’s Executive Director commented in a recent Conference Call that CIR  has now become unlikely to pass for at least a year. In truth it will be much longer than that.

This is yet another reflection of the ineptitude of Immigration Equality as an organization failing significantly in its leadership; as the comment by Neilson,  that same-sex couple parity, under the law, and that equality for gay and lesbian Americans is a mere matter of Immigration Reform, is parroting a failed policy, that at the time of comment is known to have failed in its goal.

Same sex couples should not have to depend on a Bill that includes amnesty and other complicated issues that will never pass a Republican Congress. Despite  laudable efforts to embrace the larger immigration community, the IE strategy has yielded little friendship from the highly influential faith based groups which have stated they will vigorously oppose legislation that includes same-sex families.

This comment of Neilson is  in perfect synchronicity with Tiven’s inability to answer the big “what next” for a binational community that has been placated and teased for far too long!

My hope is that with all the growth, resources and touting of excellence  mentioned in the Interview that Immigration Equality re- plan and pursue the opportunity provided by the  lame duck session to pass UAFA with the DREAM Act together or alone.

In the meantime as an Activist I am pursuing remedies for the immediate relief needed by Same-sex couples – the relief that can be accomplished by stop gap measures – pending legislation – and my  efforts can be noted in two places where readers can offer support – a Binat Petition on Change.org and a  what next Binat Visa Pledge

The Ambiente Interview can be read in full here: http://www.ambiente.us/110010VictoriaNielson.html

http://out4immigration.blogspot.com/2010/11/two-new-strategies-for-same-sex.html

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Melanie’s Binational Column Telling the Stories: http://lezgetreal.com/?s=Immigration+equality

SIGN Petition http://www.change.org/petitions/view/special_visa_for_binational_lgbt_spouse-perma-partners

Take Support pledge Binational VISA Pledge and Cover can be downloaded by clicking this link

Related articles

• What next for Immigration Equality – Binationals are Concerned (lezgetreal.com)
• Explosive: Does Immigration Equality Hold Future of UAFA as Bi-Nationals Beg for Immediate Relief (topix.net)
• What next for Immigration Equality – Binationals are Concerned (pinkbananaworld.com)
• Gay-inclusive Uniting American Families Act included in Senate immigration reform bill (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• Explosive: Does Immigration Equality Hold Future of UAFA as Bi-Nationals Beg for Immediate Relief (lezgetreal.com)

Tuesday, we reported on the inflamatory anti-gay remarks of Clint McCance, the Midland School District board member from Independence County, Arkansas, on his Face Book page –suggesting it was advisable for gay youth to kill themselves.

Today this statement was issued by the Arkansas Department of Education:

“The Arkansas Department of Education strongly condemns remarks or attitudes of this kind and is dismayed to see that a school board official would post something of this insensitive nature on a public forum like Facebook. Because Mr. McCance is an elected official, the department has no means of dealing with him directly. However, the department does have staff who investigate matters of bullying in schools and we will monitor and quickly respond to any bullying of students that may occur because of this, as we have with other civil rights issues in the past”

This story is especially egregious in the face of the recent advocacy in the US to prevent Bullying in schools; President Obama and the  many community leaders who are involved in “It Gets Better” campaigns are urging adults to take a stand.

But here McCance acts like a thirteen year old and incites against youth who are confused and perplexed about their  identities and orientations.

Let us remind the Midland School District that the Constance McMillen case ended up costing another district around $250,000.

Information resource:

Safe Schools Action Network FB: -A nationwide grassroots organization committed to empowering students, educators and communities in building inclusive safe schools.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles

• Aftermath for McCance, Midland Arkansas School District Board Bully (topix.net)
• Aftermath for McCance: AK Midland School District Board Bully (lezgetreal.com)
• Arkansas School Board Member Celebrates, Mock LGBT Youth Suicides (lezgetreal.com)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democratic Senator from New York, who replaced Hilary Clinton’s in the Senate, has already proved her worth as an accomplished and popular senator and the polls have shown it!   After her first debate with Republican Joe DioGuardi,  the  knock-out blow has rendered the challenger still ‘out for the count,’  with a  New Survey USA Poll showing Gillibrand crushing her opponent by  an 18 Point  Lead – 54 to 36 with likely voters.

Glen Caplin, a Gillibrand spokesperson noted the defeat stating  that DioGuardi ” loves to tell us he’s an accountant, but he hates to be held accountable. In today’s debate, Senator Gillibrand held Joe accountable. In fact, she knew his record better than he did.  Joe played aggressive defense as
he desperately tried to explain why the SEC has called him a crony in a 1.7 billion ponzi scheme.”

During the debate,  Daily Kos Reports, that while Gillibrand sharply defended her record, DioGuardi generally “sounded the teabagger talking points.”

One of the most important issues for the same-sex partner community is that of immigration equality and   Senator  Gillibrand, who currently supports comprehensive immigration reform, has always been a champion for the Uniting American Families Act, a critical piece of LGBT equality legislation which is included in the  comprehensive Immigration Bill recently introduced by Senator Menendez. The senator further supports a path to citizenship, and the DREAM Act.

In contrast DioGuardi said that the government fails to protect borders, that the borders are porous, nothing should be done until looking at the entire picture on immigration, and that immigration visas should be increased to all, including to “Western Europeans who built this country.”  (Yikes unbelievable!)

To my way if thinking getting into the issues and rendering any further comparison is a plain insult to the incumbent Senator – there is simply no comparison on every level, accounting for the 26% support of Republicans currently in Gillibrand’s corner.

Senator Gillibrand remains a best friend to the LGBT community and was named one of LGR’s Heroes  in my past post “Heroes and Zeroes” for 2009.   The Senator supports all LGBT equality legislation currently in the house and Senate and considers the repeal of DADT  “a moral imperative.”

Please view the debate below :-

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles

• Gillibrand Ad Slams Radical GOP (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• LGBT Advocate Senator Gillibrand Releases First Ad In General Election (lezgetreal.com)

I know it may be tough to be a young gay person.  I know it’s hard to have to hide your true essence and live a happy childhood and be who you really are. I understand it’s hard to have to hide in front of family and friends as you grow up to be the man or woman God brought into this world.  I ask you to keep faith and not give in to all the bullying and harassment.

I was once in the closet, just like you, and felt the pain and mental anguish of hiding who I really was until my 28th birthday last year.  I was raped by a group of men in June 2009 while I was still in the Navy.  My fellow sailors then perceived me to be gay, and harassed me because of the rape at the hands of other men.  They were right – I was a gay man, yet I did not deserve to be treated in a hateful manner.  But I stood strong and I am winning the battle now. I ask you to do the same.

I understand how you feel, but I beg you to please not give up.

Please stand strong and DEMAND EQUALITY. You are all God’s childern and he loves us all!!  You are beautiful to everyone.  We are not different.  We are just a little more special, because God made us special, with love, and with love to give.  You are beautiful in my eyes and everyone’s eyes.  LIVE WITH PRIDE AND LIVE IN YOUR TRUE ESSENCE!  I love you all, so please don’t give up.  You are the ones coming up in the world and we need a strong generation for years to come.  You are not weak. So please, be patient and stand up with pride and fight for your equality!

Sincerely,

US NAVY Gay Veteran

Jose A. Rodriguez

The Activist:

I am a mom of a thirteen year old if she came out to me I would kiss her on the cheek and say as long as you are yourself I applaud your happiness.  I love you my child – just as you are.  Pplease talk to me if you have any concerns or uncertainty and especially if anyone gives you a difficult time. That is it. That is all it takes Parents out there.

I would like to add that we here at Lezgetreal are out and open lesbians who lead very normal lives. We get hate mail- but it makes us fight even harder for our right to exist just the way we are. Think about this. Instead of hurting yourself, find a way to join our movement for acceptance. We need young brave gay men and lesbians and transgender and bi-sexual youth to help fight for our cause.  You have millions of us and our children in it for the long haul.  Jopin us – make your life meaningful just as we have done.

Go to a LGBT Center in your Town.  Google “Teen Suicide.”   Call The National Suicide hotline and Contact the wonderful people at the TREVOR PROJECT. Kids we are here for you.   I am the age of your parents if not older – I have been through that feeling of no return – feelings of shame- and of rejection. But hey look at me -  I am an activist fighting for Gay rights and telling these shitheads who bully you that they are not worthy of you for as long as they dis you!

So here is my email and if you decide hey I want to join the activist movement and move despair to good use… then email me and we can talk too.

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/thetrevorproject/44111/

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• CA Police Will Not File Charges In Case Of Boy Bullied To Death For Being Gay (lezgetreal.com)

09-16-2010 -Melanie Nathan;

Is this an Excuse for Homophobia? Or a form of Psychosis?

Anti-gay Senatorial candidate Christine O’Donnell has a lesbian sister–and a gay former friend who says that the Tea Party candidate “turned her back” on him when, after making a name for himself as an “ex-gay,” he came out as not so “ex” after all. See Articles at Queerty.

But this Candidate for election to the US Senate demonizes her own family – this was not a surprise with every homophobe breathe she takes – she is apt for insulting her own flesh and blood and the very genes that reside within her.

Parents of this women bred one monster only and that is the one who cowers so deeply in fear that she can only lash out – at her own parents and sister (in essence)  and fellow beings; willing to tear apart her own family – revealing not much in so called family values, to the list of which she includes the no masturbation rule.

Now I am clear. Every time she touched herself and it felt good, she had an image of another woman touching her (even though it was only her touching her eeek!) and it scared the hell out of her.  She was unable to see this simply as a natural form of self satisfaction and exploration – what exacerbated the fear and fostered the connection and bred the homophobe is the fact that her sister is an out lesbian and any momentary touch or satisfaction meant she could be one too.

So the Anti-lesbian and anti-masturbation creep must be stopped! We cannot count on governance of those who fear their own and their own hands

by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lesbian Sister of Christine O’Donnell Denies She’s Homophobic (towleroad.com)
• Gay Former Christine O’Donnell Aide: She Has a Lesbian Sister (towleroad.com)
• Gay Ex-Christine O’Donnell Aide Speaks (advocate.com)
• Homocon Radio Host Tammy Bruce Backs “Ex-Gay” Proponent Christine O’Donnell (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• Christine O’Donnell Has A Long Sordid History Of Demonizing LGBT People (joemygod.blogspot.com)

By Melanie Nathan, 09-13-10

Dishonorable Conduct by Congress?

Much has happened this  past week that ought to influence the progress of a DADT Repeal. Surely with the Federal ruing in California and another case now before the Feds in Washington State, our leaders, Reid, Pelosi and President Obama should take a vigorous stand now for the Repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t tell.”

Surveys no longer cut it, while the Congress is in flagrant breach. of the Constitution. Every moment of inaction is a call to this insidious calm in the House and Beyond.  Hiding behind the next right step.  Time to take the left step.  Put that marching foot down and Pass the repeal of DADT NOW.

An Article, Reid My Lips, by Alex Nicholson appeared today in  the HILL’S Congress BLOG:  “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has a stark choice to make. He can schedule the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for floor time and a vote during this Senate work period or he can take sole personal responsibility for continuing to put the lives and livelihoods of gay troops at risk by pushing off the authorization bill, which includes a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) repeal provision, into the free-for-all lame duck session.”

Importantly he notes the extensive support for its repeal:
“The repeal of the DADT law enjoys a remarkably high level of public support, consistently polling at nearly 80% on scientifically valid polls. A majority of Republicans, weekly church-goers, and even Tea Partiers now support repeal, not to mention overwhelming majorities of Democrats and Independents. Few other issues on the political radar can claim such overwhelming support by such a politically diverse array of Americans. These extraordinary numbers belie the ongoing delay and obstruction.”

It is a shame for this country that the people who serve it-  and willing to die for it – should not come first and anything short of repeal as a Priority serves nothing more than dishonorable conduct by this CONGRESS.

And so as we have always done here on LGR – we too  stand with servicemembers and Alex and are  ” proud to continue to take the strongest of stances against further legislative delay”

EVERY AMERICAN should be on their phone now with Senators urging them to take up the repeal without further delay.

Melanie Nathan, nathan@privatecourts.com

@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles by Zemanta

• McCain’s Intolerance Trumps National Defense Funding (lezgetreal.com)
• Federal Court Ruling on DADT: Calls on President Obama: Don’t Defend DADT (lezgetreal.com)
• Why Aren’t You on the Phone with Your Senator? (bilerico.com)
• Senator Gillibrand Pleased About DADT Ruling, Hopes Congress Hears It As A Call To Action (lezgetreal.com)
• DADT Repeal “In Harry Reid’s Hands” (joemygod.blogspot.com)

Posted by Melanie Nathan: 09-11-10

While I sympathize with the loss of all victims and the families of 9/11 I would be remiss as a writer for the gay and lesbian (LGBTQI) and straight ally publication not to mention that there is little meaning in the word “HONOR” for me, until such time as this President not only recognizes but does something about the State of inequality for LGBT Americans and those who serve this Country. It is time to afford the Constitution its fullest compliment and meaning and that can only be through its founding intent; Equality and Freedom for all Americans, Melanie.

Pentagon memorial Speech by  President Barack Obama:

“Secretary Gates. Admiral Mullen and members of the Armed Forces. My fellow Americans. Most of all, to you – survivors who still carry the scars of tragedy and destruction; to the families who carry in your hearts the memory of the loved ones you lost here.

For our nation, this is a day of remembrance, a day of reflection, and – with God’s grace – a day of unity and renewal.

We gather to remember, at this sacred hour, on hallowed ground – at places where we feel such grief and where our healing goes on. We gather here, at the Pentagon, where the names of the lost are forever etched in stone. We gather in a gentle Pennsylvania field, where a plane went down and a “tower of voices” will rise and echo through the ages. And we gather where the Twin Towers fell, a site where the work goes on so that next year, on the 10th anniversary, the waters will flow in steady tribute to the nearly 3,000 innocent lives.

On this day, it’s perhaps natural to focus on the images of that awful morning – images that are seared into our souls. It’s tempting to dwell on the final moments of the loved ones whose lives were taken so cruelly. Yet these memorials, and your presence today, remind us to remember the fullness of their time on Earth.

They were fathers and mothers, raising their families; brothers and sisters, pursuing their dreams; sons and daughters, their whole lives before them. They were civilians and service members. Some never saw the danger coming; others saw the peril and rushed to save others – up those stairwells, into the flames, into the cockpit.

They were white and black and brown – men and women and some children made up of all races, many faiths. They were Americans and people from far corners of the world. And they were snatched from us senselessly and much too soon – but they lived well, and they live on in you.

Nine years have now passed. In that time, you have shed more tears than we will ever know. And though it must seem some days as though the world has moved on to other things, I say to you today that your loved ones endure in the heart of our nation, now and forever.

Our remembrance today also requires a certain reflection. As a nation, and as individuals, we must ask ourselves how best to honor them – those who died, those who sacrificed. How do we preserve their legacy – not just on this day, but every day?

We need not look far for our answer. The perpetrators of this evil act didn’t simply attack America; they attacked the very idea of America itself – all that we stand for and represent in the world. And so the highest honor we can pay those we lost, indeed our greatest weapon in this ongoing war, is to do what our adversaries fear the most – to stay true to who we are, as Americans; to renew our sense of common purpose; to say that we define the character of our country, and we will not let the acts of some small band of murderers who slaughter the innocent and cower in caves distort who we are.

They doubted our will, but as Americans we persevere. Today, in Afghanistan and beyond, we have gone on the offensive and struck major blows against al-Qaida and its allies. We will do what is necessary to protect our country, and we honor all those who serve to keep us safe.

They may seek to strike fear in us, but they are no match for our resilience. We do not succumb to fear, nor will we squander the optimism that has always defined us as a people. On a day when others sought to destroy, we have chosen to build, with a National Day of Service and Remembrance that summons the inherent goodness of the American people.

They may seek to exploit our freedoms, but we will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust. They may wish to drive us apart, but we will not give in to their hatred and prejudice. For Scripture teaches us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

They may seek to spark conflict between different faiths, but as Americans we are not – and never will be – at war with Islam. It was not a religion that attacked us that September day – it was al-Qaida, a sorry band of men which perverts religion. And just as we condemn intolerance and extremism abroad, so will we stay true to our traditions here at home as a diverse and tolerant nation. We champion the rights of every American, including the right to worship as one chooses – as service members and civilians from many faiths do just steps from here, at the very spot where the terrorists struck this building.

Those who attacked us sought to demoralize us, divide us, to deprive us of the very unity, the very ideals, that make America – those qualities that have made us a beacon of freedom and hope to billions around the world. Today we declare once more we will never hand them that victory. As Americans, we will keep alive the virtues and values that make us who we are and who we must always be.

For our cause is just. Our spirit is strong. Our resolve is unwavering. Like generations before us, let us come together today and all days to affirm certain inalienable rights, to affirm life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. On this day and the days to come, we choose to stay true to our best selves – as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

This is how we choose to honor the fallen – your families, your friends, your fellow service members.** This is how we will keep alive the legacy of these proud and patriotic Americans. This is how we will prevail in this great test of our time. This is how we will preserve and protect the country that we love and pass it – safer and stronger – to future generations.

May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.”

**PLEASE -Mr. President – while this Country Fails to honor its gay and lesbian servicemembers – Kindly abide your Oath to Uphold the  Constitution of the USA  REPEAL DADT -  done and over with!!!!

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Air Force Academy Association Of Graduates Cancels Dinner Honoring LGBT Veterans (lezgetreal.com)
• My Patriots Pride, Nov 11-End the Silent Segregation in the U.S. Military (lezgetreal.com)
• Federal Court Ruling on DADT: Calls on President Obama: Don’t Defend DADT (lezgetreal.com)
• Servicemembers United Hosting Meeting Between LGBT Partners, Pentagon Officials (lezgetreal.com)
• Video: ServiceMembers United Serve & Lie, Please? (lezgetreal.com)
• Federal judge in Riverside Declares U.S.DADT Unconstitutional (lezgetreal.com)
• Groundbreaking Film Exploring the First Generation of LGBT Parents; The Film Makers (lezgetreal.com)
• Kelly Ayotte: Gays Lesbians Should be Banned from Adopting (lezgetreal.com)

An Article today at Press -Citizen Website discusses the Study on Iowa Same-sex marriage since it was legalized 18 months ago. Divorce is down and marriage is up.

“Although social conservatives in the 2010 election campaign depict gay marriage as a threat to married life as we know it, Iowa’s 18-month experience with the newly legalized institution has revealed striking similarities to traditional marriage and no discernible harm to it, according to an IowaWatch study.

Moreover, marriage statistics show that female couples made up nearly two-thirds of the same-sex marriages in Iowa in the year after the state Supreme Court ruled it legal in April 2009.

Although experts say a single year does not constitute a trend, they say the disparity is consistent with the traditional way Americans raise children and establish their gender roles early in life. The disparity also reflects similar trends in other states where same-sex marriages are allowed. See the article here… “

Although I am critical of the focus of this particular piece I am posting it because of some interesting assertions that may provide opportunity for quote or comment.

Melanie Nathan

Related articles by Zemanta

• Same-sex marriages help Iowa reverse downward trend (topix.net)
• 400 Same-Sex Marriages in Mexico City in Six Months (towleroad.com)
• Divorce Down, Marriage Up In Iowa After Marriage Equality Ruling (lezgetreal.com)
• The National Review On Marriage (joemygod.blogspot.com)

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Republican senatorial nominee Carly Fiorina delivered a spirited debate tonight at St, Mary’s, Moraga, Bay Area, California.  Fiorina clearly on the defensive unable to lift her leg high enough to the tree with big Boxer, who sparred like a heavy weight, while deflecting the occasional light weight banter from her opponent.

Topics ranged from this year’s hot-button issues of the economy and immigration to the always-debatable subjects of gay marriage and abortion.

Yet no incumbent bloodshed over the biggest issue – relief for California’s struggling economy. Rather a pointed dagger at the heart of Fiorina’s tenure at HP where Boxer noted that the 30,000 jobs shipped abroad by Fiorina reflected the size of an entire Foster City; and with a payoff to Fiorina of $100Million.

Irony of Irony – that very money now being used to fund this very campaign!

“Each did her best to portray her opponent as out of touch with Californians’ needs. Fiorina cast Boxer as a 28-year officeholder with an unabashedly liberal, failed record that has been “devastating for this state.” Boxer defended her record while casting Fiorina as a failed “Wall Street CEO” who got rich while laying off thousands of workers and shipping their jobs overseas before being fired by her board of directors.” (Mercury news tonight)

When asked whether the war in Iraq was worthwhile and what lessons should be applied to Afghanistan, Boxer noted she was among 23 senators who voted against the Iraq war, yet she later voted for funding to protect troops and veterans; she said she wants a clear exit strategy for Afghanistan. Fiorina disingenuously admonished Boxer’s votes as being against the interests of troops several times. Yet Fiorina forgets she continues to tout the rhetoric of the very administration that got us into the war as well as tacitly endorsed the war through her silent acceptance thereof.

Fiorina, who has aired a campaign ad likening Boxer’s concern over climate change as a national security issue to worrying about “the weather,” refused to say despite the moderator’s insistence for a ‘yes or no’ answer– either during the debate or at the spin news conference afterward — whether she will support Proposition 23, which would roll back California’s landmark greenhouse gas emissions law. When Fiorina said she had not yet taken a position. Boxer jumped at her saying that she could not understand how Fiorina failed to take a position at this time on so important an issue;  ”If you can’t take a stand on Proposition 23, I don’t know what you will take a stand on,”   noting that the measure would cripple California’s burgeoning clean-energy economy and give other nations the lead.

Boxer jabbed “My opponent is kind of used to creating jobs in China and other places,” noting Fiorina is supported by the same oil and coal interests backing Prop. 23, and “They are hoping that I don’t make it.”

Asked about the status of children of undocumented immigrants, Fiorina said she supports the DREAM Act — bipartisan legislation providing such youths a path to citizenship through college studies or military service — but opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.

URGH no one ever asks about UAFA-The Uniting American Families Act – which could feasibly be introduced as a stand-alone bill together with the Dream Act.

Boxer insisted she has supported two bipartisan immigration bills in recent years, while Fiorina has called the battle for comprehensive reform “a distraction” from more important issues.

After the debate, Boxer said the two campaigns are working to schedule another faceoff.

Boxer wins on Knockout round 1.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fiorina Against Walker Ruling v. Boxer Supports Prop 8 Judgment (lezgetreal.com)
• Senator Boxer Nurtures LGBT Support Through Prop 8 (lezgetreal.com)
• Boxer vs. Fiorina: A Dead Heat in California Senate Race (time.com)
• Boxer Leading Fiorina In Latest Polling, People Like Her Hair More Too (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan; August 29, 2010 -

Gov Charlie Crist running as an independent for the US Senate Seat for Florida met his match today on CNN’s State of the Union.  Run of the mill questions fueled the tough reality that this Governor  is nothing more than slick politician who wants to rise in ranks, while refusing  to commit to any real answers on important issues.

Except of course -the one and only commitment he was willing to make was about his views on LGBT rights and same-sex marriage equality.

When it comes to Gay and Lesbian, LGBTQI – forget any uncertainty- Crist is off the charts anti!  Still this one has me stymied beyond repair, with Crist saying  “ I am a live and let live kinda guy;  I support a constitutional ban of gay marriage; and I think Government should stay out of the lives of the people.”

I certainly would not vote for someone who cannot – perhaps even predict – let alone commit to whom he will caucus with if elected. The question: “Governor will you caucus with the Democrats or the GOP? “ I cannot answer that?   Until I have the honor to be elected!  Then I will decide what is best for the people of Florida? ” mmm..

Okay Florida are you going to allow this patronizing slickster to get away with his Paterfamilias state of righteousness? Ed Henry, guest host on Candy’s Crawley’s State of the Union pushed hard but got little in answers yet much in revelation!  This man is hiding his truth and he does not want to share it with voters. He wants you to close your eyes Florida and its hit or miss.

All said and done Crist is a self made disaster and whether pro gay or not, Floridians this is your worst nightmare!  Imagine electing someone who refuses to state who he will caucus with – he wants you to TRUST him yet he will not commit to you.

These type of independents are in no man’s land – if he does not caucus he will not get into any of the all important power making committees.

Typical of the cake and eat it types, this candidate slipped and slid around what was originally his on record ever vocal support for one Sarah Palin – he believed she would make a great a great President – or so he said! Now Crist refuses to comment on whether or not he stands by those words from the Presidential election.  “Do you think she will still be a good president?” asked Ed Henry  “ It does not matter what matters, says Crist, “is not Alaska but Florida “ (huh?)  “Can we assume no longer supporter of Sarah Palin?”  “Whats important to me is the Sarah’s of Florida my issue are about Florida and I care about my fellow Floridians.”

Florida -  in Solidarity !

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Crist Said Palin Could Be a Great President (politicalwire.com)

Melanie Nathan ; August 27, 2010

Media ABUSE of Freedom of Speech

There was only one city  in all of California where the City Council actually voted a resolution *in favor* of Prop 8;  Porterville, Tulare County.

So when a letter appears today in the County Newspaper, we may well assume that by its very publication the Recorder and its  editor are complicit in spreading hate and bigotery, albeit couched in the tacit notion of the First Amendment.

I know many an Editor who would refuse to give voice to such blatant distortions and yet this Publication now serves as the rah-rah for hate and anti-gay agenda.

This letter, entitled Society Should be Protected from Homosexuality”  was published yesterday in the Recorder OnLine – “Your South County News source” -

“Editor,
The tragic and destructive spread of homosexuality across the country is a major evil of our time. The John Birch society reported that thousands of boys per year are stolen from their parents to feed homosexual pornography.

I recommend that American citizens study anti-homosexual books available at Christian book stores. And to read anti-homosexual books which are out of print.

W. Cleon Skousen in 1958, wrote a warning about the communist conspiracy. The book was called, “The Naked Communist.” The book warned that the communists would set out to turn America into a moral cesspool, including corrupting America with rampart homosexuality, flooding America with pornography and sexual anarchy, and thereby seeking to destroy the family institution.

Not every homosexual is a communist, but every communist supports the militant homosexual war against mankind. Why? Because it attacks the family. Homosexuality, as well as every kind of heterosexual immorality, is a destroyer of freedom.

Many homosexuals are basically decent men and women who took a wrong turn. The gospel of Jesus Christ says satan is the prompter of all sexual immorality, including homosexual perversion therefore homosexuality is wickedness. Society should be protected from it.

Sam Usher
Porterville”

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Suddenly Laura Bush loves Gay marriage, Elizabeth Haselhof has tea with Melissa  and now supports same-sex marriage – then Rekers gets caught with rentboy  and the right wing is exposed for its ex-gay fraud- and now we have the RNC remnant from the Bush Era, the actual architect of the anti-gay Republican hate campaign, co- creator of the  wedge issue that targeted a minority community, used gays and lesbians as battle bullets,  coming out as a homosexual?

My G-d what is the world coming to? I ask!

Ken Mehlman, who headed the Republican National Committee between 2005 and 2007, has come out in an interview with the Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder: Mehlman arrived at this conclusion about his identity fairly recently, he said in an interview stating that he had grappled with this side of himself for over 43 years.

He agreed to answer a reporter’s questions, he said, because, now in private life, he wants to become an advocate for gay marriage and anticipated that questions would be asked about his participation in a late-September fundraiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the group that supported the legal challenge to California’s ballot initiative against gay marriage, Proposition 8.

What a mindless mongrel if I may. You mean to tell me that this man was not having sex or fantasies of sex with men for the best part of those 43 years?  Who was he fantasizing about not being able to marry? George W. Bush?  Was there ever a rentboy between 2005 and 2007?  Come out Come out wherever you are? Was there a suspicious mama?  A phony fiance?

Is this guy short of money? Does he want to sell a book; I for one am not buying! Sorry Mehlman but you hurt my feelings, not to mention the harm to the LGBT community; and it will take a lot more than you “being happier” for me to get over it.

More and more years of Bush and his taking down of this country – and you did it in the name of us Queers?

Known as the Great Conciliator and a reputation for being most forgiving, I cannot wrap myself around your dishonorable conduct.  Now that I find out he is Jewish too – I ask the big question. Oy Vey Why?

You knew exactly what you were doing and how it impacted millions of lives.  You took an entire minority on the ride of its life, sacrificing your brethren like lambs to the slaughter.

“Here take this one’s rights while I continue to indulge in my CON-fusion!”

What makes it all so much worse for me is that like me, Ken Mehlman is Jewish.  While I can understand the pressures of a nice Jewish existence – including the expectations of his Momma Judith and Pappa Arthur, Ken Mehlman has not lived my ideal of what it means to be a good Jew- close to the Torah and its expectations of social justice – and WHAT ABOUT the mitzvoth!

He has not only betrayed the LGBT community but fueling the all white gay hating Christian existence certainly could not have served his Bar-mitvah covenant.

Go here to see Ken Mehlman on Charlie Rose – do not forget to throw up as in vomit. http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/155

MelanieNathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Maggie Gallagher On Ken Mehlman (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• Former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Comes Out Of The Closet (lezgetreal.com)
• Former RNC Chair Ken Mehlman Confirms in Interview: I’m Gay (towleroad.com)

Melanie Nathan August 21, 2010:

I have always Known Senator Gillibrand to be a great LGBT ally and one of the boldly upfront Senators; impressed by her meteoric significance belying her short time in the Senate.  This sense, further endorsed when reading the

“My Lunch With Senator Gillibrand by: Clarknt67 ,  a Blogger on PamHouseBlend

—————————————————————————–

“We all got one question. A reporter asked her to address her Latino readerships’ frustration with Democrats’ sluggish advances toward immigration reform. Gillibrand assured her immigration reform was a priority and discussed different timelines and tactics for tackling it, including comprehensive and piece meal passage of existing bills, mentioning the DREAM Act by name.”

The Blogger followed up by asking A question the Senator has been asked by constituents in many instances; about LGBT inclusion in such efforts, and now asked in light of  was concerned the coalition being gathered to pressure Congress which has outright expressed that LGBT inclusion was a “dealbreaker,” asking  is “there a strategy around that?”
————————————————————————————-

Apparently according to Pam’s Blogger, there did not appear to be a strategy, at least one they’re ready to enunciate. “And to be fair, there does not yet seem to be, at least publicly, a firm strategy for reform in general.  She answered by discussing the importance of winning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” vote, and how recent court victories help move our issues inevitably forward. She did conclude, “We may not win this fight this time.”

The Blogger continued on PAMS, “Which, actually brighten my mood. I would prefer to hear hard truths from my allies, than be fed false hopes. Many of us tracking the Uniting American Families Act, S. 1328 and efforts for LGBT inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform recognize the long odds we face. The Senator is clearly a strong LGBT advocate, but she is but one woman of 535. If anyone can forgive being outvoted, it’s the gay community. I appreciate being spoken to as an adult who can read the same writing on the wall. I know she’s part of the solution, not the problem, she doesn’t have to tell me what I want to hear to stay in my good graces.”

———————————————————
Sadly another and probably one of many more lost opportunities – mollified through acceptance of status –quo – minus- 100% – but harsh reality is Broken Promises by a collective of those who ‘wouldst have Equality at heart.’  Where do we all think we are going to get with such complacency couched in patronization of and by our elected?

So many of us fail to ‘carpe diem’ as we fall prey to the overt congeniality and the ‘sacred word’ through our timid sense of  the weight of the moment as perceived through that one single question – the very reverence of which becomes a reality – that even we, the casualty, fail to compute.

So I ask when these allies choose to become advocates, then to give me a call otherwise until such time I plan TO report the inadequacy.  I refuse to remark at friendship in Congress – they are our representatives for goodness sake – no more friendship.   Time to represent fully – and our LGBT basic rights are not for sale – it is a constitutional obligation – it is not a religious stake!

If Senator Gillibrand and other Representatives cannot adhere to the most basic of their Constitutional obligations – then I say all we have left is the “nothing left to lose attitude” – in whatever form they may take!

For now – to me it represents to hell with piecemeal and let us find a brave and valid advocate who is willing to lead on the American Equality Bill.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles by Zemanta

• UAFA Revisited by Activists – Failure to Engage Opposition (lezgetreal.com)
• ELizabeth Gilbert: to Lobby for Uniting American Families Act (lezgetreal.com)
• Activists Calling for Stronger Proactive Counter Catholic Bishop Action (lezgetreal.com)
• SCREAM: President Obama Act Now for Binational Same Sex Couples (lezgetreal.com)
• The Carrot Dangles as Political Expediency Controls Immigration Reform at Expense of UAFA Equality (lezgetreal.com)
• My Lunch With Senator Gillibrand (pinkbananaworld.com)
• Gay groups urge passage of immigration reform including provisions for same-sex partners (miamiherald.typepad.com)

This Blogger is Fuming With the White House – accusing Bloggers of being too critical

Last week,  The Equality Federation met with the White House Staff on LGBT Issues.  It appears the White House is consoling our community with:

1.  DADT “probably later” (employment for 15,000, out of 30 million of us).
2.  ENDA is too hard.
0.  UAFA didn’t even come up it appears.

Here at Lez Get Real, I have been talking about CIVIL RIGHTS for a year now. Its not even in the White House Lexicon – not to mention the current puny shove off we have now received; yet another slap across the face!  Inadvertently Mr. president you Staff have made the case for an Civil Rights Amendment.  That is the only way to FULL equality.

Todd Fernandez, who has joined me to plead for our community to take Equality to the next and imperative level of a  demand for our Civil Rights through an Omnibus Amendment to the Civil Rights Act, and he asserts “our Equal CIVIL RIGHTS is a missing dream – somehow overlooked by a mixed-race President and our entire movement!!!???”

According to reports of the meeting, one Administration official said: “When you are frustrated, you should speak out and hold our feet to the fire.”

Well yes Sir; and then to have the gall to criticize the gay bloggers who are doing just that – yours truly included!

When Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and liaison to the LGBT community, took questions from the audience, he expressed frustration at the often intense criticism levied, particularly by bloggers, against an administration that is “99 percent supportive of your issues.

As far as I am concerned we have only just began Mr. Bond.

This Gay Blogger says: – Quite frankly I do not see the support of our issues. Where is the action?  They can support our issues for the next 10 years – Hooray! That’s it? Thank you and no thanks.

I say the White House has  just dug its grave with the Gay community. We will now accept nothing less than our FULL CIVIL RIGHTS. This Blogger is willing to go to word –war with the  White House – CIVIL RIGHTS are our demands!

Gay and Lesbian Bloggers have a right to be angry – we will get the crowds shouting!We are doing as you say – Holding your feet to the fire!  Show us the burn or it will get hotter!

To  hell with ENDA -DADT and DOMA  your dangling carrots for what?  For stand alone bills – legislation -  To Hell with business as usual – piecemeal is over!  .   This is a call for the Big Guns -  No more flailing piecemeal for them to throw back at us with now -then never then- maybe’s!!! I am sick of my rights being your TOY Mr. President! You have a duty to uphold the Constitution and you are failing us plain and simple.

We need to have you all call the White House and tell them NOW about the American Equality Bill. They do not even know this grassroots piece of legislation is in existence.

This Lesbian Blogger is ANGRY!

Please PRINT AND MAIL, or FAX (WH FAX: 202-456-2461) this flyer:

http://bit.ly/PleaseFileAEBmailer

To:

BRIAN BOND
Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and Liaison to the LGBT Community
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

For free on-line fax: faxzero.com, or rapidfax.com (both can be done online without a landline phone).

If you want to complain directly about this pathetic agenda for our equality call:

BRIAN BOND: 202-456-1414. WH switchboard will put you to his voice mail.

They won’t know what the American Equality Bill is yet – but they’ll figure it out.

They don’t seem to know what Civil Rights are either.

Let’s remind them.

The American Equality Bill Project  (ACT ON PRINCIPLES)

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda
Senior Political Editor
Lezgetreal

Related articles by Zemanta

• White House aide meets with LGBT media – no news, lotsa spin (pinkbananaworld.com)
• Launching of The American Equality Bill a ” Amending the Civil Rights Act (topix.net)
• The Launch of Hope – Finally Grassroots Find Feet – THE American Equality Bill (lezgetreal.com)
• The New LGBT Civil Rights Movement is Taking to the Streets (lezgetreal.com)
• A July Day to Remember – While We Seek Basic Civil Rights (lezgetreal.com)

MELANIE NATHAN
nathan@privatecourts.com

Protesters stood together to say that equal rights and same sex marriage does matter.

NOM has issued a statement regarding Prop 8 and Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling -

National Organization for Marriage Releases Statement Responding to Lift of Stay on Same Sex Marriages in California

(Washington, D.C.) – In light of the decision by Judge Vaughn Walker to lift the stay on same sex marriages in California following his ruling to overturn Proposition 8, Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage offered the following response:

“When a lower judge makes an unprecedented ruling, that totally overturns existing Supreme Court precedent, the normal thing for that judge to do is to stay his decision, and let the higher this issue. He doesn’t even want hcourts decide in an orderly fashion that respects the rule of law, if he’s right, or if he’s way off-base. Judge Walker’s ruling is more evidence he is not a neutral referee, he’s an activist on is ruling ignoring Supreme Court precedent and imposing gay marriage against the expressed wishes of the electorate appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Walker feels that that only the state politicians who were against Prop 8 have standing to appeal and the over 7 million California voters who supported Prop 8 shouldn’t be able to even present their position to a higher court. It’s outrageous. The People are supposed to be sovereign, not the politicians. This stay order will be appealed to the Ninth Circuit and if necessary to Justice Anthony Kennedy, and I think it is a tactical mistake on Judge Walker’s part to display his injudicious zeal–once again–before Kennedy’s eyes.”

If readers would like to interview Brian Brown – be polite… hehehe!  But Please Pass along this  message while you are at it. “The people of California are planning Proposition 8B- the one where we are sure more than 52% of Californians will Vote to have the right to bear arms struck down, OUT-  because we think automatic weapons in the streets are very dangerous.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of NOM, please contact Mary Beth Hutchins, mhutchins@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105), or Elizabeth Ray, eray@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) at 703-683-5004.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles by Zemanta

• Breaking News: California Gay Marriages Start Now – Judge Walker Lifts Stay (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan; 8-12-10;

Military members with CAC cards: Continue to share your views on how best to implement the repeal of DADT. Provide specific policy change recommendations. Over 53,000 comments have been provided to DoD so far. The opportunity to participate ends on 15 August.

This is an example of one of the many privately received comments and requests to LGR received since paralleling Rachel Maddow’s DADT Blitz on her show last night.

We were asked by a closeted members of the armed Services to request more comments by service members on the DoD Survey;

DoD Site suggests that ” Noting the importance of getting the opinions of those who would be most affected by a possible repeal of the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today urged servicemembers to provide their input.”

at http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0610_gatesdadt/

“Servicemember participation in the 2010 DoD Comprehensive Review Survey of the Uniformed Active Component and Reserve Component Servicemembers is Vitally Important.

The Department of Defense would like to remind and encourage servicemembers to participate in the 2010 DoD Comprehensive Review Survey of the Uniformed Active Component and Reserve Component Servicemembers if they receive it via e-mail or a letter in the mail by Aug. 15. Servicemember’s participation in the survey are vitally important to ensure DoD is able to assess the impact, if any, a change in the law “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” might have on military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention.

If you received the survey and have questions or if you experience technical problems please call 1-888-491-2083 or e-mail Support@MilitarySurveys.org “

I assume that because this is coming from un-outed  and active service members, the feedback must be positive to the repeal of DADT to this point.

“The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it.… An important part of this process is to engage our men and women in uniform and their families over this period since, after all, they will ultimately determine whether or not we make this transition successfully.”  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates
Washington, D.C. – Feb. 2, 2010

Examples of the Impact of DADT is in many of the untold stories such as the one where a service member lost custody of her children when her ex-husband threatened to OUT her to the Military over a lesbian affair.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: We have many such stories in the wake of this publicity and hope that President Obama will bring an end to this travesty being perpetrated on those so willing to serve their country.

AT lezgetreal we covered the following:

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/highly-decorated-combat-air-force-aviator-files-injunction-in-federal-court-to-block-%E2%80%9Cdadtl%E2%80%9D-discharge/

Captain Jonathan Hopkins – http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/captain-jonathan-hopkins-west-point-grad-hero-fired-by-dadt/

Katherine Miller Miller NYCLU

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/new-face-on-dadt-breaking-video-katie-miller-in-her-own-words/

Katherine Miller on Maddow

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/rachel-maddows-powerful-interview-with-cadet-katie-miller/

Maddow Questioning Obama and DADT Firings

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/maddow-on-dadt-why-is-commander-in-chief-obama-allowing-discharges-now/

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
www.privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• New Face on DADT- Breaking Video Katie Miller in Her own Words (lezgetreal.com)
• Obama Administration Again Defends DADT In Court (lezgetreal.com)
• Only Ten Percent of DADT Surveys Completed And Turned In (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan;  8-11-10

INFANTRY COMPANY COMMANDER WITH THREE COMBAT TOURS DISCHARGED FOR BEING GAY

Here is the Video of Captain Jonathan Hopkins’ interview on the Rachel Maddow show tonight.

The Captain graduated in the top of his West Point class in 2001, served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was discharged yesterday for being a gay man.

Hopkins graduated #4 out of 901 commissioned officers in West Point’s Class of 2001, where he was also ranked #1 militarily. He was slated to return to West Point to teach International Relations until the Army discovered he was gay.

At the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March, 2003, Hopkins led his infantry platoon on the 173^rd Airborne Brigade’s combat parachute jump into Northern Iraq. Although his platoon had only been formed two months prior to the operation, it nevertheless led his battalion’s assault into Kirkuk as the Iraqi Army was retreating. During that year in Kirkuk, his platoon patrolled the tense city, keeping the peace, and quelling two major riots that spring. Hopkins himself earned two Bronze Stars, one with valor.

One year after returning from Iraq, his unit deployed to Afghanistan, where he served as a personnel & public affairs officer, and later as a battalion operations officer, during which Hopkins planned military operations in Zabul Province and served as the unit’s liaison with the Afghan Army.

Finally, as a Stryker company commander, he trained his unit in Alaska, deployed them to the Philippines, and then again to Iraq. He was identified by his commander as one of the top three out of thirty commanders in the brigade, despite his own personal difficulties trying to ensure no one ever realized he was gay. He was ultimately outed by a fellow officer as gay. Indicative of the paradoxical nature of the policy, he was informed of the investigation into his conduct on the same day it was announced he would be promoted to major one year early (such “below-the-zone” promotions are granted to only 7% of Army officers).

“What I’ve learned from this,” Hopkins said, “is the toll this policy can have on your life. Long after admitting to myself I was gay, I lived in denial about how hard it would be to remain in the Army under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ I was a professionally focused officer who spent part of every day paranoid about whether somebody was figuring me out or would try to out me. People are made stronger by having full and complete personal lives, complete with loving and fulfilling relationships. In that regard, I am glad to be moving on. I love the Army and was fully dedicated to it. But I am glad that I am no longer living a life that is somewhat self-destructive, trying to comply with this policy.”

Hopkins continued to work in his unit in Alaska for 12 months waiting for a discharge board, and tried in vain to meet in person with senior commanders. Finally, at his Board, when all the evidence was heard, he was recommended for an Honorable Discharge.

Homosexuality is the only charge for which Boards cannot consider a Soldier’s record in determining whether he can stay in the Army.

“It almost seemed like they regretted having to do it,” Hopkins said. “At one point, the board even asked me whether I thought the Army was ready to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I said undoubtedly yes. Our Soldiers are ready. Just some senior leaders, born in a different generation, are not ready to treat all  service members the same based upon their performance and performance alone.”

“I’ve learned a lot during the 14 months between the time I was outed and the time I finally left the Army. I learned first of that most in my units had long ago guessed that I was gay; they just never told me. It didn’t matter to them; they considered me a good commander. During the 14 months since I was outed, I have lived in my own personal post-DADT Army. Everybody knew I was gay, I did my job, and they didn’t care. I have a boyfriend now, openly, and go to dinner even with my most socially conservative of Army friends. They continue to respect me as a good officer and are glad I’m happy, even if in some cases if my relationship conflicts with their religious beliefs. My quality is still assessed very much on how well I take care of Soldiers and live up to the Army Values— including Honor and Integrity.”

Hopkins will be attending graduate school this fall at Georgetown University. He remarked that leaving the Army is “a lot like a divorce. While I’m sad to leave something I loved and dedicated 13 years of my life to (including West Point), I look forward to being able to serve my country in other ways without having to lie on a daily basis about who I am. It’s time to move on; I’m prepared to do that.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Related articles by Zemanta

• New Face on DADT- Breaking Video Katie Miller in Her own Words (lezgetreal.com)
• DADT VOTING in House Tonight – A Done Deal! (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan – August 5, 2010;

“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.” President  Obama provided this Statement to The Advocate in response to Judge Vaughn Walker’s Federal case ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, that declared Proposition 8′s ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional.

The case will be appealed by the anti-gay marriage proponents of Prop 8 to the Ninth Circuit in a journey to the US Supreme Court, paving the way for an ultimate ruling in favor of equality in marriage.

The major significance of the ruling, handed down yesterday, is that this is the first time that a Federal Court has ruled a State Marriage Ban unconstitutional according to the United States Constitutio.

This statement by the President begs a few questions.  Is use of the word discriminatory a  hint that the Perry Prop 8 Case ruling may have swayed the President and  that his anti same-sex marriage stance may have changed?  Remember the President campaigned on the issue, for  equal rights for Gays and Lesbians – but specifically stated he was for Civil Unions as opposed to marriage for same-sex couples.

In this less specific statement – a narrow interpretation can be applied to the word “discriminatory” in the above statement, to mean marriage.  After all if the President still believes, especially after the Prop 8 ruling, that gays and lesbians, same sex couples should be subjected to a second class form of marriage, such as civil unions, even if that will grant the same rights as marriage, then he would be endorsing further discrimination.

It seems to me that also by virtue of this particular ruling, unless Obama were to accept now that same-sex Marriage is an imperative equality, he would fail in his oath and commitment to uphold the Constitution. This means that at this point in time, any further ignoring by members of Congress of their omission to repeal DOMA, is tantamount to an act failing in their duties to uphold the Constitutional.

“President OBAMA, with great respect, you and your majority in Congress can no longer defend DOMA, albeit by omission; if you plan to promote equality as you stated to the Advocate, then you must Repeal DOMA as a matter of urgency, Now!”

Now while some may decide to wait for a final SCOTUS ruling, I submit the ruling is a ruling until appealed and ruled to the contrary.  It is now precedent as it stands and a message to Congress – repeal DOMA as a matter of Urgency, failing which you are spitting on our Constitution.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• BREAKING NEWS Judge Vaughn Walker Rules Proposition 8 is OVERTURNED (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan, Tuesday, August 03, 2010, San Antonio Texas-

Dallas Voice: Choi Speaking = $10,000

Today this letter (below) appeared in the Dallas Voice . I received an enormous amount of flak from the LGBT community for my article where I dared question Dan Choi‘s possible profit motives, his lack of disclosure to the community and the revelation that Dan had an Agent, all prompted by my inability to understand why he took a month to declare on Rachel Maddow that he had been discharged by the Military. I asked about his antics and whether there was a conflict of interest in distinguishing between what is pure activism and what is for pure profitability, where antics up the ante.

When reading this angry and passionate letter, sent by the President of Texas TECH’s Straight Gay Alliance, maybe our community will understand why I asked my questions of Choi.

I spent time defending myself and my thinking on other sites and on FB – now I am even more convinced that exposure is imperative, even at the cost of losing a perceived Hero; to stay on the side of truth -even if it does mean “eating our own” (as I was told by many a critic.) What it takes to be a real Hero is NOT to let down our kids when they need the Hero and then for us as a community to continue to prop the perceived Hero serves little more than to aid and abet the lie that has made itself clear to those impacted, such as our young letter writer below.

Gay youth is the future of our movement – and to see the feelings of hopelessness exacerbated by the “Hero” is shameful. Not me the messenger who was slammed for asking these questions in the first place!

The messenger is not the one who hurts the movement – the one who hurts the movement is the one who made the Texas Tech kids feel this way….

If we do not speak out, younger activists such as Nonnie Ouch will lose all hope thinking this is what our movement is about? Critics – is that what you want – ?

Please community we have a duty let us steer our Youth in the right directions. Heroes who are still out there plodding along and fighting to repeal DADT deserve the truth too. Here is is – the truth – one simple letter says it all.

Right now the real hero is Young Nonnie Ouch for having the courage, like David to Goliath, to write from his heart to the Dallas Voice:_ as Quoted by Mike Petrelis

“To me, the mere hope of reaching out to those who meet my words with deaf ears was worth putting up with your agent and the exorbitant amount of $10,000 to get you out here. I never for a moment questioned why it was that much, or why you were charging anything at all. [...]

About a month ago, after nine months of dealing with your agent, I received an e-mail directly from you. In short, you basically said that the only way I could get you to speak is if I raised enough money to bring you to Tech. No deals, no compromises, end of story. [...]

You, sir, have lost sight in one of those many $10,000 checks written to you, of why you came out and became an activist in the first place. Remember, Lt. Choi? LOVE IS WORTH IT. LOVE is worth cutting a deal to poor college kids in an extremely conservative city who’s only desire is to make headway in their community. LOVE is worth sacrificing money to give my friends and others who are currently serving in silence the hope to remember they are worth it. Love isn’t made by money.

Love isn’t made by your agent, Alec Melman.

Love isn’t tangible when you’re suffocated by greed as you are. Love is constantly flowing through the heart and brain. Love is giving. Love isn’t defined by financial status, color, gender, creed, age or sexual orientation.

Your definition of love is no longer my definition of love. [...]

Best,
Nonnie Ouch
Texas Tech University
Gay-Straight Alliance
President”

Thank you Nonnie for the validity and having the courage to put your name to this letter.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dan Choi Discharge Raises Questions about Activism for Profit (lezgetreal.com)
• Is Dan Choi Helping? (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan 7-28-2010-   Congressman Mike Honda informed Bi-national couples tonight that President Obama had stated he would rather be a one term president than fail to pass Immigration reform and Health Care Reform. That is all I truly got out of listening to a teleconference call held tonight.

The comment occurred in a teleconference call showcased by Immigration Equality, which included other  Speakers Karen Narasaki of the Asian American Justice Center, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Bishop Minerva Carcaño, and families impacted by our broken immigration system.

Having listened to the call I was left with impression  that the call was more about immigration reform (on the part of the featured speakers) than about immigration equality.

Congressman Honda was unable to answer specific question pertaining to what a couple in exile could do to help push UAFA forward.  It seemed that the congressman’s recommendation would be detrimental to some couples in same-sex relationships who are living in exile. He suggested that exiled partners go to their Embassy and ask to get reunification help. While this may work in hfamilial circumstances it is extremely dangerous advice to exiled same-sex partners.  I can only say that Rep. Honda has not been well briefed nor fully informed on the plight of bi-national same-sex couples and its extensive ramifications.  It seemed he was slotting same-sex couples into the same bundle of other familial circumstances or he was talking about one and not the other.

Immigration equality ought to advise on the comment and make sure the community understands what applies to which community. it was very confusing to me and I have some experience on the issues.

The basic and obvious purpose of the call – was that we MUST pitch our member of Congress during August recess. However the question remains whether UAFA will ever really be included in CIR.  I have yet to see an amendment by Rep Gutierrez who failed to include LGBT in his House Reform Bill  but has now said we should never be excluded from reform. I heard nothing new about strategy and we still have no more than a framework by Chuck Schumer, et al.

Visit Out4Immigration.org site for information  on how to be a true grass root activist.

by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• UAFA Revisited by Activists – Failure to Engage Opposition (lezgetreal.com)
• Bi-Nationals & LGBTQI Allies Sign Petition for Special Visa Category- (lezgetreal.com)
• Progressives & Congress Fails to Focus on & Help Americans in Bi-national Same-Sex Relationships (lezgetreal.com)
• Understanding the Flip Flop – Congressman Gutierrez and UAFA in Immigration Reform (lezgetreal.com)
• Immigration Reform Proposal – Mentions Intent to Include Permanant Partners (lezgetreal.com)
• SCREAM: President Obama Act Now for Binational Same Sex Couples (lezgetreal.com)

Without missing a beat, Granny took one look at me with my new lover and said “you’re with girls now aren’t you?”

The question was rhetorical, and when I gave her a wildly happy “yes!” she reflexively said “don’t tell your mother she’ll blame me!”  I didn’t think to ask her why—it seemed obvious, Granny was never what one would call heterosexual. “I like men, Richard Gere is so handsome, but I only like them from their head to their neck”!

I did ask her many years later, if she had the choice would she have chosen to be with a woman?

“Yes of course” she said.

Granny is turning 103 next month —on august 21. Born in Singapore to Iraqi Jewish parents Granny married at 16 to a much older man and was sent to Baghdad to live with her new husband and his family. Life in Baghdad was a nightmare for her. Jews were second class citizens living in fear and Baghdad did not compare to British Singapore. She wanted to run back home and never got over her trauma of living through the Farhud, the anti-Jewish pogrom of 1941.

“They were so backward, not like us in (British) Singapore. I missed speaking English, and the family hated me for being modern. I danced, wore lipstick, and cut my hair short. And I wasn’t afraid to speak up to the Muslims who taunted us on the streets.  They were confused because I spoke English and wasn’t like the other Jews where we lived. They never saw a Jew like me.”

Once I get Granny talking about her life in Baghdad she goes back there with faraway eyes.

“ So I became friends with the Muslim and the Christian Arabs. I was supposed to only socialize with the family, people only stayed with their families. But I refused. One friend, a Muslim, she was married to a Syrian Doctor,  she loved me so much. I didn’t understand at first, when she asked me if I knew ‘finger exercises’—I thought she was asking if I played the piano!” Granny laughs, yes, she played the piano, but her friend was talking about a whole other kind of exercise! Granny laughs “I was so naïve!”

She didn’t ask the usual questions like how and what on earth could and would two women w/o a man do! For her once she didn’t have to have any more children (3 was her limit) she quit sex with her husband. And then he died young and she vowed “no sex for me ever again”.

“Now, I would have been with a women, I think yes, I was probably a lesbian”.

And now, at 103, this woman, my Granny, is still as feisty as ever albeit in a wheel chair because her legs didn’t retain the muscle the way her brain has. She is as bright and articulate as she was 30 years ago. And now, wonders why when “women are so beautiful” the lesbian feminist lover I was with then has transitioned into a man today. “Does she have a penis?”

“no”

“oh, that’s good then. No bad smell, he is still a she in a way”

“yup”

And Granny who hasn’t seen her/him in 30 years will be at the party we will have in a few weeks to celebrate Granny’s 103 birthday! It’s a wild ride this life.

Picture:  of Rachel & Granny – Copyright 2010  Rachel Wahba©, used with permission.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lez Talk with Rachel – Brit Milah Penis Rage (lezgetreal.com)

Melanie Nathan -  7-18-10

Robert Mugabe is not only Confuses Animals and Humans.

Robert Mugabe, the Dictator with with questionable sanity,    surviving monotonous re-elections through murderous escapades against voters, addressed the Pilgrims of Apostolic Sect’s annual Passover, and who would have thought again disparaged gays and lesbians, describing them as worse than pigs and dogs.

In this quote, perhaps an apology toward the pigs and dogs to which he has compared Gays and Lesbians, “Today, the Anglican Church condones marriages between men and the same for women. The Archbishop of Canterbury is blessing such marriages – that is similar to dog behavior. At some point, I realised that I was reprimanding blameless dogs and pigs, which are aware that marriage is for procreation. We say no to gays! We will not listen to those advocating the inclusion of their rights in the constitution,’ said Mugabe.”

So with blame of purpose at the helm of his ignorance and his homophobic relationship with life, the cruelty of his declaration lays well hidden in his love for pigs and dogs.

Mugabe, oft with his own Harem as his assurance of his good faith, insisted that while homosexuality was sordid, the Constitution would make sure it maintained its purity with polygamy to preserve their right to ensure that people would not be forced into monogamy.

Interesting how homophobia takes its justification in different forms – Sanctity of marriage X1; sanctity of marriage X2; and so it goes on …..

So let us indulge in safe silence America, not to disturb the rights of those that seem to survive only in contrast to the degradation of others, albeit some remote corner of Africa where carnage has remained the savior of the intended rule.

Silence on this issue is tacit degradation of some millions of gay and lesbian people around the world.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• US reports harassment and rape of gays in Zimbabwe (miamiherald.typepad.com)

07/15/2010- by Natasia Langfelder

Happily married bisexual singer, Fergie, thinks that Persident Obama should move on marriage equality. New Music Express interviewed Fergie at the Scottish Music Festival and got the following quote from her:

“He’s a great speaker and I myself got to go to the White House,” she said. “But I wish he would do more for gay marriages though. That’s the one thing I want to happen!”

That’s why Fergie makes everyone’s London London bridge fall down.

[Source]

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fergie Crushes on Cheryl Cole (lezgetreal.com)
• Rufus Wainwright: In Love & Supporting Marriage Equality (lezgetreal.com)
• Is The Obama Administration Going to Appeal the Federal Marriage Ban Ruling? (lezgetreal.com)
• Elton John Explains His Appearance at Rush Limbaugh’s Fourth Wedding (lezgetreal.com)
• We Cheer for You Argentina! Argentina Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (lezgetreal.com)

A report by    Lauren Boyer on http://www.centredaily.com/2010/07/13/2089897/council-debates-immigration-act.html reports:-

“At Monday night’s meeting, Councilman Tom Daubert questioned the resolution, authored by Councilman Peter Morris, which asserts that the borough “celebrates and respects all immigrant groups and all families.”

“I do not celebrate and respect illegal immigrants,” Daubert said.

Councilwoman Theresa Lafer told Daubert the wording implies respect for all cultures and nationalities.

“I don’t think there’s any particular group you would like to send home,” Lafer told Daubert. “I think there’s hairsplitting there that’s beyond what it meant.”

In other business, the conversation drifted from crossing national borders to cutting through borough alleys.

Council unanimously approved the vacation of Birch Alley between B and C alleys, which abuts the Towers condominium building, developed by former Penn State trustee Mimi Barash Coppersmith.

Coppersmith asked solicitor Terry Williams if the vacation gives the condominium association the right to barricade the alley so commuters don’t use it as a detour from downtown traffic.

“If you go and see it, you’ll see the tire marks and the concrete that’s been impacted,” she said. “We have quietly filled holes in that alley with stones so people who come through don’t create more problems.”

Williams told Coppersmith to consult her attorney.

“Those streets are always bones of contention,” he added. “There are innumerable cases in court about how to deal with them. Small things change the status of rights. That’s why it’s so difficult to answer citizen questions.”

Recognized streets maintained by the borough are “ordained,” said Borough Manager Tom Fountaine.

Birch Alley hasn’t been ordained for 21 years, he added.

After a request was made last year to pave the alley, staff recommended the vacation, which surrenders all responsibility for upkeep including snow removal.

In a 5-2 vote, council rejected another vacation request for North Buckhout Street, which borders the former O.W. Houts property owned by Penn State.

Council members cited need to hold off on vacation, pending the university’s plans for that land.

Daubert worried Penn State might connect North Buckhout Street to West Campus Drive. A borough ordinance already prohibits West Campus Drive’s connection to Sparks and Patterson streets, he said.

“I don’t see why the university is in a big hurry for this,” Daubert said. “If we give the university that land, they can open it up if they so desire and make that a thoroughfare on Buckhout Street.” “

7-8-10 Melanie Nathan

United Kingdom: In a landmark case, the United Kingdom Supreme Court (the highest court in the country) ruled unanimously that the Court of Appeal misapplied the Convention relating on the Status of Refugees as applied by 1967 Protocol by denying the asylum applications of two gay men, in favor of reconsideration of the asylum applications of the two men and overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision rejecting their respective applications.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom – Parliament Square London SW1P 3BD T: 020 7960 1886/1887 F: 020 7960 1901

www.supremecourt.gov.uk HJ (Iran) and HT (Cameroon) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2010] UKSC 31 On Appeal from: [2009] EWCA Civ 172; JUSTICES: Lord Hope (Deputy President), Lord Rodger, Lord Walker, Lord Collins, Sir John Dyson SCJ.

The facts of  were as follows:

HJ and HT are gay men – from Iran and Cameroon, respectively – who seek asylum in the United Kingdom on the basis that they would face the risk of persecution on grounds of sexual orientation if returned to their home countries. In both Iran and Cameroon it is a criminal offence punishable by, inter alia, imprisonment, and in the case of Iran by the death penalty, for consenting adults to engage in homosexual acts.

The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as applied by the 1967 Protocol (“the Convention”), provides that members of a particular social group, which can include groups defined by common sexual orientation, are entitled to asylum in States that are parties to the Convention if they can establish that they would face a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to their home country.

The Court of Appeal had ruled erroneously that, if returned to their respective home countries, the two men could conceal their sexual orientation so as to avoid being persecuted and thus neither man had a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ that entitled him to protection under the Convention.

The Court of Appeal found that, if returned to their respective home countries, HJ and HT would conceal their sexual orientation in order to avoid the risk of being persecuted. As HJ and HT would hide their sexuality they would not come to the attention of the State authorities and so would not be at risk of persecution. Accordingly, neither party had a ‘well-founded fear of persecution’ that entitled him to protection under the Convention: it was permissible for a State party to the Convention to refuse asylum to a homosexual person who, if returned to their home country, would deny their identity and conceal their sexuality in order to avoid being persecuted, provided that the homosexual person’s situation could be regarded as ‘reasonably tolerable’. Only if the hardship which would be suffered was deemed to exceed this threshold would the applicant be entitled to protection under the Convention.

The Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the ‘reasonable tolerability’ test espoused by the Court of Appeal was incompatible with the Convention.

The UK Supreme Court ruled that it was not permissible for a State party to the Convention such as the United Kingdom to refuse asylum to a homosexual person who, if returned to their home country, would deny their identity and conceal their sexuality in order to avoid being persecuted, provided that the homosexual person’s situation could be regarded as ‘reasonably tolerable’.  Prior to today’s ruling only if the hardship which would be suffered was deemed to exceed this threshold would the applicant be entitled to protection under the Convention.

The Supreme Court unanimously allowed the appeal, holding that the ‘reasonable tolerability’ test applied by the Court of Appeal is contrary to the Convention and should not be followed in the future. HJ and HT’s cases are remitted for reconsideration in light of the detailed guidance provided by the Supreme Court.

Here is Lord Rodger SCJ quoted at [2010] UKSC 31, paragraph 78, that makes for the best reading:

In short, what is protected is the applicant’s right to live freely and openly as a gay man.

That involves a wide spectrum of conduct, going well beyond conduct designed to attract sexual partners and maintain relationships with them. To illustrate the point with trivial stereotypical examples from British society: just as male heterosexuals are free to enjoy themselves playing rugby, drinking beer and talking about girls with their mates, so male homosexuals are to be free to enjoy themselves going to Kylie concerts, drinking exotically colored cocktails and talking about boys with their straight female mates.

Mutatis mutandis – and in many cases the adaptations would obviously be great – the same must apply to other societies. In other words, gay men are to be as free as their straight equivalents in the society concerned to live their lives in the way that is natural to them as gay men, without the fear of persecution.

THE JUDGMENT

The Supreme Court unanimously allows the appeal, holding that the ‘reasonable tolerability’ test applied by the Court of Appeal is contrary to the Convention and should not be followed in the future. HJ and HT’s cases are remitted for reconsideration in light of the detailed guidance provided by the Supreme Court.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
www.privatecourts.com
San Francisco.

Lez Get Real wrote a piece publishing a letter by a Canadian Gay man Noah Gurza.  The comments were diverse and interesting. The Article can be found here at http://lezgetreal.com/2010/06/toronto-pride-torrontonians-emotional-plea/

I have chosen to publish this one comment that appeared on Lezgetreal, together with its call for action as by  Bernie Farber, one of Canada’s leading experts on antisemitism and human rights.  Bernie M. Farber is the National Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) . Thanks for for drawing attention to the strengthening support for Pride by the Jewish community and other supporters of Israel.  This is a time to show up for what you believe and to show PRIDE for what is good, non-divisive and Positive.

Bernie M. Farber

Mr. Farber has spent more than 20 years with CJC, battling hatred and racism and strengthening relationships with police services, government and other ethnic and faith communities across the country.

The recipient of countless awards, Mr. Farber is an associate member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and was recently selected by the Ontario government to serve as a member of the Hate Crimes Community Working Group. He also serves with the city of Vaughan Mayor’s Task Force on Community Safety and Security and the York Regional Police Community Crime Prevention Advisory Council.

Mr. Farber is a published author and has contributed numerous articles on the Jewish political scene, human rights issues, the Holocaust, hate crime and white supremacy to newspapers and periodicals including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Toronto Star, and many others.

Here is Mr. Farber’s comment on the earlier Piece:

“Noah: Thank you for your inspired thinking and articulate manner in which you have addressed this issue. There is however one important area where we respectfully differ. CJC will be joing Kulanu (the Jewish LGBTQ group) and other Jewish organizations including UJA, Canada Israel Committee, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal and many synagogues at the Pride parade . In my view,the vast majority of Pride goers have nothing to do with “Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA)”. Literally hundreds of thousands of people (some say up to 1 million) people watch the Pride parade, we have the support of fourToronto mayoralty candidates some of whom will join us under the Kulanu flag and many many more. Do you really want QuAIA to be the only voice on Israel in a parade that receives national attention? Imagine if you will a sea of Canadian and Israeli flags as we all march as proud Jews together “Kulanu” extolling the virtue of the only country in the Middle East that defends and protects its LGBTQ citizens.  I urge you and any others reading this message to join us onSunday. You can get all the details on our site http://www.cjc.ca Show no fear; Stand up and be counted.”

Toronto – Sunday, July 4th, please join Kulanu, Canadian Jewish Congress, UJA Federation, Canada Israel Committee and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal  to march in support of tolerance and Israel at the Toronto Pride Parade!  Show those who seek to harm our community that we will not be intimidated into silence!

1. 10:00am -12:00pm: Visit the Kulanu Toronto booth

(located just north of  Wellesley on the west side of Church Street) to purchase Pride T-shirts and water bottles.

2. 12:15pm: Line up for the march at the corner of Bloor and Jarvis, Section F9.

Look for the Israeli flags and Kulanu Toronto banner.

3. 2:00pm: The march begins

4. 4:00pm: The march ends

Bring hats, water bottles, sunscreen, and your Jewish pride and enthusiasm!
Come sing and dance to Hebrew music as we parade down Church Street!

By Melanie Nathan
Nathan@privatecourts.com

Related articles by Zemanta

• TORONTO: City May Pull Pride Funding Over Reversal On Anti-Israel Group (joemygod.blogspot.com)
• Toronto Pride – Torontonians Emotional Plea (lezgetreal.com)
• Hate crimes increase in Canada: StatsCan (news.nationalpost.com)

6-29-10   Melanie Nathan

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan told a Senate panel today, that the Pentagon’s recruiters had access to Harvard Law School students “every single day I was dean,” adding that she believes military service is the most important way anyone can serve the country.

The Obama Administration pick to US Supreme Court, Elena Kagan, held her ground this morning during her confirmation hearings, as Alabama Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III grilled her on her role in limiting the contact of the Department of Defense recruiters with Harvard Law School students.

Kagan told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she acted because the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bars openly gay men and women from serving, is a violation of the university’s anti-discrimination rules and noted that she had encouraged a campus veterans group to facilitate the Pentagon’s recruitment of students. “Military recruiting went up that year, not down,” said Kagan.

In the opening moments of her testimony, Kagan also said that the only time she has cried since being nominated by President Obama to the high court was when she read an op-ed article praising her for her treatment of the military, in a commentary written by a Marine captain and 2008 graduate of Harvard Law.

Senator Sessions, appearing on CNN, had difficulty defending his position, when challenged by John King, on his implications that Kagan lacked integrity.

When Sessions was the point person for the Republicans at the hearings for Justice Sotomayor he made a similar play, fashioning lies out of situations ripe for an easy twist, to fuel those stupid enough to take one with such a racist past  seriously.  So it is not surprising to note the distortions and accusations crafted by Sessions, delivered with body language spelling “short little effeminate ‘straight’ man bully,” when the exchanged occurred at the hearings.

Clearly distorting  the  military recruitment  controversy  at Harvard, is being used in an attempt to discredit Kagan, and is evidenced clearly by the fact that Newt Gingrich was out pimping and Sessions repeating the very same ‘talking points.’

Gingrich falsely claimed that an “anti-military” Kagan “singled out the military” at Harvard.

Kagan was very open in her explanation and about the fact that she was against DADT for reasons of discrimination.

It seems that one simple precept ignored (purposely avoided) through the questioning of Kagan by Sessions is at the time of the recruitment controversy Kagan was doing her job  in her capacity as Dean of Harvard Law School.

Dean Kagan was doing her job as DEAN of a Law School; as it was then. If anything she ought to receive credit for doing the job that served the Campus- upholding her stance was an obligation to her students, the Campus and a concomitant of her employment.     Many Americans believe she was doing her job, rendering this line of questioning nothing more than a red-herring.

Now if she is confirmed as a Justice to SCOTUS, she will indeed perform according to a  new Job description, and hopefully in as responsible a fashion as she did at Harvard.

What seems unique about this hearing is the fact that whereas we were unable to garnish specific personal opinions from Justice Sotomayor on specific issues that could land before the Court, here we know for sure that the person Elena Kagan dislikes DADT.

However given her history- and her comments, she will hear and listen to the arguments before her and perform according to her job description. This is not a woman about to wreck an illustrious career. She will do it right!  Or should I say – hopefully very left – we need the latter balance!

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Visit me on Facebook

Related articles by Zemanta

• Franken Sketches Sessions During Kagan Confirmation Hearing (PHOTO) (huffingtonpost.com)

6-23-10 Melanie Nathan

According to John Fisher, co-director of ARC International, an NGO which advocates the protection of gay rights said Tuesday that South Africa reached a new low at the UN Human Rights Council meeting held in Geneva this week.

The UN Human Rights council was discussing a special report on racism. Githu Muigai, of Kenya, which said that “the identity of each individual is made up of a multitude of components, such as gender, age, nationality, profession, sexual orientation, political opinion, religious affiliation and social origin.”

Jerry Matjila, South Africa’s representative at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, said that to protect gays, “demeans the legitimate plight of the victims of racism” and thus blatantly refused to support the United Nations efforts to protect the gay community against discrimination.

Matjila said the World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in Durban in 2001 had shown that the only victims for inclusion ought only be those  listed in the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA,)  which after much negotiation at the 2001 summit, had been clearly identified and victims of discrimination on the basis of  sexual orientation were not included. He said: “South Africa disagrees with the inclusion of victims implicitly or explicitly, other than those listed in the DDPA.”

LGR has written many a report this year reflecting the hypocrisy of the Country that boasts a constitution that is all inclusive in its equality and human rights protection, to include sexual orientation.

Despite its constitution LGBT community in South Africa is amongst the worse in the world in terms of lack of tolerance, non acceptance and blatant snubs in the justice system.

South African president Zuma has made ambassadorial appointments and Cabinet selections of outspoken homophobes.  Now as for this disgusting statement to add to the hypocritical list no one has spoken to whether or not there is an  actual obligation to follow the DDPA definition of “victims.”

South Africa Shame on you – you are doing very little Justice to the relinquishment of apartheid, a vow Taken by Madibe Mandela after his release and election in 1990.

Information about the Conference taken from reports in THE STAR and The CAPE NEWS.

Excerpt From South African Bill of Rights:
7.

1. This Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
2. The state must respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights in the Bill of Rights.
3. The rights in the Bill of Rights are subject to the limitations contained or referred to in section 36, or elsewhere in the Bill.

8. Application

1. The Bill of Rights applies to all law, and binds the legislature, the executive, the judiciary and all organs of state.
2. A provision of the Bill of Rights binds a natural or a juristic person if, and to the extent that, it is applicable, taking into account the nature of the right and the nature of any duty imposed by the right.
3. When applying a provision of the Bill of Rights to a natural or juristic person in terms of subsection (2), a court ­
   1. in order to give effect to a right in the Bill, must apply, or if necessary develop, the common law to the extent that legislation does not give effect to that right; and
   2. may develop rules of the common law to limit the right, provided that the limitation is in accordance with section 36(1).
4. A juristic person is entitled to the rights in the Bill of Rights to the extent required by the nature of the rights and the nature of that juristic person.

9. Equality

1. Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
2. Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken.
3. The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
4. ^*1 No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds in terms of subsection (3). National legislation must be enacted to prevent or prohibit unfair discrimination.
5. Discrimination on one or more of the grounds listed in subsection (3) is unfair unless it is established that the discrimination is fair.

10. Human dignity

Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.

Melanie Nathan
Nathan@privatecourts.com

• State Department And Secretary Hilary Clinton Celebrate A Year’s Worth Of Helping The LGBT Community Throughout The World (lezgetreal.com)

6-23-2010- Written by Rachel Wahba

Lez Talk with Rachel-

Okay now I have seen it all: The infamous Lesbian Separatist Alix Dobkin loves boys! As long as they are her grandsons that is.  Singer songwriter Dobkin (‘Lavender Jane Loves Women,’) is quoted in the June issue of Curve magazine saying:

“I have two grandsons who I love more than anything in the world, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love women and put women first—I do.”

I was transported back to one highly charged issue of  “Dyke Quarterly,” published in the mid-seventies.

An entire issue was devoted to skewering Olivia Records for hiring (unknowingly I might add, because I was there) a pre-op male to female trans lesbian feminist —- imagine, that this inflexible perception, an ill conceived ideal in the first place, was devoted to ‘delegitimizing’ and attempting to destroy a groundbreaking lesbian feminist record company with it sole purpose of making lesbians visible in a fiercely male dominated industry.  Dobkin’s connection to this issue was influential.

This was especially hurtful and destructive coming from one of the founding mothers of womens’ music, famous for her “devotion” to women.  Yes that meant having to deny the sons of women; the banning of all penis bearing infants, toddlers and children from festivals and the like was strictly enforced.

Instead of supporting one of her own, the hatred fueled by what I can only refer to as envy disguised as righteous indignation, was one of the many episodes in the history of Olivia Records and the times.

Now to see Alix ever so proudly loving her penis-endowed grandchildren is a cause to celebrate. Everything changes! Perhaps little boys will no longer be banished (if that is still the case) from the Michigan Womyns Music Festival.

I remember those days and my relief that because my baby girl was penis free we were not lesbian persona no grata, unless we risked shunning overalls for skirts and dresses.  Unfortunately I am not exaggerating. Boys were taboo. I admit there was a moment in history where separatism served its purpose for many of us for a moment in time— until we regained our sense of self as strong/liberated lesbians.

Olivia Records with feminism as its guiding principle was suddenly made into the enemy. Under the guise of preserving Lesbian Feminism a barrage of rhetoric from Dobkin polarized the lesbian community and it took its toll.

It was demoralizing, invalidating, time consuming, and hurt the small collective of  lesbians, dedicated to Feminism, instilled by Olivia Records, while earning close to nothing simply for the love of women and commitment to providing women with community.

So here we are today, Olivia has morphed into Olivia Travel, taking tens of  thousands of lesbians on vacations with week long lesbian entertainment of music and comedy, a unique experience.

So Lavender Jane loves now loves HER boys. How sweet it is to see love transcend dogma. Too bad it took 36 years to get here.

By Rachel Wahba
Columnist for Lezgetreal

Additional Information: Refernces:

Read more about Alix Dobkins – There is a great deal more to her than her feeble attempts at invalidating OLIVIA…

In the 1970s Liza Cowan was the host of Electra Rewired, a late night talk show on WBAI-FM in New York City. She interviewed Maya Angelou, Yoko Ono, Germaine Greer, as well as local feminist and Lesbian activists. She also produced the live music series, The WBAI Free Music Store. While she was working as a radio producer she met and fell in love with Alix Dobkin, a folksinger who went on to produce the first all Lesbian record album, Lavender Jane Loves Women. Cowan and Dobkin were partners for six years.

While she and Dobkin were together, Cowan published and edited DYKE, A Quarterly, a cultural theory magazine. Her business and editorial partner was Penny House. DYKE lasted for three years, publishing two long issues per year. Considered both beautiful and contriversial, DYKE Magazine published articles on Lesbian Separatism, Lesbian Fashion, Dykes Behind Bars, as well as producing theme issues, like the Ethnic Dykes issue and the proposed but never realized issue on Lesbian Cartoons.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Alix Dobkin (lesbianlife.about.com)

ALIX NEEDED  to ADD a Page for Rumor Control to her website Quote:

Rumor Control

“Alix is a man-hater”

Nonsense! Some of my best friends are men. I certainly have strong opinions about men’s violence, men’s dominance, men’s politics, male institutions, male hierarchies and penis-centered culture (don’t you?), but man-hating is irrelevant in my life.

“Alix is against transexuals”

No way! I look to transexuals to break new ground and not to reinforce conventional gender stereotypes.

“Alix hurts little boys by excluding them from women-only space”

On the contrary, I treasure all children and hate to see any child spoiled by mistreatment and neglect, or misguided by ignorance and disrespect. Teaching little boys universal entitlement and teaching little girls that they have no right to privacy is ignorant and disrespectful.

“Alix believes that women-only space is sacred space”

True.

“Alix performs only for women”

False. I often appear before mixed audiences.

“Alix loves all Lesbians but doesn’t like some Lesbians”

True.

“Alix wants her work to have meaning for everyone”

True.

“Alix is ‘Politically Correct’”

I certainly hope so, and so should you hope to be politically enlightened and untrendy!

6-10-10  Melanie Nathan

In preparation for the June 16 Closing arguments, Judge Vaughn Walker, in California’s same-sex marriage trial issued an advance list of a series of  questions.  Now while no one on the correct side of the issue – NO ON PROP 8, would be so dumb as to provide pseudo manufactured answers to tickle the fancy of readers, a bigot hiding behind and touting religion as his excuse to subject an entire community of Californians to his hate, has indeed done just that – provided as

Bill May asserts on his website “Catholics for the Common”    (I think there may be the word GOOD in there somewhere, but I could not bring myself to include it)  that the Judge asked “plaintiffs and proponents for responses to series of questions that only highlight the absurdity of putting marriage and the intentions of California voters on trial.”

While the full list, nine pages of questions can be found  here -  at http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/ca/prop80608.pdf ,  we are going to indulge our readers in the buffoonery and hate peddle revealed in the proposed answers by our would be Jurist  Mr. William B.  May.

HERE is William B. Mays Report  and his contrived answers to the questions -Verbatim from May’s site at http://www.ccgaction.com/index.php?q=node/814 :-

“To both the plaintiffs and proponents of Prop 8, Chief Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker asked:
“What purpose does a law requiring that a marital partnership consist of one man and one woman serve?” Specifically to proponents he asked, “What does evidence show the difference to be between gays and lesbians, on the one hand, and heterosexuals on the other?”

(NOTE this is MAY playing lawyer….)  If it pleases the court, there is ample evidence to suggest that relationships between heterosexuals commonly result in new citizens, not always, but sometimes unintentionally. There also seems to be ample evidence that relationships between people of the same-sex have no possibility of creating new citizens (hereinafter referred to as “children”). Your honor, it seems this difference is very significant and important to the state when considering the definition of marriage and considering that children and their welfare are important to the future of society. Marriage between a man and a woman who are committed to each other and to the children that come from the relationship is of immeasurable value to those children who cannot testify and represent their interests. They depend on grownups to do if for them.

To the plaintiffs he asked:
“Assume the evidence shows that Proposition 8 [defining marriage as between a man and a woman] is not in fact rationally related to a legitimate state interest. Do the voters’ honest beliefs in the absence of supporting evidence have any bearing on the constitutionality of Proposition 8?” Interestingly, to put this in context he referred to the New York Supreme Court opinion upholding traditional marriage in which they stated, “In absence of conclusive scientific evidence, the Legislature could rationally proceed on the common-sense premise that children will do best with a mother and a father in the home.”

Yes, your honor, the voters honestly believe, based on their own experience, their common desire for connection with the man and woman from whom they originated, a man and a woman committed to each other and committed to them in a relationship of love – something known as a family with a married mother and father – yes your honor, that experience is relevant in making public policy even if you were to conclude there is no legitimate state interest in protecting and promoting that primordial relationship.

Prop 8 proponents were asked:
“Why is legislating based on moral disapproval of homosexuality not tantamount to discrimination?” The question itself is an indictment of the voters of California. That is like asking, “When you beat your wife why is that not tantamount to spousal abuse?”

Your honor, homosexuality has nothing to do with protecting and promoting marriage between a man and a woman for our children and their future. People are free to adopt any lifestyle they like, but there is no justification for any special interest to redefine and undermine the very foundation on which the family and society are built.Prop 8 proponents were asked:
“The court has reserved ruling on plaintiffs’ motion to exclude Mr Blankenhorn’s testimony. If the motion is granted, is there any other evidence to support a finding that Proposition 8 advances a legitimate governmental interest?”

Yikes! Blankenhorn was the main witness on our side testifying to the reality of marriage and its value to society. Again, this underscores the absurdity of determining the future of marriage for California and the country in any court room based on testimony of witnesses and presentation of evidence. Only the voters, drawing on their own experience, acting in the best interest of children and future generations, are qualified to make this decision. The voters of California and Maine and 40 other states have spoken. Marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

The outcome of this trial could go either way. Whatever the decision, the case is likely destined for the U.S. Supreme Court. Your prayers are needed. ”

As a lesbian I find this so offensive, yet I am embarrassed for this apology of a man – that he is an American- making that our common denominator – because truly nothing else does.  The fact that people like him use religion in this fashion and then try to invoke your prayer…. PLEASE PRAY FOR  DISCRIMINATION AND HATE.

In a separate development Tuesday, the state Fair Political Practices Commission said the Mormon Church had agreed to pay a $5,500 fine for failing to report $37,000 worth of assistance to the Prop. 8 campaign shortly before the 2008 election.

OH BY the way here is the PRAYER That MAY wants you to share:

Closing arguments, June 16, 2010 Federal District Court, San Francisco Heavenly Father, I offer my prayers, works, joys and sufferings today and unite them with those of the whole Mystical Body of Christ. Imploring the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I beg you to protect marriage as authored by You at the very time of creation. (HEHEHE.. not in my B’reisheit) Open the minds and hearts of the Judge Vaughn Walker to accept Your Divine plan for marriage. Inspire him to consider the delight you take in families. (HEHEHE thats precisely what he ought to do we too have families) Guide him with wisdom and understanding of the rights of children (yes my children need their moms to have equality so thanks Billy Boy for this one) to know and be cared for by their father and mother.  (SHEEZ BILLY BOYYOUFORGOT ABOUT SINGLE MOMS  AND SINGLE DADS – they dont get your prayers either?) Fill him with right judgment and the courage to protect the centrality and integrity of marriage for children and society. We beg you to send your Holy Spirit upon the attorneys to guide them in their presentations and to make their arguments compelling. (okay thanks for that) We raise up to you the plaintiffs and their attorneys that they might realize that dignity does not come from external sources, but from the fact that each is created in Your image and likeness and are manifestations of Your love, more precious to You than the entire universe. (PRECISELY Billy – G-d made me and all queers in His image – I am not sure how else we were made? That has been my argument all along – Can I rest my case now please?) Give them peace through understanding this and help them see the consequences of their actions for humanity and the common good. Give us the grace to reflect Your love for them despite our differences. We ask these things in Jesus’ Name.

BY Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda

Related articles by Zemanta

• Tough questions for each side in Prop. 8 debate (sfgate.com)

Amen.