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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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]

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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

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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

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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.”

With her odd juxtaposition and outlandish caveat, I was transported back to one highly charged issue of the Dobkin driven magazine, known as “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.

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.

The actions waged by Dobkin and her cohorts traumatized anyone whom they pushed out of the way of their unlikely ideals.

Olivia Records, for example, 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 wholesome lesbians, nurtured by the of world validity and consciousness that Olivia Records opened,  while earning close to nothing simply for the love of women and commitment to providing women with unfettered voice; literally, and on vinyl.

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. Lesbians are wined, dined, danced and entertained charming each other, all while enchanted by all that goes into the unique luxurious 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.

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• 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

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

Amen.

Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com is bragging about the fact that – The Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List is investing $215,000 in an independent expenditure campaign highlighting what it considers “the strong pro-life stance” of California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina.  She faces pro-choice Tom Campbell and pro-life Chuck DeVore in the Republican primary.

The winner will take on pro LGBT rights and pro-choice Sen. Barbara Boxer, in the general election.  As a true progressive liberal democrat I am  definitely backing Hewlett Packard disappointment, Fiorina for the Primary.  It would make the General election a walk in the park for incumbent Senator Barbara Boxer!

Leading up to the state primary election on June 8th, the SBA List asserts that it will “educate voters through an aggressive online advertising and e-mail campaign, targeted calls to 600,000 registered voters and direct fundraising from its membership.”

Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser told LifeNews.com of the educational effort.

According to an article by Steven Ertelt  LifeNews Editor, in an article  Pro-Life Women’s Group Puts 215K Behind Carly Fiorina in California Senate Race.

Carly Fiorina is the perfect pro-woman, pro-life contrast to Barbara Boxer,” said Dannenfelser.  ”The Susan B. Anthony List is dedicating significant resources in the final two weeks of the primary to educate California voters about Fiorina’s strong pro-life position and ability to beat Boxer in November.” She said.

Referring to Boxer and Campbell as “pro-abortion” is no mere misnomer but a mischaracterization and typical right wing “educational” stance regarding abortion.  This disingenuous depiction will undoubtedly be countered if Fiorina wins the primary.  Gosh I hope she does. Go Carly the lesbians support your PRIMARY.

As far as the primaries are concerned, let them waste their money on the anti-choice contender- because if Fiorina wins, hehehe,  Californians will never vote for her.  She will drive the woman to the polls to vote for Senator Boxer.

Fiorina is running for Senate on the smell of her desire for unfettered power – a loser who nudges her way into settings that exceed her capabilities and put truly competent women to shame!

Californians would like nothing more than to focus on the Pro choice winning issue  rather than on economy and LGBT wedge issues.  This is no pro-life State!   The is a death sentence state!    AND of course a Pro-choice State to the Core!

Carli will be Dead on Arrival.  SO thanks for the Money SBA List and for helping Boxer gain the momentum for the General.

“California is burdened with two female Senators who claim to represent women by pushing their radical, pro-abortion agenda, yet polling clearly shows that more and more Americans are calling themselves pro-life,’ the pro-life women’s leader added. (Okay!- that’s kewl!)

Dannenfelser continued according to the NEWLIFE Blog: “Carli Fiorina is uniquely poised to be a leader for the unborn and for women in the U.S. Senate, ushering in a new brand of ‘feminism’ that harkens back to its roots in the suffragettes and recognizes that the rights of one are not built on the broken rights of another.”  (Okay which Carly are you talking about here – the one who is a woman herself?) As the EMILY’S List-endorsed candidate, SBA says Boxer is the most aggressive champion of abortion rights in Congress and makes a Fiorina match-up ideal in the upcoming general election.

Apparently according to the Fiorina SBA  backslapping Blog , LIFENEWS -

The Susan B. Anthony List plans to spend $6 million on voter education in the midterm elections, including $3 million on key Senate races, $1 million in bundled direct candidate contributions from SBA List members and $1 million on its plan to target “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care bill.

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Accommodating the royal book tour,  Larry King Live last night, interviewed Laura Bush about her book Spoken From the Heart. Asking about gay marriage, we may find a closet democrat outed by her perspective…. or are the Republicans about to helm Same-Sex Marriage equality.  Remember it was a Democratic President (Bill Clinton) who we can thank for the last nail in the coffin of marriage equality.

Laura Bush:”I think that there are a lot of people who have trouble coming to terms with that because they see marriage traditionally as between a man and a woman — but also know that, when couples are committed to each other and love each other they ought to have, I think, the same sort of rights that everyone has.
Larry King: “So would that be an area where you disagree?”
Laura Bush: “I guess that would be an area where we disagree. I understand totally what George thinks about marriage being between a man and a woman, and it’s a real, um, really, reversal of that to accept gay marriage … ”
Larry King: “But you do?”
Laura Bush: “But I think we could, yeah. I think it’s a generational thing that will slowly … ”
Larry King: “But it’s coming?”
Laura Bush: “But it will come.”

The ladies on the View, today discussed  the Laura Bush interview with King. Elizabeth Hasselhoff who recently spent an evening visiting with and discussing same-sex marriage on a very personal level with  Lesbian pop icon Melissa Etheridge,  suggested that everyone should engage in discussions with people whom same-sex marriage directly impacts to truly understand the issues before speaking against gay and lesbian marriage.    Talking about a subject with no real insight, says Whoopi Goldberg, is not the way to go.

Maybe Laura Bush will open some hearts and minds; I have always believed that the best asset to equality would be voices not our own. The voices that can step out of old religious moulds and truly embrace equality in marriage from its civil perspective are the one’s that will make a difference and ought ti be honed by our activist community.

Hasselhoff is an open Republican – sometimes I wonder if Laura is a closet Democrat.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

5-1–10 – MELANIE NATHAN

Abominations do not Start..with People Suddenly becoming Inhumane“

When I first heard about SB 1070 the Arizona immigration law – it made my stomach turn and I wrote an article on LEZGETREAL entitled, “The Apartheid State of Arizona.”  Today Bishop Desmond Tutu weighs in on the Huffington Post with his view, as black South African living on the victim side of apartheid; unlike my privileged white South African (ex-pat)  perspective.

I have written many articles where I I express the irony of having coming to the USA 28 years ago, believing that there was no racism here, and happy that the USA was taking such a profound stand against apartheid. I applauded sanctions against South Africa, even though I knew how hard it was on all the people there.  But I knew it would be the only way to bring the apartheid government to its knees and it did.

Now all these years later – here we are the irony of an anti-apartheid activist at the helm of the South African movement to end apartheid, finding himself having to comment on the state of its potential to rise in the Uinted States of America.

Tutu says  “Abominations such as apartheid do not start with an entire population suddenly becoming inhumane. They start here. They start with generalizing unwanted characteristics across an entire segment of a population. They start with trying to solve a problem by asserting superior force over a population. They start with stripping people of rights and dignity – such as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty – that you yourself enjoy. Not because it is right, but because you can. And because somehow, you think this is going to solve a problem.”

That is why I said the Apartheid State of Arizona  and the reaction I received was mixed – it included many saying I was overeating.

Now to Bishop Desmond Tutu a man who has seen it all:

Quote from Huffington Post and you should read the whole piece:

Equally disturbing is what will happen in the mind of the policeman. The police talk today about how they do not wish to, and will not, engage in racial profiling. Yet faced with the option of using common sense and compassion, or harassing a person who has done nothing wrong, a particularly sinister aspect of Arizona’s new immigration law will be hanging over his head. He can be personally sued, by anyone, for failing to enforce this inhumane new act.

I recognize that Arizona has become a widening entry point for illegal immigration from the South. The wave has brought with it rising violence and drug smuggling.

But a solution that degrades innocent people, or that makes anyone with broken English a suspect, is not a solution. A solution that fails to distinguish between a young child coming over the border in search of his mother and a drug smuggler is not a solution.

I am not speaking from an ivory tower. I lived in the South Africa that has now thankfully faded into history, where a black man or woman could be grabbed off the street and thrown in jail for not having his or her documents on their person.

How far can this go? We lived it — police waking a man up in the middle of the night and hauling him off to jail for not having his documents on his person while he slept. The fact that they were in his nightstand near the bed was not good enough.

Of course if you suggested such a possibility today to an Arizona policeman he would be adamant that he would never do such a thing. And I would believe him. Arizona is a long way from apartheid South Africa.

The problem is, under the new law, the one or two who would do it are legitimized. All they have to say is that they believed that illegal immigrants were being harbored in the house. They would be protected and sanctioned by this law.

THE APARTHEID STATE OF ARIZONA   http://lezgetreal.com/?p=32025

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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“Like a virus, no one is immune from ignorance – no matter what their profession or even educational background might be.“

4-13-2010m; Posted by Melanie Nathan

Rambam Medical Center in Haifa on Tuesday will launch the first invitro fertilization unit in Israel for HIV carriers with fertility difficulties who are rejected from treatment by other hospitals.

Although Israel boasts one of the highest availabilities of fertility treatment in the world, it never before had the facilities to carry out IVF treatment for HIV carriers.

Today, an HIV carrier who receives treatment has almost the same life expectancy as the rest of the population, and certain medical treatment enables carrier to conceive and give birth to healthy children.

Following the Supreme Court appeal by the task force and six women, in 2006 the Health Ministry set up a committee to look into fertility treatments among carriers of HIV and Hepatitis B and C.

The committee recommended setting up a separate infrastructure for fertility treatment for such patients, despite the fact that in many Western countries carriers receive the treatment in ordinary clinics.  The multiple postponements of the opening led to the Health Ministry being sharply rebuked by the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee.

The unit,  located in a remote, discreet area of the hospital, to afford for maximum privacy for the patients, will also serve carriers of other viruses, and it already has a waiting list with several women waiting for treatment.

The Rambam unit opens just two days after the launch of a sperm washing institute at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem, allowing men who carry the HIV virus to conceive healthy children together with non-carrier spouses.

The opening of the new unit at Rambam, which includes a number of labs and sub-clinics, has been postponed at least four times.

Yonatan Karni, director of the Israel AIDS Task Force, said Monday “I’m thrilled to cut the ribbon for the unit, but what will truly convince me this is really happening will be to cut the umbilical chord for the first child born as a result of the process.   To get to this day we had to go through the Supreme Court and four years of public battles. To my surprise the greatest obstacle was the obstinacy of the healthcare system. I found that just like with the virus, no one is immune to ignorance – no matter what their profession or even educational background might be.”

Original Source:- 4-13-2010 Ha’aretz

New hospital unit allows HIV carriers to conceive through IVF

By Fadi Eyadat

Melanie Nathan – nathan@privatecourts.com

“Do not ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something – not even yourself!”

Lili Rachel Smith didn’t just write those words. She lived them. Just last fall, determined to make it on her own, Lili left the comfort and security of her home to attend Scattergood Friends School, a 105-year old college preparatory boarding school that she picked out in Iowa. In less than two months she became a beloved member of their community. And she made a lasting and loving impression on everyone she met.

Lili would have turned 16 this April had she not passed away in her sleep on October 10, 2009.

Lili, the beloved daughter of leading Democratic political consultant Averell “Ace” Smith and his wife, veteran Democratic fundraiser Laura Talmus,  refused to accept the bounds of physical disability. Smith ran Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaigns in California and other states and the 2006 campaign of State Attorney General Jerry Brown.

Former President Bill Clinton described Lili as beautiful “taken from her family and friends far too soon. As Hillary and I got to know her, we were increasingly amazed at her endless capacity for kindness and generosity.  She never let her own disability keep her from living her life and touching the lives of others. She was a wonderful person who will be greatly missed.”

Born with Apert’s syndrome – a congenital disorder characterized by malformations of the skull, hands and feet – Lili required extensive and often painful surgeries at birth and at regular intervals during her life.  Lili died in her sleep at a boarding school in Iowa, her family said.

Despite the considerable physical challenges, Lili – with the strong encouragement of her parents – became an energetic activist in social and political issues and a seasoned campaign insider, working with her father in Texas during the 2008 presidential campaign. She was a great champion for equality, speaking her beliefs at every opportunity.

In January of this year, Lili was honored posthumously by the Marin Human Rights Commission’s prestigious “Martin Luther King Equality Award..

In her memory, Lili’s Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 10th in Marin County, California. This event will publicly launch Beyond Differences, a new non-profit organization created by her parents and friends. Its mission is to build opportunities for children to experience one another for who they are beyond their differences, whether those be special needs, learning, economic, gender orientation, ethnic or racial.

Every day in every middle school around the country there are teenagers quietly suffering from an insidious problem: social isolation. Where once physical punishment was an acceptable part of childhood, awareness of the toll it took led to a change in our collective values. It is no longer tolerated. We seek no less for our children when it comes to their emotional environment.

Beyond Differences is committed to working with parents, teachers and students to create a social movement to ensure that youngsters regardless of how they differ from one another have the opportunity to flourish at school.

Please join the family and friends of Lili for this extraordinary event on Saturday – and if you are unable to make it, please consider sending a donation to Beyond Differences -  there is much work to be done!

Melanie Nathan, Palm Springs   – 4/4/10  – Reports are coming here in California of an Earthquake. A string of earthquakes and aftershocks rattled the Pacific Coast of the United States and Mexico on Sunday, including a magnitude 7.2 quake that could be felt across Baja California, Arizona and southern California, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries and only limited reports of damages from that quake, which struck at 3:40 p.m. PT about 175 kilometers (110 miles) east-southeast of Tijuana.

“We felt it for about 30 seconds. It was rolling,” San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Scott Ybarrondo told CNN. “Nothing fell off the walls here, but we have reports of pictures falling off walls elsewhere in the county.”

Lauren Hines,  Fashion designer in Los Angeles was working in her factory in downtown LA and felt the building roll, and all fled the building into the street.  The Dinah’s spokesperson just informed  Lezgetreal  that ” it was pretty intense to see a thousand women swaying by the pool.  The go go’s were up on high podiums and they had to hold on for dear life!”   No injuries reported.

The next-largest, a magnitude 4.1 quake, rattled windows nine minutes later in Santa Rosa, California, north of San Francisco. No damage was reported there, and Susan Potter, a USGS geophysicist, told CNN that was a separate quake from the one that struck in the Baja California desert.

Chandeliers swung and water sloshed around in swimming pools in the Los Angeles suburbs, witnesses reported, while posters to Twitter reported feeling the quake in Phoenix, Arizona.

Capt. Steve Ruda, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city fire department, said there were “isolated” power outages and a few people reported trapped in elevators, but no injuries or structural damage were reported. The Baja California quake spawned at least five aftershocks, the largest of which was a magnitude 5.1, Potter said.

The USGS initially reported that the Baja California quake had a 6.9 magnitude. The USGS upgraded the quake about an hour later.

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BY – Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan: 3-30-10. Margaret Costanza November 28, 1932 – March 23, 2010 , widely known as “Midge”, was an American Presidential advisor, social and political activist. A life-long champion of gay and women’s rights, she was known for her wit, outspoken manner and commitment to her convictions.

A Celebration of Life for Midge Costanza” on Saturday, April 24 at 2:00pm:

“The announcement has just been made on dear Midge’s memorial service so I hope you can be there and invite your friends and associates who were so deeply touched by her life and service. Feel free to post elsewhere. We are expecting a very large turnout.”.

Event: A Celebration of Life for Midge Costanza
Start Time: Saturday, April 24 at 2:00pm
End Time: Saturday, April 24 at 4:00pm
Where: Town and Country Hotel, Mission Valley, San Diego

Midge Costanza’s over 40 years in professional and public life made her one of the most recognized and often controversial women in America. Her public service has been characterized by a strong social conscience and unwavering support of human rights and civil rights issues.

Midge asserts that: “Human dignity is a right, not a privilege, a right inherited at birth.  The goal of all governments should be to create a social environment in which every person can reach his or her human potential.”

In 1973, she was the first woman elected to the Rochester, N.Y. City Council; winning by the largest number of votes in the City’s history.  She served as Vice-Mayor of that city for three years.

Costanza co-managed Robert Kennedy’s successful Senatorial Campaign in Upstate New York and she co-chaired Jimmy Carter’s New York State Campaign for President.

In 1976, she seconded the nomination of Jimmy Carter at the Democratic Convention. President Carter later made history by appointing Midge Assistant to the President. She was the first woman to hold that position. Midge acted as a liaison between the President and groups who had previously experienced limited access to the executive office of government, including youth, women, seniors, veterans, minorities, and the handicapped.  She also acted as his liaison to the Business Roundtable of America.

In 1987, attracted by Costanza’s talent as a business person, communicator, and innovator, Shirley MacLaine invited her to manage her “Higher Self Seminars.”

In 1992, Midge coordinated the successful Barbara Boxer United States Senate Race in San Diego County.

In 1992, she participated in Congresswoman Lynn Schenk’s campaign and was later appointed as a Special Consultant on the Congresswoman’s staff.

In 2000, California Governor Gray Davis appointed Midge, Special Assistant to the Governor. She acted as Liaison to the Governor for women’s groups and issues, and she was a surrogate speaker for the Governor throughout the State.

In 2004, Midge launched her Midge Costanza Institute for the Study of Politics and Public Policy.  The Institute is hosting a School for Candidate Training, access to archives for students, Speaker Series luncheons, and salons for monthly issue discussions.

More detail at Wikepedia…. Costanza volunteered on W. Averell Harriman’s campaign for governor in 1954 and soon became the Monroe County, New York executive director of Robert F. Kennedy’s Senate campaign in 1964. She served as a Democratic National Committee member from 1972 until 1977. …..

Costanza died after a long battle with cancer at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest, California on March 23, 2010 at the age of 77.

By Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

Thanks Albert Ogle

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“By Tom Brandt / Opinions Editor Republicans are not sparing the rod when it comes to beating up on President Obama’s economic stimulus package, but it’s clear they are unable to raise their membership to withstand the newly found vigor of his congressional muscle.”

http://funmeme.com/post/2010/03/24/Republicans-Turned-off-by-Size-of-Obamae28099s-Package-e28093-Funny-Caption-Pic.aspx

Need we say more – nothing like a little visit to the past ….2009!

By Mel Nathan

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I believe this Article will indeed go a long way in significance and influence and what better Ally for Gays and Lesbians in Africa and around the World for that matter.  Here is the article written by Tutu.

Notably President Zuma is silent and other South African Officials have added to the issue by portraying South Africa and Africa in a negative lights, with anti-gay comments and behavior as previously reported on this Site.

Bishop Desmond Tutu: “Hate has no place in the house of God. No one should be excluded from our love, our compassion or our concern because of race or gender, faith or ethnicity — or because of their sexual orientation. Nor should anyone be excluded from health care on any of these grounds. In my country of South Africa, we struggled for years against the evil system of apartheid that divided human beings, children of the same God, by racial classification and then denied many of them fundamental human rights. We knew this was wrong. Thankfully, the world supported us in our struggle for freedom and dignity.

This Story

• Love all God’s children, straight or gay
• How culture wars are won

It is time to stand up against another wrong.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God’s family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent. People are again being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms. Men have been falsely charged and imprisoned in Senegal, and health services for these men and their community have suffered. In Malawi, men have been jailed and humiliated for expressing their partnerships with other men. Just this month, mobs in Mtwapa Township, Kenya, attacked men they suspected of being gay. Kenyan religious leaders, I am ashamed to say, threatened an HIV clinic there for providing counseling services to all members of that community, because the clerics wanted gay men excluded.

Uganda’s parliament is debating legislation that would make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment, and more discriminatory legislation has been debated in Rwanda and Burundi.

These are terrible backward steps for human rights in Africa.

Our lesbian and gay brothers and sisters across Africa are living in fear.

And they are living in hiding — away from care, away from the protection the state should offer to every citizen and away from health care in the AIDS era, when all of us, especially Africans, need access to essential HIV services. That this pandering to intolerance is being done by politicians looking for scapegoats for their failures is not surprising. But it is a great wrong. An even larger offense is that it is being done in the name of God. Show me where Christ said “Love thy fellow man, except for the gay ones.” Gay people, too, are made in my God’s image. I would never worship a homophobic God.

“But they are sinners,” I can hear the preachers and politicians say. “They are choosing a life of sin for which they must be punished.” My scientist and medical friends have shared with me a reality that so many gay people have confirmed, I now know it in my heart to be true. No one chooses to be gay. Sexual orientation, like skin color, is another feature of our diversity as a human family. Isn’t it amazing that we are all made in God’s image, and yet there is so much diversity among his people? Does God love his dark- or his light-skinned children less? The brave more than the timid? And does any of us know the mind of God so well that we can decide for him who is included, and who is excluded, from the circle of his love?

The wave of hate must stop. Politicians who profit from exploiting this hate, from fanning it, must not be tempted by this easy way to profit from fear and misunderstanding. And my fellow clerics, of all faiths, must stand up for the principles of universal dignity and fellowship. Exclusion is never the way forward on our shared paths to freedom and justice.

The writer, Desmond Tutu 0 is archbishop emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

 

 

Melanie Nathan

 

 

Posted by Melanie Nathan, nathan@privatecourts.com
Human Rights Activist & Personal Advocate
www.privatecourts.com

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Melanie Nathan, 2-22-10 .   Roslyn M. Brock , new Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),  made history when she became the youngest ever and fourth woman to serve as Chairman of the National Board of Directors, this month.  After being chosen as successor to NAACP’s  Chairman Julian Bond, Roslyn M. Brock  e-mailed supporters of the NAACP to introduce herself  as the new Chairman of the Board.

Brock is employed as Vice President, Advocacy and Government Relations for Bon Secours Health System, Inc., in Marriottsville, Maryland.  Prior to working at Bon Secours, Brock worked 10 years in Health Programs at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.

She graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Union University; earned a master’s degree in health services administration from George Washington University, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Theology at Virginia Union University.

Over the past twenty five years, Brock has served the NAACP in several leadership roles.  She is a Diamond Life Member of NAACP and joined the Association as a freshman at Virginia Union University where she was elected President of the Youth and College Division from the Commonwealth of Virginia.  One year later, she was elected as a Youth Board Member from Region 7 – representing the District of Columbia, Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  During her tenure as a Youth Board Member and Vice Chairman of the NAACP Board Health Committee, Brock led the policy debate to recognize access to quality health care as a civil rights issue that resulted in the National Board’s ratification and inclusion of a Health Committee as a Standing Committee in its Constitution.

In 1989, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Lawson Hooks, Brock wrote her Master’s Thesis on “Developing a NAACP Health Outreach Program for Minorities.” Brock is a skilled grant writer and has secured more than $2.7 million dollars in grants since 1991 for NAACP programs that initiated the Health Symposiums held annually at NAACP National Conventions; publication of more than 200,000 copies of “HIV/AIDS and You” educational materials distributed to NAACP Units; research and media work associated with documenting the history of the NAACP; support for ACT-SO and the NAACP Law Fellows programs; and commissioned the 2007 NAACP Perceptions Survey just to name a few.

According to NAACP website, Brock’s goal in life is embodied in an African proverb “Care more than others think is wise, Risk more than others think is safe, Dream more than others think is practical and Expect more than others think is possible.”

“As the NAACP begins its second century of advocacy, I feel the deep responsibility to put forward a civil and human rights agenda for the years ahead.  I’m proud to be a part of a younger generation, along with President and CEO Benjamin Jealous, that is taking on the leadership responsibilities of the NAACP. I’m also proud that I’ve been a part of the NAACP for 25 years, as a youth board member, Youth and College State Conference President, board member, and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.”

The NAACP is a multiracial, multiethnic organization. The NAACP will continue to champion civil and human rights issues that affect all Americans and, in particular, those which disproportionately affect communities of color.

“As we advance our goals, we must also ensure that our policies, programs and politics remain relevant for a new generation of civil rights and human rights advocates. President Benjamin Jealous and I will prioritize the work of expanding our youth networks. “

At the same time, we are reminded to never forget those who came before. Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond and Myrlie Evers-Williams,  remain beacon in the struggle.  Without the Bonds, the Evers, the Kings, and the Parks of the world, we would not be here, Barack Obama would not be president, and there would be no NAACP. ”

Melanie Nathan

By Melanie Nathan, nathan@privatecourts.com
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com
Twitter me at: @oblogdeeoblogda
Civil Rights and Human Rights activist;
Owner Private Courts Inc.
Conflict Resolution & Personal Advocacy firm at
www.privatecourts.com

Visit LGBT Bi-National Column for Passage of UAFA on Lezgetreal

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San Francisco Posted by Melanie Nathan and reported by Gregg Cassin – (by Blackberry) Gregg is reporting from the court Room – I have kept the words as I have received them. This is a very moving and heart wrenching day. Thanks to the witness and his courage. here at LGR- we hope the Whitehouse is listening to the way we are treated in this country.   He must do more to undo the harm bestowed on our community by the allowances given the riligious right during the BUSH administration.  It is NOT only about economic, medical insurance and  foreign policy mess – its about the invalidity of an American Minority.  If President Obama issues an executive Order NOW for the repeal of DOMA – this would all change………. 

“i am here listeing to the testimony of a gay man and his coming out story to his parents.  and how they forced hi m as a child into reparative therapy…to avoid burning in hell forever……

this is in a courtroom in sf ca today.  the future of gay peoples lives ……..

The power of this testimony ws through tears.  every word spoken through tears.  the silence in the courtroom , the shaking of heads and the occasional sniffle as people listened.  we sat witnessing  a version of what so many of us went through.  the fear of being an outcaste, being disowned by those you rely on.

 his testimony …

my mother and father sent me to this center to change me from gay ….and i lived there from 14-16 yo.  when i would come home for a visit my mother would scream at me and tell me i was going to hell, that she wished she had had an abortion. that she wished that i had been retarded, with downes syndrome. she wished and told me…that i was dead.

in orde to survive i surrendered my self to childres protective services…. at 16.

they began a case of neglect against my parents

i gave up all that i had…alone at 16.

now we re listening to an expert social scientist…..

talking abtthe messages the gay community gets every day by society politics etc…..

example  how obama states that he is a fierce ally yet has taken no steps to promote the rights of gay/les people yet.

that a senator can compare homosexuality to bestiality and have it heard by a nation and the media and no outcries of injustice, prejudice, etc…..

that studies show that no class of people except undoc aliens (a distant second) has had more legislation directed towards them

We are looking at article that speaks of a conference call of 1700(!!!) MINISTERS, PREACHERS, CHURCH-LEADERS….to design a concerted effort to pass prop 8.  they are trying to establish the powerlessness of a class of peoople.  to have churches joining together to deny an entire class of people their  civil rights. (Referring to the Mahattan declaration)
 

Thanks to

Gregg

Gregg Cassin  

AIDS,Medicine & Miracles

“…life-changing empowerment programs for ALL people affected by HIV/AIDS…”

www.aidsmedicineandmiracles.org

For his extraordinary and unique reporting – for Melanie Nathan. 

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  Lady Gaga will perform at the Hands Up for Marriage Equality benefit in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday, January 16^th. The funds raised from the event will go to the Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality Pennsylvania, Garden State Equality, and The Power.

GaGa released the following statement:

“I am honored to be able to continue to raise awareness and money for this cause and these outstanding organizations. Organizations like these are in the trenches every day working on behalf of all of us whether you are LGBT or straight. Equal and full civil rights are supposed to be for all of us.”

My mom blames California for me being a lesbian. “Everything was fine until you moved out there.” “That’s right, Mom, we have mandatory lesbianism in West Hollywood. The Gay Patrol busted me, and I was given seven business days to add a significant amount of flannel to my wardrobe.

~

via Speak Equal.

Coley Sohn started out as a theater actor in her native Washington DC and made her way west.

Other acting credits include recurring roles on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and 90210. Coley also writes, improvises, and has a penchant for real estate.

In fact, Coley says she bought the house BOUTONNIERE was shot in and flipped it post production to pay for the entire project.

Currently, Coley working on getting the feature version, SASSY PANTS, ready to shoot, as well as another screenplay she recently completed entitled DODIE AND CHERYL GET HITCHED.

Levenson married his longtime partner, Tony Sears, on July 12, 2008, during the five-month period when same-sex marriagewas legal in California. A ballot measure. Reinhardt, who is the federal judge responsible for resolving employee disputes in the Federal Public Defenders office within the 9th Circuit, had earlier ordered the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to process Levenson’s application for spousal benefits for Sears. The federal government’s Office of Personnel Management stepped in to derail the enrollment, however, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits the recognition of same-sex marriage for the purpose of federal benefits or programs.

Levenson appealed, seeking either an independently contracted benefits package for his spouse or payment of the equivalent value of the coverage denied. Reinhardt ordered the latter, based on a “back pay” provision in the law covering federal defense lawyers’ employment.  “Considering that the federal government won’t give Tony the equal benefits package of other spouses, we are very pleased with this decision,” said Levenson. “Is it equal treatment? No. Is it a good remedy? Yes. And we are appreciative of the judge’s order.”

The men have been keeping track of the costs of separate insurance  and estimate the back pay and future compensation will amount to thousands of dollars each year.  The judge’s order is expected to resolve the injustice Reinhardt has cited in previous orders in Levenson’s case.  Several other challenges by those denied federal benefits, like filing joint tax returns, are making their way slowly through the federal courts.

The Obama administration has spoken out against what it sees as a discriminatory policy toward gay spouses of federal employees but Atty. Gen. Eric Holder has also said his office is obliged to defend the practice as long as the Defense of Marriage Act remains law. 

Comments Melanie Nathan:- When I wrote to President Obama about Holder’s pursuit I received the following (probably generic) email which was signed with the President’s name.

“Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.  I appreciate your perspective. Every American deserves equal protection under our laws, and neither Federal nor state law should discriminate against any American.  The issue of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights has all too often been used to divide our country.  We must treat all of our citizens with dignity and respect, and stand united in our protection of equality–a founding principle of our Nation and a moral imperative. 
      
I continue to oppose a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.  We must also extend the over 1,100 Federal marital rights and benefits to same-sex couples, because every American should be able to visit a loved one in the hospital, transfer property, and receive equal health insurance and other employment benefits.  
     
My Administration is committed to addressing a full spectrum of issues important to the LGBT community.  We can reduce
discrimination by strengthening hate crimes statutes; supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; ensuring adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation; and opposing discrimination in public accommodations.  To combat HIV/AIDS, we need policies that support people living with this illness and increased funding for prevention, care, and research.  I also support repealing the current Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in a sensible way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security.  Please join me online to learn more about my civil rights  agenda at:  www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights.     Together, we can create a more open and tolerant society that protects and values all people.  Thank you again for writing.  To be a part of our agenda for change, join us at www.WhiteHouse.gov 

Sincerely,

Barack Obama“

Mr. President – our families cannot wait any longer. Our binationals are being turned away at the airports, even as I write these words.  Just a few days ago a same-sex couple came home and  dispite having a  same-sex valid marriage and visa, the foreign partner was turned away at the airport and sent back to a country where he has no work, at the command of one ICE official given arbitrary power belying his age and qualifications.

If you cannot effect change immediatley, you must create a moratorium on all the unconscienable results of the inequitous laws that plague our lives; you MUST make what you yourself term civil rights your number one priority issue.  What could be more important than ALL Americans being treated the same way.   Is that not why we fight abroad.  What is the point of fighting on foreign soils and losing our soldiers while you continue to fail  your own at home when it comes to basic fairness and human rights. You must provide full civil rights to all your own citizens.

Do something now. Our LGBT leadership is disjointed and fragmented and we cannot expect our non-profits to take the helm in the face of this fragmentation.  Mr. president we voted for you to be our leader and now we expect YOU to be the ONE to lead us to equality. Please spare us your generic words and your purported civil rights agenda – you must come up with something to end all this – the Repeal of DOMA should be first on your list.  You must lead us to equality because you can;  ”YES YOU CAN”

Thank you Sir, for listening.

Article  Melanie Nathan. nathan@privatecourts.com; www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com www.visualcv.com/melnathan ;
Picture by Refael Nathan-Israel, 4 years old – taken at kid level of fridge magnets

I was absolutely flabbergasted when I heard this crazy woman under the guise of Physician;  a sad sorry being.  How did she get that seat to testify. Oh goodness help us. I sunk into deep despair – yes optimistic me – so depressed to see this video – it hits me like a ten ton truck – the fight – the battle.  Is this really happening?

How does one fight prejudice – hate- fear – insanity? Is there a formula?  I am not sure if there could be any worse sign of the times than a highly educated professional displaying such ignorance. 

I came to the US from South Africa 25 years ago- as Reagan was about to murder the middle class.  I thought America was diverse, tolerant, progressive.  I truly believed there was no racism here. I was proud to display my banned copy of the Life of Nelson Mandela on my West Hollywood coffee table.  I could not  be arrested here for that.  I could walk in West Hollywood holding my partner’s hand and I was safe.  This is America the law would protect me.

Then came the day my dream came true – In fron of Willy Brown, Mayor San Francisco I was sworn in as a citizen. What a celebration. The greatest Country in the World and I am its citizen.  I  vowed to do my bit – non-profit boards, commissions, volunteer, oh a lot more and I did.  but now I stand hated and marginalized and worse – my children considered unfit to have the relationship of their 2 parents  equated to that of their friends. Their college money spent on immigration attorneys, excess taxes and all the extra money it costs to be gay in America.

However today I awake to the reality of this Dr. Ruth Jacobs - a metaphor for the times – Maine, California, a never to be repealed DADT and DOMA – a few miserable tokenistic crumbs  hailed as progress;  - and what do we get Ruth Jacobs equating my right to marry to an anus and what should come out and not go in.  

Shame America! Shame that you allow such bigotry to taint the true value of this Country and the dream we all share.

g”>

Blogged by MELANIE NATHAN, CEO of Private Courts, Inc. Consulting, mediation & private advocacy ; motivated by injustice, I blog about family law/mediation, politics, news and LGBT equality and anything that ‘tickles my fancy.’ Otherwise blogging as O-blog-dee-o-blog-da. Websites and blogs include: http://www.privatecourts.com; http://www.divorcemediators.us; www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com. Contact nathan@privatecourts.com

I say – if stifling religious freedom saves lives, so be it!

Jackson told the newspaper he fears religious leaders could be prosecuted for inciting anti-gay violence, even though the legislation — expected to be signed Wednesday by President Barack Obama — contains language meant to preclude prosecution of religious leaders and others on the basis of speech or beliefs.

I say – let the chips fall where they may!

“We could find ourselves in a situation where we’re accused of inciting someone,” Jackson said. “I am categorically opposed to the hate crimes bill.”

I ask -Why did he not come out against Hate Crimes before sexual orientation was included?

Thank my Adonai for the solace I find in the voice of Rev. Steve Jolly of Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk’s who disagrees, telling the Virginian-Pilot: “If I stand up in the pulpit and say the consumption of alcohol is evil and we should pour it all in the river, that’s a personal opinion. That’s very different from saying, ‘There’s a bar down the road; let’s break in and pour all the alcohol into the river.’”

But I must say – people like the BISHOP – scare me still! Has he considered that the Hate Crimes ACT protects lesbians like me from people like him? His intent is clear and I am pleased to recall my law school lesson where I learnt mens rea is mens rea!

Refs: http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2009/10/virginia-pastor-says-hate-crimes-bill-stifles-religion.html

Blogged by MELANIE NATHAN, of Private Courts, Inc. Consulting, mediation & private advocacy; motivated by injustice, I blog about family, law, mediation, politics, news and LGBT equality and anything that ‘tickles my fancy.’ Otherwise blogging as O-blog-dee-o-blog-da. Websites and blogs include: http://www.privatecourts.com; http://www.divorcemediators.us; www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com. nathan@privatecourts.com

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