Monday, October 10, 2011
Michele Bachmann Brags About Antigay Record
Before her campaign started sinking in the polls, Michele Bachmann had habitually downplayed her opposition to all things gay as irrelevant. But in a new ad, brought to you by new campaign leadership, she wears it as a badge of honor.
"I'm running to be president of the United States," she reminds voters at the start, which is coincidentally a line she had once regularly employed to dodge questions about her belief in so-called reparative therapy to "cure" homosexuality and her opposition to same-sex marriage.
"Conservatives are being told once again that we should settle for anyone but Barack Obama," she argues. "Well, friends, this is the one year where we can't settle. I have fought for life from the statehouse to the United States Congress. I've led the charge as a champion for traditional marriage. And as president, I want you to know I'll fight for life and for marriage."
The ad is posted on YouTube under the headline "Don't Settle on Life and Marriage." It's a stark change from her "meet the candidate" interview on Meet the Press in August.
"I'm running to be president of the United States," she reminds voters at the start, which is coincidentally a line she had once regularly employed to dodge questions about her belief in so-called reparative therapy to "cure" homosexuality and her opposition to same-sex marriage.
"Conservatives are being told once again that we should settle for anyone but Barack Obama," she argues. "Well, friends, this is the one year where we can't settle. I have fought for life from the statehouse to the United States Congress. I've led the charge as a champion for traditional marriage. And as president, I want you to know I'll fight for life and for marriage."
The ad is posted on YouTube under the headline "Don't Settle on Life and Marriage." It's a stark change from her "meet the candidate" interview on Meet the Press in August.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
LeAnn Rimes Poses for Marriage Equality Campaign
This isn't the first time Rimes has stumped for equality. While performing in concert with the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles last December, Rimes admitted to being saddened by the bullying epidemic. “It's really sad when people can't be themselves,” she told the audience, before dedicating "The Rose" to LGBT teenagers.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Michele Bachmann Responds To Gay Bullying Petition: 'Bullying Is Wrong'
Rep. Michele Bachmann responded Monday to a petition that urged her to publicly address gay bullying.
"Bullying is wrong," she says, according to the blog Dump Bachmann.
Two weeks ago, Tammy Aaberg, whose son Justin committed suicide last July, met with members of Bachmann's staff to request that the congresswoman denounce the anti-gay bullying that Aaberg said led to her then-15-year-old son's death. She presented a box carrying 141,000 petitioning signatures, The Advocate reported.
A few days later, a Costa Mesa, Calif. rally attendee asked Bachmann about how she will address school bullying in her district.
"That's not a federal issue," she said, according to CBS News.
Bachmann's official response to the petition Monday notes that she is "very aware and concerned about the cases of bullying and suicides that have occurred" in Anoka-Hennepin Schools -- Minnesota's largest school district that falls in Bachmann's Congressional district. The blog Dump Bachmann published the full statement.
"In response, my office has been in communication with both school officials and with individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide," the statement reads. Bachmann also notes that she is just one of the members of Congress who represent the Anoka-Hennepin school district.
"Bullying is wrong," she says, according to the blog Dump Bachmann.
Two weeks ago, Tammy Aaberg, whose son Justin committed suicide last July, met with members of Bachmann's staff to request that the congresswoman denounce the anti-gay bullying that Aaberg said led to her then-15-year-old son's death. She presented a box carrying 141,000 petitioning signatures, The Advocate reported.
A few days later, a Costa Mesa, Calif. rally attendee asked Bachmann about how she will address school bullying in her district.
"That's not a federal issue," she said, according to CBS News.
Bachmann's official response to the petition Monday notes that she is "very aware and concerned about the cases of bullying and suicides that have occurred" in Anoka-Hennepin Schools -- Minnesota's largest school district that falls in Bachmann's Congressional district. The blog Dump Bachmann published the full statement.
"In response, my office has been in communication with both school officials and with individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide," the statement reads. Bachmann also notes that she is just one of the members of Congress who represent the Anoka-Hennepin school district.
Principal Assaults H.S. Student for Pro-Gay Shirt
Chris Sigler wore a homemade T-shirt to school last Tuesday that read, "Gay Straight Alliance: We've Got Your Back." Moser grabbed Chris's arm, shoved him against a wall, and chest-bumped him several times, while asking, "Who's the big man now?" The attack ended when Sigler's mother arrived at the school to find Moser leaning over her son, shouting in his face.
Boehner Triples DOMA Legal Budget
At a time when Americans are struggling through one of the worst economies in our nation's history, it is shameful that House Republicans are now tripling the spending of tax dollars - including those of gay and lesbian Americans - to defend a discriminatory anti-gay law that makes it even harder for committed gay and lesbian couples to take care of and protect their loved ones. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act is indefensible, and wasting tax dollars on perpetuating discrimination is unconscionable.
Gay Men Offered Fewer Job Interviews
According to a study published today in the American Journal of Sociology, men whose resumes indicate that they’re gay are 40% less likely to be called in for job interviews, especially in the south or Midwest.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
This 90 Percent Successful Vaccine May Be Our Best Chance to Eradicate AIDS
Spanish researchers have completed the first human trial of a new vaccine against HIV. It has been successful in 90% of the HIV-free volunteers during phase I testing. This vaccine brings great hope to eradicate this plague forever. The team lead by Dr Mariano Esteban, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council's Biotechnology National Centre, has been working on this method since 1999. They are using an attenuated virus called the MVA-B, a variation of the Modified Ankara Vaccinia, which was previously used to eradicate smallpox. The Modified Ankara Vaccinia also forms the base of other vaccines. The B refers to the HIV-B, the most common HIV subtype in Europe.
Dr Esteban's team inserted the HIV genes Gag, Pol, Nef and Env in MVA's genetic sequence. In 2008, they tried the resulting HIV nuke on mice and monkeys. It was a complete success.
Hudson Taylor's Work Combating Homophobia in Sports
Governor O'Malley is a Marylander for Marriage Equality
Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the coalition of groups working to pass same-sex marriage legislation in the state, launched a new video series on Monday. O’Malley, who has pledged to make the legislation a priority in 2012, appears in the first video.
In the 45-second spot, O’Malley talks about balancing religious freedom and the freedom to marry.
“As a free and diverse people of many different faiths, we choose to be governed under the law by certain fundamental principles, among them, equal protection of the law for every individual and the free exercise of religion without government intervention,” O’Malley says in the video. “The legislation we plan to introduce in the 2012 legislative session will protect religious freedom and equality of marital rights under the law.”
O’Malley, a former Baltimore mayor, announced in July that he would prioritize marriage equality legislation after receiving criticism for not being vocal enough in his support of the bill during the 2011 legislative session. Like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who successfully pushed for such legislation in New York this year, O’Malley is mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential hopeful in 2016.
Monday, October 3, 2011
9 Facts About The Stonewall Riots
Stonewall Riots
While the struggle for LGBT equality is more than a century old, many mark the 1969 Stonewall riots as the official “shot heard round the world” that sparked the beginning of what we know as the modern gay-rights movement. Even today, the last Sunday in June is marked by gay Pride around the world.
Check out these facts on the origins of Pride:
1. The Stonewall riots started at 1:20am on Saturday, June 28,1969 at The Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City. Another incident took place later that night.
2. The first gay Pride march didn’t take place until June 28, 1970. There were no floats—it was more of a politically-driven demonstration to commemorate the Stonewall Riots than the non-stop party it is today.
3. A unknown lesbian is responsible for starting the first riot. When a cop hit her in the head with a billy club and cuffed her, she turned to the crowd and screamed, “Why don’t you do something?!?” After an officer threw her into the back of a paddy wagon, “the scene became explosive”.
Early Pride Marchers
4. Kick lines and a re-write to the Howdy Doody theme song were part of the crowd’s reaction to the police attempting to control rioters.
5. The Stonewall Inn was owned and operated by the Mafia. There was a peephole in the door and if the bouncer didn’t recognize you or didn’t think you were gay, you weren’t getting in.
6. Stonewall had no running water behind the bar (plastic cups were not all the rage in the ’60s) and overflowing toilets were common.
7. At the time of the riots, cross-dressing was illegal. You could be arrested for not wearing a certain number of gender-appropriate garments. The night of the riot, female police officers took patrons dressed as women into the bathroom to confirm their sex.
8. Believe it or not, The Village Voice, today a gay-equality champion run by a lot of gays, took an anti-gay stance in covering the riots. Angry protesters threatened to burn their headquarters down.
9. The Voice provided favorable coverage of the Pride march the following year. In fact, the media as a whole began its painful, gradual ascent to a fair and balanced approach to LGBT issues.
Toby Keith Weighs In On Gay Marriage and Don't Ask Don't Tell
The country superstar tells "CMT Insider" airing Saturday on CMT that he doesn't see the reason behind getting into people's personal lives. He says refusing a marriage license to people because they are gay won't stop them from living together, so it accomplishes nothing.
Keith also weighed in on the military's now-repealed "don't ask, don't tell" policy that banned gays serving openly in uniform. He says that anyone with the training and passion should have the right to defend the country, adding: "Somebody's sexual preference is, like, who cares?"
The "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" singer has taken part in nine USO tours to entertain U.S. troops overseas.
Wal-Mart Extends Anti-Discrimination Policy to Trans Employees
Retail giant Wal-Mart has extended its non-discrimination policy to trans employees, drawing praise from GLBT equality advocates. Wal-Mart’s policies already covered gay and lesbian employees, though there have been claims of anti-gay harassment at specific store locations.
"What matters in the workplace is how you do your job, not your gender identity or sexual orientation," the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese, said in a Sept. 28 news release.
"As the nation’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart shows that doing the right thing is also good for business," Solmonese added. "We urge them to continue to move forward by ensuring all of their LGBT employees receive equal benefits."
"What matters in the workplace is how you do your job, not your gender identity or sexual orientation," the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese, said in a Sept. 28 news release.
"As the nation’s largest private employer, Wal-Mart shows that doing the right thing is also good for business," Solmonese added. "We urge them to continue to move forward by ensuring all of their LGBT employees receive equal benefits."
Pentagon Decides Military Chaplains May Perform Gay Marriages
The Pentagon on Friday announced it would allow military chaplains to officiate the marriages of gay service members, including on a military installation, the AP reported.
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley issued the ruling in a memo released this morning.
“A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law,” Stanley wrote.
The ruling comes 10 days after the military ended an 18-year-old policy that banned gay and bisexual troops from serving openly, known as “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley issued the ruling in a memo released this morning.
“A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law,” Stanley wrote.
The ruling comes 10 days after the military ended an 18-year-old policy that banned gay and bisexual troops from serving openly, known as “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Pope says Catholics cannot accept gay marriage
The 84-year-old pope ended the third day in his homeland with a rally for more about 30,000 young people at a fairground outside the southern city of Freiburg, a Catholic area where he received the warmest welcome of his trip so far.
"The world in which we live, in spite of its technical progress, does not seem to be getting any better," he told the young people. "There is still war and terror, hunger and disease, bitter poverty and merciless oppression."
He urged them to root out all forms of evil in society and not to be "lukewarm Christians," saying that lack of commitment to faith did more damage to their Church than its sworn enemies.
Young people in the crowd cheered as he spoke.
"The Church is shown very negatively in the media these days so it is important for us young people to see we can also be proud of the Church, and the Church itself is not bad even if some people have let it down," said Kathrin Doerr, 26, who attended the youth rally.
Earlier, at a meeting with Orthodox Christian leaders, Benedict spoke out against abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage.
"We as Christians attach great importance to defending the integrity and the uniqueness of marriage between one man and one woman from any kind of misinterpretation," he said.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
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