7/18 - Everyone wants immigration reform, unless...

Evangelical Christian leaders seem to oppose Obama on almost every issue that comes up. But it seems there's at least one topic where there is common ground - immigration reform. Glad to see that people are willing to compromise in the interest of the greater good. A NY Times article from Sunday discusses the rare confluence.

But as always, the Bible-thumpers feel the need to exclude some from their benevolence. The last paragraph:

"But Mr. Blackwell said the whole effort could implode if the final legislation extended family reunification provisions to same-sex couples where one spouse did not have legal status. For evangelicals, he said, 'That would be a deal-breaker.' "

7/20- Getting left behind

Sadly, the United States, which has traditionally been at the vanguard of human rights developments, finds itself falling behind in one of the great trends of human history.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/tuesday/sfl-072010-buzz-editorial-argentina-gay-rights,0,3275244.htmlstory

7/15 - Uniting Republicans and Islamicgovernments

What's one of the few subjects that could get a few members of the Republican part allied with Islamic governments? Gay rights, of course.

Congressional Republicans Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Trent Franks (R-Az) have rallied behind a coalition of Islamic governments urging foreign governments to oppose a U.S.-led effort to support a bid by an American gay and lesbian organization to gain full-fledged membership as a U.N. nongovernment organization.

Full article

Fox News Clips

Today, people can speak for themselves.

Sharron Angle, Republican senatorial candidate.

Christian group Family Research Council on sex ed.

Enjoy

Outrage of the Day - The US Military

So the President promised during his campaign to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. A promise that was ignored during his first year in office, and is barely getting traction in the second. He could issue an executive order halting dismissals, but apparently that would be too aggressive. So Congress includes the repeal of DADT in the defense appropriations bill. With the caveat that it be studied, and then reviewed, giving the President, SecDef, and Joint Chiefs chairman the chance to override the repeal for any reason. But at least it's moving...

On to the survey. $4.4 million dollars to survey current military members on their thoughts on gay servicemembers. Oddly, I don't recall the military doing than when it was racially integrated many years ago. A survey that's offensive on its face. That actual gay servicemembers can't honestly answer without risking self incrimination. Let's ignore questions about its statistical viability and completeness and simply focus on the cake's icing:

The Pentagon is considering segregation of the military as one of the options on the table. In response to questions from reporters, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell clarified that the survey responses could lead the military to conclude that it would "perhaps need adjustments to facilities themselves," indicating that it is not outside the realm of possibility that... the military would consider segregating gay and lesbian service members in some way.

America's first black president, trying to repeal a law that 80% of the American public believes should go, leaves segregation and separate-but-equal on the table.

Outrage of the Day - The Presbyterian Church

I grew up in the Presbyterian Church, and the parents are members still today. After years of studying and debating, the General Assembly decided this week to allow gay clergy to lead the church, but not to endorse marriage equality.

So if I understand this, the church now trusts gay people to lead and instruct them in spiritual topics, shepherding their immortal souls in the right direction. But allowing that same person a marriage license and associated benefits will destroy society.

Lame.

7/8/2010 - Sans outrage

Not a bad day, actually. The stupid woman in Hawaii compared gay marriage to incest today, noting that the state doesn't allow sibling and cousins to marry. Until someone challenged her on the cousins thing and she admitted she wasn't sure. Niiiiiice....

Partnered with a U.S. District court judge ruling the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional. I'm now firmly convinced that the far-right Bible-thumpers will prevent equality in America virtually any time it's left up to elected officials and the voters. As with interracial marriage, the courts will have to do what legislators and the public lack the spine to acknowledge.

7/7/2010 - Outrage of the Day

Hawaii gov vetoes same-sex civil unions bill

Twice-divorced governor Lingle of Hawaii decided to pander to the bigots and veto the civil unions bill. Because it's "essentially marriage". In the same way that the water from the "colored" fountain tastes the same as that from the "whites only" fountain.

Two words: "Fuck" and "You".