The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
In coverage that illuminates the incompetence of the administration in juggling the various constituencies and policy initiatives during the first year, Kerry Eleveld of The Advocate's "Universal Stagnation" hits the nail on the head as the push for immigration reform reveals a sadly similar approach by the administration when it came to moving on LGBT legislation:
But in echoes from legislative battles past, prior to meeting with the president, [Lindsey] Graham told Politico, "At the end of the day, the president needs to step it up a little bit. One line in the State of the Union is not going to do it."
Sound familiar? Not only could this sentiment be directly applied to the battle to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," but it more or less sums up health care reform as well. Sure, the administration has been overt about making health legislation its signature item, but the president didn't actually commit the details of his own bill to paper until the end of last month. In other words, for the better part of a year, the White House effectively sidestepped calls from the Hill for more involvement in the effort.
But when it comes down to it, there's really no excuse for passivity and a Congress afraid of governing.
A combination of the administration's passive approach to guiding the legislative process and health reform sucking up all the air in the room has left a trail of flailing legislative efforts in its wake.
As for the lack of movement on LGBT bills, the same Hill insider added, "It's more a problem of competence than political malice," a conclusion many progressive political operatives have been reaching.
But even though the administration isn't solely to blame for the inertia, what we do know is that an extra nudge from the White House can put pro-equality legislation on the front burner. It's no secret that the hate-crimes measure started to move in the Senate last year after President Obama placed a personal call to Majority Leader Harry Reid.
The bombshell, though, is that Kerry spoke to Barney Frank and despite all of the progress on the PR front re: DADT in the last several weeks, the Obama administration has no intention of pushing for repeal either as a standalone bill or in defense re-authorization this year. Our issues are getting punted into next year -- an election year -- where spines turn to jellyfish.
As Rep. Barney Frank told me Friday, "I'm disappointed with the administration talking about delaying legislation for a year. But I'm working with Patrick Murphy [the lead sponsor of the House repeal bill] on it and I'm hoping we can push ahead."
Like many pro-repeal advocates, Frank has consistently pinpointed the National Defense Authorization Act as "the only vehicle" for overturning the ban legislatively. When I noted that the White House has failed to designate the defense authorization bill over a stand-alone bill as its preferred method for repealing the policy, Frank responded, "That's because they don't want it done this year, not because they want it done separately."
Angelisa Young and Sinjoyla Townsend Officiant: Rev. David K. North, Pastor of Holy Redeemer of Metropolitan Community Churches, College Park, MD Angelisa and Sinjoyla, both African-American women who reside in Ward 8 of the District, were the first in line to register for a marriage license, and will be the first lesbian couple to legally wed in the nation's capital. Angelisa (age 47) and Sinjoyla (age 41) have been together for 12 years and have two children.
Reginald (Reggie) Stanley and Rocky Galloway Officiant: Rev Sylvia E. Sumter, Pastor of Unity of Washington, DC Reggie and Rocky, both African-American, are long-time residents of the District. They are both 50 years old and have two children. Reggie and Rocky will be married immediately following Angelisa and Sinjoyla. Participating in their ceremony will be Jim Cullion (the best man) and Cherrie McCoy (the best woman).
Rev. Elder Darlene Garner and Rev. Lorilyn Candy Holmes Officiant: Rev. Dwayne Johnson, Pastor of Metropolitan Community Churches, Washington, DC Rev. Elder Darlene and Rev. Candy, both African-American, were both born in D.C. and are currently residents of Laurel, MD. Each serve in leadership roles in the MCC Church and have been active in the D.C. community for more than 20 years. Darlene (61) and Candy (53), are mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and will celebrate their legal wedding ceremony immediately following Reggie and Rocky.
If you surf over to HRC Back Story, you can see videos from today's press conference on the Hill featuring lawmakers and service members, including U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Eric Alva) US Army Veteran Kayla Williams; and US Army Veteran, HRC DADT Repeal Advocate Jarrod Chlapowski, and HRC's Joe Solmonese. Here is Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA).
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), alongside lesbian, gay and straight veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, held a press conference today in coordination with a swell of average Americans fighting for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). The event is timed with HRC's annual spring Lobby Day where more than 300 members and supporters are expected to participate.
"One of the worst things that you can hear when you are lobbying is that 'no one in my district is gay and no one in my district wants me to vote for this.' We know that's not true of any district but we have to prove it," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, while speaking to more than 300 average American's demanding repeal today on the Hill. "We come with the most powerful message of all: I am your constituent, and your constituents, like the rest of America, have had enough of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"
This week, U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 in the U.S. Senate. The bill would repeal the military's DADT law, which prohibits lesbians and gays from serving openly in the U.S. Armed Forces. Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran and a former paratrooper in the U.S. Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, is the lead sponsor of similar legislation in the U.S House of Representatives....HRC is also asking members and supporters to sign up and to join the growing network of supporters to repeal DADT. To learn more visit: www.hrc.org/RepealDADT.
Today also happens to be HRC's Virtual Lobby Day, a way to make a difference even if you're not marching up to meet with your legislators on Capitol Hill.
·Follow-up with a phone call. The Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Tell them where you live, and they’ll connect you to any of your lawmakers’ offices. Tell your lawmakers that you’re calling to urge Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year.
·Use Twitter to spread the word. Our volunteer lobbyists will be tweeting from the Capitol using the #DADT hashtag. Once you take action, tweet about the experience and join the conversation.
UPDATE: Today and tomorrow HRC's board meets. With the increasing cloud of doom of backtracking we're hearing (and what Kerry Eleveld is reporting), I hope the board is arming themselves with information to say we need a hard push on the President and members of Congress to make Joe Solmonese's promise at the HRC Carolinas dinner to be realized. As things stand now, it will take more than you calls to Congress to intercede to repeal in 2010.
DADT Review First, Repeal Later?
As the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel questioned the three witnesses responsible for conducting a yearlong review on repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," one thing became perfectly clear: The Pentagon favors completing the review before Congress acts legislatively.
"I would think that members of Congress would like to be informed by our work," said Gen. Carter Ham, cochair of the three-member working group appointed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to study implementation. "I think it's very important that we understand the impacts of repeal before it occurs."
Ham appeared alongside Jeh Johnson, Department of Defense general counsel and fellow cochair, and Clifford Stanley, a retired Army general and Defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
Rep. Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, chief sponsor of the House's repeal bill, sought to clarify the goal of the working group.
"It's not to discuss if we're going to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' - the discussion today is how the services will implement repeal to ensure there's no disruption of our forces," Murphy said.
HRCs' President Joe Solmonese delivered some news at the HRC Carolinas Gala on Saturday night.
I was there reporting for the Blend as he made these emphatic statements to the members of the LGBT community and allies from North and South Carolina in attendance at the Raleigh Convention Center about what was going to be accomplished this year (quoting from my video below):
1. "We are going to eliminate the tax that you pay on domestic partner benefits. We're going to get rid of that this year at long last."
2. "We are going to extend domestic partnerships to federal employees."
3. "We are going to get people living with HIV/AIDS treatment much earlier if they are on public assistance."
4. "And finally, finally this year we are going to bring down the discriminatory policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'...once and for all."
And Solmonese acknowledged that it doing these measures is essential because of the political dynamics of the 2010 elections, something many of us in the netroots sounded the alert on last week -- the reason for the blogswarm.
I also get that there is a drumbeat coming from our community to put more pressure on, to make more demands of the President and members of Congress to get it done this year because who knows what's going to happen at the mid-term electionsand frankly they are right and our time is now.
My jaw just about hit the floor. Has hell frozen over? We're right for once, and not the enemy? I appreciate the break in that ice. It shouldn't be hard to be on the same page as this closing window of opportunity harms us all.
HRC is best positioned to lead at this crucial time -- and mobilize action in the community, on the Hill and make it clear to this President not to delay and deny after the promises have been made.
The list of issues and organizations lined up at the President's door knocking on it for action is long, and without assertive, concerted action on our community's part (on all fronts), we'll be waiting not one year, but who knows how long once the 2012 election cycle gears up. Our issues will shrivel away.
He cited as his reasons for confidence in DADT repeal this year: the President's statement during the State of the Union address, the testimony of Chair of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mullen and Sec. Def. Gates, and the support by Colin Powell and Dick Cheney to move on DADT.
I'm not sure the significance of Solmonese's remarks, given the ups and downs of the political machinations regarding DADT in just a matter of a couple of weeks really hit many in the audience, given those I chatted with at the end of the evening.
American Idol star and Raleigh native Clay Aiken will appear at this year's HRC Carolinas Gala, held at the city's new convention center Saturday night, and he will deliver an address on LGBT equality at the event. (N&O):
"There are people who are loud and make noise, and there are people who are deliberate and slow and steady," Aiken said during an interview this week at a downtown coffee shop. "Right now, at this point in my life, I feel like a slow and steady person."
Aiken, a Raleigh native and platinum-selling pop singer, made headlines in 2008 when he appeared on the cover of People magazine with the headline, "Yes, I'm gay."
...Since it was announced that Aiken would speak at the HRC gala, organizers have received e-mail from his fans. Some have said that Aiken's appearance has caused them to have conversations about sexuality they wouldn't have had otherwise, said Joni Madison, who is helping to organize the gala.
..."It's more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights - if he's gay - than it is for me. I don't want to do anything today that's going to inhibit or be a detriment to his rights."
The visibility of Aiken, who doesn't consider or present himself as an "activist," speaks volumes in a state like NC. We have few statewide rights (we do have hospital visitation parity, and an inclusive anti-bullying bill), but our metro areas are surprisingly fertile and vibrant ground for LGBTs to plant roots and live comfortably out of the closet. And that's what Clay means by slow and steady - we're not going to receive our rights on a fast track; we have to effect change by living our lives out when it is safe to do so. I know it's sometimes hard to explain to those from gay ghettos how things are different here, it's not entirely oppressive, but it's not the Castro by a long shot.
Neighbors and colleagues know and accept their LGBT neighbors because we're everywhere, but you've got a bunch of good old boys in the legislature that are going nowhere fast to give you rights on the books. The change is coming from the many private employers that provide employment benefits and non-discrimination policies. The best way to effect social change is for those who are safe to live life out of the closet. And that's why I do so -- and speak out when I can locally. It's why we need to be visible and visit with our state legislators so they cannot deny we exist. It's why more LGBT people in this state need to step beyond their comfort zones and kick the closet door open.
Too many are too comfortable in the safety of private employers' forward-thinking policies and ignore the many, many fellow LGBTs in this state living in small, bigoted towns who need us to be visible for them. It's all a microcosm of what happens in deep Blue states that forget the battles and lack of basic civil rights in flyover country.
Since Clay Aiken publicly came out relatively recently, and after he already had a high profile, he is now giving North Carolinians -- who saw him as a local boy made good -- a chance to see him through a new prism, as a father, an artist and a human being who is also gay.
When you have ignoramuses like Rep. Virginia Foxx demonizing gay people, she demonizes Clay Aiken. She demonizes me. We're all North Carolina natives with roots here, and we're all human beings. Living out of the closet means something. That in itself is powerful activism in the South, or anywhere LGBTs are politically behind the 8-ball for now.
Good for Clay, good for civil equality goals in North Carolina.
***
SIDE NOTE: I was supposed to be in NYC at a forum on immigration equality, but as you might have noticed, they had a little snowpocalypse and my blogmistress flight of the damned thing kicked in and my plane never left NYC to return to RDU to get me -- it was canceled; but at least I found out before going to the airport.
The good news is I have press credentials to cover the HRC dinner and I'll be able to share some photos and video.
A funny Clay Aiken story - he emailed me a while back, maybe a year ago, saying he was a fan of PHB. We played email tag for a while and never managed to connect to have lunch. One day I'm at work and my cell rings (I almost never answer it at work), I by chance pick it up and it's Clay Aiken on the phone. I recognized his soft polite Southern twang and he said he was calling to apologize about not connecting. Of course this was amusing since I wasn't offended -- the guy probably travels all over for gigs, so I assume he's on the road a lot So anyway, hopefully I'll catch him tomorrow and grab a short interview or finally nail down that lunch date.
North Carolina Rep. Sue Myrick supports our military, but when it comes to DADT, she's not onboard, even though Navy Adm. Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have called for repeal of the discriminatory policy.
Myrick, who's been a vocal opponent of gay rights, received a 91 percent rating from the American Conservative Union in 2008. In 2004, she was a leading supporter of legislation to keep states from recognizing same-sex marriage, and she told reporters that the topic triggered more calls and e-mails to her office than any other issue.
In order get her attention, today the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), in a joint effort with the Human Rights Campaign is holding a rally and launching CRANE's "March for Myrick" campaign, since she is in clear need of education.
The HRC gives Myrick a big fat zero rating -- and that sadly matches the rest of my state's House Republican delegation in terms of LGBT advocacy. (Imagine Virginia Foxx cloned over and over in some parts of the state).
"Representative Myrick has very much a pro-military, pro-national security record," Comer said. "In past couple years, she's spoken out on issues, especially when it comes to the war on terror. Since she does place such an importance on military readiness, it makes no sense she would not sponsor the military readiness bill."
Over the next few weeks, CRANE and supporters plan to gather 13,500 plastic toy soldiers (do they make them in pink?) to deliver to Myrick's office at the end of March. That number represents the gays and lesbians who have been discharged from the military because of their sexual oriengation since the policy began under President Clinton in 1993.
SLDN Hails Sen. Lieberman as Quarterback of DADT Senate Bill
Senator focuses on national security, military effectiveness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network applauds Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) historic announcement today that he intends to introduce a bill next week repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. A statement by Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director, follows.
"After 16 long years, we anticipate the first Senate repeal bill, thanks to the leadership of Sen. Lieberman. He has a long history of supporting a strong national security and in opposing discrimination of all kinds. We welcome the senator's leadership and commitment.
"We've already heard this morning from a few of the 66,000 gay and lesbian troops currently serving. They know this is another big step toward ending the 1993 ban and to improving the U.S. military's effectiveness in fighting and winning the nation's wars.
"We remain hopeful the Senate bill introduction will be bipartisan and look forward to the specifics on language and a timeline. We hope the Lieberman bill closely mirrors the Military Readiness Enhancement Act in the House of Representatives (HR 1283), though with the extended implementation period SLDN proposed to the Defense Department, White House, and members of Congress last month. Senior Pentagon leaders have requested time to review how to implement a new policy of nondiscrimination. Our revised legislative implementation language tacks on additional time for the Pentagon Working Group to complete its review.
"Congress, however, must do its job and repeal DADT this year while the Department of Defense conducts its study. Both can and should happen concurrently. The best way to erase the law from the books in 2010 is for the Obama Administration to include repeal in the defense authorization bill and for Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to also include repeal of the law in the defense bill he reports out of his committee. Our job at SLDN is to help Chairman Levin get the needed repeal vote in committee."
Lieberman to Introduce "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Bill in Senate
Announcement Continues Historic Momentum Toward Legislative Action in 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/22/2010
WASHINGTON, DC - Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies, enthusiastically lauded today's news that Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) would soon be introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. The revelation came by way of an interview given to James Kirchick for an article published overnight by the New York Daily News.
"This is yet another historic step for the movement to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law and a welcomed moment for the tens of thousands of men and women who continue to be impacted by this unnecessary and outdated law," said Alexander Nicholson, a former U.S. Army Human Intelligence Collector who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the current Executive Director of Servicemembers United.
"We are exceedingly proud of the courage and leadership that Senator Lieberman is showing, and we strongly urge the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress to proactively support Senator Lieberman's forthcoming bill."
"I have been asked by both the White House and by advocacy groups within the gay rights community to be the lead sponsor, and I'm glad to do it," Lieberman is quoted as saying.
Last month, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that they now support repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law as long as the Pentagon could first do an implementation management analysis before full repeal goes into effect. Admiral Mullen also mentioned that he would like to see a subsequent transition period over which the policy change could be phased in.
In response to the opportunity presented by this historic testimony, Servicemembers United recently resurfaced its "Set End-date / Delayed Implementation" model for repeal legislation and made the case for the introduction and adoption of such legislation in 2010. The proposal would see to it that full repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law gets locked in this year while also allowing the Pentagon time to complete it's analysis.
To strengthen the prospects for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and to reduce political risk, the President can still order the Pentagon to include "Set End-date / Delayed Implementation" repeal language in one of the legislative policy transmittals that will soon be sent to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by the Department of Defense. These policy proposal packages serve as indications of White House and Pentagon support for policy changes to be included in the next National Defense Authorization Act.
Additionally, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee could insert Senator Lieberman's new bill into the Chairman's mark of the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which will soon be drafted. Such a move, especially in combination with the Presidential action through Pentagon policy transmittals, could turn out to be the path of least resistance for repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and could help shield vulnerable members of the President's and the Chairman's own party.
Servicemembers United's "Set End-date / Delayed Implementation" repeal plan can be found at www.servicemembersunited.org/2010plan. For more information on Servicemembers United, please visit www.servicemembersunited.org. For the latest information on polling, statistics, studies, and other archival information related to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" issue, please visit www.dadtarchive.org.
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Servicemembers United, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans and their allies. Based in Washington, DC, Servicemembers United actively engages in education, advocacy, and lobbying on issues affecting the gay military, veteran, and defense community.
Gaining momentum, the blog swarm urging HRC to take a more assertive stance with the White House (and with that, pressure Congress) in order to repeal has been picked up by The Advocate.
The bloggers are looking for the President to take a lead role in ensuring that Congress passes legislation to overturn the military's gay ban this year and to publicly call on Congress to do so. To that end, they are mounting what they called a "blog swarm" to compel HRC to advocate more vocally for the President to take a stand.
..."We truly believe that if HRC were to openly call on the White House to get DADT repealed this year, it would happen. Mostly because Democrats are rightly worried about the gay vote (and the support of our straight allies) months before a critical congressional election."
The post encourages readers to contact HRC and voice their concerns and provides the following information:
HRC front desk: (202) 628-4160
TTY: (202) 216-1572
Toll-Free: (800) 777-4723
HRC website comment page: http://www.hrc.org/12022.htm General membership e-mail at hrc: membership@hrc.org
Many gay rights advocates have been frustrated, not only by the pace of change in the Obama Administration, but the muted response from the national organizations, who they feel should be more aggressive in advocating for those changes. This action against the HRC seeks to push them into the spotlight with public pressure on the White House and members of Congress, and bloggers note that their close working relationship with the White House would mean that public statements of the type they desire would send a powerful signal.
Adam Bink at Open Left has a really strong piece underscoring additional ways HRC, the blogosphere and readers can act:
I think increased pressure from HRC is important, though what I'd really like to see is four-fold, and I've called for several for months now:
Increased pushback in the media when items come out like the Pentagon considering segregated shower facilities or the Pentagon memo originally advising the President "now is not the time" (here)
Increased pushback on the one-year "study", like Rep. Sestak did in my interview (here), and emphasizing that Congress must repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell this year while the Pentagon completes its study
Increased pushback by warning, like the labor unions are doing, that angry and apathetic LGBT voters will stay home in droves during the 2010 elections (here)
Mobilization aimed at the White House. The night of the State of the Union speech, HRC launched its Voices of Honor campaign around grassroots mobilization, media events and legislative pressure. This is all important, but what remains to be seen is presidential leadership on the issue. John is dead-on here:
Unfortunately, we've reached a point with the Obama administration where allies have to publicly demand action, or promises are never kept. Just last week, the AFL-CIO was forced to send an action alert to its members, targeting the White House. If it's good enough for the unions, it's good enough for us.
Just like I asked LGBT leaders and activists to take a page out of labor's book on media pushback, HRC could do the same on this front. I'm not going to be satisfied with an official HRC statement "calling" on the White House to ask Congress. I'd like to see grassroots mobilization to do the same.
John et al are right that the momentum is on our side. We don't just need legislative mobilization, we need strong leadership, both from traditional groups and from the Administration, to push this through, and I'd like to see it on multiple fronts.
Kerry Eleveld just put out the word that The Advocate's new 60 Minutes-style video magazine has debuted, and in a feature that dovetails quite nicely with today's blogswarm, she interviews HRC's Joe Solmonese and asks the question "What gives?" and What happened to "Yes We Can?"
She also speaks to John Aravosis, Hilary Rosen, Tammy Baldwin and Larry Kramer.
(NOTE: We're keeping this post up top for a while, new servings of the Blend are below...)
The election of Barack Obama to serve our country as President of the United States was due in great measure to his promise to effect change in Washington. He told voters that he would stop the political logjams and use his bully pulpit to work with and demand that Congress act on issues that lay dormant or actively opposed during Republican rule. And that list was long - health care, the environment, the military actions abroad, civil rights and liberties...
And there were specific promises made to the LGBT community about the importance of acting on many of the issues we discuss here on the Blend -- ENDA, DADT repeal, DOMA, UAFA, etc.
Don't Ask Don't Tell needs to be repealed in 2010
Since his inauguration, a concerted White House effort to back-burner pressing Congress to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Actually, the President talked a great game about doing it in speeches, including the State of the Union, and at dinners to our community leaders, suggesting an urgency to allow gays and lesbians to no longer remain closeted and serve in the military. This was underscored by the fact that the ranks of qualified, experienced service members are being stretched thinner with each day due to our commitments at home and abroad.
The role of HRC in pressing the WH
The largest LBGT organization in the country, the Human Rights Campaign -- with nearly a million members, according to president and executive director Joe Solmonese -- is seen by the White House, Congress, and the mainstream media as the community's official representative inside the Beltway. HRC had the ear of the White House -- attending strategy meetings on LGBT policy, and appeared numerous times at public social and political events, such as the signing of the hate crimes bill.
While many in the LGBT community have criticized HRC on many occasions (including yours truly), the motivation, at least on my part, I cannot speak for others, is that its position and responsibility is so critical now that we have an administration that has made promises --and dodged action.
Why now?
If DADT is not repealed in 2010, you're not going to see it happen in this administration's first term. Between retirements, deaths, and poor leadership, Democratic control of Congress is in jeopardy this year. When Scott Brown won the "Ted Kennedy" seat in Massachusetts, you saw a distinct panic and desire to move to the middle, a signal that hot button issues (read: civil rights for LGBTs) were going to be submerged, deemed too controversial. The administration cannot guarantee there will be a second term either.
Repealing DADT is not controversial with the public -- polls have been strongly in favor of repeal for some time now with Colin Powell and Dick Cheney of all people calling for repeal. There is no reason for timidity in calling for accountability now that Secretary of Defense Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mullen have called for this policy to end.
Tax-paying LGBTs have pulled out their wallets for the Human Rights Campaign for years, waiting for the day their investment would result in action once a gay-friendly administration and Congress were finally in place. Now is the time time to act. We need the full force of HRC flexing its political muscle to call for the President to publicly press for repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
If we have "White House officials" floating that it could take years before repeal, then we know there is not leadership going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But we do know that repeal of DADT could be included in the Defense Budget he sends to Congress soon if pressed to do so.
What can you do?
This is a call for you to tell HRC that it's time to use its role and reach in an assertive, public manner as other organizations -- such as the AFL-CIO -- have had to do to move its issues onto the priority list of this White House.
Blog about it, share this action item widely on Facebook or Twitter.
And by blog swarming this issue including linking to blogs that are also participating, you show that the LGBT and ally community mean business. The polls, support from the military and the momentum is in our favor to act now. Let HRC, the President and Congress -- and the media -- know with this action that we know the political clock is ticking.
Here is the list of sponsors of the DADT blog swarm, linking to their posts on this topic:
UPDATE: An interesting and not unexpected response from an HRC affiliate (not claiming to speak for the national office), that Americablog posted about.
It's exactly as we said, HRC seems genetically incapable of ever challenging President Obama on anything. They simply parrot the Obama line - the President is supposedly powerless, you know, to influence legislation - and think that what's best for Barack Obama is best for gay America. Well, sometimes it's not. Sometimes you actually have to challenge the President. Sometime you have to recognize that the President of the United States of America actually has some political capital at his disposal - especially on an issue involving the military when he's the commander in chief.
HRC today, via one of its local affiliates, responded to today's DADT blog swarm, launched by top blogs in the gay and non-gay blogosphere, by yet again defending the President and deflecting the blame to Congress for the inaction on 'Don't Ask Don't Tell.'
Here's what Equality Beach (the political blog for HRC Orange County/Long Beach/Palm Spring) said:
In a coordinated campaign launched by AMERICAblog, Pam's House Blend, Towleroad, DailyKos, Joe.My.God, Bilerico, Dan Savage, and others, several LGBT blogs are calling on their readers to call HRC and demand that HRC call on the President to act on DADT. I guess the reasoning is they do not feel HRC is doing enough to push the issues, particularly with DADT. HRC is not Congress or the President, we cannot write legislation, sign bills, or anything else. We lobby with people power and money.
While I disagree with this specific approach, calling your member of Congress and Senators and the White House would be a better use of your time.
No one said that you shouldn't contact your representatives. The point of the blogswarm is to activate the organization paid to lobby those very elected officials in person, as well as the White House. And look at, to date, the lack of leadership on DADT repeal we've seen from the President, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Again, John:
Was HRC in a coma last year? Did they not witness the melt down on health care reform that occurred because the White House refused to lead on a key campaign promise, but instead sat back and "waited for congress" to act?
Yes, by all means, do what HRC says and call Congress. Congress does need to pass the DADT repeal, and they do need to feel pressure. But I worked in the Senate, for five years, and I can tell you as a fact that Congress won't touch the repeal until the President tells them what he wants. This is what Joe Sudbay and I are being told when we call offices on Capitol Hill. No one knows what the President wants. Does he want DADT repealed this year, next year, during the next administration (if there is one)? No one knows, because the President likes to issue vague statements of support for repeal, then disappear into the background when people ask him "when?"
We've all learned all too well, and painfully, that when the President doesn't lead, Congress doesn't follow. HRC should stop treating Barack Obama as their boyfriend, and start treating him as a politician who isn't keeping his promises.
In the almost seventeen years since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. The principal issue has always been the effectiveness of the Armed Forces and order and discipline in the ranks.
I strongly believe that this is a judgment to be made by the current military leadership and the Commander in Chief. It is also a judgment Congress must make. For the past two years, I have expressed the view that it was time for the law to be reviewed by Congress.
I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I will be closely following future hearings, the views of the Service Chiefs and the implementation work being done by the Department of Defense.
A press release from HRC:
Gen. Colin Powell Adds his Powerful Voice in Support of Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Powell, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Supported Law in 1993 but now "Fully Support(s)" Secy Gates and Adm. Mullens' Strategy for Repeal
WASHINGTON - Today, the effort to repeal the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell law received a monumental boost of support from General Colin Powell. The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1990's, who supported the law's passage back in 1993, changed his position in a statement sent out today saying, "attitudes and circumstances have changed". In voicing his support for the law's repeal, Gen. Powell threw his full support behind, "the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen."
"General Powell has made clear that his position is about effectiveness in the military," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
"His powerful voice for ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a tipping point in favor of the brave men and women who are serving our nation in silence. The support of respected present and former military leaders brings us closer to repeal, signaling that we're moving forward and will get there soon. Opposing repeal now means second-guessing some of our nation's top military leaders, including the Joint Chiefs chairman who opposed open service in the 1990's when Don't Ask, Don't Tell became law."
Gen. Powell's announcement today of his support for repealing the law joins that of current Joint Chiefs chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen, who yesterday became the first Joint Chiefs chairman to ever speak out in support of repeal since Don't Ask, Don't Tell became law back in 1993. Gen. Powell's statement today cited that, "the principal issue has always been the effectiveness of the Armed Forces and order and discipline in the ranks."
Solmonese continued, "I want to ask the senators and members who are speaking out against this repeal-what do you know about military effectiveness that General Powell, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and the Commander in Chief don't know? The truth is that there are no more excuses, the death knell for Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been rung and now is the moment to send this law into the history books where it belongs."
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
It's good to see that 305 companies made the list for their LGBT-supportive practices and employment policies.
Today the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its annual list of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." This year 305 companies were awarded this distinction for their employment policies and practices that include LGBT workers and their families. A complete list of the honored businesses is available online: said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. Said HRC President Joe Solmonese:
"These companies' actions constitute tangible, significant civil rights progress. By mandating equal opportunity in hiring, ensuring equal compensation through medical and family benefits, and promoting informed work forces and equal work places, these companies light the way for advances in state and federal law. The list of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality" is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking employment with a company that supports our community. Corporate America continues to make progress, and federal law has to catch up. That's the job ahead of us."
You can read statements from reps of companies that rated 100 on the list. Here they are below the fold, with a sampling of comments. You'll also see who's at the bottom of the (Cracker) barrel.
LGBT ADVOCATES DECRY EFFORTS OF ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE GROUP TO SWING SENATE RACE TO BROWN Boston, MA - Leaders in the LGBT community today responded sharply to reports that the National Organization of Marriage (NOM) placed thousands of robo-calls to Massachusetts voters on Saturday, urging them to defeat "radical" Martha Coakley because of her support of same-sex marriage.
MassEquality and the Human Rights campaign were joined by Congressman Barney Frank and State Representative Carl Sciortino in decrying the use of this divisive strategy to attempt to elect Brown.
"Voters deserve to know that this out-of-state extremist group is using anti-gay rhetoric to try to influence the election by attacking the thousands of gay families who live and work in our state," said Scott Gortikov, Executive Director of MassEquality.
"Make no mistake -- Scott Brown is an anti-equality candidate showing his true colors by aligning his election prospects with the National Organization for Marriage. NOM wouldn't be calling into Massachusetts if it weren't convinced that Brown will continue to be his anti-equality record in the Senate," said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign.
"It's important for people to know about the underground right-wing campaign Scott Brown is running," said Congressman Barney Frank. "His plan is to benefit from the support of the most active, extreme conservatives while he falsely portrays himself as a moderate."
"Scott Brown needs to come clean on his relationship with these far right extremists like the National Organization for Marriage," said State Representative Carl Sciortino (D-Somerville).
According to reports, the robocalls asked voters if they support same-sex marriage. Only those who oppose same-sex marriage heard the second part of the call, strongly urging a vote for Brown.
The National Organization for Marriage is a controversial organization which was formed in 2007 to promote Proposition 8, the anti-gay marriage amendment passed in California in 2008. Since its formation, NOM has run anti-gay ads nationwide and, most recently, it was the largest single contributor to the recent successful effort in Maine to invalidate the state's same-sex marriage law.
One source said LGBT leaders had sent "strong signals" to the White House that they want repeal to happen this year and that there would be "repercussions" if it did not. The source would not say what form those repercussions might take.
-- from Kerry Eleveld's article, "Activists Call Urgent "Don't Ask/Tell" Meeting"
Now I'm kind of concerned that Big Gay is out there issuing ultimatums on our behalf, because I'm sure you don't want to see our movement go down in flames when the Obama admin and Congress jerk us around again -- and there are no repurcussions of significance.
I think it's ironic when the gay netroots have been calling for action for a long time (The "No Excuses" theme regarding action on our issues was not created in HRC's shop, btw) and have been chastised endlessly for the lack of patience -- "he's only been in office __ months." Well now our leaders are pissed, (and, now many progressives as well) about getting the shaft by Congress and the White House. They are late to the game.
We sad little know-nothings in Cheetos-stained pajamas saw this coming, but hey -- we're just rubes, politically unsophisticated, you know. Just not smart enough to understand how it all works.
Well, thankfully our movement's movers and shakers are finally waking up to political reality -- the cocktails for a few came along with a big "talk to the hand" for everyone else. Our community (or rather, those who do have access) must be seen seen as easy to buy off and stall.
Our movement has wasted the opening months of this administration trying to denigrate voices from the outside who knew our civil rights were going to get backburnered because of 1) health care, 2) the endless military debacles, 3) all other progressive causes waiting in line that have been out in the cold for years. The only way to move ahead in the line when it comes to civil rights and a group -- LGBTs -- is to stop the glad handing and to have a plan, not fret over the gay netroots.
The bottom line is that LGBT rights are not seen by the vast majority of potential allies as worthy of moving up the action chain because of the baseless perception that we are a political liability for elected officials and not really hurting. The black tie gladhanding is not seen as any indicator that hardball politics is going to be played. These elected officials drained our ATM to get elected. They work for us. The shuffling and tap dancing time is over, people.
And so there was the emergency meeting (as John Aravosis noted, was not organized by these groups, but by a third unnamed party). Kerry:
The two-hour long meeting was unusual in that it assembled the advisers to major LGBT political donors from outside the Beltway such as Tim Gill, Jon Stryker and David Bohnett alongside DC-based lobby groups such as HRC, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the Center for American Progress, and The Palm Center as well as lobbyists with ties to the White House and Congress.
The gathering resulted from a growing sense of urgency that 2010 is a make-or-break moment for repealing the military's gay ban and that the White House would likely make a decision about how to move forward on "don't ask, don't tell" sometime in the next several weeks.
Participants declined to discuss specific strategy with The Advocate but said they mulled over how LGBT leaders would move forward if the White House decided to make a strong push for repeal or, alternatively, if it took a pass on the issue this year.
And after that, the whole "repurcussions" quote came up. There's no need to keep this a secret -- what, pray tell, will our institutional leaders do when the WH and Congress take the football away as our peeps try to kick it?
John:
In contrast to past statements from gay groups and administration officials that "there is a plan" with regards to the President's gay rights promises, including DADT, the secret meeting (and the Times article) both made clear that there still is no plan at all.
Both the meeting and the Times article confirm that the White House has not even decided if it will push for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, let alone what exactly it will push for for, if anything (as noted in the Times article, the Pentagon is even considering whether a "separate but equal" policy should be adopted). The hope is that the White House will come to a decision and announce what, if anything, it is going to do about moving forward on the repeal of DADT sometime in the next month or two. But the groups have no idea what the White House is going to decide, or when it will decide, and therefore cannot and will not endorse an all-out campaign to support the repeal of DADT until the White House makes up its mind.
The unnamed source John spoke to clearly indicates the White House is calling all of the shots here, and is flexing its muscle to shut criticism down.
Maybe I can just make up a plan. Will we get the memo when it's time to "do something" when nothing passes in 2010?
Some attendees expressed guarded optimism during the meeting because many in the room had "been guaranteed that this is a priority for the president" -- some by President Obama himself and others by some of his top advisors. But one source weighed that against the fact that health reform was also a top priority for the administration and its passage has not gone smoothly. "There's an awful lot of distance between something a president says and actually making it come to light," said the source.
Another hurdle, many felt, was that although advisers like White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Jim Messina, Director of the Office of Political Affairs Patrick Gaspard, and Director of Domestic Policy Council Melody Barnes are viewed as pro-LGBT, there's really no single power broker in the White House who's consistently pulling for LGBT issues.
OK. I have to ask a question here. Where has Brian Bond, the Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement (aka the LGBT liaison) been during all of this? He's nowhere in this piece and he's supposed to be the Obama administration's primary contact with our orgs all this time. (BTW, Brian never did get back to me about any further WH plans to interact with LGBT New Media/citizen journalists, as the WH has with other interest-group media. Take what you want from that. )
This does raise a broader, more structural problem about our connections to the White House, since there are allegedly so many pro-LGBT people on staff - what is has been done to facilitate action so that it didn't come to this point?
You'd have thought our leaders would have been incensed earlier on, given the dodging and polite screwing our community received in 2009. Suddenly there is an epiphany? We've been watching all the way here in the coffeehouse, seeing the quotes of commitment, promises of action and general platitudes about how important civil rights is to this administration. We've also seen FAIL-worthy DOMA defenses, completely insulting press conferences where ignorance of the status of our issues has become a broken record.
Whatever maneuvers were going on behind the scenes over the last months to solidify a plan of action on LGBT legislation, it didn't work. On the Hill, too many of the spines are weak, scared of the Blue Dogs that they will never get pro-gay votes out of, not calling for action to get LGBTs to call their fence sitting pols to move.
None of this is news. I'm glad these folks, who do have a form of recognized power, got together to strategize, but the downward spiral of effectiveness has been going on for months now. Where is the game plan -- there's so little time to do anything bold -- that's what you do early on. Now it will be hold on for the 2010 elections, then the run up to Obama's re-election. Our issues are not seen as a priority, only a liability (and I think it's BS, but assume it's true) -- our people on the inside have not made the case to move legislation forward with enough vigor to withstand the inertia in DC to go along and get along and keep the money flowing and keep controversy low.
It's time to stop putting activism into silos and use all the resources (and I'm not talking money) to engage in this fight for equality, and set the egos aside for a change.
Readers -- are you holding your breath on that one?
It's been an interesting year for the LGBT movement. There have been significant gains and losses, frustration with a "fierce advocate" administration and a spineless Congress, and an awakening of the grassroots, both online and offline to challenge establishment inertia.
It's that time of year when organizations like HRC take stock at their role in this rollercoaster ride. Below is HRC's Joe Solmonese delivering his view of 2009 to the various boards of the lobbying and advocacy group (it was sent to me by HRC).
PROGRESS ON LGBT EQUALITY IN 2009
TO: Human Rights Campaign Board Members
FROM: Joe Solmonese
RE: Progress on LGBT Equality in 2009
DATE: December 16, 2009
Introduction
Progress for full lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in 2009 made significant strides even while the national stage was dominated by the economy, health care and war. Even marriage equality, while losing on Maine's November ballot and receiving a recent setback in New York, was adopted in Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa and the District of Columbia. The Connecticut legislature even chose to put its imprimatur on the state Supreme Court decision to grant full marriage equality. And on January 10, 2010, loving same-sex couples can legally marry in New Hampshire.
While this report will by no means capture everything in the LGBT universe in 2009, it does attempt to set out benchmarks for the year and, therefore, assist in identifying the opportunities and challenges ahead in 2010.
Without question, possibilities loomed large with the inauguration of President Barack Obama, someone who championed LGBT causes throughout his campaign. Additionally, more fair-minded members of Congress came into office -- including Colorado's openly gay Congressman Jared Polis -bringing the LGBT count to three in the House. Collectively, there was, for the first time in a decade or more, the potential for real change at the federal level.
Concurrently, at the state level, there was a wellspring of LGBT and elected leadership which produced not only movement early in 2009 toward full marriage equality, but also significant progress toward fully inclusive non-discrimination measures, expanded relationship recognition laws and anti-bullying measures.
Also overlooked, but equally important to many LGBT individuals and families, 2009 saw continued growth in the private sector, where companies recognized the value of inclusive and welcoming employee programs. In fact, even in a down economy, a record 305 corporations and businesses received a 100% on our Corporate Equality Index. However, workplace climate for LGBT employees remains challenging, with a majority still closeted in the workplace -- highlighting the need to help corporate America gauge and address their LGBT employees' engagement on the job.
Finally, 2009 will also be remembered as a time when many LGBT people and their allies stood up to demand equality, whether at the local, state or national level. Whether in response to the loss of marriage rights in California at the close of 2008, or perceived inaction on signature measures in Congress, 2009 saw an infusion of energy and personal involvement that must be accelerated to secure greater progress in 2010.
It must also be noted that 2009 solidified the emergence of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) as a major opponent to equality. NOM's budget shot up from $400,000 in 2007 to $8 million in 2009. That's explosive growth in a period when most companies and non-profits weathered losses. NOM was the largest single contributor to the anti-marriage campaigns in both California and Maine, and has promised to be a key player in Iowa, New Jersey and the District of Columbia in their marriage battles. NOM is also moving its offices from New Jersey to the nation's capital.
The secret, closed-door meeting came to light after a memo was released to the Christian Civic League as part of an investigation into the close cooperation between certain legislators and the homosexual rights movement. The title of the memo "Next Step" indicates that the meeting was going to be a strategy session on how to win gay marriage in Maine, despite the recent referendum in which a majority of voters voted to repeal the existing same sex marriage law.
The Senate President's closed-door meeting so soon after the victory on Question 1 has offended many voters. One Maine voter, Al Lowberg, a prospective candidate for the Congressional seat in District 1 asked the Senate President on Wednesday to open the meeting to the public. Lowberg, shown with Mitchell in the photo at right, approached the Senate President and asked politely if she would grant the public a place at the table. Lowberg is a former boat captain from the coast and has the frank and forthright manners of a native New Englander, a true Yankee. The Senate President replied in her warm, genteel manner that she could not grant his request, and then added "I don't go to your private meetings, and you cannot come to mine."
The meeting between the Senate President and the state's largest homosexual rights organization is only the proverbial 'tip of the iceberg.'
The Record has uncovered other evidence of collusion between members of the Legislature and the homosexual rights movement. One document reveals that the Senate President's Office collaborated with Jesse Connolly to reschedule the public hearing for midweek, a time when most conservative Mainers were hard at work and cannot attend public hearings.
These further revelations show there is something deeply wrong in Augusta. The Legislature - which ought to be the People's House - is now a clubhouse for special interests. Worse, in the case of the Senate President, the People's House is merely an opportunity for advancing one's own political ambitions.
Oh wait, wrong Mike... Hein versus Heath, Christian Civic League versus Maine Family Policy Council... it's all terribly confusing, especially when it seems the names and labels are pretty much interchangeable.
Okay, lemme back up.
This morning I crossposted a diary about how "Two Fisted Man of God" Mike Hein had actually gotten an FOIA on Maine Senate President Libby Mitchell and Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree's scheduled meetings, regarding any communication between either of them and HRC, MCLU, EQME, etc.
Anyways. Dubious and suspicious meeting postponement... got it.
Without further ado, here is the email "Mike The Double Fister" kindly sent to the Blend, presumably as a PSA. He's been doing that ALOT lately!
Subject: Mitchell/Pingree/Gay Marriage Lobbyists Meeting Postponed
My understanding is that the "next steps" meeting regarding the homosexual marriage effort in Maine, scheduled for this morning at 10:30am and referenced in the attached email pdf and in this recent media article (www.timesrecord.com/articles/2009/12/08/news/doc4b1e80113a117487093966.txt), between Senate President Libby Mitchell, House Speaker Hannah Pingree, EqualityMaine's Betsy Smith and Kate Knox, and the MCLU's Zach Heiden and Shenna Bellows has been postponed, most likely due to weather concerns.
Senator Mitchell did not provide a date when they plan to meet, also to my understanding, when asked.
Mike Hein, Administrator
Christian Civic League of Maine
Maine's Family Policy Council
www.cclmaine.org
And oh yeah, I noticed that Hein can't figure out if he's the admin for Christian Civic League, Maine Family Policy Council or the new "Maine's Family Policy Council", either...
Got this email earlier and wanted to share- with both of Maine's representatives being co-sponsors, I can only imagine how frustrating and infuriating for those with less supportive Congress Critters... Louise
Dear Louise,
The ENDA vote is coming.
We need your help to protect LGBT people from legalized workplace discrimination. And time is tight.
I'm sure you're feeling as disheartened as I am about the election in Maine. But if we crawl into a corner and lick our wounds, we're playing right into our opposition's hands. And today of all days, we can't afford to do that.
As we speak, the Senate is holding a hearing on the fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), and the House could hold its first important vote on ENDA in the coming weeks.
This bill would end a bitter injustice in our country: In 29 states, it's legal to fire someone because they're lesbian, gay, or bisexual; in 38 states, it's legal to fire someone for being transgender.
It's a sinister threat hanging over millions of heads. And too many in Congress have stood in the way of workplace protections from passing.
This is one of the next big battles facing our movement. And it's going to be even tougher than passing the hate crimes bill was. Right-wing groups loudly claim that measures like ENDA grant "special rights" to LGBT people and take away the freedoms of people of faith. It's absurd; it's wrong; yet lawmakers listen.
If there's one thing the hate crimes victory showed us, it's that Congress can move at a glacial pace. There's only one thing that speeds up the process: direct, sustained pressure from ordinary people like you.
Even with the most supportive Congress and president our movement has ever had, it's an uphill battle. And we won't have this Congress and this president forever.
So we can't afford to miss this window of opportunity. If we can pass an inclusive ENDA, we will make it safer for millions of people to live their lives openly in America – and the hearts and minds they'll change will open the door for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and more.
We've waited too long for this moment. Let's make sure LGBT workers don't have to wait a minute longer.
HRC's Joe Solmonese, whom I met and spoke with length last night, released the following statement today:
Dear Louise,
A deep and bitter disappointment from Maine yesterday: Maine voters have passed a devastating Proposition 8-style measure overturning the state's marriage equality law.
Our hearts are with everyone in Maine who fought so hard to win recognition for their families. The legislature passed marriage equality earlier this year, but a divisive anti-LGBT campaign to scare voters seems to have worked.
It is infuriating to see that the same fear-mongering ads that were used to pass Prop. 8 a year ago have triumphed again at the expense of so many. This is a terrible loss.
Although we lost our battle in Maine, we will not allow the lies and hate - the foundation on which our opponents built their campaign - to break our spirits. We are on the right side of history and we will continue this fight with even more vigor.
Our friends at No on 1/Protect Maine Equality waged a strong and smart campaign. Thousands of volunteers exposed hundreds of thousands of Mainers to the real lives of same-sex couples and their families - many for the first time.
I am angry. But more importantly, I am determined that with the anger I feel today from this outcome in Maine, we'll rise ever stronger to demand equal treatment under the law and equal respect for our relationships in Maine, California, New Jersey, and every state in the Union.
And in other state elections yesterday...
In Washington state, voters appear to have cast their ballots to approve Referendum 71, a measure that would expand domestic partnerships to have every state-level right and benefit afforded to married couples. I feel confident that when all of the votes are counted, it will be clear that the voters of Washington chose to provide equal rights and benefits to same-sex couples and their families.
In New Jersey, Governor Jon Corzine - endorsed by HRC - has lost his re-election bid. He has been a strong ally for LGBT people in New Jersey, and he had pledged repeatedly to sign a marriage equality bill that could still be passed by legislators later this year.
In Virginia, HRC endorsed Creigh Deeds for governor and placed 20 staffers at work in key delegate races. Deeds unfortunately lost his bid for governor, but there will be new pro-equality voices in the House of Delegates next year.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, right-wing groups wanted to make sure it stayed legal to fire or refuse housing to someone just because they're LGBT. 65% of Kalamazoo voters disagreed and voted to approve Ordinance 1856, expanding the city's existing anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
Louise, I know that the results of today's elections are frustrating.
But having seen the passion and dedication of volunteers in this election, I know that tomorrow is a new day - and that our movement has the strength and power it needs to keep moving forward.
WTF? Didn't we hear during the HRC dinner that the President was working on repeal as we speak?
In a move consistent with other contradictory behavior on LGBT issues, the Obama administration has directed its Justice Department to file an extraordinary motion to get Log Cabin Republicans' lawsuit against the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law thrown out of court, despite a federal judge's ruling that it can proceed. The 11th-hour move for interlocutory appeal, which seeks to stay proceedings and block discovery, was surprisingly formulated at the same time that President Obama was reassuring LGBT activists that he still firmly opposes the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner earlier this month in Washington, DC.
"After President Obama clearly stated that his highest priority for the LGBT community was to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', it is quite troubling to see this 'about face,'" said Terry W. Hamilton, national Chairman of the Log Cabin Republicans. "This aggressive move by President Obama's Justice Department seriously undermines not only his commitment to our community and to the defense of our nation, but it also casts doubt on the motives of those at the highest levels of LGBT leadership in Washington who refuse to criticize the President over this double speak."
We are moving ahead on Don't Ask Don't Tell. (Applause.) We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country. We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage and selflessness on behalf of their fellow citizens, especially when we're fighting two wars. (Applause.)
We cannot afford to cut from our ranks people with the critical skills we need to fight any more than we can afford -- for our military's integrity -- to force those willing to do so into careers encumbered and compromised by having to live a lie. So I'm working with the Pentagon, its leadership, and the members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. Legislation has been introduced in the House to make this happen. I will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell. That's my commitment to you. (Applause.)
The jerking around, no matter what reasoning the WH offers, is unconscionable. Instead of the lofty promises in the speech, and instead of another blindside, he should have had the stones to preempt this repeat two-faced appearance by saying in the keynote some blather about "continued legal defense of this discriminatory policy is necessary" and take the heat right there in the room. Stop the game-playing.
So what does HRC have to say about this, I wonder?
Today also happens to be 
HRCs' President Joe Solmonese delivered some news at the HRC Carolinas Gala on Saturday night.
Gaining momentum, the 
Don't Ask Don't Tell needs to be repealed in 2010
Without question, possibilities loomed large with the inauguration of President Barack Obama, someone who championed LGBT causes throughout his campaign. Additionally, more fair-minded members of Congress came into office -- including Colorado's openly gay Congressman Jared Polis -bringing the LGBT count to three in the House. Collectively, there was, for the first time in a decade or more, the potential for real change at the federal level.
In a move consistent with other contradictory behavior on LGBT issues, the Obama administration has directed its Justice Department to file an extraordinary motion to get Log Cabin Republicans' lawsuit against the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law thrown out of court, despite a federal judge's ruling that it can proceed. The 11th-hour move for interlocutory appeal, which seeks to stay proceedings and block discovery, was surprisingly formulated at the same time that President Obama was reassuring LGBT activists that he still firmly opposes the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner earlier this month in Washington, DC.
