I've made it to the initial round for favorite progressive blogger in the Air America Cruise Contest. I have to stay in the Top 5 before the second voting round begins, so your vote is appreciated! First voting round:
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.
As the time nears for the official A-gays at the White House event, here are some perspectives out there today. Read, digest and comment; I share my thoughts at the end -- plus a couple of questions. First, let's look at the framing from the White House itself, from Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Brian Bond.
As a gay kid growing up in rural Missouri - I never thought I would end up helping to organize an LGBT Pride event in the White House. Then again, I never thought I would ever realize my dream to work in the White House. But thanks to the historic election of Barack Obama, today I am honored to be working here.
To me, today's event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month. It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and may other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today. And it's people - ordinary families - that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds. It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, who I know personally, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall. I really wish people like Bayard Rustin could be standing here with us today. He would be up for the fight ahead of us and proud of the place we now stand.
People may not know this, but there hasn't been a significant event since the President took office that hasn't included the LGBT community -- discussions on the economy and the recovery, or health care -- but this event is special to me and to many of the people that haven't been here for many years.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will work together to pass Hate Crimes and ENDA and to end DADT and DOMA, but today is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and affirm who we are as Americans. But the truth is that in this White House we do this every day. With over 60 out appointees working in this Administration already, we are free to be ourselves. But not everyone is in this country is able to do the same, and we are here to help change that.
I am here because I know the President and this Administration believe that too and are committed to fighting for equality - yes it will take time, and yes we should be pushing and yes you should too. We are all in this together and I am equally proud of both my President and my community.
I will take a little time out today to celebrate the diversity and depth of our community with my President. And we will get back to work. Everyone in this building is very clear -- from the President on down -- are committed to equality. So for a young, ok for a now aging and balding gay guy from rural Missouri, this is my way to celebrate Pride month and our community's importance in the American fabric.
The incoming president of GLAAD (and fellow Dallas Principles author), Jarrett Barrios, wrote an op-ed in the WaPo about why he's going to be there. Read a snippet below the fold.
There's a good piece at The Guardian by friend-of-the-Blend Nancy Goldstein, "Stonewall's unfinished legacy." The LGBT community has come a long way in so many facets of American society -- thus we'll see many select luminaries of the community gather today to celebrate that progress at the White House in the vein of St. Patrick's Day.
In 1969, and for most of the 20th century, LGBT people had no place to congregate in public other than a few mafia-owned rat holes like Stonewall that charged exorbitant entrance fees, sold us expensive, watered down liquor in dirty glasses and blackmailed patrons to the tune of millions of dollars.
In addition to being targeted for witch-hunts, dishonourable military discharges and blacklists, LGBT people could be arrested for solicitation if we so much as accepted a cigarette from an undercover cop. Officers often beat and raped us down at the station. Law enforcement and the mafia alike were emboldened by a legal system that considered us criminals and a medical profession that routinely subjected us to lobotomies, electroshock and even castration in its quest for a cure.
However, it's safe to say, given the Fort Worth "fag-bashing" police raid that took place during a Stonewall commemoration at the Rainbow Lounge this past weekend, those being feted at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue weren't there to see patrons at the Rainbow Lounge experiencing "progress" with their faces being pushed into the floor and sent to the hospital by law enforcement.
Nancy addresses the feeble and manipulative attempts by the Obama administration to address the insult to the community of its DOMA defense brief.
After five days of online near-rioting, the administration went into damage control with a weak and hasty response that mandated extension of benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees - an option that already existed, with all the crippling limitations mentioned above. (The biggest irony: under DOMA, federal employees still cannot add partners to their health insurance.)
It reminded us what it was like to be taken for granted at the Stonewall Inn: welcomed into the club so long as we're willing to be overcharged for watered-down liquor in dirty glasses and stashed in the back of the bar. It confirmed our status in the eyes of the powers that be as second-class citizens whose money is still good.
You can add that we're in the the club until someone calls the police to ensure we know our place by engaging in a friendly, welcoming beat-down.
The Stonewall commemoration event on Monday, billed by the White House as a celebration in the vein of Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick's Day, will not be used to share any new policy developments. (Wash Blade):
Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement the event "is a chance for the White House to recognize the accomplishments of LGBT Americans."
...When questioned about the event Friday during a briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the president doesn't plan to make any substantive announcements at the reception regarding DOMA or "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Guests listed in the article include
• Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force;
• Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network;
• Jim Hormel, a former U.S. ambassador to Holland and the first openly gay U.S. ambassador;
• Fred Hochberg, who's gay and chair of the U.S. Export-Import Bank;
• Stampp Corbin, a San Diego-based gay activist who supported Obama during the presidential campaign;
• and Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an Air Force pilot who was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Meanwhile, in NYC, there will be a Stonewall commemoration of a different kind.
Press Conference at Historic Stonewall Inn to Announce New LGBT Civil Rights Agenda and Present U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler With Signed Petition from all 50 States.
As President Obama prepares to host a cocktail reception at the White House for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender leaders, prominent activists and fundraisers return to the Stonewall Inn on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots to announce a new comprehensive LGBT civil rights agenda. At that time they will also present U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler with signed petitions from all 50 states and 36 countries supporting expansion of the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT people, marking the official launch of The Power's nationwide petition drive and campaign demanding full equality now.
The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org), is an online organizing network that empowers grassroots and netroots activists from every state in the country and from all over the world to fight for equal rights for LGBT people, not on some arbitrary and convenient schedule created by politicians and lobbyists, but right now.
Speakers will include Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, civil rights attorney Liz Abzug (daughter of feminist, anti-war, and LGBT activist and Congresswoman Bella Abzug), former Jerry Falwell ghostwriter and Soulforce founder Rev. Mel White, and others.
WHAT: A press conference convened by The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org) launching a national movement to pass comprehensive LGBT civil rights legislation.
WHO: Jeffrey H. Campagna, founder of The Power, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, a representative of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, and civil rights attorney and daughter of Congresswoman Bella Abzug, Liz Abzug.
WHEN: 10 a.m., Monday, June 29, 2009, 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
WHERE: Outside The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St. @ Sheridan Square, New York, NY
WHY: With a self-proclaimed "fierce advocate" of LGBT rights in the White House, and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, the federal agenda for gay rights does not include full equality. It is time for LGBT people and their allies to seize this historic moment to pass comprehensive civil rights legislation now.
Update/Correction: Julie Bindel is on the short list for the Stonwall award mentioned in the piece below -- she hasn't already won this award from Stonewall. In the same vein as this opinion piece below; however, my opinion is that she shouldn't be on
It really bothers me that when an LGB or LGBT organization honors someone who speaks against the interest of the broader LGBT community's T's.
Let me be frank at the beginning though. The UK's Stonewallhas a lucid description of its mission scope on its page logo and subheader. The subheader states "Equality & Justice for Lesbians, Gay Men & Bisexuals." Note that it doesn't mention T's. The organization; however, must have some recognition that they function within a broader LGBT community as they have a Trans Resources webpage (as well as another 135 webpages that mention trans people or trans issues if one uses their site search with trans OR transgender OR transsexual OR "gender identity") on their website.
In fact, in Stonewall's booklet Transgender, they have a definition of Transphobia:
Transphobia is the unrealistic or irrational fear and hatred of transgender people. Like all prejudices, it is based on negative stereotypes and misconceptions that are then used to justify and support hatred, discrimination, harassment, and violence toward people who are transgender. Transphobic attitudes and beliefs include:
• the belief that trans women are not "real women" because they have been raised and socialised as men
• the belief that trans men are not "real men" because they do not have, or were not born with a penis
• the belief that transsexual people are actually gay people in denial
• the assumption that transgender people are "sick" or that they are psychologically unstable
• when a transgender person is excluded from services, activities, discussions or decisions because it is felt that that person doesn't "fit in"
• the refusal to recognise or acknowledge the true gender of a trans person and the continual insistence to refer to them by their former name
The booklet also identifies issues for transgender folk, which include denial of medical treatment and healthcare providers having no information about available treatments or surgeries and no understanding of trans issues.
So in my opinion, a declared LGB-only civil rights organization that has policy positions on trans issues in their Discrimination Law Review, and defines transphobia for its organization, shouldn't be honoring someone who's made transphobic statements in arguing against full medical treatment access for trans people. Yet, Stonewall has decided to honor Julie Bindel as their 2008 "Journalist of the Year."
In 2004, Julie Bindel -- a journalist who identifies as a lesbian feminist -- wrote a column for The Guardian entitled Gender benders, beware where she used quotation marks around the female pronouns and terms to describe a male-to-female transsexual (examples: "she"; "woman"), and referred to the post-operative transsexual as "a man in a dress." Some of what Bindel wrote:
[Below the fold: Quotes of Bindel where she uses transphobic language, and her aguing against genital reconstruction surgery for transsexuals. Multiple audio file links of her arguing against surgery for transsexuals provided.]
This week, both the U. S.'s Human Rights Campaign and Britain's Stonewall announced their latest lists of "Best Places to Work" for LGBT employees and allies. In the U. K., IBM holds the top spot. No surprise, given the company's consistently good rating in HRC's Corporate Equality Index—and remember the "I" stands for "International." (HRC's "Best" list is unranked.) Financial giants Citigroup, J. P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs are among other cross-border selections.
More interesting than that, however, was a comment in PinkNews that both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, while not making Stonewall's "Best" list, are part of the organization's "Diversity Champions programme . . . Britain's good practice forum in which employers can work with Stonewall, and each other, to promote lesbian, gay and bisexual equality in the workplace." Maybe the U. S. Armed Forces will look to HRC for guidance now that they're desperate and a former top officer has suggested letting gay men and lesbians serve openly. I'm not holding my breath.
As a gay kid growing up in rural Missouri - I never thought I would end up helping to organize an LGBT Pride event in the White House. Then again, I never thought I would ever realize my dream to work in the White House. But thanks to the historic election of Barack Obama, today I am honored to be working here.
