May He Rest in Peace 1958-2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Members of Congress Ask for Suspension of Don't Ask , Don't Tell.
Inside, Looking Out
JUN
22
2009
77 members of Congress ask for suspension of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
lgbt, politicsAdd comments
Seventy-seven members of Congress, 76 Democrats and 1 Republican, sent a letter to the White House today asking for the President to suspend current Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell investigations and discharges by presidential moratorium, which would change the policy’s implementation within the Department of Defense, as opposed to an Executive Order. Excerpts from the office of Congressman Alcee L. Hastings:
I also saw Rachel Maddow interviewing (June 23, 09 Tues.) an active service member, a Lt. Col., a pilot, who "came out" on an earlier show of hers. He is waiting for a decision from President Obama on whether he can stay in the military which would mean at least temporarily Obama has the right to reverse policy for military reasons. see pic below.
SRaphael
Gay Photographer Exchanges with Michelle Obama on Don't Ask, Don't Tell
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depicted above Lt. Col. Fehrenberg, decorated pilot, who according to present policy will be kicked out of military
JUN
23
2009 Inside, Looking Out
Gay photographer to Michelle Obama: “We need to get rid of DOMA”
Gay photographer to Michelle Obama: “We need to get rid of DOMA”
activism, lgbt, politicsAdd comments
Bay Area photographer Bill Wilson spoke briefly with Michelle Obama at an event he covered in San Francisco yesterday, kicking off the United We Serve program. Wilson, who is gay and recently married to his partner of 22 years by Mayor Gavin Newsom, told the First Lady we need to get rid of DOMA. The exchange via The Petrelis Files below:
Bill Wilson: My husband and I have been together 23 years. We need to get rid of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Michelle Obama: I agree.
Bill Wilson: We need it done now.
Michelle Obama: It will be.
Bill Wilson: I really want to be able to support him.
Michelle Obama: As well you should!
Bill Wilson: We really do want him to succeed.
Michelle Obama: I’ll tell him.
(At this point she leaned over to give me a hug.)
As she stepped away I said, “We were married by the Mayor last year.”
Michelle Obama: Give your husband a hug from me.
Not sure what to make of the above exchange. What do you think? Is something afoot or is it baloney?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Cagle Cartoon by Rob Tornoe on Obama and Gay Marriage
http://blog.cagle.com/news/tag/california-gay-marriage/
Obama signs bill extending changes to coverage for Lesbian and Gay Federal Workers but not health benefits: I still want an apology
President Obama signed a bill today extending coverage to same sex spouses/domestic partners of federal workers. This I just found out *does not include health benefits which has to be passed by Congress but does cover long term health care and certain types of sick leave could be granted if requested to care for the children of a domestic partner or the Gay domestic partner her or himself among other possible extensions of rights and privileges, although I understand this bill only will be put in effect under the present administration, as soon as Obama leaves office the bill and its directives die. This is too little too late especially after knowing the details accompanying the issuance of a legal brief from the Justice Department defending the Defense of Marriage Act using terms i.e. incest and child molestation to keep Doma in place. Yes, this bill is progress but is limited in scope to only one narrow class of people, federal employees who are Lesbian or Gay.
Did I see Frank Kameny accept that pen from Obama after the signing? If so that was the only high point as far as I am concerned at this decorous event. Kameny was the first federal employee to fight his firing from the high level scientist job on the federal level. I need someone to let me know if that was him at the signing ceremony receiving the first pen. That part I liked if it is true. Or maybe pure fantasy on my part. I still will not give another dime to the DNC or for Obama purposes until I hear an apology regarding how Doma was defended or I hear of a significant development i.e. rescinding ofo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or the end of DOMA coming about because of Obama or even a reversal on his Gay Marriage stance which is presently a No. I would also like to see an open Lesbian or Gay person in Obama's cabinet. I am not impressed. We were warned early on not to expect too much but this less than less than.
This does not mean I will support a Republican who is pro Gay Marriage. This does not mean I can't appreciate the good things Obama is trying to do with the economy, health care, or global warming though I think more could be done in those areas too
to alleviate the ways these issues impact the average person on the street. Still things are moving in the right direction but not for our community. So I plan to boycott any activity or fund raising requests re Obama until such time he gives us an apology for the DOMA fiasco or something bigger and more significant on the Presidential front regarding Gay Rights. The fact remains that as it appears now, Obama is playing both sides of the court when it comes to Gay Rights. I am still not satisfied. Please let me know if Frank Kameny was at that event?
Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
Longtime LGBT activist
* I just discovered this new bill which is supposed to pacify us does not include health care for partners of Lesbians and Gays.
This is a shock to learn meaning the bill is pretty slim pickings. updated from original 5:20 Wed. June 17
Did I see Frank Kameny accept that pen from Obama after the signing? If so that was the only high point as far as I am concerned at this decorous event. Kameny was the first federal employee to fight his firing from the high level scientist job on the federal level. I need someone to let me know if that was him at the signing ceremony receiving the first pen. That part I liked if it is true. Or maybe pure fantasy on my part. I still will not give another dime to the DNC or for Obama purposes until I hear an apology regarding how Doma was defended or I hear of a significant development i.e. rescinding ofo "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or the end of DOMA coming about because of Obama or even a reversal on his Gay Marriage stance which is presently a No. I would also like to see an open Lesbian or Gay person in Obama's cabinet. I am not impressed. We were warned early on not to expect too much but this less than less than.
This does not mean I will support a Republican who is pro Gay Marriage. This does not mean I can't appreciate the good things Obama is trying to do with the economy, health care, or global warming though I think more could be done in those areas too
to alleviate the ways these issues impact the average person on the street. Still things are moving in the right direction but not for our community. So I plan to boycott any activity or fund raising requests re Obama until such time he gives us an apology for the DOMA fiasco or something bigger and more significant on the Presidential front regarding Gay Rights. The fact remains that as it appears now, Obama is playing both sides of the court when it comes to Gay Rights. I am still not satisfied. Please let me know if Frank Kameny was at that event?
Sharon Raphael, Long Beach
Longtime LGBT activist
* I just discovered this new bill which is supposed to pacify us does not include health care for partners of Lesbians and Gays.
This is a shock to learn meaning the bill is pretty slim pickings. updated from original 5:20 Wed. June 17
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