HRC Back Story

Good afternoon,

I hope all of you had a happy and safe Independence Day full of family, friends, and fireworks. It was on the fourth that the death of former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms was announced, ironically on the day we celebrate our nation’s noble ideals of freedom, opportunity, and equality.

Death of GLBT community foe Jesse Helms:

Jesse Helms represented, for so many, exactly what the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality movement is up against: antiquated notions about what constitutes morality; stubborn refusal to let go of prejudices based on nothing but mean-spirited, unfounded fears; a false sense that those who are different are somehow inferior.

Such attitudes continue to be well represented in Washington and across the nation. However, they have been significantly quieted by increasingly vibrant voices rejecting those outdated viewpoints and recognizing that the time to treat everyone equally under the law has arrived.

While we should not relish in Helms’ passing, it does symbolize the changing of the old guard. Of this I have no doubt: equality is on the move.

For the Bible Tells Me So study guide:

Since 1980, the Human Rights Campaign has been at the forefront of the activism, education and outreach that have slowly but surely coaxed those who believe in basic fairness to speak out about their feelings and encourage others to do the same.

As part of this work, the HRC Foundation’s Religion and Faith Program this week released a study guide to accompany the celebrated documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. The film, a 2008 GLAAD Media Award recipient and 2007 Sundance Film Festival nominee for the Grand Jury Prize, spotlights the stories of GLBT people of faith and their families, including New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Reverend Gene Robinson and his parents.

HRC’s user-friendly guide, available at no charge at www.hrc.org/religion, is divided into three parts: a discussion of the feelings the film evokes about families and faith; a conversation about the Bible—both how it is misused to discriminate against GLBT people and how it is a source of empowerment and liberation; and a step-by-step training to move people of faith and congregations from acceptance to public advocacy. What a signal of the progress we’ve made: we’re not only reaching out to communities of faith, but giving them an active role to play in the pursuit of equality.

For communities of faith who plan to use the guide in conjunction with a screening of the film, a package including a DVD copy and HRC’s accompanying educational license is available at a discounted rate at of $50.00 for those who agree to use the study guide. This rate is only available through the HRC Store. Visit the online store at www.hrc.org/shop.

Year to Win Campaign:

There is no greater evidence of how far we’ve come than the upcoming elections. Our community stands at the precipice of dramatic breakthroughs in public policy as well as public opinion. I have in previous weeks told you about HRC’s “Year to Win” initiative, a nationwide electoral effort aimed at mobilizing pro-equality voters in the 2008 election season. With your help, we are poised to elect pro-equality candidates to Congress, statehouses across the country, and the White House, and to beat back discriminatory ballot measures in California, Arizona, Florida and Arkansas. It’s a stunning contrast from just four years ago—let alone Jesse Helms’ heyday. Visit the Year to Win website at www.hrc.org/yeartowin to learn more how you can get involved.

Final Thoughts:

We’ve got a long way to go, but what a wonderful feeling to look back at how much the political landscape has changed. No longer must we contend with the shocking, cold-hearted ignorance of the likes of Jesse Helms. HRC stands with you as those relics crumble around us.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

In an exclusive, Pam Spaulding breaks the news that Sen. Obama's much-discussed faith-based initiative will not direct federal dollars to groups that proselytize or advocate for reparative therapy, a controversial therapy regimen that claims to help gays and lesbians lead heterosexual lives through religious devotion:

A source with Senator Obama's campaign (Director of the LGBT Vote, Dave Noble) has now confirmed to Pam's House Blend that under no circumstances will funds from the program will be granted to FBOs for proselytizing or reparative therapy.

Under the Obama plan, MCC congregations, LGBT-welcoming Methodist and Unitarian congregations, and other affirming churches will have access to funds to do much-needed work in communities large and small of great importance --  HIV/AIDS education, for instance, relief efforts, etc.

Read the full scoop here.

Even though the policy has long been an unneccesary burden on U.S. national security, Don't Ask Don't Tell is dying a very public death of a thousand cuts at the hands of top military experts and progressive politicos alike. (Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain and his former Republican presidential contenders continue to support keeping DADT alive and well despite the overwhelming evidence showing how out of touch they are.)

In a wide-ranging interview on defense issues with the Army Times, Senator Barack Obama reaffirmed his support for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Here's a portion from the Military Times transcript where he discusses the ban:

Q: Senator, if I may, we’ve entered the lightning round — “don’t ask don’t tell,” you want to repeal it. Why isn’t the policy working?

A: There are equity issues involved, but there are also effectiveness issues involved. And I think that at a time when we are pressed, we should have an attitude of “all hands on deck.” If we can’t field enough Arab linguists, we shouldn’t be preventing an Arab linguist from serving his or her country because of what they do in private. I think [retired Army] Gen. John Shalikashvili’s assessment is right, that people’s attitudes have evolved. You’ve got our British counterparts and Israeli counterparts without this policy, and nobody would suggest that they have had problems on the ground.

I want to make sure that we are doing it in a thoughtful and principled way. But I do believe that at a time when we are short-handed, that everybody who is willing to lay down their lives on behalf of the United States, and can do so effectively, can perform critical functions, should have the opportunity to do so.

Q: How do you get the military leadership to go along with that?

A: Well, I’m a pretty persuasive guy [smiles, laughter]. I think we have to distinguish whether there are functional barriers to doing this, and are people prepared for the political heat.

And that's not all. Today the Washington Post editorial board took another swipe at DADT by pointing out the growing chorus of experienced voices that are loudly calling for the ban to be scrapped:

Calls for junking "don't ask, don't tell" or reexamining its usefulness have become more frequent and have been issued from lofty quarters. Retired Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the law was implemented. He spoke against it last year. And just last month, former Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), who led hearings that resulted in the disastrous plan that continues to run gay men and lesbians out of the armed forces (at least 627 in 2007; about 12,500 since 1993), said that the law should be reexamined. That reexamination should be the beginning of the end of "don't ask, don't tell."

This ban needs to be overturned now.

New York Governor David Paterson, who took office on March 17 after Eliot Spitzer resigned, is quickly earning high marks for his support of the GLBT community. He said yesterday that he would sign legislation to allow gay and lesbian couples to seek civil protection from domestic abuse:

The new law would make it possible for people in dating relationships, heterosexual or gay, to seek protection from abusers in family court. As it stands, New York has one of the narrowest domestic violence laws in the country, allowing for civil protection orders only against spouses or former spouses, blood relations or the other parent of an abused person’s child.[...]

“New York lagged behind all the other states in the Northeast in terms of addressing orders of protection,” the governor said. “We expanded the coverage to include what we would consider to be intimate relationships. They do not have to be sexual. Theoretically, it could be two people who are dating and haven’t had sex. They’ve come close, one refuses the other and then the stalking starts.”

Advocacy groups say that current law has deterred teenagers and gay men and women from seeking protection from abusers, because their only recourse is the criminal courts. Getting an order of protection in criminal court requires reporting abuse to the police, the arrest of the alleged abuser, and the cooperation of a prosecutor.

Civil protection orders in family court accept a lower burden of proof and do not require police involvement, and an accuser can be represented by a lawyer and not have to rely on a prosecutor.

New York Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein has fought for two decades to get the state's domestic violence laws expanded to be inclusive of the GLBT community.  She credits Gov. Paterson for giving the bill much-needed support to finally make it happen.

Good afternoon,

All eyes were on California this week as thousands of gay and lesbian couples made history by getting legally married. Tuesday, June 17th marked the first full day of marriage equality in California.

How fitting that this should happen in California, and that California would welcome us from all over the nation to marry. The Golden State is for so many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans the center of who we are, and a beacon of the kind of society we can be.

The LA Times reported that in the first two days that marriage for gay and lesbian couples was allowed, the number of marriage licenses issued statewide surpassed that of an entire typical June week. Most of these couples asked not for toasters or place settings. The only present they’re after is a simple one: an anniversary.

Marriage equality opponents in California have managed to put a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality on the November ballot. Our right-wing opponents are building a $10 million war chest for a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality in California.

HRC has set up a special fund – the HRC California Marriage PAC – to direct 100 percent of your contribution today to the fight against the anti-marriage ballot initiative in California. To contribute, click here. And anyone who attends our San Francisco dinner on July 26th can choose to allocate up to 100 percent of their ticket price to the PAC established to oppose the amendment.

Seven full-time HRC staffers were on the ground across the state to ensure our side was represented fairly in the media. Their stories and vignettes are posted on the HRC Back Story blog at www.hrcbackstory.org. Lead blogger Chris Johnson interviewed four excited couples in line for their marriage licenses in West Hollywood. Listen to their stories here and here. To join with the celebrating gay and lesbian couples who were married in California on Tuesday, HRC's San Francisco Action Center and Store in the Castro held an in-store reception for newly married couples. Read about that here.

HRC Coming Out Day spokesperson George Takei and his partner Brad Altman were among the first couple to receive their marriage license. George was kind enough to post his own account of the experience on HRC Back Story. Read his piece here. Also, read AP’s story on George and Brad upcoming wedding here.

Nearly every news outlet in the United States covered the historic events. HRC was featured in many of those stories. Read the articles in USA Today, the Miami Herald, and the Dallas Morning News.

There was more exciting news for our community this week. The House Committee on Education and Labor on Thursday officially announced that the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ), will hold a hearing on workplace discrimination against transgender people. The hearing, entitled “An Examination of Discrimination against Transgender Americans in the Workplace,” will be held on Thursday, June 26 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) and will be the first ever hearing in Congress exclusively on transgender issues.

Although the hearing is not associated with a specific piece of legislation, it is a crucial part of the process of educating our representatives in Congress about why federal fully-inclusive workplace protections are so necessary. HRC has worked closely with Capitol Hill allies Congressman Andrews, Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with coalition of groups—including the ACLU, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force—in securing and preparing for the hearing. I will keep all of you updated on the details of the hearing as they emerge.

What a week. It is truly amazing how far the GLBT community has come over the past four years. We still have much work to do before the elections in November, but I know that HRC, with your support, will be on the forefront of the progress we’re making toward equality for all.

Warmly,

The following guest post is from HRC's National Field Director, Marty Rouse:

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The moving photo of Robert Van Etten slipping a wedding ring on Thomas Van Etten, his partner for 40 years, on Wednesday's cover of the Palm Springs Desert Sun covered almost the entire page above the fold. Headlline: "Nothing Could Put a Cloud on Today"

Nothing else better wraps up my days in California as I headed to the airport to return home to Washington on Wednesday.

I was in Riverside County Administrative offices all day where 98 marriage certificates were distributed on Tuesday, where as an employee of the Human Rights Campaign, and a representative of the Equality for All coalition, my main duty was to help this first day of marriage equality proceed smoothly.

I was also, unexpectedly, asked to be the official witness for the first walk-in couple (8:01 am) and the last (4:01pm). Perfect bookends to a day full of tears of joy and history.

I may have been the official witness to two private ceremonies joining two couples in legal civil marriage, but I was also a witness to the magic of life and of human joy that is remarkable and yet so ordinary for most Americans. I will cherish the opportunity I had to witness history being made in California for the rest of my life.

Marty Rouse
National Field Director

[Photo: Marty with Thomas and Robert Van Etten on the day he stood as witness for the couple's marriage ceremony.]                                           

On Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations held a markup of its Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill, which allocates spending on life-saving HIV/AIDS programs. Dena Wigder Feldman, our public policy advocate, discusses the legislation:

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Working with Congress to combat HIV/AIDS resources remains a top priority at HRC.  Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations marked up its Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bill, which contains all of the funding for discretionary domestic HIV/AIDS programs. 

Though the details are still coming out at this point, we are hearing some encouraging things.  The Ryan White CARE Act, which provides access to lifesaving treatment and care for more than half a million low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS, has received an approximately $100 million increase.  Many years of inadequate funding have stretched programs under the CARE Act considerably as it struggles to serve more and more people with less and less money; these additional resources would help provide a lifeline to more Americans with HIV/AIDS. 

In other good news, the Subcommittee has approved a significant increase of $1.15 billion to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).   The NIH plays a critical role in supporting cutting edge medical research into many diseases, including HIV/AIDS.  The Office of AIDS Research at NIH has either been denied any increase in funding, or even seen it cut, in recent years. We are hopeful that the Subcommittee’s significant increase to NIH will strengthen efforts to discover new treatments, prevention methods, and a cure for HIV/AIDS.

And thankfully, the days of increases for the “abstinence-only until marriage” programs appear to be over, as the Subcommittee rejected the President’s request to increase the Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) programs by $28 million.  HRC strongly advocates and lobbies Congress to discontinue funding for the Community Based Abstinence Education programs entirely.  These programs received $113 million in federal funding in the last fiscal year, and we are encouraged by the Subcommittee’s action to stop any additional funding in this year’s bill.

Unfortunately, we are also hearing that the Subcommittee did not approve any increase for HIV prevention activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite evidence that the staggering rate of new HIV infections, particularly among gay and bisexual men and communities of color, shows no signs of declining.  The CDC must have adequate resources to fund proven HIV outreach and education efforts.  HRC will continue to fight for increased HIV prevention funding at the CDC. 

Next week, the full House Committee on Appropriations will consider the Labor-HHS-Education bill.  HRC will work to protect the increases in the Subcommittee’s bill as well as to try to secure increases for HIV prevention.

We hope yesterday’s action by the Subcommittee is the first of many steps to rebuild programs which will help and improve the lives of so many Americans living with HIV/AIDS.

[Photo: Dena Wigder Feldman speaks with students attending Campus Pride's inaugural summer leadership camp.] 

Reports indicate that an initiative campaign seeking to place a sweeping anti-LGBT referendum before Maine voters in November 2009 has ended.  A group that was collecting signatures in support of the proposed measure has halted its efforts, having failed to gather enough signatures to place the measure on the ballot.

The proposed measure would have asked Maine voters to repeal existing laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It would have also restated support for a law preventing gays and lesbians from marrying, forming civil unions or adopting children.

In 2005, voters defeated a referendum seeking to repeal a new law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  HRC, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and other groups worked with Maine Won’t Discriminate to defeat the initiative.

Maine law currently prohibits marriage by same-sex couples.  A 2004 law established a domestic partner registry, offering unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, limited rights and benefits under state law.  A 2007 court ruling allows unmarried couples, including same-sex couples, to petition for adoption.

Our field operative Heather Gibson sent us some great photos of couples applying for their marriage licenses in West Hollywood on Tuesday. She reported on being at the scene here and here, but we thought we'd share a few of the photos Heather took of happy couples.

I also posted another interview with a couple that, after 19 years of being together, stood in the West Hollywood park line to get married on the very first day marriage was available to them.

Watch the interview with Scott and Brian. They've been together for 19 years:

To join with the celebrating gay and lesbian couples who were married in California on Tuesday, HRC's San Francisco Action Center and Store in the Castro held an in-store reception for newly married couples.  Everyone knows that HRC knows how to throw one heck of a party, and member services associate Eric Norman and general manager Shane Martin wanted to share their experiences of being part of the fun:

From Shane Martin:

Cake? Check!
Flowers? Check!
Pressed shirt, tie? Check and check!
Its a party!

Our store looked amazing and felt even more so today as couples and well wishers attended our wedding celebration.  Smiles and gifts of champagne were in abundance as those that were just married and those who wanted to share in the joyous atmosphere greeted one another with hugs and well wishes.

The mood was electric and it was truly wonderful to be a part of the collective family who, as of today, can make our loving unions legal and official.

As we go to sleep tonight, we have assurance that we are finally getting closer to having all the basic equal rights that we have dreamed of...

Oh - that, AND theres more cake in the fridge!

Life is good!

From Eric Norman:

What a day!!

I have been to many weddings and receptions and never felt the sort of joy I had today.

I missed the "winter of love." So to be part of this historic day, and to experience the emotions of so many couples that came to the HRC wedding reception, was truly magical.

They came in all ages, their stories were all different, and yet one commonality rang through. I was actually somewhat struck by this. Whether they had been together for 30 years or two years, they had already committed their love and their lives to each other. The fact that they could get married was simply another expression of commitment they had already made.

I guess what I took from hearing their stories and witnessing them share their love was an understanding that regardless of who may discriminate against us, our love is real. It can not be denied, nor taken away. Marriage is a way for us to further demonstrate that love and commitment to others.

In California we still have a battle ahead of us. But let us not forget our brothers and sisters across America, and the globe, who seek to express their commitments like those couples who legally, let me reiterate legally, married in California today.

I want to thank all those individuals and organizations who have fought the good fight so that we could experience this day.

Eric Norman

www.newerapolitics.com

While George Takei and Brad Altman brought a good dose of star power to the West Hollywood Park where marriage licenses were being issued for gay and lesbian couples, I talked with local couples who braved the early morning heat to waiting in line for their licenses. As we've already reported, couples starting lining up up 7 a.m this morning and there was a tangible feel of excitement in the air to be among the first couples to marry in Los Angeles. Check out the following videos:

Excited gay and lesbian couples cheer as they file into the West Hollywood Park auditorium to apply for their marriage licenses:

A couple from Pasadena, CA shares why they chose to be among the first to marry in West Hollywood: They've been together for 12 years:

Couples from Synagogue BCC in Los Angeles share their excitement in getting married today:

Here's the latest from Trevor Thomas, our deputy communications director:

While helping with the marriage day communications effort in San Jose, Aejaie Sellers, the executive director of the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, invited me to the city’s rainbow flag rising at City Hall for pride week!

Mayor Chuck Reed offered remarks and a proclamation declaring the month of June as “LGBT Month” in the City of San Jose.  He also presented a commendation to the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, San Jose's only LGBT center, for its continuing perseverance in developing diverse resources to empower and support the LGBT Community Center and its allies.

A quick note on Aejaie – besides being fabulous and flawlessly fierce – she’s doing amazing things to advance equality here in the City of San Jose.  Aside from the day-to-day work at the center, Aejaie and her staff have played a key role in the Equality for All campaign, including assisting HRC while on the ground in San Jose.  If you’re in the San Jose area, be sure to stop into the DeFrank Center and say thank you to Aejaie and her team for all they have done :)

Here are the remarks Aejaie offered at today’s event – enjoy!

Good Afternoon.

Thank you Mayor Reed, Members of the city council.

We would like to offer a very special thanks to council member Pierluigi Olivierio, who represents the district in which the DeFrank is located.  We would also like to thank his staff Denelle Fedor and Frances Reyes.

Wow, what a day for a wedding! I starting this morning at our very own county building watching LGBT couples from around the county apply for their marriage licenses and get married.  Now I’m at the city center of the Silicon Valley watching my community’s flag be raised in honor of Gay Pride.  It’s so amazingly powerful when you know your city, county, and State see you as a valued, equal thread of the social fabric.

As many of you know San Jose Pride was this past weekend and was a huge success with tens of thousands of visitors.  We are always thrilled to see the support of the city departments like parks and recreation, as well as the police and fire supporting our community as we celebrates a newly validated level of equality.

This Flag we are about to raise, represents equality for our community and has for the last thirty-years.  Thirty-years ago this year, Artist Gilbert Baker conceptualized and created the first Rainbow Flag for the LGBT Pride celebration in San Francisco.   Today this flag leads an LGBT community committed to equality, justice and opportunity. 

Each color in this has a meaning.

red: light;
orange: healing;
yellow: sun;
green: calmness;
blue: art;
lilac: the spirit;
With each of those colors are community comes to celebrate pride and we are always honored to celebrate our Pride with the residents of San Jose and Santa Clara County.

Happy PRIDE Everyone!

NOTE FROM CHRIS: Did Trevor just say, "fabulous and flawlessly fierce"?! Now THAT'S a compliment!

Dear Friends,

Sen. Ted Kennedy:

I want to start this week’s message by sending our best wishes to Senator Ted Kennedy and his family.  The news that our good friend and unfailing ally was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor shocked and saddened everyone here at the Human Rights Campaign and in our community across the country.  Many of us have had the great honor and pleasure of working with Senator Kennedy, who is the living icon in the fight for equality for all Americans.  As a Massachusetts native, I’ve always been honored to call Sen. Kennedy my senator.  Just last month, Senator Kennedy spoke at our spring board meeting.  I’m including a link to the video of those remarks.  Watch and you’ll be reminded just what a champion he is for our community.  As he faces this challenge, Senator Kennedy is very much in our thoughts.

Healthcare Equality Index:

Last week, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation released our second annual “Healthcare Equality Index,” which rated 88 participating hospitals on their policies and practices related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. The HEI focuses on five main policy criteria: patient non-discrimination, hospital visitation, decision making, cultural competency training and employment policies.  In the 2008 Healthcare Equality Index 45 hospitals reported GLBT-inclusive policies and practices for every one of the 10 HEI rating criteria.

An Associated Press article covered the HEI, which meant that it appeared in papers and on news sites across the country.  In fact, over 200 publications picked up the article.

In the Huffington Post, I shared the story Ken Johnson told during our conference call with the media about the HEI.  Ken, a lawyer from Northern Virginia, was denied access to his partner, James, who had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.  When Ken arrived at the emergency room, the nurse told him "You're just a friend; I can only release information to immediate family members."  That should not happen to anyone in our community in America again.

California marriage decision:

As you probably know, in a landmark decision last week, California’s Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.  Last week, we celebrated.   Now, however, we must prepare for a proposed constitutional amendment in November that threatens to make null and void the historic ruling. 

This week, the Human Rights Campaign pledged an initial contribution of $500,000 to the Equality for All campaign to protect marriage equality and defeat the amendment.  Through our commitment to Equality for All, HRC aims to ensure that California remains a state in which every person has the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love.  The pledge is in addition to resources HRC has already contributed to the fight for marriage equality in California.  Already this year, HRC provided six full-time staff members and $100,000 to Equality for All. 

Final thoughts:

I want to close by wishing everyone a safe and restful Memorial Day weekend.  Between California and the elections across the country this may be the last break we get for a while.  So, take advantage of this weekend to recharge and spend some time with your loved ones -- because we are going to need each and every one of you in this fight through November.

Sincerely,

P.S. Check out HRC’s new online fundraising program for pro-equality candidates. You can help change the face of Congress by electing fair-minded candidates such as Al Franken (D-Minn), who is running for U.S. Senate, and Betsy Markey (D-CO), who is running against anti-gay extremist, Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R).  Each dollar you contribute goes directly to the candidates, and helps build power and clout for the GLBT community. Go to http://democracyengine.com/page/hrc1 for more information.

Sarah Warbelow (pictured below), our Justice for All fellow, writes up the Wednesday Ninth District Circuit Court of Appeals decision that struck a blow against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" anti-gay policy:

Once again California is at the forefront of significant potential changes for GLB Americans.

Major Margaret Witt served 18 years in the U.S. Air Force as a flight nurse receiving numerous distinctions. Two years short of retirement with full benefits she was dismissed because the military received a tip that she was in a long-term relationship with a female civilian. Maj. Witt’s distressing story has been all too common under the Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (DADT), yet a shift in the courts may well be under way. On Wednesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in California ruled that Maj. Witt can continue to pursue her case challenging her discharge and that the military must show it has an important reason for her dismissal.

It is important to be aware that the 9th Circuit did not overturn DADT, but the language of the court limits its usage.  Most notably, the military is required to demonstrate that each individual, such as Maj. Witt, has a negative impact on his/her unit because of his/ her sexual orientation. It is no longer enough for the military to argue that GLB service members in general hurt overall morale in the military. In addition, the court has changed how individuals discharged under DADT are considered by the court. This shift in language means that it is more difficult for the government to justify treating GLB service members differently from straight service members. In this instance, the 9th Circuit is treating sexual orientation as roughly analogous to sex, but stops short of giving sexual orientation protections similar to race.

The case may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and other Circuit courts need not follow the ruling, but the willingness of one of the highest courts in the United States to increase the protections offered GLB service members is a huge step towards equality under the law. The case is a definite victory!

Ohio televangelist - and "spiritual guide" - Rod Parsley has a certain way with words when it comes to describing the "threat" of "America's tortured and angry homosexual population."  RightWingWatch.com - a program by People for the American Way - has put together a video of some of Pastor Parsley's greatest rants against gay people and our quest for hate crimes protections and equal marriage rights.

You've really got to see the video for yourself to hear how wicked Parsley thinks we are. (And we're not talking about our wicked senses of humor, PS).  He calls Christians to "man their battle stations" to defend themselves against the incoming attack of our lavender Trojan horse to "pervert God's original intention." The anti-gay mouth foaming starts around 1:40:

And the gays aren't the only ones that gets Parsley wagging his finger of condemnation.

Today Brian Ross, Avni Patel and Rehab El-Burif of ABC News expose Parsley's anti-Islamic views that are some of his favorite talking points:

"Islam is an anti-Christ religion that intends through violence to conquer the world," Parsley says on the DVDs reviewed by ABC News.

"America was founded with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed," Parsley says, "and I believe Sept. 11, 2001 was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."[...]

Parsley says he can be silent no more about Islam. "I will rail against the idea that the God of Christianity and the God of Islam are the same being. I will sound the alarm about the pernicious agenda of the enemies of my country and the cross of my Christ, and I will proclaim the truth at every opportunity."

Parsley, through a spokesperson at his church, declined to be interviewed by ABC News.

In a statement, a spokesperson, Gene Pierce, said Parsley's comments "were in response to militant Islamic leaders' repeated pledges to kill Americans and destroy the United States and Western culture and democracies."

His Web site, said the spokesperson, "also makes a distinction between Muslim terrorists and the vast majority of peaceful Muslims."

I actually checked his Web site to see if he makes a distinction between "tortured and angry" homosexuals and any other varieties - but no such luck.  But considering that Parsley led the battle in Ohio on the 2004 anti-gay marriage amendment, I'm guessing posting an enlightened commentary on the GLBT community may be the one area where he may actually be silent....

***UPDATE: Here's GMA footage of the ABC News piece on Parsley (hat tip John Aravosis):

Our members in Minnesota have been busy! Here's an update from Minnesota's Twin Cities by HRC member Milo Pinkerton:

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On Tuesday night, May 20th, HRC Minnesota PAC held its annual fundraiser in the Twin Cities.  Over $20,000 was raised to help ensure that the GLBT community is seen and heard during the 2008 election season. 

Among others, HRC Minnesota PAC local leaders Charlie Rounds and I spoke about why we are involved in HRC and HRC Minnesota PAC and how the PAC’s efforts have made a tremendous difference in ensuring that neither the state house nor state senate will ever vote to put an anti-marriage amendment on the ballot.  State Representative Steve Simon recounted that his first speech on the state house floor was against the anti-marriage amendment, and reinforced his commitment to full equality for the GLBT community.  HRC organizer Laurie Crelly described the work she has done on behalf of Minnesota and highlighted the work she will be doing on behalf of HRC Minnesota PAC during the 2008 elections.   

This is an important election year, so let’s make sure our voice is heard.  If you’d like to get involved in the work we are doing in Minnesota, feel free to contact Midwest Regional Field Director Stuart Rosenberg at 202 386-8982 or stuart.rosenberg@hrc.org.

Special thanks to Rich Bonin and Paul Kaminski for opening up their home for this important event, and to all the hosts who made the event such a success. 

[Photo (L to R): Virat Madia, Stuart Rosenberg, Senator Scott Dibble, Rich Bonin, State Rep. Steve Simon, Charlie Rounds, Laurie Crelly, Paul Kaminski, Milo Pinkerton.]

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Ellen Degeneres talk marriage on her show that airs today:

Andy Towle transcribed their convo:

MCCAIN: I just believe in the unique status of marriage between man and woman. And I know that we have a respectful disagreement on that issue.

ELLEN: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think that it is looked at and some people are saying the same that blacks and women did not have the right to vote. Women just got the right to vote in 1920. Blacks didn't have the right to vote till 1870. It just feels like there's this old way of thinking (that) we are not all the same. We are all the same people. All of us. You're no different than I am. Our love is the same. (applause) To me what it feels like just, you know, I will speak for myself...it feels when someone says you can have a contract and you'll still have insurance and you'll get all that. It sounds to me like saying well you can sit there (points in one direction), you just can't sit there (points in another direction). That's what it sounds like to me. It doesn't feel inclusive. It feels isolated. It feels like we aren't owed the same things and the same wording.

MCCAIN: Well, I've heard you articulate that position in a very eloquent fashion. We just have a disagreement and I, along with many, many others wish you every happiness.

ELLEN: Thank you. So you'll walk me down the aisle? Is that what you said?

(laughter)

MCCAIN: Touché

Unmarried Miami-Dade County residents can now register with the county's Consumer Services Department as domestic partners, thanks to a Tuesday vote by the county commission:

Unmarried couples in Miami-Dade won the right to hospital and jail visitation on Tuesday, following an 8-4 vote by the County Commission, and county employees will be able to buy health coverage for their partners.

Couples will be able to register their partnerships with the county's Consumer Services Department by late August. The system is open to unmarried, nonrelated couples -- gay or straight -- who are at least 18 and live together.

County staff estimated 900 couples would file this year.

Those couples would have the same visitation rights as spouses in county healthcare facilities, jails and juvenile detention centers. They would have the same rights as spouses to visit a partner's children and parents.

For county workers, the option to buy health insurance would extend to their domestic partner and that partner's children.

Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, an openly gay man, was elected mayor of Portland, Oregon on Tuesday. Adams, who avoided a runoff by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote in last night's primary, will become the first openly gay mayor of a Top 40 U.S. city. 

Adams told PolitickerOR.com at his victory party that he is "thrilled, humbled and surprised" to be elected Portland's next mayor and credited his staff with putting together a winning grassroots campaign.

It’s been a big week for the GLBT community and The Agenda had a big show last night to celebrate marriage in California - and look forward to the political battles ahead. If you missed the show with Joe and co-host Mary Breslauer, you can download audio clips of some segments of the program - or just use the player below:

Augusten Burroughs:

The celebrated author talks about his new work A Wolf at the Table. Download the audio:
·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/burroughs.mp3

George Takei & Brad Altman:

The former Star Trek star and his partner discuss their impending nuptial.  Download the audio:
·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/takeialtman.mp3

Bob Shrum:

The veteran political consultant discusses the presidential campaign news of the day.  Download the audio:
·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/shrum.mp3

Drew Westen:

The political psychologist discusses his book The Political Brain and how voters use emotion to make decisions.  Download the audio:
·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/westen1.mp3
·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/westen2.mp3

Caitlin Rother:

The author discusses her book Twisted Triangle about the real-life lesbian love triangle involving author Patricia Cornwell  Download the audio:

·         http://www.theagendaonxm.org/audio/20080519/rother.mp3

To read the full blog entry on last night’s show, go to: http://www.theagendaonxm.org/2008/05/20/126

Use the player below to listen to segments from Monday's show:

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