Articles tagged with: video
Changes to Don’t Ask: ‘fair’ enforcement of an unfair policy (video)
Defense Secretary Gates announced changes in the military’s anti-gay policy Don’t Ask Don’t Tell that limit third-party outings. The Pentagon still wants to make a one year study on the possible effects of a repeal, and Gates said the changes provide a “fair” way to enforce the gay ban while it’s in effect.
But the ban itself is unfair, and the repeal effort is heating up. Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo handcuffed themselves to the White House to protest Obama’s failure to act on the repeal. Support for the repeal is also growing in Congress, and Alaska’s Senator Begich recently said it’s time to move on.
Lt. Dan Choi, who faces discharge from the military for being gay, talks with Rachel Maddow about the latest adjustments in the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy:
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Senator Begich on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal: "It’s Time"
Asked if he would support a repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, Sen. Begich replied “It’s done its time, it’s time to move on and change the policy.”
“When you look at the militaries of Canada, Great Britain and Australia, they don’t have any policy like this, and we’re serving arm in arm with them right on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it has not caused any disruption of how we perform our duties. It’s done its time, it’s time to move on.”
Please thank Senator Begich for his support!
– hat tip to Alaskans Together for news of the interview from KTVA (the video is no longer available) and to Think Progress for the short clip above.
GetEQUAL Today
Two LGBT actions took place Thursday, one on each coast: a rally and protest in DC against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and a San Francisco sit-in and national call-in for ENDA, the ‘don’t fire me for being gay’ bill that is stalled in committee. Both actions are connected to GetEQUAL.org, “a movement of everyday people dedicated to full equality” that includes Will Phillips, the 10 year old boy who refuses to say the pledge until LGBT people have equal rights.
First, Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo handcuffed themselves to the White House to protest Obama’s failure to act on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
On the west coast, GetEQUAL is holding a peaceful sit-in at Pelosi’s SF office until she agrees to move ENDA forward, and supporting the protest with a nationwide call-in:
“Can you call Speaker Pelosi’s office right now and demand that ENDA (HR 3017) come to the floor for a vote? 202.225.4965.”
“A majority of Congress supports this bill to stop job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but promises to bring it to a vote last fall were broken several times,” writes Jillian Weiss for GetEQUAL. “We have visited, called and written Congress by the thousands, and have been ignored… This ‘tyrrany of the majority’ must stop. Nonviolent direct action is relevant and needed and it’s happening now.”
“ENDA is important because studies show that LGBT workers endure high unemployment, underemployment and harassment. We have to lie and hide in order to get and keep a job. In 30 states across America, there is no law against firing someone based on his or her sexual orientation, and the same is true in 38 states for gender identity.”
“Ask Police Officer Michael Carney of Springfield, Massachusetts, who testified before Congress about the harassment he had to endure in the station house before being fired. Ask Vandy Beth Glenn of Atlanta, Georgia, who told Congress about being fired from her job as a proofreader with the Georgia legislature because she is transgender. This has gone on long enough.”
Shoot, ask the LGBT people in Anchorage who worked hard to get job and housing protections last year only to have Mayor Sullivan veto Ordinance 64 – his first of several unpopular vetoes. Please call Speaker Pelosi today, then join GetEQUAL:
I join with others who are ready to take bold action to demand equality for LGBTQ people. I will not accept excuses, delays, compromises, or empty promises, and I will hold accountable any person or organization who stands in the way. I will push back, rise up, and speak out against all forms of discrimination that plague our community.
“The mission at GetEQUAL is simple: to create a movement of everyday people—lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and straight—who are dedicated to bringing about full legal and social equality. We believe there are millions of Americans who are tired of waiting and are ready to act. Our goal is to serve and grow this constituency by helping them take strategic, coordinated, bold action to demand equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way.”
“We know it will take all of us working together to reach our goals, so we seek to create a broad and inclusive community. GetEQUAL will bring together people of every sex, gender, race, class, age, ability, look, religion, family status, or citizenship; those who can contribute in small ways, and those who are able to put themselves on the line. United, we can build a more powerful movement to demand change. We invite you to join us, and ask your friends and family to do the same.”
Watch 10-year-old Will Phillips of West Fork, Arkansas, talk about how we all need to take risks and get in a little trouble if we want to achieve full equality for LGBTQ people:
Kathy Griffin looks for gays in Anchorage
Award-winning and gay-friendly comedian Kathy Griffin is performing in Anchorage on Friday March 5 at the PAC.
In addition to stand-up comedy, Griffin played a lesbian activist on a recent episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and posed for the NoH8 photo project. She also escorted Levi Johnston to the Teen Choice Awards, and joked that they are engaged and she’s carrying his baby.
“Kathy invades Alaska for one night only in March. Make sure to get your tickets early for this rare stop. In addition, Kathy will be stopping at Borders (1100 East Dimond Boulevard, Anchorage) at noon sharp for a very special book signing. Please call in advance for any special instructions the store may have: 907-344-4099.”
“Multiple HBO and Bravo specials weren’t enough! Catch double Emmy award winning Kathy Griffin live in her true element. She has more stories, more dish, more of what she shouldn’t say but you know you want to hear. Chicago native Kathy Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with a rapid fire wit. Come with an open mind and laugh until you puke . . . Just a little.”
Griffin loves “her gays” and will definitely have gay and lesbian fans at the Anchorage show. She even looked for – and found – gay soldiers when entertaining troops in Afghanistan, in this video clip from her DVD Allegedly:
Her fourth stand-up comedy DVD She’ll Cut A Bitch was released in January. Learn more at Kathy Griffin’s home page.
Tickets are $65 for the main floor and $45 for the mezzanine and balcony, and are available through the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts event page for Kathy Griffin.
k.d.lang’s queer Alaskan Valentine
k.d. lang sings – and howls – the love song Barefoot from her movie Salmonberries, which takes place in Kotzebue, Alaska. Although the video does not show her feet, she is bare from the chest up. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Palin on DADT Repeal: Unnecessary
Sarah Palin said that now is not the right time to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and criticized President Obama for mentioning it in his State of the Union address. She did not say when would be the right time for the repeal.
Palin appeared on Fox News Sunday and was asked, “Should the rule ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ for the military be repealed?”
“I don’t think so right now,” she said. “I’m surprised that the president spent time on that in his State of the Union speech when he only spent about 9% of his time in the State of the Union on national security issues. And I say that because there are other things to be worried about right now with the military. I think that kind of on the back burner is sufficient for now. To put so much time, and effort, and politics into it? Unnecessary.”
Watch the video clip here:
Freedom to Marry Week 2010
The 13th annual Freedom to Marry Week begins today and marriage equality events are planned around the country. In Anchorage, marriage equality supporter and Seattle sex columnist Dan Savage returns for another entertaining and educational question and answer session on all things sexual for UAA’s Healthy Sexuality Week, and we have GLBT Valentine’s events in Anchorage and Juneau.
“Every year, right around President Lincoln’s birthday and Valentine’s Day, symbolizing equality and love, supporters of the freedom to marry take action and promote conversations about why marriage matters to American families, gay and non-gay alike,” said Evan Wolfson, Executive Director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality and Gay People’s Right to Marry. “This year, Freedom to Marry’s partner organizations across the country – from Rhode Island to Washington state – are organizing Freedom to Marry Week rallies, house parties, film screenings, and lobby days.”
Freedom to Marry Week is February 8-14, 2010. Learn how to talk about marriage equality, and read A Decade of Progress on LGBT Rights at Freedom to Marry Week 2010.
In this video, Dan Savage shows how the definition of marriage has already been changed by heterosexuals, and the absurdity of using children as the reason to deny same sex marriage:
Stop School Bullying on No Name-Calling Week
No Name-Calling Week begins today, a week of educational activities aimed at stopping name-calling and bullying in schools. For tips on involving your school community in planning a fun and effective No Name-Calling Week, visit Plan a NNCW Event.
Nik Castillo, a transgender student, spoke about the effects of school bullying and the need for safer schools, at the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles:
"8: The Mormon Proposition" debuts at Sundance
The film “8: The Mormon Proposition” premiered at Sundance yesterday, showing how the LDS church funded Prop 8 and took away the right to marry in California. The Utah church also spent $1 million to ban same sex marriage in Alaska, and pushed similar bans in other states.
8:TMP follows the stories of many LGBT citizens seeking marriage equality and never-before revealed Mormon efforts to stop them… [Fred] Karger, a gay Californian, was given secret memos and documents from inside the Mormon Church as he investigated the tens of millions of dollars funneled into California to fight gay marriage. The memos reveal for the first time that Mormons used front groups to achieve their goals against LGBT legislation, with a battle plan beginning in Hawaii.
The Mormons bankrolled a gay marriage ban in Hawaii in 1998, the same year they funded the Alaska marriage ban. (On Friday, the Hawaii senate passed a civil unions bill by a veto-proof majority, and the house is expected to pass it as well.)
The current Prop 8 trial in San Fransicso exposed more documents proving the Mormon role in pushing the ban, including church leaders working for the political campaign, sending fundraising letters to members, and calling for door to door teams to advocate for Prop 8.
The open promotion of anti-gay political issues by the LDS and other churches has focused attention on the tax exempt status of religious organizations. A Canadian church that was heavily involved in anti-gay political measures had its tax exempt status revoked last week.
Watch the trailer for “8”
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles: Simple Gifts (video)
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles toured four South American nations performing multi-lingual theatrical performances. ‘Simple Gifts’ was one of the highlights:
