New York Times:
Like all students caught up in the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s, I was riveted by the violent confrontations between the police and protestors in Selma, 1965, and Chicago, 1968. But I never heard about the several days of riots that rocked Greenwich Village after the police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn in the wee hours of June 28, 1969 -- 40 years ago today.
Emma Ruby-Sachs: Obama Gives a Good Speech, But Will It Help Lt. Choi?
If the Obama administration can't pass a comprehensive overhaul of health care, then how is it going to repeal laws that a large proportion of Americans don't care about or to which many don't object?
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Rainbow Lounge Victim’s Condition Worsening
http://dym-sum.com/2009/06/29/no170/
Well, this story finally dropped off the front page of HP. So, I'm going to do what any normal, red-blooded gay male would do, I'm gonna watch "Hung" on HBO. :D
Enjoy!
Well, along with all of his problems, he just said he had a big d*ck. "What am I supposed to do with that?", he says. LOL!
OK - I am off to bed, night folks
Happy 40th Gay Pride Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Rp8ep_ezE
That was F'ing AMAZING. Oh, I loved that. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic!!!!
Why is this story falling off the bottom of the front page? Can anyone tell me that? Why is it that stories like "Sanford's Mistress" always dominate the top of the page? Just saying.
I agree. And even the Prez statement that he wants people to send in questions for the online town hall is sliding off the main. But if it celebrity or sex, well we need space for that. Argh.
The great orator will say some incredible words that will sound inspiring tomorrow, but at this point in my life, I want actions, not words.
Action will occur tomorrow . . . a celebration in the White House commemorating Stonewall.
More action is needed, but do not ignore the action taken. Symbolisms matter.
I hope the words are inspiring. I could use inspiration.
look elsewhere for inspiration, not to Obama -- he is the change we have not been waiting for.
A celebration is not action...action would mean actually getting rights.
We voted for a cartalytic change agent and what we got instead was more of the "same old, same old."
Only goes to show Obama has the cajones of a Faranelli.
We all know Obama is going to say something. But, frankly it won't matter much if there's no one there to cover it. Many of us waited for what we thought was going to be a live event for the federal employee benefits signing, and only got a press generic pool snippet 30 minutes or more later. That was incredibly disappointing. HP at least covered the Luaua for hawaiian citizens, so let's hope that we get at least that much media coverage
It will probably be a press release, not an announcement - that way Fox doesn't have footage to twist but we also don't get our fierce advocate - double edge sword.
Im starting to go by the adage "if it didn't happen on tv (or Youtube or Twitter) it didn't happen"
I saw it on CSPAN . . .it being the federal benefits signing. I saw the recording though.
The media had better cover it, but you know given the tendency to ignore any progress for LGBT maybe it won't be covered. I am going to watch for it, though.
Oh I'll be glued to C=span tomorrow I suspect
"Many of us waited for what we thought was going to be a live event for the federal employee benefits signing, and only got a press generic pool snippet 30 minutes or more later. That was incredibly disappointing."
Really? I thought the lack of actual benefits, the refusal to repudiate the DOMA brief, the refusal to repudiate the DADT brief, the refusal to stop firing troops, Barney Frank's 180 "DOMA brief now acceptable" betrayal, and the like were the disappointments.
In addition to the refusal to support the Tauscher bill, the refusal to support and motivate Reid and Pelosi to take action on DADT and DOMA, the refusal to cite the military's many studies that undermine their "unit cohesion" canard, the refusal to recant the absurd separate-not-equal "civil union" turnabout (he once supported our marriages "unequivocally")
and on and on
Stonewall Revisited? Fort Worth, TX Gay Bar Raided Last Night
http://dym-sum.com/2009/06/28/no166/
'He was just walking to the bathroom when an officer grabbed him and shoved him against a wall and pulled his head back,' said Chris Hightower of Fort Worth, a friend of the patron. 'He (the injured man) was then thrown to the ground and three other officers were on him.'
I was still standing near the entrance to the VIP lounge with a friend when an officer approached a man standing there. The man had water in his hand...The officer then said that he was going to arrest him for public intoxication. The man said, 'You can’t do that I am just standing here right now drinking water.' At the time the officer shoved the man over towards the wall near the dressing room and then back to the rear wall near the men’s restroom, then down onto the floor. Several other officers, made their way back there to hold that ONE MAN down on the ground as they placed restraints on him.
Tammye Nash at the Dallas Voice has spoken to the sister of the critically injured man, Chad Gibson:
'However, a second CAT scan performed this afternoon showed that the bleeding in his brain had increased.'
Kristy said Chad has awake today, but that he has no memory of the incident in the bar and that his memory of events today have been spotty."
Dailykos has reporting on this as well. An excellent poster rbarry647 provided the original info. "Raid on Fort Worth Gay Bar
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/28/747810/-Breaking:-Raid-on-Fort-Worth-Gay-Bar-(Update-x5)"
There are now 6 updates.
I've already read that DailyKos article, but the other link has more detailed information.
What do you all think about tomorrow? What do you expect/want the Prez to say?
Anyone?
I don't expect him to say anything, at least not publicly. The shindig hasn't really been publicized.
I hope you are wrong.
And it was publicized or at least as much as the Cinco De Mayo celebration and the Irish celebration. it was reported last week and I first saw something about the Prez giving a speech on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall back in April/early May . . . one of the press briefings or gaggles or something like that.
He'll say something for sure. I think it's important to remember that while this event is important to many LGBTs, it's somewhat small on the scale of events for the nation. Many straight people go to the parades, etc., but it's one of several days in a year when this or that group celebrates themselves.
I guess I should have expanded on what I said a second ago. I would "hope" that he denounces the actions that took place in DFW early this morning. I would also "hope" that he begins placing some form of pressure on Congress to push through the hate crimes legislation, ENDA, and the repeal of DADT. But like I said, I don't expect him to say anything publicly as the event has not been publicized.
Yeah, but there are some reports that what happened in DFW might not have been as sinister as it could seem. If it was, it should be condemned, but it might have been--we should probably wait to see.
I am not holding any expectations for him to say anything, I have learned to lower my expectations.
President Obama hasn't been the fierce advocate I thought he would be, of course he is always welcome to prove me wrong but so far I am unimpressed.
I kind of have to go along with every thing you've said! Same here. I'd rather have low expectations and then be pleasantly surprised.
Because when I've had high expectations with Obama since the Inauguration on I've been let down big time!
Sorry, that's being honest!
Does anyone know if there will be media coverage of the veterans protest march that's supposed to happen tomorrow during the presidential commemoraiton thing?
My guess is, that won't be televised either. Otherwise there would be much more publiciity over the event
I do not know. But the media seems less useful these days, having dropped the ball almost entirely on Iran.
We may need to look through the blogs on the vets protests. I imagine there will be a blog here. My other favorites are dailykos.com, talkingpointsmemo, and thinkprogress. Something might be at politico.com if they think the activity will embarrass the Prez.
But who knows.
My guess is, Rachel and/or Keith will cover some aspects of it. Rachel almost definitely. But Id really like to hear what Obama's remarks are going to be
Scenes from SLDN's protest at the White House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YP5cG1yHvo
Great video. Way too small of a protest though
That was COOOOOLLL.
Thanks for the link.
Okay what've I missed? Seems as if the flame throwing hasnt stopped since I left
Just waiting for you to return to begin more flame throwing.
Now that you are here, it can begin.
LOL
Uh....okay...glad I brought my armor and helmet then! L
I've even slept and it's still going--g'morning everybody.
g'morning? Where the heck are you?
Hello.
I also slept.
"I totally agree with the author "Arresting people in a bar for Public Intoxication seems strange, and doing it on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall seems like they are trying to spark another Stonewall."
The police in NY a few years ago shot a black man 50 times outside of a club. The man was there for a bachelor party. He was suppose to be married the same day he died. There are some things people of color do understand and that is brutality. This incident is nothing knew in the black community so we feel for others who experience it. Maybe, President Obama should cancel the meeting with the gay leaders tomorrow and go down to the protests and speak. This might finally make the gay community feel like the president is concerned about gay issues. Seriously, I doubt it would change some minds.
It's incidents like these that confirm that there's no way 70% of the public is in support of gay marriage and DADT. Please don't be naive the battle to repeal DOMA and DADT is going to be fierce and the president needs your support when the time comes. The president is working cautiously because the masses of the people aren't ready yet. 70% false, 41% is closer to the truth.
The polls show that approx. 70% of those polled favor repealing DADT. There is not as extensive a support on gay marriage, see http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/17/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5094597.shtml?tag=stack
But if you aggregate support for gay marriage and civil unions, there is still fairly significant support.
You may be right that there will be a battle. People need to lobby Congress and the President rather than solely focusing on the President as if he is both magician and messiah.
What the continued hostility against Blacks show is that laws do not change bigotry, but laws are a start. LGBT need laws that provide some protection.
Majority support even in Texas, actually, it would seem, almost two to one for at least same sex unions according to something I ran across just now looking for more news:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_11488.php
Hapiday, I think that the President needs to truly be a "fierce advocate" not a "tepid observer", regardless of the pulse of the nation.
Let's see how brave the *cops* are about the purpose of that raid, eh?
It's no time to lowball the numbers. DADT is roundly unpopular with the people, and a majority support the idea of at least civil unions with full equality, for which a DOMA repeal would be required.
Maybe those cops in Texas were trying to 'prove' there's less support for LBGT humanity than in fact exists.
This is troubling to have happened on Stonewalls 40th Anniversary:
Raid on Fort Worth Gay Bar
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/28/747810/-Breaking:-Raid-on-Fort-Worth-Gay-Bar-(Update-x5)
I totally agree with the author "Arresting people in a bar for Public Intoxication seems strange, and doing it on the 40th anniversary of Stonewall seems like they are trying to spark another Stonewall."
That is chilling, indeed. Thanks for posting.
This is amazing and too crazy.
But I tell you, dailykos rocks. They have some of the best information.
Thanks for the info.
This could be a major story.
It will be when the lawyers get involved.
I live in Dallas -- it was a story on the news this evening --WFAA-TV (Channel 8) is doing a follow-up tonight during the 10:00 news broadcast.
Please give us an update if and when you can. Thank you!
1. Gays are gay, are equal, and equal is equal.
Homosexuality is a sexual orientation that isn't a disorder. This is a scientific fact that shows that gays are equal to heteros. We've known this since 1956 and it's been a matter of consensus since 1973. It means everything about gays -- their relationships, their parenting, their job performance -- everything, is equal, not inferior, to heterosexuals'.
2. The 1st Amendment is a firewall against theocracy.
It prevents unscientific/religious attitudes from becoming law. Its existence means marriage is a secular legal institution. Atheists can get married in courthouses. It makes civil union unconstitutional so long as heterosexual marriage exists legally.
3. The 14th Amendment provides the same rights for gays as it does for heterosexuals.
It prohibits the idea of hierarchical citizenship wherein the rights people are afforded is not a universal matter but an arbitrary one. The 14th Amendment gives gays the same rights, including the right to get married, as those conferred to heterosexuals. No state can rescind those rights, and neither can any politician or judge.
4. In summation:
We have the same rights already. Our marriages exist and must be fully recognized. Our citizenship is full and must be recognized. This is not an option. This is a constitutional requirement. It's the responsibility of everyone in each branch of government to uphold the Constitution.
Passing the buck from one branch of government to another, from one politician to another won't change this.
A lot of what you claim is "law" is not exactly law.
For instance, your thoughts on the 1st Amendment, "It prevents unscientific/religious attitudes from becoming law," but if this was true, DADT and DOMA would not BE law. They are.
Further, the 14th amendment does not automatically or magically grant rights. The only rights the 14th amenment has granted have been conferred based on interpretation by the Courts, e.g., Loving v. Virginia and Brown v. Board of Education, among others. We need more positive case law for sexual orientation. As it now stands, sexual orientation is a low standard, rational basis, which allows many sexual orientation restrictions to be upheld. Courts, right now, are not the best place for sexual orientation cases.
We need to proceed through the legislature. It is the legislature that is responsible for passing laws. NO other branch of government has this responsibility.
"if this was true, DADT and DOMA would not BE law. They are."
The problem is that there is widespread ignorance regarding the Constitution.
14th Amendment section 1:
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
There is nothing "magical" about tit, but it is automatic. All citizens have full citizenship.
As for your "the courts have said this/that"... The reality is that gay people are gay. Homosexuality is a valid sexual orientation and is not a disorder. Gay people's marriages are same-sex. No amount of rhetorical trickery or "the courts have said this/that" herring will change that.
Gay people are gay. Gay people marry each other. Gay people have equal rights. The 1st Amendment prohibits religious/unscientific theocratic law:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
here's a side note re: gay and lesbian parenting...
Here's a great CNN report for all you wingnut bigots who say gays and lesbians can't be parents......read it if you can...
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/06/28/gayby/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
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First Posted: 06-28-09 12:09 AM | Updated: 07-28-09 05:12 AM