07.26.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 10:42 pm by pikapp44
“Oliver Stone has once again shown his conspiratorial colors with his comments about ‘Jewish domination of the media’ and control over U.S. foreign policy. His words conjure up some of the most stereotypical and conspiratorial notions of undue Jewish power and influence,” Abraham H. Foxman, the ADL national director, said in a statement. “This is the most absurd kind of analysis and shows the extent to which Oliver Stone is willing to propound his anti-Semitic and conspiratorial views.”
The 63-year-old Oscar-winning director of Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July issued an apology Monday.
“In trying to make a broader historical point about the range of atrocities the Germans committed against many people, I made a clumsy association about the Holocaust, for which I am sorry and I regret. Jews obviously do not control media or any other industry. The fact that the Holocaust is still a very important, vivid and current matter today is, in fact, a great credit to the very hard work of a broad coalition of people committed to the remembrance of this atrocity - and it was an atrocity.”
During an interview for his new documentary, South of the Border, the British newspaper asked why there was such a focus on the Holocaust in Hollywood. Stone pointed to “the Jewish domination of the media. They stay on top of every comment, the most powerful lobby in Washington. Israel has f—– up United States foreign policy for years.”
The American Jewish Committee also issued a statement regarding Stone’s comment, calling him an anti-Semite and comparing him to Mel Gibson.
“By invoking this grotesque, toxic stereotype, Oliver Stone has outed himself as an anti-Semite,” David Harris, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. “For all of Stone’s progressive pretensions, his remark is no different from one of the drunken, Jew-hating rants of his fellow Hollywood celebrity, Mel Gibson.”
Earlier this year, Stone caused controversy for calling Adolf Hitler an “easy scapegoat” at a television critics conference.
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07.18.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 10:51 am by pikapp44
A Michigan-based gay rights foundation has given more than $400,000 to a California seminary to help craft formal liturgies for the Episcopal Church to bless gay and lesbian relationships.
The Episcopal Church still officially considers marriage between a man and a woman, reflected in the marriage rite of its Book of Common Prayer. Many dioceses, however, unofficially allow priests to bless same-sex relationships and even marriages.
Because the church puts a high value on scripted liturgies, many same-sex couples want their own marriage/blessing rite since many bishops are reluctant to use the traditional husband-wife marriage liturgy for same-sex unions.
The church’s 2009 General Convention gave the green light to collecting “theological and liturgical resources” that would form the basis of an official same-sex rite that could be added to the list of approved ceremonies.
Many observers expect the church, when it gathers again in 2012, to approve rites for same-sex unions, or at least give official approval to start the process, which can take several years.
The $404,000 grant from the Arcus Foundation to the Church Divinity School of the Pacific will help facilitate the process; the church’s official Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music has only $25,000 designated for the project.
A major part of the grant will go to funding a conference next March where two representatives from each of the church’s 110 dioceses will be able to offer suggestions and share work that’s already been done.
“Developing liturgical resources for blessing same-sex unions is a once-in-a-lifetime generation change, and we want to do it well,” said the Rev. Ruth Myers, a professor of liturgy at the seminary in Berkeley, Calif.
Though ultimate decisions and recommendations will be left to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the seminary hopes the grant will help keep the process going, with the necessary funds to match.
Tom Kam, the foundation’s deputy director of gay programming, said Arcus is committed to assisting the church in its “continued progress toward moral equality for (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) people.”
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07.09.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 2:03 pm by pikapp44
NBC’s “Today” show said it is changing the rules for its annual wedding contest to allow same-sex couples to apply for a ceremony conducted on morning TV.
Already thousands of couples have expressed interest in the on-air wedding, which the top-rated morning show has sponsored for a decade, a spokeswoman said.
“We’re thrilled that ‘Today’ show’s ‘Modern Wedding Contest’ now recognizes what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded - a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay,” said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Viewers plan every aspect of the wedding, from the cake to the clothing styles of attendants. NBC picks four couples from thousands of applicants, and viewers vote on which of those couples will participate.
Same-sex couples have been excluded because New York state law does not allow them to get wedding licenses. But NBC said GLAAD pointed out that a same-sex couple would be able to get a license from another state and still have their ceremony in New York.
NBC said it had listened to voicemails and read e-mails protesting its decision not to allow same-sex marriages. The show considers relations with the gay and lesbian community very important, it said in a statement.
“Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive to all couples,” NBC said.
The only time same-sex couples were allowed to apply for the “Today” wedding was in 2005, when an out-of-state wedding was held, said show spokeswoman Megan Kopf. No gay or lesbian couples were among the finalists, however.
Although “Today” viewers will decide which couple to get married on TV, it will choose from among four that “Today” producers screen and put up for a vote. So there’s no guarantee that even if same-sex couples apply for the on-air wedding, viewers will have a chance to select one to participate.
GLAAD said it only learned last week that same-sex couples weren’t allowed to apply, and issued a “call to action” for members to complain to NBC. Thousands did, the organization said.
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Posted in D's Thoughts at 1:51 pm by pikapp44
A federal district judge in Boston declared that the federal ban on recognizing same-sex marriage - as articulated in the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA - is unconstitutional.
The judge based his decision on the notion that states, not the federal government, have jurisdiction over the definition of marriage. If his decision holds up through appeals - and that’s a big if - it would mean that the federal government would likely have to recognize those same-sex marriages already recognized by states, and thus provide benefits like Medicaid to same-sex partners.
The decision would not mean that both federal and state governments would have to recognize same-sex marriage nationwide. Instead, it would mandate that the federal government would have to recognize same-sex marriages already recognized by Massachusetts and other states that recognize gay marriage.
The case now could move from the district court to the U.S. court of appeals for the first circuit, which includes three other New England states; it could then go to the Supreme Court. An appeal to the decision would come from the Justice Department of the Obama administration, which wants to repeal DOMA but must defend it so long as it remains law.
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07.01.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 8:37 pm by pikapp44
Google is going to begin covering a cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, largely to compensate them for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year.
Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent. The tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer.
The Kaiser Family Foundation says that 36 percent of large companies that offer health benefits provide coverage for same-sex domestic partners, and more than half of Fortune 500 companies provide domestic partner coverage — but few pay the extra costs of that coverage.
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06.02.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 10:20 pm by pikapp44
President Barack Obama on Wednesday expanded benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees, a move likely to be welcomed by gay rights activists who have questioned his commitment to their causes.
Obama said he had directed government agencies to offer a number of new benefits to the families of gay and lesbian federal employees, including family assistance services, hardship transfers and relocation expenses.
His directive builds on a move he made last year to offer healthcare benefits, sick leave and medical evacuation for same-sex partners of federal employees.
Obama said in a statement that while his directive was an “important step on the path to equality,” existing federal law prevented him from taking further action to provide same-sex domestic partners with the same benefits offered to heterosexual married couples.
He called on Congress to swiftly pass a measure that would address that discrepancy.
Gay rights activists, who were big supporters of Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign, have criticized him for not moving fast enough to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents gay men and women from serving openly in the military.
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05.29.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 9:57 pm by pikapp44
Defense Secretary Robert Gates sought on Friday to ease concerns among U.S. troops about plans advancing in Congress to end the military’s ban on homosexuals, saying a long, careful review process lay ahead.
Gates, in his first major address to U.S. troops on the politically charged legislation, said he did not expect Congress to pass the repeal for months, perhaps not until the end of the year.
Even then, the U.S. military would have to give final approval and would not do so without a comprehensive review that included troops’ input and a cautious plan for implementation.
“Every man and woman in uniform is a vitally important part of this review. We need to hear from you and your families so that we can make these judgments in the most informed and effective manner,” Gates said.
“So please let us know how to do this right.”
The House of Representatives on Thursday approved an amendment aimed at ending the Clinton-era “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which allows homosexuals to serve if they keep quiet about their sexual orientation but expels them if it becomes known. More legislative hurdles remain.
Recent polls show most Americans support repealing the 1993 ban, as does President Barack Obama.
But opponents, including some within the military, question changing the policy during wartime, arguing it would put added strain on troops stretched by wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The top U.S. military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, a proponent of repeal, acknowledged the military is divided on the issue. “I’ve seen resistance. But I’ve also seen support,” Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told National Public Radio later in the day.
Mullen expressed confidence the U.S. armed forces would eventually be able to incorporate openly serving homosexuals, but left the timing open.
“I have a great deal of confidence in our forces for lots of reasons and I think at some point in time, we’ll be ready to do it,” he said.
Opposition Republicans, gearing up for congressional elections in November in which they are expected to make gains, are rallying around the issue. They have accused Obama of pandering to gay rights advocates and ignoring the pressures on troops.
Gates asked troops to stay focused on the war effort and not the rhetoric in Washington.
“Do not let the on-going political debate distract you from what is important — our critical mission to defend our country and our duty to uphold the values represented by the uniform you wear,” he said, in an address aired on TV by the Pentagon.
Republican Senator John McCain, Obama’s opponent in the 2008 election, has spoken out against the repeal. He points to letters from the heads of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines saying they wanted Congress to wait until the Pentagon completed its internal review before acting.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin noted the Pentagon still had a big say in the process and would need to change its internal regulations to implement the repeal.
“It’s still up to them,” he said.
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05.25.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 4:45 pm by pikapp44
USDA Doesn’t Enforce Rules, Even for Repeat Violators, Inspector General’s Report Finds.
An internal government report says dogs are dying and living in horrific conditions due to lax government enforcement of large kennels known as puppy mills.
Investigators say the Department of Agriculture agency in charge of enforcing the Animal Welfare Act often ignores repeat violations, waives penalties and doesn’t adequately document inhumane treatment of dogs. In one case cited by the department’s inspector general, 27 dogs died at an Oklahoma breeding facility after inspectors had visited the facility several times and cited it for violations.
The review, conducted between 2006 and 2008, found that more than half of those who had already been cited for violations flouted the law again. It details grisly conditions at several facilities and includes photos of dogs with gaping wounds, covered in ticks and living among pools of feces.
The report recommends that the animal care unit at the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately confiscate animals that are dying or seriously suffering, and better train its inspectors to document, report and penalize wrongdoing.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that the department takes the report seriously and will force immediate action to improve enforcement, penalties and inspector training. He noted the investigation was conducted before his time in office and called it troubling.
“USDA will reinforce its efforts under its animal welfare responsibilities, including tougher penalties for repeat offenders and greater consistent action to strongly enforce the law,” he said.
The investigators visited 68 dog breeders and dog brokers in eight states that had been cited for at least one violation in the previous three years. On those visits, they found that first-time violators were rarely penalized, even for more serious violations, and repeat offenders were often let off the hook as well. The agency also gave some breeders a second chance to correct their actions even when they found animals dying or suffering, delaying confiscation of the animals.
“(Animal care) generally took little or no enforcement actions against these facilities during the period,” the investigators wrote, adding that the agency placed too much emphasis on educating the violators instead of penalizing them.
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Posted in D's Thoughts at 4:15 pm by pikapp44
Nearly eight out of ten Americans say they support openly gay men and women serving in the military, according to a new national poll by CNN.
The survey, released Tuesday, finds that 78% of the public supports allowing gay people to serve, with one in five people opposed.
“Support is widespread, even among Republicans,” CNN polling director Keating Holland said in a statement. “Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military. There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups.”
The release of the poll comes one day after congressional Democrats announced they had reached agreement with the White House on a compromise on repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell.” A vote is expected Thursday.
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05.23.10
Posted in D's Thoughts at 10:22 am by pikapp44
After coming out of the closet in his senior year at Flanagan High School, Omar Bonilla decided to take it a step further: run for prom queen.
He almost won — Bonilla was among the top three vote-getters — but in the past few days, it all unraveled.
Fearful that other students would try to beat up a prom-goer in drag, the school administration asked him to wear a tuxedo to Friday night’s dance. And after two meetings with the school principal to plead for the right to wear a dress, Bonilla was slapped with a two-day suspension, the timing of which meant he couldn’t go to the prom at all.
As students were racing off to prom, Bonilla was putting on his blue sequin dress — but only to pose for a Miami Herald photographer.
“This week was kind of, like, intense,” said Bonilla, 19.
It all started last month, when Bonilla decided he wanted to run for prom king, but with the intention of wearing a dress. School administrators ran the idea through the higher-ups and told Bonilla that prom queen might be more appropriate — an option he liked better.
In soliciting votes from students, Bonilla — like all other candidates — put up posters around campus. His read “vote Omar for prom queen — time for a change.”
Along the way, Bonilla made the concession that, if he won, the prom king wouldn’t have to dance with him, as some kings might not be comfortable doing that.
Flanagan Principal Sharon Shaulis referred questions to a Broward schools spokeswoman. That spokeswoman, Nadine Drew, said Flanagan banned Bonilla from prom because of his unruly behavior, not his unconventional wardrobe plans.
On Thursday, Bonilla had a meeting set up with the school principal, his second in two days. He was running late and inappropriately parked in a visitor parking space at the school. When school police told him to move his car, he didn’t heed their warning.
Bonilla said the principal — citing rumors that other students might try to beat up a prom-goer in drag — asked for him to come in a tuxedo instead of a dress. A school police officer sat in on the second meeting.
Drew confirmed that administrators were worried about safety.
“More than ever before, those are real concerns these days,” she said. “Those are all taken very, very seriously.”
Bonilla refused to back down. A few hours after he left that second meeting, Bonilla was informed he’d been suspended.
That was also the day the school announced Bonilla had come close, but failed to win, the title of prom queen.
“They were looking for an excuse for me not to go, so they said I got suspended for a ‘minor disturbance,’” Bonilla said.
The suspension, Drew said, was solely because Bonilla had ignored security personnel after parking in the wrong place. Bonilla said he was in a daze that morning and he didn’t hear the security guards.
Drew insisted otherwise.
“He did hear them, he turned around, he acknowledged them,” Drew said. “But he did not heed or stop… He ignored all authority along the way, and that’s just not acceptable.”
California’s Friends of Project 10, a nonprofit group that provides educational support services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, called Bonilla’s last-minute suspension “very unfortunate.” Education Director Gail Rolf said Bonilla likely could have received help from advocacy groups if there were still time to appeal the decision.
“The question is, would they have suspended another student for the exact same behavior?” Rolf said. “Because if not, that’s a lawsuit right there.”
Bonilla certainly wasn’t the typical prom queen candidate, but openly gay male students have run for the post at other schools before. Last year, at Southern California’s Fairfax High, student Sergio Garcia won the title of queen, though he showed up in a tux.
Bonilla said Flanagan is generally an accepting place when it comes to gay students, but his desire to wear a dress and become prom queen was aimed at those students who were still scared to reveal their true selves.
“I wanted to just make a stand and prove a point,” he said. “Everybody is your friend, and you don’t have to care what people say.
“Be fierce about it,” he said. “Show that you work it.”
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