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There are two interesting interviews on NPR today that I want to provide linkages to:
From his coverage of equality marches to political campaigns, to hate crimes,
Lou Chibarro, Jr., has covered it all working as a reporter for The Washington
Blade.
From his coverage of equality marches to political campaigns, to hate crimes,
Lou Chibarro, Jr., has covered it all working as a reporter for The Washington
Blade.
And then we have a report on the "down low" phenomenon and whether it's the cause of the appalling HIV/AIDS infection rates among the African-American communities:
The popular suspicion has been that many infected black women have contracted
the virus from their black male companions, who secretly have sex with other men
(also known as the "down low").
"After a careful examination, there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that unit cohesion will be negatively affected if homosexuals serve openly,’’ writes Colonel Om Prakash, who is now working in the office of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. “Based on this research, it is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.’’
So says a new article about to be published in the upcoming issue of Joint Force Quarterly, which is published for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Colonel Prakash studied the issue of 'Gays in the Military' while a student at the National Defense University in Washington.
Naturally, Donnelly - who was embarassed and owned by Representative Patrick Murphy - during her "testimony" on the Hill disagrees, repeating her completely factless claims about the danger to unit integrity despite the fact that the very article she is commenting on just put paid to that fearmongering.
Some dufus named Matthew J. Franck has written an opinion piece for the national review slamming the law suit against Prop 8 in California. His post was in direct response to a piece by David Boies that I commented on already.
Naturally, he tries to argue against Mr. Boies' suit by pointing out that he's making a bunch of straw man arguments. And, he does this by... making a bunch of straw man arguments! Dunder-head.
I had to respond to him by email with this:
Funny,
I'd say that about you.
"Nothing about their racial differences made for a relevant consideration between a man and a woman naturally capable of marrying."
Nothing about their being different genders are relevant for consideration in being "naturally capable of marrying" either. Marriage in and of itself is a man-made, civil contract matter. And ergo, there is no reason that same-gender couples should be any less "naturally capable" either... whatever that is supposed to mean.
"depriving lesbians of the right to marry each other could force them into marrying someone they do not love but who happens to be of the opposite sex."
This argument has actually been made by same-gender marriage foes in arguing that gays and lesbians aren't being discriminated against. Perhaps, not in court... you'd probably know more about that than I... but the pundits have certainly made that case. "Gays aren't being discriminated against because they can get married, if they'd choose a partner of the opposite gender."
"But it has everything to do with same-sex marriage's necessary severing of the link between marriage and procreation."
Talk about strawman arguments! By that logic, anyone who isn't planning on having kids should be barred from marriage. Along with: the old, the infertile, those who've had vasectomies, those who've had their ovaries or womb removed (perhaps due to cancer for instance)... this argument shows where your true motives lie - and its not with constitutional arguments, but with your definition of what marriage is for which sounds amazingly biblical. And, the bible doesn't dictate our laws - thankfully - we're not a theocracy.
"In any event, the question of changing sexual orientation is quite irrelevant to the issue of who is entitled to marry."
Really? Because if only straight people can marry each other, and gay people can only marry straight people then doesn't that imply that if only gay people would be straighter then they could happily marry? This is completely about orientation and whether one can 'be changed' in order to fit better into the straight world - including marrying.
"It is incumbent on him to show why restricting marriage to one man and one woman is a violation of those clauses."
It's a violation of the 'due process' and 'equal protection under the law' because it specifically targets one group and tells them specifically that they may not have 100% of the rights and priviliges of other groups of people.
"On the other hand, Boies passes merrily by the very serious argument that state recognition of same-sex unions as marriages will lead to official infringement of the religious liberty of many Americans."
Another straw argument. Those states with same-gender marriage recognition have already included rules barring the forcement of religious organizations to perform, recognize or acknowlege those unions in their religious settings. Religion and Government are two very separate things and secular laws are not dictated by the bible... at least they shouldn't be in a "free" society. As for the adoption question and Catholic organizations... I'd have to know more about why they've been forced out, but my first question is "Were they taking state funds to perform their works?" If the answer is 'yes, but...,' then shut up. If they're taking handouts from the state, they should be following the law and if they can't do that, then they shouldn't take state funds (including their tax exemptions). But, I would like to know more about why they can't operate as a private, religiously based adoption agency. That would seem unfair and unjust to me.
"It is a statement of fact about a central institution in our civilization—a fact historical, natural, and moral, backed up by many centuries of wisdom about men and women, children and families, law and culture."
Straw argument. Societal mores are not static and change over time and the law follows. 'Natural' and 'moral' are relative terms depending on the culture. And many centuries of wisdom also allowed slavery, miscegenation, disallowed men of women of different ethnicities from marrying, disallowed different Faiths from marrying, allowed people to be legally murdered for witchcraft, thought mental illness was actually possession by evil spirits, etc. etc. etc.
"Justice requires that the lawsuit brought by David Boies and Theodore Olson be laughed out of court."
Justice requires that the judges of the Supreme Court issue a reminder that "the bible says so" isn't a legal argument.
I would highly recommend that everyone email this twit and point out his utterly transparent attempts to paint somebody else with the very brush he's the one wielding... It's not even Pot/Kettle... it's trying to deflect attention from the empty arguments that the Right/Social Conservatives want to use that have nothing to do with an actual legal argument. MJFRANCK@MSN.com
I want to give a sincere and heart felt 'thank you, Sirs' to Ted Olson and David Boies for going where our gay, civil rights groups are too timid to tread....
Recently, Ted Olson and I brought a lawsuit asking the courts to now declare unconstitutional California's Proposition 8 limitation of marriage to people of the opposite sex. We acted together because of our mutual commitment to the importance of this cause, and to emphasize that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, not a liberal or conservative issue, but an issue of enforcing our Constitution's guarantee of equal protection and due process to all citizens.
...
There are those who sincerely believe that homosexuality is inconsistent with their religion -- and the First Amendment guarantees their freedom of belief. However, the same First Amendment, as well as the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses, preclude the enshrinement of their religious-based disapproval in state law.
...
Susan Page guest hosted a Diane Rehm show last week on Gays in the Military, so I thought I'd give you all a linky to listen if you're in the mood.
I really don't know if this will do any good, but if you think that current Civil Rights laws at the Federal level should be expanded to gay citizens - feel free to sign.
http://www.thepoweronline.org/
Yes, that’s right: 40 years after Stonewall and a bit more than 10 years after Matthew Shepard’s torture and murder we are still dealing with the “gay-panic defense” – even by the heavily armed police.
And, what’s worse is the ridiculous claims that gay patrons, even when confronted by guns, tasers, and pepper spray are so over-sexed that they’d actually try to cop a feel of an officer’s crotch during a raid.
Unbelievable.
- Mood:Outraged.
Fresh Air, with Terry Gross, had two good interviews about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from its history through to a soldier who was dismissed under the policy earlier last week. I'm just getting caught up on the NPR programs today, but I thought this was some powerful stuff, so here's the linkage for anyone interested:
Historian Nathaniel Frank and veteran Alex Nicholson
For the record, I'm one of the folks who voted for Obama and is currently really disappointed and kind of pissed with his lack of movement on the overturning of DADT. I understand there are other priorities at the moment, but the fact that he hasn't used his power as Commander in Chief to put a 'Stop Loss' against the dismissal of gay soldiers is not understandable. It's entirely cowardly.
Furthermore I am sick to death of hearing that Obama is 'engaged in dialog' about this 'commitment to gay issues' when it comes to this issue. It's not acceptable that he is allowing the military to continue drumming out gay patriots while he "continues a dialog" - whatever the fuck that supposed to mean.
We've talked and talked and talked about this - it's way past time for actual action, Mr. President.
