Just had to share.
How handsome is he? The youngest of our dogs.
Pic of the day: Bear, the prince of April Wind
DADT likely to be certified for repeal in mid-summer
Pentagon officials told a House subcommittee Friday that training for implementation of repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has gone “extremely well so far” and that certification to Congress might come by mid-summer.
Vice Admiral William Gortney said it was the judgment of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, that repeal “won’t have an impact.” “And I happen to believe that as well,” said Gortney.
In response to a question from Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) both Undersecretary Stanley and Vice Admiral Gortney said they expect the Pentagon will be ready to submit in mid-summer its required written certification to Congress that the military is prepared to drop implementation of the federal law banning openly gay people from the service.
President Obama, too, must submit written certification to Congress, saying he is confident the military is ready to implement repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Then, 60 days after his certification, and that of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, is submitted, the law will be repealed in practice.
“We don’t want to rush… and we don’t want to take forever,” said Stanley, adding that, “if something we didn’t anticipate” comes up prior to then, the military would take the time necessary to address it.
Both Houses of Congress in December passed, and President Obama signed, a bill to repeal the 1996 law prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military. The measure stipulated that, before actual repeal of the law takes place, the Defense Department would conduct training to prepare its forces for the change.
Colorado: Civil Unions bill stalls
Colorado’s civil unions bill stalled tonight due to the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, who refused to approve the bill for consideration by the full chamber.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper had urged the committee to advance the bill, which was approved by the state Senate last week.
One Colorado reports via press release: “Today’s vote was out of touch with everyday Colorado voters. With 72% of Coloradans in support of civil unions, House Republicans are out of the mainstream,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization. “Once again, they have turned their backs on Colorado families and kids.”
According to polls, support for civil unions is high. A February 2011 poll by Public Policy Polling found that 72% of Colorado voters support legal recognition of gay and lesbian couples.
Additionally, a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll conducted in 2010 found support for civil unions across political parties and religious affiliations, including 61% of Republicans, 84% of independents, 70% of Catholics, 67% of Protestants, and 55% of “born again Christians.”
Earlier today, a group of anti-gay Christians gathered at the state capitol building for a prayer vigil opposing the bill while pro-gay supporters held their own rally nearby.
The coalition advocating for civil unions includes more than 100 organizations representing nearly 1 million Coloradans.
All 5 Democrats on the Committee voted for the bill, while all 6 Republicans on the committee voted against the it. Republican Representatives Brian DelGrosso, Jerry Sonnenberg and B.J. Nikkel, considered moderates on the committee, took long pauses before submitting their “no” votes Thursday night.
UGH!
Gay Navy Officer wins discharge hearing
Petty Officer Derek Morado today won his discharge hearing with the Navy after being told he faced ejection due to a MySpace photograph that was turned in anonymously. In the photo, Morado is seen kissing another man. Morado’s lawyer told KMPH News that even though DADT has been repealed, that doesn’t mean the military’s investigations are over.
From Get Equal: This is good news for a few reasons — it shows the power of grassroots efforts to apply pressure and the reality that, when we expose the truth and stand up for our dignity, we win. We don’t know how many other servicemembers are facing discharge, but we will not rest until all Americans — LGB and T — are free to serve their country freely, openly, honestly, and without danger of discharge.
Today was a victory, and we’re grateful to Derek for lending his story and his voice to highlight the fact that servicemembers are still facing the discharge process, even 100 days after the law was repealed. We’re also grateful to our friends at AMERICAblog Gay, who partnered with us to send Derek into the courtroom with the names of thousands of supporters who were unwilling to let this happen without pushing back.
The Navy’s panel voted 3-0 in favor of Morado’s retention.
NOMexposed.org shows NOM’s true side
From the excellent website NOMexposed.org: The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is a highly secretive organization believed to be largely funded by the Mormon and Catholic churches.
During the country’s greatest economic decline in decades, NOM has amassed huge resources to stop marriage equality, whether at the ballot box or in court. NOM publicly projects rationality and tolerance, yet keeps company with zealots and long-time LGBT antagonists.
I encourage anyone who is interested in seeing justice and equality for the LGBT community to visit this site. It shows how these hateful organizations cloak themselves in “sanctity” but are actually just another homophobic religious right group – one with deep pockets.
Delaware: Civil Unions bill moves forward in state senate
A same-sex civil unions bill cleared a Delaware senate committee Wednesday and now heads to the senate floor for debate.
The bill — S.B. 30 — sponsored by Sen. David Sokola, D-Newark North, with more than two dozen co-sponsors, now goes to the Senate floor for debate.
Committee members heard impassioned testimony from opponents and supporters of the bill, one reading from the Bible, another reading a letter from his son, all saying the state would be significantly changed for the better or the worse. The balcony was packed and so was much of the floor of the Senate chamber.
Mike Bouchard, a New Castle County policeman who is active in his church, told the panel he says goodbye to his partner each morning and lays his life on the line each day for the community. He’s honored to do it, he said.
“I hold the highest regard for my position in law enforcement,” Bouchard said.
But he had one question for the panel: Why, if he is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his community, is he not given the same rights as those whose partner is of the opposite sex?
After a two hour hearing, the bill passed out of the senate administrative services committee with the 4 Democrats voting for it and the Republicans taking no position.
A tribute to Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, a gay servicemember
Very straight forward, touching tribute to a gay servicemember who died in the line of duty. I encourage everyone to watch this.
Montana GOP lawmaker defends drunk driving
Montana GOP Rep. and bar owner Alan Hale stands up to denounce DUI laws. All of them.
Said Hale: “These DUI laws are not doing our small businesses in our state any good at all. They are destroying them. They are destroying a way of life that has been in Montana for years and years. These taverns and bars in these smaller communities connect people together. They are the center of the communities. I’ll guarantee you there’s only two ways to get there: either you hitchhike, or you drive, and I promise you they’re not going to hitchhike.”
Just in case you weren’t absolutely sure that GOP lawmakers were about clearing the way for their wealthy friends (and themselves) to make money, even at the risk of people being hurt, injured or killed, well, there you go…
And I’m not EVEN going to comment on what he’s wearing.
Taylor Mali on what teachers “make”
Brilliant.
Washington State legislature votes to recognize out of state same-sex couples legal status
The Washington state senate passed it’s last hurdle in recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships.
From the Seattle Times: The Washington Legislature has approved a measure that recognizes out-of-state domestic partnerships.
On a 28-19 vote, the Senate cleared the last hurdle for the bill. It now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s desk. Under the measure, gay marriages performed elsewhere would be recognized as domestic partnerships here, as well as domestic partnerships performed in other states.
At this time, five states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriages. Washington is the fourth state to approve a bill recognizing same-sex couples from other states, following Rhode Island, New York and Maryland.
The measure enjoyed wide support among Democrats. It passed the House 58-39, mostly on party-line votes.