Author: Randy Slovacek

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Progress on DADT Repeal

In a memo released Friday, the Pentagon outlined plans for the steps being taken to repeal DADT, and it seems to be moving in a fairly decent pace.

Reports say high level Pentagon officials are meeting every two weeks to gauge progress and potential problems. “The conditions on the ground would dictate how fast we go,” Stanley said at the Pentagon briefing. “To even imply that we have a target to do it by this date would be a misnomer. In essence we are going to move responsibly, quickly but deliberately as we go through the process.” Training will be extensive and the changes will take place at the same time in all branches of the military, according to Defense Sec. Gates.

However, full equality will be hampered by conflicting laws still on the books. Due to the Defense of Marriage Act, the military is forbidden to extend many of the same benefits other married couples have available to same sex couples, such as housing allowances, medical care, travel and other privileges.

This is just one more good reason to abolish DOMA as it creates inequality for many of our men and women in the armed forces. If you can put your life on the line for your country, you should have the same rights and privileges as all soldiers. If marriage, as many argue, is a “state’s rights” issue, then the Federal government shouldn’t have laws on the books like DOMA that have a Federal reach.

The Pentagon has said it’s possible all military privileges could be extended to same sex couples in the future. We’ll have to keep an eye out for news on that.

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Illinois Gov. to sign Civil Unions into law today

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will sign the recently passed Civil Unions bill today at a signing ceremony at the Chicago Cultural Center at 4pm. With Quinn’s signature Illinois becomes the twelfth U.S. state or district to grant legal recognition to same-sex relationships through either civil unions or marriage. “It is great for Illinois and the advancement of true equality,” state Rep. Deborah Mell (D-Chicago) told ChicagoPride.com. Mell made an emotional plea to her colleagues as the civil union bill was coming up for a vote. “I am thrilled the the governor is signing this important bill into law,” said Equality Illinois co-founder and long time gay rights advocate Rick Garcia. “This bill brings us one step closer to full Equality in Illinois.” The new law becomes effective June 1, 2011.

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Carol Channing turns 90 today!

My dear Carol Channing celebrates her 90th birthday today. I recently performed with her again last month (picture above) in the opening number of the Gypsy of the Year competition, which is a major charity event for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  She brought the house down as only she can. For those that don’t know, I spent two and a half incredible years performing with Carol in the last Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!.  I eventually became the production supervisor where she would ask me for notes – on how to perform the role of Dolly Levi!  As if I could tell her anything she didn’t already know. A quick Carol story: when I was supervising Dolly on tour, one day we had a particularly long and dreadful travel day – two planes, a bus, a train and a donkey or two – to get to what Carol called “a soccer arena” where we would perform the show that night. In the sound check Carol looked down and realized that the musician’s pit was 25 feet beneath us.  This was the pit that I had to leap over every night in the middle of the Hello, Dolly! number.  For the first time in 30 years of doing the show she decided this was dangerous. After the sound check she came looking for me to ask if someone could put a net or something between the pit and the stage in case those of us who jumped over the pit happened to fall into it. At this point, I had 30 minutes before the performance and was taking a long shower to rid myself of the long travel day.  This being a “soccer arena” the showers where open showers in a locker room. Covered in soap and standing under the water I suddenly heard a very low baritone voice say “Randy.” I turned and there was Carol, in the open showers with me, smiling. She waited for me to turn and went into her concerns about the pit, a net and all sorts of other things as I stood there completely naked.  When she finished expressing her concerns I said, “Absolutely Carol.  But right now I’m soaking wet, taking a shower.” She looked me up and down, smiled and said “Oh! Yes, of course.  Well, you know – we’re all just show folk,” and then turned and left me to finish my shower.  Nudity was nothing to this old pro who had changed costumes in the wings for decades. Celebrate our fabulous Carol Channing today.  As she likes to say – the first 90 years are the hardest…
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Random – plastic containers & breakfast

So I’m making some biscuits this morning for breakfast and I pull out some cheddar cheese and turkey breast for my aptly titled “turkey breast & cheddar biscuits.”

Side note: I don’t really like anything associated with breakfast – except biscuits.  Eggs, pancakes, waffles, etc…  Not my thing.  So when it comes to breakfast, yes, I’m a maverick.  I was a maverick before John McCain and the half-term Governor Palin thought about the word.  I break the rules.  I’m an adult now.  It’s my choice.

Aaaaaanyway…

I’m pulling out the turkey and cheddar and I suddenly realize that the plastic storage containers the Hillshire Farms cold cuts come in aren’t nearly as nice as the Albertsons cold cut containers.

Go figure…

That’s all.

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Message from the Marines Commandant to all Marines regarding DADT

OK, so I’ll admit this gave me a lump in my throat. Just to hear the message of tolerance and respect from General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is pretty inspiring. This is a military we can all be proud of.

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Michele Bachmann upsets Veterans over proposed cuts

Rep. Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann Congresswoman Michele Bachmann caught flak from the Veterans of Foreign Wars over her proposed benefit cuts in an attempt to reduce the US debt load. In a statement released Friday, Richard Eubank, head of the VFW said “No way, no how, will we let this proposal get any traction in Congress.” In addition to cutting veteran’s benefits, Bachmann proposed a host of other spending cuts such as abolishing the Department of Education, reducing farm subsidies and eliminating other federal grants and programs. Bachmann has recently come under fire for a “revisionist” view of U. S. history in a speech given in Iowa in front of Iowans for Tax Relief on Jan. 21. In that speech she claimed that the founding father’s of the U.S. worked “tirelessly” to eradicate slavery. This, of course, doesn’t jive with history that shows our country didn’t outlaw slavery until the end of the Civil War and by passing the 13th Amendment.

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Bristol Palin Appearance Cancelled Due To Protests

Bristol Palin

Bristol PalinBristol Palin’s upcoming appearance and speech on abstinence at Washington University has been cancelled due to protests from students. At least two petitions were launched to express student’s concerns that university money was being spent to bring Bristol Palin to the University to speak during its Sexual Responsibility Week activities. One Facebook Group stated “It’s not about conservative or liberal, it’s about not wasting our money on people who don’t matter… especially people who are only famous for being the teenage pregnant daughter of a politician. That is not a credential – it’s a gimmick.” There were reports Bristol Palin was to have been paid between $15-30,000 for her speaking engagement. In related news, I will not be speaking at a Napa Valley winery about how to replace Chardonnay with tap water in your daily diet.

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Coming soon from Matt Zarley – WE BELONG

This Valentine’s Day, recording artist Matt Zarley is releasing his new cover version of the 80s iconic recording “We Belong” – all proceeds to benefit The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone. For more information about The Trevor Project, click here.

Take a listen to this preview, then go download it on Valentine’s Day.  The track is slated to be available everywhere you can download songs – iTunes, Amazon, etc…

Matt is the real deal, and so is The Trevor Project.

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Unrest and turmoil in Egypt

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (photo: Italian Republic)
From the New York Times:

Tens of thousands of people demanding an end to the nearly 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak filled the streets of several Egyptian cities on Tuesday, in an unusually large and sometimes violent burst of civil unrest that appeared to threaten the stability of one of the United States’ closest Arab allies.

The protests, at least partly inspired by the toppling of the authoritarian government in Tunisia, began small but grew all day, with protesters occupying one of Cairo’s central squares. Security forces, which normally prevent major public displays of dissent, initially struggled to suppress the demonstrations, allowing them to swell.

But early Wednesday morning, firing rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades, the police finally drove groups of demonstrators from the square, as the sit-in was transformed into a spreading battle involving thousands of people and little restraint.

Stay tuned to see how this affects not only Egypt but relations with that country both here in the U.S. and abroad.  U.S. stocks ended lower Friday as investors grew nervous about the political situation in Egypt.