Category: Uncategorized

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Bill introduced to provide military benefits to same-sex couples

A bill was introduced Thursday that would provide military benefits to the same-sex spouses and children of gay and lesbian members of the armed services.

Now who could argue with that?

Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking Democratic member of the the House Armed Services Committee, introduced the bill, which would require the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments to recognize the legal marriages of gay service members.

The Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act of 2012 would change the definition of “spouse” in four sections of U.S. Code.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, praised the proposed legislation in a statement Thursday:

“Our nation’s senior military leaders and commanders on the ground are increasingly uncomfortable with administering two classes of recognition, support, and benefits for our nation’s service members — one of straight service members, and a different for their gay and lesbian peers,” Sarvis said. “There cannot be two classes of service members, and this legislation addresses that effectively.”

The step follows the official repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 2011, which has caused the need for several policies to now be updated to be more inclusive of openly gay service members. Speaking at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Department of Defense general counsel Jeh Johnson said the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” has exposed several inequalities between gay and straight service members that must be rectified.

(via the Advocate)

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US Supreme Court upholds Affordable Healthcare Act

Remarks from President Obama on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Healthcare Act.

The Supreme Court ruling on President Obama’s health care law is complicated, just like the law itself. Today the court said the law is mostly constitutional. Here is what it means for you:

– You have to buy health insurance or be subject to a tax

– If you are under 26, you can get health insurance from the plan your parents use.

– If you’re on Medicare, you can get free mammograms.

– If you have what’s called a pre-existing condition, you can get health insurance.

– Insurance companies can’t deny you coverage even if you get sick and make a mistake on your health insurance application.

Human Rights Campaign issued this statement:

The Supreme Court’s decision means millions of Americans – including many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families – will be better served by our nation’s healthcare system. The Affordable Care Act addresses a number of the barriers LGBT people face in obtaining health insurance, from financial barriers to obtaining affordable coverage to discrimination by insurance carriers and healthcare providers. While there is a great deal more that must be done to ensure that the health needs of all LGBT people are fully met throughout the healthcare system, today’s decision is an important victory in the fight for healthcare equality.

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Staging Sweet Charity: “I’m A Brass Band”

Staging “I’m A Brass Band” for SWEET CHARITY today.

Love the number. It’s Charity and the boys, lots of great, fun syncopation.

Our “Charity” – Milena Govich – is a strong dancer and likes the big, “boy choreography” steps. She’s great. As are the men of the ensemble.

Looking forward to this one.

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Minnesota for Marriage says gays should be “put to death”

The anti-gay Minnesota for Marriage, a conservative group trying to prohibit marriage equality, posted this on their Facebook account yesterday.

Such groups often claim to be coming from a place from love, but this message about gay men being put to death proves otherwise.

By the way – I await the Facebook post about Leviticus 11:10-12 which says eating shellfish is an abomination also.  I wonder if Minnesota for Marriage wants the shellfish industry put to death….?

(Via Good.As.You)

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Keeping his word: Equality for LGBT Americans

Remember folks. No president has done more for LGBT rights than President Obama.

While Romney supports a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, and points to the economy and says it’s not improving fast enough and he could do better, please think about the facts:

1. After 8 years of bad policies we hit the biggest recession since the Great Depression.

2. You walk 8 miles into the forest, it’s 8 miles back out.

President Obama is doing what he said he’d do despite the opposition doing everything they can to slow the economy down in the hopes he won’t be elected.

In the meantime, while the economy IS slowing improving, President Obama kept his work to the LGBT community.

I now have a job AND my dignity with a President who believes I’m equal.

Yeah – I’m voting for President Obama 2012.

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Staging Sweet Charity – “Hey Big Spender”

As the adventure continues with staging SWEET CHARITY in Oklahoma City, today I spent time alone mapping out the mammoth “Rich Man’s Frug” by myself so I”ll be ready for it Friday with the company.

And I staged the iconic “Hey Big Spender” (video above from the Broadway production of FOSSE) with the ladies of the company. Got it done in two hours. They really rocked and rolled with it. Plus I have the fab Kathryn Murphy assisting (and playing the role of “Nickie”) who appeared on Broadway in FOSSE doing “Hey Big Spender.” So she was an invaluable help.

Tomorrow is “I’m A Brass Band” – yet another big number, this one featuring Charity and the men of the ensemble. I get three hours to stage that. While I’m doing that Ms. Murphy will spend time going over “Big Spender” with the ladies.

In the afternoon tomorrow, I start with some preliminary “Frug” material with a few people to knock out some bits before Friday.

Having a great time and the company is terrific. Having to move through the material very quickly though, and I’m someone who loves to explore and finesse and “play with” the numbers and there’s not much time for that. They have a phrase here – “tick tock summer stock” – meaning “the clock is ticking, we gotta move on.”

More later… 🙂

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The Faiers sisters enjoy night out with the Chippendales

Sam Faiers helps Jon Howes get ready for the show as
Billie lends a hand to Dave Abrams

Billie Faiers and younger sister Sam were the centre of attention as they arrived at The Chippendales Las Vegas show at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

The TOWIE stars weren’t afraid to show off as they posed with two of the hunky men before enjoying the full scale production.

Party at the Faiers table as Chippendale Jon Howes gives Billie a squeeze

A little shopping after the show

Sam and Billie Faiers get a table side visit from a Chippendale

(photo credit: Scott Harrison)

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National HIV Testing Day

Today Walgreens launches a two year partnership with the CDC during which the pharmacy giant will offer free onsite confidential HIV testing at two dozen (mostly) urban locations.

“The goal of having the project at a pharmacy or at a retail clinic is really because of the ease of accessibility and the closeness to people’s homes,” Paul Weidle with the CDC explained. The partnership also hopes to help eliminate the stigma. Sarah Freedman, the pharmacy manager at the Walgreens in Foggy Bottom, said, “When you come into a pharmacy to get the test, other people don’t know if your getting your blood pressure checked, are you picking up medicine. Where as with an HIV bus, everyone knows exactly what you’re doing there.” Despite testing advancements, more than 200,000 people nationwide don’t know they’re living with HIV. Freedman added, “We need to find these people and get them into treatment as quickly as possible and this is a great way to do it.” The test uses an oral swab, dipped in solution. Patients can get results in less than 20 minutes.

Enter your zip code on this CDC site to find the closest HIV testing location near you.

(via JoeMyGod)