LGBT

Tell the Army not to fire Dan!

A letter from Dan Choi:

On Tuesday, I will face a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire me — to discharge me for “moral and professional dereliction” under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

On Tuesday, I will try to prove that it’s not immoral to tell the truth.

As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates.

My case requires that I provide personal testimony from people who can attest to my character. That’s why several members of my military unit have written letters of support and offered to testify on my behalf.

Now I need your help. ANYONE who believes the Army should not fire me can take a stand right now. I am bringing a statement of support to Tuesday’s trial and I need you to add your signature to it. Will you support me by signing this statement before Tuesday?

http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan

I want to thank the 141,262 people who have signed the “Don’t Fire Dan” letter launched a few weeks ago by the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile to President Obama, asking him to take leadership to bring this tragic policy to an end.

The momentum is building. This week, 77 members of Congress signed a letter to the President citing my service as an example of why DADT should be repealed. And a Gallup poll was recently released showing that 69 percent of Americans — including 58 percent of Republicans – favor allowing openly gay men and lesbian women to serve their country .

As I learned at West Point, deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force. That’s why more than 70 of my fellow West Point graduates have also come out of the closet to join Knights Out, the organization I co-founded to build support for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.

The only way we will eventually overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is by speaking up together. You can help me fight back right now by adding your name to my statement of support. On Tuesday morning, I will bring your signature — and thousands of others — to my trial as a demonstration of your collective support:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/SupportDan

National security means many things, but the thing that makes us secure in our nation and homes is love. What makes me a better soldier, leader, Christian and human being is love. And I’m not going to hide my love.

Love is worth it.

Thank you for your support.

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard

On Tuesday at 8 a.m., I will stand trial for speaking three truthful words: “I am gay.”

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LGBT

Los Angeles Pride Festival

Christopher Street West is Proud to present LA PRIDE – the 39th annual Los Angeles LGBT PRIDE Celebration taking place in the City of West Hollywood, June 12-14, 2009.

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LA PRIDE FESTIVAL
Saturday June 13 from 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight
Sunday June 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
San Vicente between Santa Monica and Melrose

All are invited to come out and show their Pride at one of the most exciting PRIDE Celebrations in the country as Christopher Street West launches their latest three-year vision – “PRIDE 365: Power. Passion. Purpose.” Thousands of festival attendees are expected in the heart of West Hollywood to revel amongst world-class headlining entertainment (previously featured artists include: Olivia Newton John, Joss Stone, Joan Jett and the premiere of the music video “Hollywood” by Madonna). In addition to lively dance pavilions with music spun by some of the hottest DJ’s in the country, a new layout of festival grounds boasts food, drink, socialization, community programming and unique exhibitors, all hosting a diverse spectrum of activities to entice the entire LGBT family. Together, as a united force, the LGBT community has the power to ignite the change it desires to see. The LA PRIDE Festival offers an opportunity for all who gather and be celebrated, entertained, educated and encouraged in finding new ways of generating Pride values for greater equality and social acceptance. Festival admission, inclusive of entertainment venues and dance pavilions, is still just $20 per day — or $15 per day with advance purchase from www.LAPRIDE.org.

LA PRIDE PARADE
Sunday June 14, steps off at 11:00 a.m.
& Silent Celebration Sunday June 14 at 12:00 noon
Santa Monica between Crescent Heights and San Vicente

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Crowds will continue to feel the palpable excitement amid the largest gathering of the LGBT community in Southern California by playing witness to this historical and time-honored tradition. Participants are encouraged to get their place along Santa Monica Blvd. in the City of West Hollywood early as over 400,000 people look forward to this dynamic and crowd-pleasing display of moving community creativity. The Parade steps-off at Crescent Heights and extends past the Grand Bandstand viewing area at the Veterans Triangle on Holloway to its final completion at Robertson Blvd. As part of the parade, there will be a Silent Celebration at exactly 12:00 noon, where for one full minute, all are invited to quietly remember those who are no longer with us, to honor those who cannot be with us today and celebrate those who are oppressed and continue fighting for Pride and the freedom we will achieve.

For those who are unable to attend in person, the LA PRIDE Parade Live Broadcast will air on Time Warner Cable Channel 10 in West Hollywood and streamed on the web at LAPRIDE.org/webcast.

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LGBT

Adam Lambert comes out to Rolling Stone, and a change has come indeed

By Ann Powers

Los Angeles Times

June 9, 2009

The days of “don’t ask, don’t tell” are over for Adam Lambert. Rolling Stone magazine has posted a preview of the cover story in which Lambert unabashedly confirms his homosexuality, and the excerpts online indicate that, from this day forward, this season’s groundbreaking “Idol” expects the media and his fans to accept him for who he is, with neither scandalized whispers nor rainbow flag-waving rallies of support.

Click here to continue reading

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LGBT

Day of Decision

By Allan R. Ellenberger

May 27, 2009

Here are some photos of last nights peaceful demonstration against the California Supreme Court’s ruling on Proposition 8. The march began in West Hollywood and proceeded to Hollywood and Highland, where I took these photos.

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COMMENTARY

The Miss California hypocrisy

By Allan R. Ellenberger

May 16, 2009

As most people know who read my blog on a regular basis, I rarely get political. My agenda is to discover the history of anything Hollywood. But the recent Miss USA debacle really ticked me off. So please bear with me while I vent.

Everyone knows about Carrie Prejean, the current Miss California, who was asked about gay marriage and the reaction that resulted from her answer. She claims her rights were violated – that her freedom of speech was blocked and she was punished for speaking her mind.

Wait a minute, how was her freedom of speech taken away from her and how was she punished? She was asked a question and was allowed to give her opinion. She wasn’t immediately taken off the stage and put on a truck to the nearest concentration camp. Billy Bush (Miss USA host) did not hold her down and brand an “A” on her forehead.

She gave her opinion and there was feedback to that opinion. Miss California has to understand that that’s the way it works. Just because she wasn’t pleased with the response does not mean her freedoms were obstructed. There were just as many people who supported her opinion.

Personally I don’t care what Miss California thinks about gay marriage or any subject for that matter. But she is entitled to that opinion and to vocally express it, whether I agree with her or not — and I would fight for her right to have that freedom. But people are also entitled to respond to her opinion whether she likes the response or not. What bothers me is the hypocrisy she expressed in the press conference when Donald Trump allowed her to keep her crown. At one point she said:

“My grandfather served under General Patton in World War II and is someone I admire greatly. He never spoke about the Battle of the Bulge that he participated in as a rifleman or the honorary medals he received because of his bravery. But he did speak about the freedom he fought for and taught me to never back down and never let anyone take those freedoms away from you.

“On April 19, on that stage, I exercised my freedom of speech and I was punished for doing so. This should not happen in America. It undermines the Constitutional rights that my grandfather fought for.”

It sounds to me that she is trying to obstruct her opponents freedom of speech. For anyone to disagree or express opposition to her opinion should not happen in America? I don’t think so.

Well Miss California, my father also fought in World War II, received medals and fought for my rights. The difference is that on November 4, 2008, my rights were taken away from me.

As many of the evangelical right like to practice what I call a “cafeteria” approach to the Bible (where they pick-and-chose what they believe), it seems Miss California likes to do the same with the Constitution. She’s evidently for freedom of speech but not for equal rights.

The last time I looked, the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution — that her grandfather fought for — said:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

It appears she and many others disagree with that section of the Constitution.

So Miss California, please stand up and give your opinions on gay marriage or any subject you chose, and do it with my blessings (not that you care). But if someone disagrees with you, stop being a cry-baby and take it on the chin. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the pageant. That is my opinion.

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LGBT

Cast of ‘Wicked’ hosts cabaret for gay rights

Lots of people are up in arms about the passing of California’s Proposition 8, and the cast of “Wicked” is no exception.

Next Monday,  performers from the four North American  companies of the Broadway musical will host “Defying Inequality,” an evening of cabaret performances benefiting four nonprofits that promote civil rights for gays.

The one-night only event will take place in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Louisville.

So, why “Wicked”? Well, one of the prevailing themes of the musical is acceptance, and that’s what the gay community is after too.

 Get more info on the Los Angeles event.

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Prop. 8 protesters the same as terrorists

( Mirek Towski)

“…there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists.”
                  – Pat Boone, December 6, 2008

Country singer and right-wing pundit Pat Boone has written a column equating the movement against Prop. 8 to the terrorists who tortured and murdered hundreds in Mumbai.

THE CONSTITUTION

14th Amendment

Citizenship Rights.

Ratified July 9, 1868

1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

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A Message on the Passage of Proposition 8
From the Executive Director of Outfest

One week later, the passage of Proposition 8 still resonates in our community. We were poised to join the “more perfect union” envisioned by the Bill of Rights – the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, blatant discrimination was written into the California state constitution leaving many of us frustrated and angry. That anger and frustration is now a catalyst for working together even harder to continue the fight for equal recognition and protection under the law.

For the past 27 years, Outfest has represented and served our community by fostering and screening images that reflect and document the LGBTQ experience. Now more than ever our mission to nurture, showcase, and protect LGBTQ culture has a profoundly relevant purpose in helping to change the hearts and minds of our foes and achieving our equality.

I believe in what President-elect Barack Obama said on Tuesday night: “For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected.”

Outfest, with your help as an audience and as supporters, will continue to showcase our struggle and our triumph. Together we will help to change the discussion, support LGBT artistic expression and ultimately achieve equality.

Sincerely,

Todd Heustess, Executive Director
Outfest
www.outfest.org

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