Fourth of July: Dr. Martin Luther King

As we celebrate our nation's liberation this weekend, this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King has special meaning to so many of us. He wrote it while serving time in jail in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. Maybe all those who are counseling the LGBT community to be patient or wait or now is not the time might find some wisdom in these very important words.

We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "Wait" has almost always meant "Never." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

Defense Secretary Gates: A More Humane Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Drip. Drip. Drip.

That is the sound of the administration attempting to come up with all sorts of complicated policies in order to avoid doing the right thing! First, we had Federal Employees getting new rights, but, oops, they don't get health care or pensions. Now, Secretary of Defense Gates is advocating a "more humane" enforcement of Don't Ask, Don't Tell instead of the President issuing a stop loss order.

It didn't take long after the President's speech for us to hear that the repeal of DADT isn't going to happen quickly. Instead we will have a lot of showboating but very little change in policy. Instead of enforcing a Presidential stop loss order with his commanders, the Secretary of Defense is using his time to make the existing policy more humane. Now, initially my imagination ran wild at what that meant. Maybe if we stayed in the closet, we could get the best assignments? Better barracks? More leave time? Or maybe when they kick us out for being gay, they would write a lovely "Dear John" letter with flowers and candy. What the hell is a more humane policy on such a horrendous law?

Turns out what the Secretary had in mind is that if one was outed by a third person or blackmailed, then our soldiers could continue to serve as long as they stayed in the closet themselves! How kind of them. Don't know if we can ever express exactly what that means to us. Why are they embarrassing themselves with these ridiculously tiny steps instead of doing what is right. These small maneuvers don't make the President look good, and it is insulting to all of our brave men and women in the armed services.

Issue the "stop loss" order now!

Outrage Spreads Over Brutal Police Raid On Gay Bar in Texas!

Nationwide outrage and protests are occurring over the brutal all-out attack by police on a two week old gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas. The raid taking place on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion appears to be more than a coincidence. In large numbers with batons out and guns pulled, the police entered the bar and started pushing patrons around.

In this process, young Chad Gibson was brutally attacked by officers and forced to the floor banging his head. Gibson is still in a Fort Worth hospital fighting for his life. The sheriff claims his men were 'assaulted' because someone groped an officer, asserting the action was appropriate given the 'assault'. Like the rest of those expressing outrage, it's hard to imagine anyone in any bar groping a cop who enters with guns and a baton out!

Channel 8 in Fort Worth has been covering this story as their lead. Here is an excellent report including an interview with Chad Gibson's mother.

Separate But Unequal Means Gay Apartheid

Yesterday, I listened with hope to the President Barack Obama's words at the historic White House celebration of Gay Pride. Instead, when he was done, I found myself very depressed.

As our elected officials search for new words, new institutions and new arrangements to avoid giving us full equality, it is important for people to remember that right now all we have amounts to basically a system of separate but unequal. We have a set of laws at the national, state and local levels that separates LGBT folks from the rest of America.

Let's call it what it is - Gay Apartheid.

Now some of you might think that is a loaded and unfair word. I have chosen the word very carefully and deliberately. Apartheid is when a group of citizens of a nation is by law separated from all other citizens and the rights, benefits and protections all others are granted.

Having DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as laws of the land are apartheid laws. They set us apart from all other American citizens. State after state has singled us out in their Constitutions to create a separate body of law for LGBT citizens. States have created laws to forbid us from adopting or participating in the foster care system. Those of us who have foreign national partners are refused to right to co-habitate in America. Creating civil unions and domestic partnership laws to avoid marriage is a failed attempt to sustain a system of 'separate but equal' that didn't work in the segregationist South and won't work for us. So lets be honest about this as we see an enormous number of laws on the books specially denying LGBT Americans the rights, benefits, privileges and protections granted to all other Americans: we have created and are continuing to expand on a system of Gay Apartheid. There is no other way to look at it.

Despite the President's warm words and the lovely trappings at the White House, he continues to buy into this system and allows it to continue. In fact, it was a carefully worded warm, fuzzy speech that failed to answer many questions. The use of the words 'domestic partnership' seems like out of the 1980's. He couldn't even say the words 'civil unions'? He again mostly addressed Federal employees concerns and repeated his campaign promises to overturn DOMA and DADT. There was no attempt to stop the horrific destruction of the careers of our LGBT military personnel with the announcement of a "stop-loss" order. In fact right after the event Press Secretary Gibbs basically said it isn't going to happen and threw the entire issue to Congress without Presidential leadership. Marriage? Civil Unions? The President said not a word. Adoption and Foster Care? Not one word was uttered by the President. Immigration for partners of American citizens? Not one word.

We did not hear the answer to the most important question: When?

The fact that the President might feel our pain or understand our impatience or even wants to socialize with us just is not important any more. Quite honesty, I don't care if he likes us, has us to dinner or even if he believes marriage is between a man and women. I don't want to hear any more promises or caring words about our future. Please don't tell me one more time I have to change the hearts of Americans before I am allowed to have my freedom. For me to be a free man doesn't mean I have to make everyone in America like me. In fact the Constitution protects an unpopular minority from the tyranny of a majority.

The only thing important to me now is when! That is the question. When will these oppressive and horrendous apartheid laws be overturned? When will the President show the powerful leadership shown by President Kennedy and President Johnson in the 1960's? When will he insist Congress take up and immediately repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" When will the President address the nation in a powerful speech saying that the time of inequality, injustice and yes, apartheid against the American LGBT community must come to an end. Mr. President, the only question we have for you is when?

The notion that the President feels we might be happy with his term at the end of seven and a half years was depressing. For those who understand the political process, that when might be never happen given the changing nature of the presidency. No one in their right mind believes that he will have credibility, the powerful Congress and the good will of the American people more than he has now.  First Lady Michelle Obama wouldn't tolerate living under the laws of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for two days and he expects us to live under them until maybe into his second term? Hell, no. Not acceptable, Mr. President.

So there is only one acceptable answer to the question of when the President should seriously begin to deal with ending the system of Gay Apartheid in America.

Now, for God sakes. Now.

Britain Continues To Lead the Way

Prime Minister and Ms. Sarah Brown continue to be the most progressive first couple on LGBT rights of anywhere in the world. Not only are they keeping their campaign promises to the LGBT community, they continuously seek ways to show their personal commitment. The cause of freedom for LGBT people for the Browns is not a political issue, it is a way of life. In the short time they have been at Number 10 Downing Street, they continue to amaze with constant actions on behalf of the community.

Most dramatically, First Lady Sarah Brown will march in the London Gay Pride parade this coming weekend! My guess is that this is the first time anywhere that a First Lady of a nation has marched in a Gay Pride parade. Afterwards, the Browns will welcome the organizers of the Pride March to 10 Downing Street. The beautiful and intellectual First Lady has been in the forefront of championing issues of the LGBT community. This is the fourth such a reception for LGBT leaders in about six months at the Prime Minister's residence.

The record of Prime Minister Brown has been dizzying in its aggressiveness. He has not stopped at symbolic gestures and made real policy change. In addition to having two openly gay cabinet members and an openly gay person as head of the Labor Party, he has successfully fought against bullying of LGBT students in schools and for the rights of lesbians with their children. The Prime Minister's office stated:

"On April 6th women in relationships got new protections in respect of their children and new rights to fertility treatment when sections of the Human Fertilization and Embryology Act came into force. Lots of you campaigned for those new rights for Lesbian and Bisexual women, so big thanks for all you did to make lots of new happy families possible."

In addition, he has mobilized the Foreign Office to protect the rights of LGBT people abroad. The Latvian government removed objections to their Gay Pride Parade after a direct intervention by the British Ambassador. In fact the "Telegraph" ran a major article about the Foreign Offices directive promoting homosexual rights in other nations. The British Ambassadors in Bulgaria and Poland also were critiqued for defending those nation's gay pride marches. The newspaper wrote:

"Steve Williams, the ambassador to Bulgaria, sent a message of support for a Rainbow Friendship Rally in Sofia this coming Sunday. The same event last year in the Bulgarian capital ended in a bloody riot as marchers clashed with nationalists and riot police. "Celebrating diversity is not about promoting a lifestyle," he wrote. "It is about promoting respect for fundamental human rights. It is about the very essence of our European democratic values"

The LGBT community clearly has no better friends than Prime Minister and First Lady Brown. Again, it would behoove the Obama Administration to use them as role models

Clouds Over Stonewall

Almost as if to warn us not to get too cocky or pat ourselves on the back too much with the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, America saw three very disturbing acts of anti-gay violence over the weekend. Any of us who pity the "poor brothers and sisters in states like Mississippi" should take notice that two of these incidents happened in New York City and San Francisco.

The worst has to be the incident of an 'official hate crime' committed by the Fort Worth, Texas police department. My thanks to Towleroad.com for their reporting on this incident and the photograph. Seems that police and agents of the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission raided the Rainbow Lounge, a new gay bar in the Fort Worth area. The brutality used by the officers was employed to such a degree that a young man, Chad Gibson, received a serious brain injury. Apparently the police said an officer was 'groped' in the bar. Hard to imagine anyone one dumb enough to grope an uniformed policeman which makes the charges more ludicrous. Seven patrons were arrested and taken into custody and Gibson remains hospitalized with his head injuries. Police said Gibson resisted arrest. Friends of Gibson - who weighs about 150lbs - say he was tipsy and appeared to falter as the cops seized him. They threw him to the ground, jumped atop of him and caused the brain injury.

In San Francisco, the Pink Triangle goes up on the side of the hill above the Castro District every Gay Pride. The Triangle is to remember those members of the LGBT community who died in the Holocaust. Police report that flares were used in attempt to burn up the memorial to our honored dead.

Finally, again continuing his excellent reporting on hate crimes, Andy Towle reports that in New York, Joe Holladay (photograph) was assaulted outside his home by a group of young white men. Yelling "faggot" they attacked Holladay who fell unconscious to the sidewalk. His partner in the building ran out to discover him in a pool of blood. Holladay is recovering.

Unfortunately, these incidents are not isolated but just seem more powerful because of the 40th Anniversary celebrations. LGBT activist extraordinaire Dianne Hardy-Garcia has long talked about the epidemic of hate crimes in Texas where the motto is "Friday night football and Saturday night gay bashing". Clearly we can't expect to be protected by the police in Texas. But nevertheless, the Hate Crimes bill has lingered for years in Congress. You would think this is one of the easiest things to have passed in the first months of his administration and yet it has not been passed nor has the White House provided any resources in helping get it passed.

If at this stage we are still struggling with getting 'vanilla' legislation like hate crimes and ENDA passed, what hope do we have for the repeal of DADT and DOMA? We desperately need leadership from President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid. How much more of these incidents have to happen before real progress is made? Do we have to wait for another symbolic Matthew Shepard in order to create outrage again?

God, I hope not.

Impressions................by David Mixner

-so now we have a John Edwards sex tape that I am sure will soon be on the Internet! We will be able to see the former Presidential candidate have sex with his mistress according to the "New York Daily News". Apparently former Edwards aide Andrew Young in a book to be published by St. Martin's Press also says that the former Senator is the father of Rielle Hunter's baby. Finally, when Edwards endorsed Obama, he was sure he would be Attorney General in the new White House. Now it can only be a matter of time before we see Governor Mark "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" Stanford romping in the hay with his mistress!

-a fascinating new map showing the rate of HIV/AIDS county by county across the United States shows a dramatic increase in infection rates in the South and more rural states. Interestingly, it was the Southern Senator and States who fought HIV education tooth and nail. Spend some time with this incredible mapping of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

-Frank Rich of the "New York Times" has done it again. In a powerful, insightful column on the 40 anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising the columnist takes our breath away with his understanding of our struggle for freedom!. In an article entitled "40 Years Later Still Second Class Citizens", he ends by saying:

"Action would be even better. It’s a press cliché that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama, but we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places."

-speaking of 'must reads", you must read the entire letter to President Obama from People For the American Way President Michael Keegan. It is simply extraordinary. You can read the entire letter by clicking here but here is an excerpt:

"While your comments in opposition to the Defense of Marriage Act at the recent signing ceremony were welcome, they would have carried more weight as part of a larger ongoing effort to educate the American public about the moral need for LGBT equality. Moreover, the impact of your words was blunted coming so soon after your administration's brief in support of DOMA using arguments that degraded gay and lesbian couples. You may have felt it was your duty to defend the law, but your argument that discrimination against same-sex couples doesn't count as discrimination and citation of case law on incest to claim that marriages of gay couples are unworthy of legal recognition was beyond the pale. Americans who support equality would not have been at all surprised if that brief had been filed by the Bush Administration. Coming from you, particularly without a broader public affirmation of your commitment to equality, it had the force of a hard slap in the face by someone we trusted."

-We now are moving into July and Minnesota still only has one United States Senator, Amy Klobuchar. The Supreme Court of Minnesota didn't live up to expectations last week and issue a final ruling. Maybe they are waiting to award Minnesota their second Senator (Al Franken) as a Fourth of July gift. It is almost as embarrassing for Minnesota as the clowns in New York State Legislature!

-could we have our first Cat One hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico by Wednesday?

-as we move into the 2010 election craziness, we see that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has withdrawn from the California Governor's race. That leaves an elderly icon Attorney General Jerry Brown (72) running against a reformer newcomer in Mayor Gavin Newsom (42).

-what will be the most nasty, mean and bloody primary in 2010? According to Chris Cillizza who writes "The Fix" for the "Washington Post", it will be the Texas Governor's Republican Primary between U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and incumbent Republican Governor Rich Perry. Sparks will fly in this race.

-Democrats could have their own bitter primary race developing in Pennsylvania. More and more it is apparent that the White House can't deliver a free ride to switch over United States Senator Arlen Specter. Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak seems determined to challenge him no matter who says 'no you don't'. The voters in private polling seem to be saying to young Joe, go for it.

-Politics are getting tougher for "is he or isn't he" Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist in his bid for an open United States Senate Seat. A former strong ally, Republican Congressman Jeff Miller just endorsed his primary opponent, right winger Marco Rubio.

-. Enjoy! Finally, to leave you with a little more history doing this exciting 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion

Turkey Hollow Almanac: My Life on the D-List

Up here in these hills, timing is everything. If you plant too soon, you run the risk of a late frost, if you plant too late you might have to much rain. You have to remember you plant those pine trees in the Fall and never in the Spring. Don't forget to lay your concrete when you know the temperature won't go below freezing. It is all in the timing.

On the social side of politics, my timing seems to be right up there with Kathy Griffin of "My Life on the D List" fame. The invitation never seems to reach Turkey Hollow and I am left figuring how to cover my tracks with some dignity!

Back in 1993, I decided to personally get arrested in front of the White House because of what I believed to be a disaster of a policy called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". At the time my old friend President Bill Clinton, whom I had tirelessly helped to get elected, created the policy and it was quickly endorsed and hailed by many who should have known better, including Congressman Barney Frank. Immediately, all over town, my name was crossed off social lists and Rahm Emmanuel declared on the front page of the "Wall Street Journal" that I was persona-non-grata at the White House for my betrayal. Being by that time in my life a seasoned political veteran of many years, I expected the reaction and accepted it as a price for my values and principles. Now 16 years later and the careers of over 13,000 service members totally destroyed, I am very proud of that moment.

Yet, at the time, there were many moments when I questioned my decision. One of the most difficult was in April after I started speaking out but before I got arrested: Clinton held the first gathering ever in the Oval Office with LGBT leaders and I was left out of that meeting. Being in such a meeting was one of my dreams. Once I got my ego in check, I was fine but at the time it hurt a lot to be left out. That was just the beginning of my life on the D-List.

Now once again I have been left off the invitation list - this time to the White House celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall. Now my ego is in check and I am thrilled for the people who have been invited and actually eager for them to have that special moment that I have had in other White House events. Plus, I have the big advantage now of having Kathy Griffin as my new role model for such situations. For years now, she has laid out new tactics for those of us who seem to stick our foot in it just at the wrong social moment. Quickly I went back to previous episodes looking for advice. Lets face it she did win two Emmys with her tactics and got a Grammy nomination. She must be doing something right.

There were plenty of options offered in Griffin's show and I considered carefully which one to use. Maybe I should loudly proclaim that I was not attending in protest even though I wasn't invited. After all, who would know? Then I thought of showing up at the gate dressed to the nines and insisting a horrible mistake had been made and that surely I was on the list and please check with the social secretary. Then I realized that they might need additional staff for the event and I would volunteer; then, once inside, I could rip off my catering outfit and be in my tux. Or maybe I'd weasel a press credential and take it off and casually drift into the guest area. However, I just know someone inside would blow the whistle on me and those hunky guards would carry me out. Hmmmm.....

Then I realized that I had just returned from New York City to the Hollow after seeing Jarrett Barrios become the new GLAAD director, Speaker of the New York City Council Christine Quinn's Gay Pride event and a great March on Washington fundraiser with a stirring speech by organizer Cleve Jones. The events were packed with great people and many of them very kind to me. Suddenly, I realized that I didn't need the talented Ms. Griffin's assistance, I was already on the A List! A list filled with special people, creating great change and making the world a better place.

That is a damn nice feeling up here in the Hollow. Guess my timing was, after all, just perfect.

The following video was taken at the MCC Conference in Phoenix in 1993.  It is an excerpt of a speech responding to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that was issued the day before by President Clinton. It was the speech that got me on the "D-List".  You might find it interesting in today's dialogue on LGBT rights with our President. You can watch the entire speech in three parts by clicking the youtube.com button on the right.

A Dinner and a Party!

Tonight in Washington, DC great focus will be on the Democratic National Committee LGBT fundraiser, featuring an appearance by Vice President Joe Biden. Some are very concerned who will be attending, others will be picketing outside (and they have every right to do so!) and the press will be doing their best to put their spin on it. Lets be very clear, the fundraiser tonight will have a lot of folks, make the DNC some money and be declared a huge success. It may or may not be true but quite honestly, it is irrelevant.

Over a week ago, I made the decision to stop pouring money into the Democratic Party except for those clearly on record for marriage equality, repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the full (not partial) repeal of DOMA. That very personal decision was based on my own conscience and my deep belief that the time for promises has come to an end and it is a time for real progress and action. Many others also made a personal decision based especially on the recent unspeakable Justice Department brief supporting DOMA. Clearly, we have to demand and seize our civil rights and stop asking politically for them to be given to us.

Others feel differently and as Sean Straub would say, "We are a community of free will". I like that saying so much might have a needlepoint done of it. Frankly, except for some funny gossip and posturing that will come out of it, I could care less who attends the event. They will all have in their minds legitimate reasons to attend. Hell, who knows, tonight Congressman Barney Frank might do readings from the Department of Justice brief of the parts he found so wonderful! What I do care about is full marriage equality, DOMA and DADT. These are the issues we should be focusing on and not who has been naughty or nice in attending the dinner. There really is no room in our community for creating 'black lists' for attendance at this event or the Gay Pride Party on Monday.

That's right, the White House is now having a Gay Pride Party on Monday. God, we are suddenly very visible in this administration and I wonder why? Not having received an invite, I don't really have to worry about making a decision. But over the years, I have experienced the heady power and pull of meeting a President and going to the White House. I sincerely hope that many people who've never had the opportunity do accept the invitation and have some of the joy I have had in the past. It is quite special moment and place.

Now here is where we get to the nitty and gritty.

Have a wonderful time but if you confuse people smiling at you, giving you more words without timelines, presidential trappings and just being nice to you as policy, then you really have no business being invited or attending. The days are over when a good meal, sitting next to someone powerful or just a good old plain moving speech should be considered policy. What we need now with this particularly strong Democratic Congress and charismatic President is the full repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and "DOMA" this year. Do you really think they are going to do it in 2010, an election year? We will all hear them whine that we can't afford to lose the 'blue dog conservative Democrats". Now is the time.

So if you come out of these events starry eyed and reassured, wake up, take a cold shower and get down to work. I love listening to President Obama speak. There is no better orator alive today. However, I now will love him more with concrete actions on behalf of our freedom. Please don't tell me tomorrow morning how sincere he is unless he makes quite clear when and where. "Near future", "I have a full plate right now" and "We will make it happen" are not policy. Don't be confused.

Bring me back the good gossip concerning who made a fool of themselves, what was served, and whether the good china was used. But don't you dare try to sell us a dinner and a party as policy. Keep your respect. That can't be reclaimed with your umbrellas at the door.

What If The Obamas Had To Live Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?

Over 250 service members have been dismissed under Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) since President Barack Obama took office. My daddy used to say, "The quickest way to know a person is to walk in their shoes." That got me thinking: what would the President and First Lady's lives be like if they had to live under this oppressive policy?

Let's us play 'what if' and examine what just one day in the life of our Commander-in-Chief would be like living under the very policy that he says can wait a while before being changed. So join me in pretending that the Obamas are a gay couple and lets take a peek at their life under DADT.

First of all, Michelle Obama and the children would have to immediately move out of the White House. Base housing would absolutely not be available for same sex couples and their families. In fact, they would be ineligible for any housing, PX or other benefits accorded to straight people.

While serving as Commander in Chief, Barack Obama would have to find ways to secretly and safely meet with his wife and children since if anyone knew he had a same sex family he would lose his job and all his benefits. In some cases, they could impeach him for having a same sex relationship.

Once at the job in the morning, there absolutely could be no photographs of his family, no talk of them at the water cooler, no acknowledgement of their existence. Most likely he would be kidded about being a bachelor and a ladies man! He would have to laugh with the guys about the jokes.

If any of his children or his wife became ill while he was away on the job, he could not come home on emergency leave to take care of them because they 'do not exist'. In such a case, neither his wife or children would be able to use any military medical facilities. God forbid that he would have a medical emergency or have a health crisis; they, in turn, could not run to his bedside to be with him because they would be discovered and while still in his sickbed, he would be dismissed from his job.

If he was being deployed or walking to that helicopter to leave to go overseas, Mrs. Obama could not come and say good bye like the others leaving on the trip. They would have to say good-bye within their home so no one could possibly see any affection in public. The Commander-in-Chief would have no one to bid him farewell as he is surrounded by others kissing farewell.

If there was a special event at the White House, none of his family could attend nor could he publicly thank them for being supportive. He would have to bring his sister or a best girl friend while his family sat at home in shame.

The Presidency is a tough job and in moments of crisis people talk about their families and get strength from sharing about them. The President never could mention them. He could never share stories about his little girls or the trip they took. No vacation pictures would be allowed.

None of the President's friends could meet his family nor know about them. You never know when someone is going to get angry with you and report you to the Staff and have you dismissed. No one can be counted on to keep your secret.

There could be no 'date nights' or public displays of affection; if seen by any military people that could cost you your career. If a buddy should run into the Obamas, the President would have to introduce Michelle as a close friend and deny that the children were his own.

If our president were to win an honor, say the Nobel Peace Prize, Mrs. Obama and the children could not be present.

That is just a slight indication of how a day in the lives of Barack and Michelle Obama might go if they had to live under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". You know and I know they could never live like that on a daily basis. They would find the denial of their love impossible. Mrs. Obama would never tolerate being treated like that in public.

Yet somehow, everyone expects the LGBT military families to continue living this horror of a daily life. How can they expect us to go on for another year or two when most likely they wouldn't survive a day or two under these horrendous condition?