-www.qweerty.com 12/30/2010

It’s too late for Atlanta, but might Seattle put an end to targeted raids of gay bars before dozens of patrons get shoved to the floor? Mayor Mike McGinn is looking into complaints that his city’s gay and lesbian bars are subjected to increased police scrutiny, and has ordered a data dump from the Code Compliance Team to find out whether there’s disproportionate attention being paid to our haunts.

Read more: http://www.queerty.com/are-seattles-gay-bars-getting-unnecessary-extra-attention-from-the-police-20101230/#ixzz19dddvQZp

Targeting: Deputy Minister of Justice Andries Carl Nel, Thando Ntlemeza (Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Ministry of Justice), Tlali Tlali (Chief of Staff, Ministry of Justice), see more…Deputy Minister of Justice Andries Carl Nel, Thando Ntlemeza (Parliamentary Liaison Officer, Ministry of Justice), Tlali Tlali (Chief of Staff, Ministry of Justice), Blendynn Williams (Head of Deputy Minister’s Office), Minister of Justice Jeffrey Thamsanqa Radebe, Collen Msibi (Head of Communications, Ministry of Justice), and Phillip Musekwa (Private Secretary, Ministry of Justice)
Started by: Luleki Sizwe
UPDATE: This is now the most popular Change.org petition of all time! But what has the minister done in response? Absolutely nothing. That’s about to change, with a new petition calling on Minister Radebe to meet with Luleki Sizwe founder Ndumie Funda. For regular updates on the ‘corrective rape’ campaign please ‘Like’ the Human Rights Facebook and Twitter pages and try to check in regularly.

“Corrective Rape” is a term used to describe when a male rapes a lesbian with the aim of ‘turning’ her heterosexual!

This heinous crime is prolific in South Africa, especially in the “townships”.

Most of the victims are tortured, grievously assaulted and sometimes murdered! They are also prone to getting HIV/AIDS from the assault, and many of them commit suicide as a result of the “corrective rape”!

The South African government and justice system are failing the victims of Corrective Rape by letting the perpetrators out on ridiculously low bail, and taking literally years to bring the court-cases to a conclusion. In the meantime the victims have to live with seeing and being taunted and threatened by their rapists every day, as do those who help the victims!

In the last 10 years:
*31 lesbian women have been murdered because of their sexuality
*More than 10 lesbians a week are raped or gang raped in Cape Town alone
*150 women are raped every day in South Africa
*For every 25 men accused of rape in South Africa, 24 walk free

Despite all this, hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are not recognised by South African law!

We call on the South African government to declare “Corrective Rape” a Hate-Crime that is punishable by the harshest sentences!

To sign the petition, visit http://www.change.org/petitions/view/south_africa_declare_corrective_rape_a_hate-crime

The singer goes on a vicious, homophobic Twitter rant after completing his rehabilitation for beating Rihanna

- By Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon.com 12/30/2010

Everyone deserves a second chance. On Wednesday, Chris Brown used up his.

Just last week, the convicted abuser who assaulted then-girlfriend Rihanna nearly two years ago in a beating heard round the world, was showing off his certificate for completing a 52 week domestic violence course. But the man who announced last year he wanted to be “a role model” — who said, “I want to definitely be a man and learn who I am and learn how to control emotions” — behaved like neither a role model nor a real man when singer Raz-B offhandedly tweeted, “Im just sittin here Thinking how can niggas like @ebenet & @ChrisBrown disrespect women as Intelligent as @HalleBerry11 @Rihanna.” That seems to have been sufficient provocation to undo all that anger management Brown’s been striving toward. He swiftly – and crudely — shot back, “nigga you want attention! Grow up nigga!!! Dick in da booty ass lil boy.”

Ah, the old “You’re such a homo” retort. Always a classic. Brown soon followed it up with another charmer: “Tell me this @razb2k!! Why when the money was coming in u won’t complaining about getting butplugged! #homothug!!!” [Update: Though Brown insisted on Twitter Wednesday that "I ain't deleting my tweet either!" he has in fact done just that, likely around the same time he posted a few new, not Raz-B-baiting messages around noon Thursday. He did however leave up his earlier tweet that noted, "when I need tips on how to demolish my career I'll call ya!!!!!" Don't worry, Brown, you're doing a stellar job demolishing your career all by yourself.]

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Brown’s snide “dick in da booty” remarks would be disgusting directed at anyone, gay or straight, regardless of the motivation. But what makes them particularly reprehensible is that Brown was referring to Raz B’s very public allegations that his former manager Chris Stokes and label mate Marques Houston had molested him when he was a preteen.

Raz-B first told his story three years ago, then mysteriously recanted it in a terse “the allegations are not true” message soon after.  He has however recently gone back to his original version of events — with harrowingly explicit corroboration from label mate Quindon Tarver.  So for Brown to insist to his Twitter followers that “i love all my gay fans and this immature act is not targeted at you!!!!” and that “I’m not homophobic! He’s just disrespectful!!!” after glibly telling Raz B “merry christmas. i just gave you 20 thousand more followers.. u shouldve did this first instead of telling the world you got raped” is beyond ignorant – it’s downright vicious.

Raz B certainly has many miles to go toward enlightenment himself. Throughout his sex abuse allegations he has been quick to note, “I’m not gay, I’m a real man.” And in his tweet war, he’s certainly dished out plenty of vile stuff himself, asking Brown, “Do you hit your boyfriend [songwriter] @andre_merritt like you do your women?” and accusing him of being “homosexual on the low!” before throwing in the perfunctory, “i want to apologize for fostering homophobia tweets.. this has nothing to do against my followers…”

Thanks so much, both of you. Glad you cleared up that when you accused each other of being paid for sex and getting it “on the low” you weren’t being homophobic. Who could take offense at that? You’re certainly not making light of sex abuse either, or moronically confusing being molested with being homosexual. And Raz B, your brother is surely not living up to every dumb, dangerous gangsta cliche by threatening to “put my motherfucking pistol” in Brown’s mouth.  Nice work, guys – you’ve managed to broadcast your idiocy to the world, 140 characters at a time, and proven that hip-hop wars no longer need be conducted exclusively outside of Hot 97.

But it’s Brown who emerges as the winner, class A creep division, in this whole ugly fiasco, for being the man who took the understated observation that he “disrespected” the woman he battered as a excuse to mock someone for saying he’d been sexually abused. He gets extra points for whining, “its wack as fuck that everybody can bash me… but soon as i defend myself its world war 3. I TAKE SHIT FROM everybody…” Apparently Chris Brown’s notion of defending himself is accusing someone of not sufficiently “complaining” while his alleged molestation was going on. Right, because the only argument older than that “You’re so gay” tripe is the enduring one-two of “You must have been asking for it” and “You don’t act enough like a victim to be one.” They’re both so handy — especially among perpetrators. And while Chris brown may have a freshly minted certificate saying he’s no longer a domestic batterer, he clearly still knows plenty about the way an abuser’s mind works.

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a staff writer for Salon and the author of “Gimme Shelter: My Three Years Searching for the American Dream.” Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/embeedub

The movement for LGBT rights took a huge step forward last week when both the US House and Senate took steps to end the discriminatory policy that prevented gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. While we celebrate the huge advances toward equal rights for all, it’s equally important to recognize large steps on a much smaller scale. There are many battles to be fought in the fight for equality, and sometimes it’s easy to overlook smaller pockets of hope.

Click here to view the pictures: http://www.noh8campaign.com/article/small-town-pride

The Huffington Post Posted: 12-29-10

North Carolina Republican Senator Richard Burr is weathering blows from fellow Republicans this week, following his decision to vote for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James, a Republican, was particularly upset by Burr’s action. He portrayed the acceptance of openly gay servicemembers in harsh terms and announced that he wouldn’t support the senator in his future reelection efforts.

“I think there are a lot of things that people of all political stripes tolerate from their politicians,” James said, according to The Charlotte Observer. “But endorsing immorality and allowing military recruits to be preyed on by homosexuals is not one that I will tolerate.”

Richard Thomas, chair of the Mecklenburg Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgender Political Action Committee, responded to James’s characterization of the decision, asking The Observer, “When are we going to stand up and say that this type of hate speech is not acceptable?”

The Observer reports that other Republican county commissioners expressed their opposition to Burr’s final decision, but hesitated to loft such strong criticism.

Republicans Karen Bentley and Jim Pendergraph also say they disagree with the repeal, which passed the Congress on Dec. 18. Bentley said she was disappointed in Burr, but acknowledged she didn’t know the full rationale behind Burr’s vote. Pendergraph did not criticize Burr directly, but said he opposes the repeal.
At the time of the vote, Burr said he was not in favor of enacting a large shift in military protocol during a cumbersome time of war, but clarified that he believed such a system of institutionalized discrimination was inherently wrong.

“I have vehemently objected to making a policy change of this magnitude at this time,” Burr explained of his initial vote to filibuster the measure. After the blockade failed, however, his tone changed.

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Advertisement”A majority of Americans have grown up at a time that they don’t think exclusion is the right thing for the United States to do,” Burr said. “It is not accepted practice anywhere else in our society, and it only makes sense.”

Burr joined seven other Republican senators in voting to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The Huffington Post | Nick Wing First Posted: 12-29-10

Two large social conservative groups have added their names to a growing boycott of next year’s Conservative Political Action Conference over the organizers’ decision to include gay Republican group GOProud as a “participating organization” for the second year in a row.

WorldNetDaily reports that the Family Research Council and the Concerned Women for America are the latest associations to add their names to the list of boycotters.

“We’ve been very involved in CPAC for over a decade and have managed a couple of popular sessions. However, we will no longer be involved with CPAC because of the organization’s financial mismanagement and movement away from conservative principles,” FRC Action senior vice president Tom McClusky told WND.

Concerned Women for America president Penny Nance similarly told WND that the group had “decided not to participate in part because of GOProud.”

As WND reports:

FRC and CWA join the American Principles Project, American Values, Capital Research Center, the Center for Military Readiness, Liberty Counsel, and the National Organization for Marriage in withdrawing from CPAC. In November, APP organized a boycott of CPAC over the participation of GOProud.
Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, told WND that the inclusion of GOProud at CPAC was a “moral surrender” of conservative values, while Mat Staver, president of Liberty Counsel, said that it was a sign that CPAC’s organizing body had “gone libertarian” in their refusal to bar the group.

GOProud director Jimmy LaSalvia responded to Talking Points Memo:

“[W]e hope that all conservative organizations would participate, because it takes a broad-based conservative organization to come together to work, to offer solutions to the problems facing our country, and we think it takes everybody. And we hope all conservatives will participate in CPAC. It’s an enormous event, and it brings people from all over the country, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
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AdvertisementSlate’s Dave Weigel provides some answers as to why the American Conservative Union, chief organizer of CPAC, appears to have been mum on the latest flare up. He also sees a potential future point of contention:

ACU Chairman David Keene was on a conservative cruise when the boycott began and when WND ran with the news that a U.S. attorney was looking into financial mismanagement at the group. I’m just wondering when WND will notice that Muslims for America is also participating in CPAC. Founded in 2004 as “Muslims for Bush,” the group is run by Colorado Muslim Muhammad Ali Hasan, who recently announced that he’d become a Democrat in response to Republican bigotry during his failed bid for state treasurer.
Social conservatives have clashed with their counterparts over the perceived shift in emphasis in the past. When a conglomeration of Tea Party and gay GOP leaders drafted a letter encouraging incoming Republican legislators to reject an expansive social agenda and focus more strongly on fiscal issues, Concerned Women for America leader Penny Nance responded in her own letter arguing that “social issues should be at the very top of the list of priorities.”

Behind The Scenes at the DADT Repeal

by Michael A. Jones December 29, 2010 www.change.org

Rhode Island: it might be the smallest state in the U.S. in terms of size, but it could create some major social change in 2011 by joining the ranks of states that recognize same-sex marriage.

But don’t grab yourself a glass of celebratory coffee milk yet. Because Rhode Island is also a state where the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is hunkering down and gearing up for a knock out, drag out fight against marriage equality supporters. And they’re uniting with another official hate group, the Family Research Council (FRC), to put pressure on lawmakers to nix equality for same-sex couples.

NOM’s Rhode Island chapter is stepping up their lobbying efforts with a plea for people to contact Rhode Island legislators and demand that the issue of marriage equality be put up for popular vote. In January, they’re holding an event with the FRC to bring anti-gay religious leaders together, to brainstorm ways to stop marriage equality.

Their urgency on this issue is perhaps justified, given that they’re not only on the wrong side of history, but they’re swimming against popular opinion in Rhode Island, where clear majorities favor marriage equality for same-sex couples. Just a couple months ago, a poll surveying Rhode Islanders on the issue of marriage equality found that 59 percent support same-sex marriage. And this was across age, religion, and political affiliation.

And now, with the election of Lincoln Chafee as the state’s next governor, NOM no longer has an ally as the state’s chief executive. Chafee has made clear time and again that he supports full marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Just a few weeks ago, Chafee’s office sent a letter to NOM’s Rhode Island chapter, letting them know that the Governor-elect does not support putting civil rights up for popular vote.

“Marriage equality is a basic right that should be extended to all Rhode Islanders — a question not only of fairness and justice, but of economic development as well,” Chafee’s staff iterated. The letter gave every indication that if a marriage equality bill reaches Chafee’s desk, he’ll sign it into law.

So now all eyes are turning to Rhode Island’s General Assembly. That’s where NOM’s Rhode Island chapter has started to focus, publishing a list of contact information for all of Rhode Island’s State Senators (h/t Good As You). But it’s also where marriage equality advocates are focused, too, including Marriage Equality Rhode Island (MERI). They wrote in a Christmas Eve blog post that all hands need to be on deck in order to make marriage equality a reality in Rhode Island.

“In just two weeks, the marriage equality bill will be introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly and we are poised to make history by passing this critical piece of legislation,” Kathy Kushnir wrote for MERI. “We are almost there, and we need you to let your legislators know that Rhode Islanders want equality, and that they want it NOW!”

Amen, and pass the potatoes. Which is why it’s all the more pertinent and timely for Rhode Island’s legislature to hear from you. Click here to send a message urging legislators to move Rhode Island in the direction of marriage equality. Time is of the essence, and the first part of 2011 could deliver a major victory for gay rights advocates, and a major defeat for hate groups like NOM and the FRC.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

by: Pam Spaulding, www.pamshouseblend.com
Tue Dec 28, 2010

“I did not give up my constitutional rights and freedom of religion when I joined the military. I don’t believe in subjecting myself to all of the behavior modification and sensitivity training. They’re going to try to push the position that this is an acceptable lifestyle.”
– an unnamed Army lieutenant colonel, who, according to WND, has “asked to be relieved of command rather than order his troops to go through pro-homosexual indoctrination.”

Alvin posted earlier about the “butt sex” obsession of the documented hate organization American Family Association when it comes to DADT repeal. You can add WorldNetDaily to that list, under the headline “The gaying of America.”

Currently the commander of a battalion-sized unit in the Army National Guard, the officer also has threatened to resign his commission rather than undergo “behavior modification” training intended to counter his religious convictions about homosexuality.
The soldier sent the following letter to his commanding officer:
Subject: Request for Relief from Command due to Personal Moral Conflict with New Homosexual Policy

1. I respectfully request to be relieved of Command of XXX Squadron, XXX Cavalry prior to new policy implementation subsequent to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” My personal religious beliefs and moral convictions do not permit me to treat homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle, compatible with military service, any more than adultery, illicit drug use, or criminal activity. I believe this lifestyle runs counter to good order and discipline in military units, and I refuse to sacrifice my belief system, protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, in order to fall in line with the command policy that will logically follow. This new policy will undoubtedly include mandatory sensitivity training as well as same-sex partner inclusion in Family Readiness Group activities and integration into the full spectrum of other military benefits, as well as a whole new category of discrimination standards and investigative procedures. I will not, as a commander, put my signature on a training schedule or other document recognizing or legitimizing any of these things that contradict my personal beliefs.
2. I would like to remain in the XXX Army National Guard until I am eligible for retirement (at 20 years and 0 days), which would be in the late summer of 2012, but on grounds of my religious beliefs, I will not attend sensitivity or behavior modification training consequential to this policy change, even if it means disciplinary action. I regret that I cannot continue to serve in the military further, but feel that my efforts would be insincere because my heart will no longer be in it.”

“When we brought this lawsuit, it put doctors everywhere on notice: you don’t get a free pass to discriminate.”

(Milwaukee, WI, December 28, 2010) —Today, Lambda Legal and the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) announced that the discrimination lawsuit they brought on behalf of Melody Rose, a woman living with HIV who was denied gallbladder surgery, has been resolved.

Ms. Rose is a Wisconsin woman who alleged she was denied surgery by Steven M. Cahee, M.D., the Fond du Lac Regional Clinic, S.C. and Agnesian Healthcare, Inc., because of concerns the doctor had regarding his own health. Prior to resolution of the matter, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin rejected the defendants’ argument that Ms. Rose lacked sufficient evidence to prove her claims at trial.

“Ms. Rose is pleased that this lawsuit has been resolved,” said Scott Schoettes, Staff Attorney with Lambda Legal’s HIV Project. “When we brought this lawsuit, it put doctors everywhere on notice: you don’t get a free pass to discriminate based on unfounded fears regarding the transmission of HIV.”

In 2008, Melody Rose was suffering from gallbladder disease when her physician referred her to Dr. Steven Cahee at the Fond du Lac Regional Clinic, a facility operated by Agnesian Healthcare, to have her gallbladder removed. Dr. Cahee, however, refused to perform the surgery after learning about Ms. Rose’s HIV status. Thereafter, a surgeon at a different medical facility removed Ms. Rose’s gallbladder in what is considered a routine procedure. Lambda Legal and ARCW filed suit against all three defendants under various federal and state antidiscrimination statutes. Defendants denied the allegations. The case was set for trial, but is now resolved.

“Health care professionals must rely on sound medical science rather than personal misconceptions and bias,” said Rebekah Kopec-Farrell, Director of the Legal Services Program at the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW). “Doctors should be our first line of defense in the fight against the misinformation and fear that fuels such stigma and discrimination.”

The case is Melody J. Rose v. Steven M. Cahee, M.D., the Fond du Lac Regional Clinic, S.C. and Agnesian Healthcare, Inc., No. 09-CV-0142.

Scott Schoettes, HIV Project Staff Attorney, is handling the case for Lambda Legal. He is joined by co-counsel Rebekah Kopec-Farrell of AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin and Kathryn Devine and Matthew B. Mock of Schiff Hardin LLP.

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Contact: Jonathan Adams 212-809-8585 ext 267; jad...@lambdalegal.org