In CQ Politics; Gay Republicans Endorse McCain-Palin Ticket "Log Cabin Republicans, a group representing gay Republicans, endorsed Arizona Sen. John McCain ’s presidential bid today as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., hits its full stride. The group’s board voted by 12-2 to support the ticket led by McCain and his choice for vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ."
Some comments found....
Toby September 05, 2008 2:04 PM "A gay Republican is similar to a Jewish member of the NAZI party or a black member of the KKK. Particularly in view of the very close involvement of the Republican leadership with the homophobic agenda of the religious right, any LGBT person supporting them needs a serious relationship with a shrink."
ill Curley September 05, 2008 3:29 PM "Why would anyone be at all surprised? The "Log Cabin Republicans" have been putting the forward attempts of the Human Rights Campaign behind their Agenda of continuing the struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan until McCain achieves a self defined "Win", continued dissolution of the "middle class", the continued strict religious conservatism policies, enforced by the nomination of Sarah Palin that has been one of the root causes of the bullying, continued harassment and deaths of our brother's and sisters. This is an organization an educated and caring GLBT individual would support neither financially or its policies." ********************* I am going to take this one step further. Who is making HRC rich? It surely is not the working class.
Documented HRC protests since the 2007 ENDA catastrophe. This is not inclusive of all protests or articles. If you would like to add please email me at kellibusey@yahoo.com with a link.
WASHINGTON - The following is a statement from Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese on the Log Cabin Republican endorsement of John McCain and Sarah Palin:
"John McCain claims to be a maverick who breaks with his party, but on matters of LGBT equality, he's shown that he's anything but. He actively campaigned for a constitutional amendment that would have banned marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples in his home state of Arizona. He went so far as to appear in television commercials for that campaign, is now supporting an amendment to strip marriage equality from California couples and has said that he would vote for a federal marriage amendment if laws already banning marriage equality were to be struck down by federal courts. Sarah Palin has also supported bans on marriage and even domestic partner benefits in Alaska. The Republican Party, McCain and Palin's party, has declared in its platform that they want to pass the federal marriage amendment. Their party's platform also calls gay and lesbian Americans unfit for military service, supports policies that would allow faith-based organizations to deny us jobs and services using federal dollars, and attacks judges who acknowledge our equality under the law. The Human Rights Campaign endorses mavericks on both sides of the aisle- neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin is among them," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. ********************* Where did Solmonese address the Log Cabin Republicans endorsement of Palin/McCain?
If you are on the HRC email list you too have been inundated by HRC with statements professing support for the democrats and highlighting their opposition to McCain/Palin.
I am in a place I never thought to be. I recently became aware spiritually and received saving grace and salvation through my church and minister. I sought Jesus Christ to help me in transition and I received unconditional love.
An irresistible force drew me, a transgender woman to the Methodist General Conference 2008. I was given an opportunity to be a participant in the Struggle with people who so lovingly desperately desire what I was experiencing in my church, not just conditional admission but full inclusion. I believe many understood it is my love of Christ and the Reconciling ministries(RMN) devotion and commitment to radical inclusion that kept me at FT Worth even after learning that Pastor Phoenix would be allowed to return to his church.
Then the unthinkable began. I found myself in disbelief since attending my church as members of my congregation who's Churches second mission statement Does not "stand idly by" in the face of inequity and injustice seemed content to remain unaware and unconcerned with the spreading violence targeting the gender diverse.
With much prayer and thought I concluded that the church was responsible to be at least aware of and hopefully address the murders and mutilation of transgender people who are from 10 to 1,000 times more likely to be murdered. It became my understanding that my church and social organizations are as responsible as the very same people who commit this violence because they have CHOSSEN to remain silent or have in fact perpetuated the conception that Transgender lives are somehow LESS than gay or lesbian lives.
I authored and circulated an online petition asking that Bishop Robinson of the New Hampshire Anglican Diocese that he not support spiritual violence by not attending the Human Rights campaigns(HRC) Dallas fundraiser in November 2008. We Queers believe that although HRC has done much to benefit transgender people it committed an unrepentant atrocity against us by not following thru on its promise to commit only to a gender inclusive ENDA.
The copies of the online petition that I handed out were folded and put in pockets as the person I was talking to eyes rolled back with promises to read it later.
I have spent hours with local Ministers and in one conversation with my transgender minister I learned that he was planning to attend the D.C. HRC pastors call. I asked my pastor to please consider my request he not go. He promised me he would think and pray of this as we do in the Reconciling Ministries. It is the act of conversation that is to me, all important.
Two weeks later I asked my pastor his thoughts and he said he had not given it consideration and would I send him some more information. I found this to be intolerable. I sat in the foyers before service and watched as the $8 "Would Jesus Discriminate" tee shirts were being sold.
The hypocrisy and timing of his made me so mad I made my own sign. And I stood outside the church as people were going home. I was asked by offended people "is this something to do with that paper you handed out?" and "I supported you transgender at the Methodist Conference" and "What is HRC?".
MY shame and sorrow excaberated when my pastor called the next day to tell me that everyone wondered why I was mad at the church. He also said in that 20 hours since Sunday he had become fully aware of 20 years of previously unknown LGBT history and had decided that he was going to support HRC. It is my opinion that he did fully understand the reason why I was angry Sunday and decided to let the congregation focus their anger at me and my perceived rejection of the church. Call it dis or misinformation, it jeopardised my life and boils down to the deception which enabled spiritual violence, the very thing I am campaigning against.
We are rejected and marginalized by our Churches, social organizations, legislatures and Judicial branches. We are angry at the intentional ignorance of many Gay and Lesbians.
So now I am feel alienated by what is most important to me, my church. I hurt so much. I am asking for your guidance. How do I reconcile my anger and return to my church.
By Kelli Busey planetransgender Sunday August 31, 2008
Who is objecting to HRC? And why is HRC being protested so furiously? The first video is from the San Francisco LGBT communities protest outside the HRC dinner.
This video is from inside San Francisco HRC Gala Dinner where Joe Solmonese, president of HRC talks about the dinners theme "Unity". The woman who disrupts his speech is protesting the exclusion of the gender variant from ENDA by HRC.
HRC has Shown there true colors according to Ethan St. Pierre activist and radio personality by donating heavily to the Log Cabin Republicans and giving nothing to the Stonewall Democrats who's unwavering support of an inclusive ENDA was undoubtedly noted.
The Log Cabin Republicans and the Stonewall Democrats disagree on the potential significance to LGBT people of McCain's Vice presidential pick Sarah Palin. Although it would be expected for Republicans and Democrats to disagree, it is in the interest of LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL and TRANSGENDER people that we consider whom the political parties and HRC are aligned with.
In a statement regarding the McCain vice presidential nomination Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon stated "Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters.” and see her as a willing partner in protecting the same sex benefits of Alaska State employees while Governor. The selection of Palin was simultaneously applauded by Family Research Council's Connie Mackey who stated that "I am elated with Senator McCain's choice and applaud his continued commitment to creating a pro-woman, pro-life, pro-family administration.
The Stone Wall Democrats stated "As Governor, Palin currently supports the efforts of radical activists to strip Alaska residents - specifically state workers - of the most basic domestic partner benefits" and that she has a record of supporting radical anti equity groups such as Focus on the Family, the Concerned Women of America and the Family Research Council.
The Bay Windows noted that "In her run for the governorship in 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Palin supported a constitutional amendment to the state constitution in 1998 to ban same-sex marriage and, later, supported putting a measure on the ballot that sought to ban benefits for the same-sex partners of state employees."
I hope wealthy white gay males and lesbian females fully comprehend what 4 more years of the bush legacy would mean to our personal freedoms and liberties. If bush, ahem, I mean McCain(HRC and Log Cabin Republicans) are elected you will have to be sure to say goodbye to ANY progressive legislation.
AS Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks so eloquently stated "It's a dick move". It's embarrassing when your moral, political and ethical adversary so clearly sees the folly of your life.
Living large and authentic in NYC . Jamie Clayton is what many of us ladies aspire to. She is open and sensual, caring but sure of her own self worth. She lives in full openness as to her identity but does not wish to make it the focal point of her life. In this New York observer article titled "The Second Most Beautiful Girl in New York" author Spencer Morgan details the struggle that transgender woman must honestly face in relationships and in life.
We in the transgender world have become all to familiar with the heart wrenching sadness as we come to terms with yet another brutal murder of a young woman. But the ordeal is far from over as the media falls over each other in a race to riches at the victims expense only to have the crime forgiven by a judge who allows for another gender panic defense.
Our pain in the faith community is excaberated by our own GLBT churches which seem not to notice or care, but instead feed information to congregations that misleads them or keeps them uninformed. These reasons are why we transgender people must take full responsibility for our lives. We can examine this young life and learn from her.
Moving across the country like a tsunami of awareness, activists have begun to coalesce into a tidal wave of action growing with intensity and frequency as we cascade onto the ivory towers of social intolerance, ignorance and religious paternalism.
Like the days of our forefathers these riders of the storm brave every element and indecencies hurled at them. The foe, the Mammoth Corporate entity self titled "the human rights campaign" or HRC is the machine of the powerful, reaping millions of dollars a day in tribute to pay for its revisionist domination of the LBTGQI lifestyle and the intense desire it has to exclude the MAGINLIZED, or as known within the privileged circle "THE ALPHABET soup people".
We are the riders, workers, labors, the downtrodden, socialists, outcast transgender, effeminate gay man, masculine woman, feminists , allies, gypsies, artists, singers and dreamers. We are aware that to be still against the unceasing attack of HRC is to parish.
We of the national Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Asexual, Gender diverse, Questioning and allies will sooth our wounds from battles fouht with the blood and sweat of our comrades in Boston in preparation and anticipation of our turn to once again face this giant.
There is a gathering of forces QUEERTODAY.COM which will help to empower you in you desire for true equality.
The outrage against Gay's in Uganda continues. During a world gathering of the worlds HIV/AID's implementers Alliance, 3 activists were arrested whhile drawing attention to the Uganda goverment and religious denial of AIDS/HIV treatment for men in Uganda
Alliance,
http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/08/gay-in-uganda.html
Same sex couples, Transgender and genetic gender pairs, wonderful loving families. The need is urgent to defend what is rightfully ours. The legal blessing to love and care for each other. Please join with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and pledge to vote no on 8 Equality for all, to assemble the needed voter support.
By Kelli Busey Wednesday, August 20, 2008 planetransgender
Dr. Renee Baker's interview of Feleshia Porter MS LPC, in a article about the mystery of coming out, Dallas Edge.com made me pause to reflect, what a gift we have. Felishia Porter who is a Licensed Professional Counselor from Dallas Texas feleshiaporter.com, is a widely known and highly regarded therapist who understands the transgender experience. Both Ms Porter and Ms baker contribute many hours to local non profits, and have dedicated their lives to helping people to better understand ourselves and to appreciate the potentials that lay within.
The process of transition in gender identity involves learning about ourselves It has many twist and turns and even a few very rough roads. Feleshia has the manual so you can fix your mojo should you get a flat and should your battery go out, she will shine a light for you to see the wonder of the coming day.
Her inspiration has saved lost and desperate souls. She makes her life available for all, that we to may witness what is the true splendor of being.
In this we are eternally grateful to you Feleshia Porter.
Ms Porter shared this with me when I first started to see her and I have modified it as my life experences have grown. It is a guide for me and is as valuable today as the first time I read it.
***********************
Deservability I am deserving. I deserve all good. Not some, not a little, but all good.
I now move past all negative, restricting thoughts. My expectations are positive. I release and let go of the limitations of my parents. I love them, and go beyond them. I am not their negative opinions, nor their limiting beliefs.
I acknowledge my parents as human beings. They expressed great love, but as true as in all of us,
they perceived limitations. I now am attempting to move past preconceptions.
I am not bound by any of the fears or prejudices of the current society I live in. I no longer identify with limitations of any kind. I wish to free myself of the shackles of shame.
In my mind, I have total freedom. I now move into a space of consciousness, where I am willing to see myself differently. I am willing to create new thoughts about myself and about my life.
My new thinking becomes new experiences.
As each day unfolds, I am rewarded with a reflection of joy.
I now know and affirm that I am at one with the prospering power of the universe. As such, I now prosper in a number of ways. I now accept my higher power and embrace our oneness.
The totality of possibilities lies before me. The infinite is being unveiled.
I deserve life, a good life.
I deserve love, an abundance of love. I deserve joy and happiness.
I deserve freedom to be all that I can be. I deserve more than that.
I deserve all good.
The universe is more than willing to manifest my new beliefs. And I accept this abundant life with joy and pleasure and gratitude.
For I am deserving. I accept it, I know it to be true.
....Purposefully wounding a young impressionable woman, or for being made to say the word GLAAD? It is a step up from the road side ditch of "Laura Ingram and Fox Tv at war (WARbeeaatch)" though.
So I guess taking a hose and washing the faux slime off my boots is better than nothing.
Maybe he is sorry that in fact the pressure that made FOX News apologize is the thousands of emails they receive from bloggers like 'Wheres Jimbo", "Queers United" and "Queers Without Borders" generate by advocating!
WAY TO GO GUYS! (thats a shout out)
And FOX this is a SHOUT DOWN TO YOU. Say hi to Laura Ingram for me while your down there.
Victory! HRC Moves Event to Sheraton Due To Pressure from Labor Movement
Posted by QueerToday on August 18, 2008 click title to link
HRC Staff may say publicly that the protests of their Galas have "nothing to do with organized labor," but Unite Here Local 26 just informed us that thanks to their months of lobbying HRC, they have decided to move their event to the Sheraton. Not only does HRC fail to see how ENDA is related to labor (duh!), they have also historically chosen to ignore the fact that their caterer was anti-labor and anti-gay. Now that the pressure is on, and in the spotlight they had to take action.
This is what solidarity with allied movements can achieve. The momentum, again, is on our side.
Aramark was one of the 5 lowest scoring corporations on HRC's "Equality Index" just a few years ago, but they have always catered the HRC Gala at the Hynes Convention Center. Aramark is the only company that caters events at the Hynes.
But Aramark hasn't just received low marks for LGBT support, they have a longstanding history of protest from the labor rights movement.
Labor organizations nationwide have been trying to convince Aramark to treat their workers fairly, and things have escalated as of late. On June 21, 2008 hundreds of activists
Our Unite Here! Local 26 chapter has been protesting Aramark at the Hynes Convention center.
Their website reads:
"The 350 food service workers at the Hynes Convention Center and the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center have been in contract negotiations with their employer, ARAMARK since September 2007. Throughout these negotiations there has been an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
The National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint against Hynes and BCEC food proivder ARAMARK for:
* Interfering with, restraining, and coercing employees in the exercise of their rights. * Discriminating in regard to hiring, tenure or terms of employment of its employees, thereby discouraging membership in a labor organization. * Failing and refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith."
So when HRC staff say that the protests of their Galas "have nothing to do with organized labor," we can kindly remind them that not only does ENDA have everything to do with labor but so does everything right down to who caters their fancy meals.
LEFT OUT PARTY ORGANIZERS JOIN BOSTON’S QUEERTODAY.COM, DALLAS’S TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES AND ALLIES, AND THE TEXAS GENDER ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION NETWORK TO DEMAND THAT HRC ADDRESS DISSENT AT FUTURE FUNDRAISERS WITH NON-VIOLENCE AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
Contact: Left OUT, Hale Thompson, 415.310.8569 QueerToday.com, Ethan St. Pierre, 978.518.1835 Texas Gender Advocacy and Information Network, Vanessa Edwards Foster, 832.483.9901 Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies, Kelli Anne Busey 214.226.7080
AUGUST 15, 2008
A national coalition of LGBT organizations have come together in response to HRC’s disturbing pattern of enlisting potential force to address dissent within its own communities. In the wake of the ENDA debacle, HRC has demonstrated a reliance on force to address possible dissenters—LGBT ones-- at their gala fundraising events. In Houston last spring, HRC requested riot police for less than a dozen transgender and allied activists. In San Francisco, private security guards forcefully removed a dissenting attendee, Catherine Cusic.
Brutality and violence are unacceptable ways for any organization, let alone the largest LGBT human rights organization, to deal with dissent or even disruptiveness within its own communities. The incident inside the San Francisco HRC Gala dinner should be fully investigated and in the meantime, HRC should develop a set of protocols in anticipation of future confrontations with dissent that outline humane ways to address dissidence within and outside its events.
Dissent is a critical part of both the political process and political change and calling the police on or using force against fellow LGBT protesters to squash dissent is unacceptable. Clearly with HRC Galas planned for Boston, Minneapolis, Dallas and D.C. in the upcoming months, there will likely be protests, parties, and possibly disruptiveness from persons in our communities who feel excluded by or misrepresented by HRC, and HRC should be fully prepared to address them thoughtfully, humanely and peacefully.
The struggle for civil rights requires solidarity as well as dissent. If any organization should understand and respect that notion, it should be the Human Rights Campaign. Not everyone in our communities can afford to or even wants to enlist HRC in this movement. This coalition calls on our communities, and in particular, HRC, to approach our struggles for civil rights and full protections under the law non-violently and in solidarity.
I revisit Sue and Julie's wedding to remember our wonderful church. The hooting and hollering is us, what a great day! BTW I dream of having a unofficial wedding just like this!
This letter was written by Jase Donaldson of Oak Lawn, Texas in response to letters published on Aug 8, 2008 and can be found in the Dallas Voice View Point Aug 15, 2008;
(On Aug 8, 2008) "Alejandro De La Garza wrote: “Gay men who make it a habit of dressing up like women are among the most obnoxious and disrespectful people I’ve ever met,” and “It’s also ironic that, while they champion being out and proud, they feel the need to adorn themselves with wigs and makeup and use fake names” (“Drag queens aren’t our perpetual torchbearers”).
Mr. Jase Donaldson responds;
"Blanket statements like these that are so off-putting and poorly thought out that, frankly, they’re akin to saying “All gay men are pedophiles.” And that’s surely something that outrages gay men (myself included) far and wide."...............=========================================
Kelli Busey adds her 2 1/2 cents
I am proud to be a sister of MR. Jase Donaldson. Your spirit strengthens our souls.
However.....
I was somewhat ashamed and chagrined by Mr. De La Garza's mean spirited letter. It is a hurtful thing when a member of your own community attempts to splinter and wound the GLBT people.
I was chagrined because I had originally appeared at the protest to support a part of our community that I do not identify directly with, drag queens.
Not that there is anything wrong with people who identify as Drag Queens, But as it turns out, the Dallas Voice's original article gave no clue as to who was the offended parties.
The offended parties are TRANSGENDER WOMAN.
I would also like to make perfectly clear, transgender people do not have any wish to invade the space of gay and lesbian people and even though my own sexual affinity is for both genders I identify as transgender because that is what I am.
I personally am extending an invitation to any and all who would like to witness or join our demonstration to come down to the Crews in at 10:00 pm.
