Obama signals will repeal DADT

I am repeating a wonderful post from the GLAAD blog. While I have expressed tremendous concerns that the president was backing away from his clear campaign commitment to end — read REPEAL — the gay military ban, I am thrilled to share very positive news.
Lieutenant Sandy Tsao is a Chinese American woman and an [...]

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Liar liar, pants on fire . . . Obama changes position on military ban?

The blogosphere is on fire regarding perceived changes by the administration on repeal of DADT – the military ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Just last month the New York Times reported that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stated that any repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law would have to be [...]

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Judy Shepard speaks out about Rep. Foxx’s “hoax” comment

Rachel Maddow interviewed Judy Shepard – mother of slain Matthew Shepard – last night in response to the outrageous comments by Rep. Virginia Foxx (F-NC) calling Matt’s death “a hoax,” contrived to pass hate crimes legislation (which passed the House of Representatives by an excess of 75 votes).

I encourage my readers [...]

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Fully-inclusive hate crimes bill passes House this afternoon

We just got the news: the U.S. House has passed the fully inclusive Matthew Shepard Act.

This was not an easy victory. But we WON in the House – thanks in part to the tireless, fearless Judy Shepard, who joined Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign in critical last-minute meetings on Capitol Hill today.
It happened! [...]

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Hate crimes: Why bother?

The passage of Federal Hated Crimes Legislation won’t bring Matthew Shepard back to us, but maybe – just maybe – another young gay teen won’t have to pay with his life just for being who he is.

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Hate crimes bill up for vote tomorrow: Call Congress

Action Alert:
The U.S. House votes tomorrow on the Matthew Shepard Act – the federal hate crimes bill. Judy Shepard and millions of others have been waiting for ten years for fully inclusive hate crimes legislation.
Text, CALL, or dial 202-684-2471 and urge your representative to vote YES.
It just takes a minute – [...]

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The case for hate crimes legislation

Today, I came across a great post by Chris Sanders on the case for hate crimes legislation. Chris is a blogger for Grand Divisions, a blog produced by the Tennessee Equality Project, the state’s largest GLBT organization. Chris is also chair of the organization. I thank him for his brilliant exposé and allowing [...]

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Matthew Shepard hate crimes legislation pending before Congress: Contact your representatives

When he was discovered tied to a picket fence, he looked like a scarecrow. His face was completely red, except for two vertical lines streaming from his eyes. The lines had been where tears washed away blood from his young face. He remained in a coma and never regained consciousness, and passed away [...]

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AFA Launces Boycott Against Pepsi; Call Pepsi And Tell Them “Thank You”

The American Family Association has teamed up with PFOX to launch a boycott of all Pepsi products. They are upset over Pepsi’s support for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), which the AFA claims promotes “intolerance of the ex-gay community.” Which seems very strange to me. If there is such a thing [...]

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U.S. signs on to decriminalization of homosexuality

The challenge for full LGBT civil rights must now turn to the U.S. homefront with repeal of the ban on gay servicemen and woman (DADT), passage of inclusive federal hate-crimes legislation and the Employment-Non Discrimination Act (ENDA), and repeal of the the ludicrous Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

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