It Gets Better: Google Employees

Just wonderful.

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DOD admits no 'enormous consequences' from halting DADT

VOA:

For years, defenders of the policy predicted chaos and dissension in the armed forces if gay discharges were halted.  A Pentagon spokesman said Monday that no disciplinary problems or mass-resignations have been reported since last week's judicial injunction

You'd better believe that admission is going to make its way into a court document soon. Read More...

Reid's spokesperson: 'no guarantees' for DADT vote in the lame duck -- or next year

The White House keeps insisting that DADT must be repealed by Congress. Problem is that no one thinks that's really going to happen any time soon. And, this messaging from Majority Leader Harry Reid's office certainly isn't encouraging:

The White House continues to insist the law will end, but sources on Capitol Hill are not so sure. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said there are "no guarantees" the votes will materialize to repeal the law in a post-election session of Congress or next year, when Republicans are expected to have more seats in both chambers.

Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, who led the procedural maneuver blocking debate on ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" last month, has pledged to do so again in December. "Absolutely. I will filibuster or stop it from being brought up."

Congressional observer Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute doubts Senate Democrats will overcome another filibuster in the so-called "lame duck" session of Congress.

"There simply will not be the time or the inclination to take this all the way to the limit," said Ornstein. "And so I suspect we are going to have to wait for another day to see a real resolution of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' question."

We're probably going to have to wait for several years. But, Robert Gates is getting what he's wanted.

Anyone who reads this blogs knows that we've warned about this scenario all year. Our concern has been that if DADT didn't get repealed this year, the elections would damage future prospects. That was our concern early in the year, before we had a sense of how bad the elections could be. But, some genius in the White House cut a deal with Robert Gates to push off a repeal vote until after December 1st, when his study was issued. Great planning, huh? That's the kind of flawed strategic thinking that has gotten the Obama administration into so much trouble. Unfortunately, HRC and CAP went along with the White House, because that's what HRC and CAP do. Access trumps equality.

Now, the White House has completely lost control of the DADT issue. And, over the next year or so, the Obama administration will be fighting for DADT in the courts. Read More...

BREAKING: In DADT case, 'the Court DENIES Defendants' Application for a Stay'

Via Twitter, big news from California:

Federal judge refuses to lift injunction halting ban on gays serving openly in military - Reuters

And, this one from Log Cabin Republicans:

173 hours after #DADT was suspended, Judge Phillips once again stands with service against's #POTUS and his discriminatory policy

I've updated this post to include statements from the key players.

The Obama administration can now ask the Ninth Circuit for a stay -- and the Obama administration will.

The lawyer for the Log Cabin Republican's Dan Woods, issued this statement:

"We applaud Judge Phillips’s ruling denying the government’s request for a stay of injunction, as it brings us one step closer toward ending once and for all this unconstitutional policy that President Obama and Congress seem incapable or unwilling to end themselves,” said Dan Woods, White & Case partner who is representing Log Cabin Republicans in Log Cabin Republicans vs United States of America. “Meanwhile, homosexual servicemembers are fighting and dying today in two wars for their fellow Americans' constitutional rights, while their own constitutional rights are being held hostage to an uncertain bureaucratic process that seems more interested in beancounting the trouble they would be put to from modifying their training materials than in protecting these servicemembers’ civil rights.”

Just got this from Aubrey Sarvis:

“By the judge keeping the injunction in place, lesbian and gay service members are protected another day, but the uncertainty has not gone away. The Department of Justice will immediately ask the 9th Circuit to stay the injunction. We’re talking about the careers of patriots, people who are on the frontlines serving our country – some of whom are highly decorated – and the court needs to keep the injunction in place. As the DOJ fights to keep this unconstitutional and oppressive law, we are monitoring active-duty clients’ cases and fielding calls every day to our hotline. During this interim period of uncertainty, service members must not come out. Our service members need finality. Given the uncertainty in the courts, we urge the Senate to act swiftly next month on repeal when they return to Washington.”

Alex Nicholson from Servicemembers United:

"Given that seven days have passed since enforcement of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy was halted, those seeking to reinstate the policy have been proven flat wrong in their predictions of 'enormous consequences.' Judge Phillips recognized this contradiction in the Justice Department's arguments and once again refused to abdicate her duty to reach an objective conclusion based on the evidence before her," said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and the sole named veteran plaintiff in the case along with the Log Cabin Republicans. "Once again, we call on President Obama to stop defending the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy in court and we reiterate that it is the President, not the Attorney General, who has the final word on this decision."

And, Robin McGehee from GetEQUAL:

“This evening, Judge Phillips has once again shown the courage and leadership that has evaded so many of our political leaders – including President Obama. We applaud Judge Phillips for this fair-minded, common sense ruling and continue to urge President Obama and the Department of Justice to immediately cease their unnecessary appeal of the Federal Court’s ruling. It is past time that President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder act in accordance with nearly 80 percent of the American people, distinguished military leaders, active-duty servicemembers, and courageous veterans to ensure that this ruling is carried out immediately. President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have the opportunity to act on the right side of history and to stop appeals of this decision.”

I've posted the decision here, but this is the bottom line:

None of the factors the Court weighs in considering whether to enter a stay favors granting a stay here. Accordingly, the Court DENIES Defendants' Application for a Stay.

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Stay Denied in DADT Case Read More...

Continued sad state of gay Iraqis

One thing I hoped for when President Obama was elected as our "Fierce Advocate" was change for gay Iraqis that were being targeted for death in Iraq. Just like so many other gay issues, the response from the Obama administration has been lacking. Gay Iraqis continue dying because of the painful lack of focus.

Gay Americans obsess about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — and rightly so — but legions of gay civilians are in the war zones: in the State Department, the United Nations, non-profits from many nations, and even among the gun-toting contractors. Many of them work with gay and lesbian soldiers who are not officially out.

Gays and lesbians — especially thoes who are single and have no children — are the perfect war-zone demographic. The change we can enact behind closed doors on international LGBT issues has long been overlooked, but it’s part of the premise behind former State Department employee Mark Bromley’s group, the Council for Global Equality.

Looking at the issue of the gay killings in Iraq from San Francisco, London, or New York, it might seem that our embassy has done little or nothing. Though I firmly believe there was much more that the US could have done officially — after all, we have occupied the country for more than seven years — I also know that behind the scenes, unofficially, there have been people pushing for more.

I received this link from Ali Hili in London who is mentioned in the article. His Iraqi LGBT group pays the rent on safe houses, and indirect protection of bribes to the corrupt Iraqi police. Of course, no need to mention what happens to the gay Iraqis if the bribes aren't paid. Read More...

Dan Choi re-enlists

He tweets that he's apparently too old for the Marines!  So he's signing up with the Army instead.  According to Pam, he was mobbed by the media at the Times Square recruiting station.

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Secretary Clinton: 'It Gets Better'

Secretary Clinton takes time to join the chorus of voices telling LGBT youth that it gets better. I think the video, and the fact that she took time to tape it, speaks for itself, but I'll just add how impressed I am with her willingness to speak out on these issues.

NOTE FROM JOHN: Let me add something.  What is the Secretary of State doing making a video about gay youth in America?  Don't get me wrong, this is fabulous that Hillary did this, and it's a wonderful video.  But if the Obama administration were going to have a Secretary do a video, you'd think they'd pick the Secretary of HHS, not the Secretary of State.  Unless, of course, Hillary chose to do this all by herself, which is what I suspect.  I'm impressed.  And still waiting for the video from her boss.  Though, in his case, he's going to have a hard time telling kids it gets better when he's not doing nearly enough to help it get better.

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More grilling of Gibbs on DADT and he was clearly annoyed by the constitutional question

This is really interesting. The White House press corps has really honed in on the DADT issue. Gibbs got many questions on the subject today. And, Mediaite posted the video.

I'm most intrigued by the interaction between Gibbs and Kerry Eleveld on whether or not the President thinks DADT is unconstitutional. That exchange begins around the 4:30 mark and concludes with this. You have to see the video to see how curt and annoyed Gibbs get here:

Kerry Eleveld: Since the Justice Department is, you know, officially appealing the case, is it necessarily true that the President believes that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a constitutional law?

Gibbs: Again, I have enumerated for you the belief, the President's belief that it's unjust, it's discriminatory and that it harms our national security.

Kerry Eleveld: You have never enumerated for us his belief on the constitutionality?

Gibbs: I haven't.

That response is classic. The transcript doesn't do it justice. Watch how Gibbs reacts.

And, no, he hasn't answered whether the President, a Constitutional Law professor, thinks DADT is unconstitutional. And, no one at the White House or DOJ will answer it either.

Yep, Gibbs throwing attitude at Kerry Eleveld for asking a very basic question. Classy. Read More...

Pentagon to recruiters: While DADT is gone, you have to accept the gays

Remember last week, in the wake of the DADT decision, when Omar Lopez, who had been discharged under DADT, tried to re-enlist, but was turned down?

This week, since DADT is not in effect, the Pentagon is accepting gay recruits:

A Pentagon spokeswoman says recruiters have been told that they must accept gay applicants, following a federal court decision striking down the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

Spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Tuesday that top-level guidance has been issued to recruiting commands informing them that the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule has been suspended for now. Recruiters also have been told to inform potential recruits that the moratorium could be reversed at any point.

You know, I just don't see the Pentagon as honest brokers on this issue. Never have. Never will.

I'm sure we'll be reading some leak somewhere about how this decision is undermining the Working Group's agenda and throwing off the whole process. That's how the Pentagon operates -- through well placed leaks, which flaks like Cynthia Smith can deny having any knowledge of.

Gates thought he was going to control this whole process. He's been running the show and calling the shots -- til now.

UPDATE @ 2:29 PM: To make this story even more interesting, Dan Choi just tweeted:

I'm headed to the Times Square Recruiting Station. http://bit.ly/94JZuE #DADT

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Latest apologist talking point: Pam Spaulding is really a white guy

Call her "the man"

Or something like that.

It's the latest administration apologist attack on Pam, and more generally, those of us who simply want the President to keep his promises to the gay community.

You see, if the bots are to believed, people like Pam, and me, and Joe Sudbay, and Dan Savage, and Joe.My.God, and Andy Towle, and Robin McGehee, and Jeremy Hooper are all members of "Gay Inc."

Hmmm... I think the very premise of the blog post, that all of us are being "too critical" of President Obama, suggest that we are the opposite of Gay Inc.  Gay Inc doesn't hold politicians responsible.  Gay Inc. is HRC - existing to exist, not wanting to rock the boat, never wanting to tell a political "friend" that they screwed up.  How one takes the leap and calls the President's critics "Gay Inc."... we wish Gay Inc. would hold the President responsible!

Oh, and apparently now FireDogLake is a member of Gay Inc.  Not to go all "Sandals" on Jane Hamsher, who is a friend, but don't you have to be gay to be a member of Gay Inc?

Then there's this:

The anti-Obama machine in Gay Inkdom is alive and strong. It’s purposefully misleading, resentful and born out of the ironic reality that the LGBT community has yet to suffer one casualty in a so-called quest for civil rights. The continued dishonesty and lack of forthrightness on behalf of LGBT leadership and their media outlets may cost the Democratic party the midterm elections. We really wish these people would stop their hysteria mongering and lack of integrity in regards to misinforming the LGBT community. It is not serving our community well. Not at all.

How can I be part of "the anti-Obama machine" when we were probably the biggest progressive blog (certainly one of the biggest) to come out swinging for Obama during the primaries? When Joe and I raised $43,000 for candidate Obama? When AMERICAblog was one of Obama's fiercest advocates (just ask the Hillary supporters)? How do we go from that to "anti-Obama machine"?

Second, wtf does this mean?

[T]he ironic reality that the LGBT community has yet to suffer one casualty in a so-called quest for civil rights.

There's a more general problem with any and all of these attacks on the Netroots messengers.  Tell us what exactly we've gotten wrong?  If we're apparently so hell-bent on lying about the President, why is it that most everything we've warned about - that he wouldn't touch DOMA, that ENDA would go nowhere (and without the President's help), and that his "plan" for DADT would not only NOT include a full repeal, but it also would screw us by waiting until after the mid-term elections - has ended up coming true?

Does it suck that we voted for CHANGE and ended up getting change for a quarter?  Yeah.  Is it disheartening?  Yeah.  Is it true?  Sadly, yeah.

And finally, this notion that it's the gay blogs' fault that Democrats are going to lose the mid-term elections.  I think the Democrats' problems go far beyond Pam and me not liking them very much.  (Though I will say, as Peter Daou has noted repeatedly, the blogs' early messaging is often a bell-wether, and a guide post, for political conventional wisdom.) But, if we're such a powerful gay force, that a handful of us are risking control of the entire Congress, then maybe the White House shouldn't be putting all its eggs in the HRC basket.

Had Democrats kept their promises - on anything - they wouldn't be facing an overall malaise from gays, Latinos, enviros, health care advocate, civil libertarians, immigration reformistas, and more.

You don't blame the doctor when he tells you're sick.  You ask him for advice on how to get better. Read More...

Why is AOL News defending anti-gay bigots?

A very weird "story" from AOL News' Paul Kix on anti-gay researcher Walter Schumm. The story seems to be trying to rehabilitate Schumm, and present him as a reasonable guy. Even weirder, the story sure sounds like it's trying to paint the leader of a known "hate group," Paul Cameron - the guy who's "Nazi" type research is still being promoted by the Family Research Council, among other groups - as some kind of victim of political correctness. Sounds like AOL's reporter has a bit of an agenda, or he's in totally over his head.  I mean, seriously, trying to paint Paul Cameron as a victim?  And leaving out key facts about this Schumm character?

Alvin McEwen has much more. Read More...

GetEQUAL and Socarides talk gays and Obama with NPR

Any report that features GetEQUAL and Richard Socarides has got to be interesting. And, this one from NPR is. It takes a look at the LGBT community's relationship with the President from an outside group and someone who has worked the inside game:

Take the gay-rights group GetEqual. Its activists followed the president to a fundraiser last week in Miami at the waterfront home of basketball star Alonzo Mourning.

The group unfurled 10-foot banners in view of the White House motorcade and blew noisemakers from boats circling the party. Heather Cronk, one of the leaders, compared the protest to a military campaign.

"We staged air, land and sea actions," Cronk said.

Cronk wants the president to stop disciplinary action against gay members of the military who violate the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bars openly gay people from serving. And she's urging activists to withhold money from political candidates who disagree.

"I think it's because we're desperate," Cronk said. "We've been told by the president that he's a fierce advocate for LGBT equality, but we have yet seen very little evidence of that."

And, Socarides provided this perspective:

"It's been a rocky relationship, certainly, to say the least," Socarides said. "Gay and lesbian voters were enthusiastic supporters of President Obama when he ran for office. And he made some significant promises to the gay constituency about what he would do when elected president. And largely he's been unable to deliver on these so far."

True. Unfortunately.

And:

But Socarides, the gay rights advocate, has followed Washington long enough to take a pragmatic view.

"If we don't have a partner in Washington in Barack Obama to advance a civil rights agenda, we'll find other people to work with until we get one," Socarides said.

Also, true. Read More...

NYT profiles 'It Gets Better' campaign

We'll start today on a positive note.

The "It Gets Better" campaign, launched by Dan Savage, has become a phenomenon. It's the story of the LGBT community looking out for its own amid a wave of homophobia, anti-gay rantings from politicians and religious leaders and the teen suicides. Today, the NY Times profiles the effort:

The “It Gets Better” idea came to Mr. Savage, 46, while he was riding the AirTrain shuttle to Kennedy International Airport last month and thinking about Billy Lucas, a 15-year-old from Indiana who committed suicide Sept. 9. The local news media reported that Mr. Lucas was bullied regularly.

Days earlier, Mr. Savage had blogged about the suicide, and a reader had written: “My heart breaks for the pain and torment you went through, Billy Lucas. I wish I could have told you that things get better.”

Mr. Savage said he felt the same way. But how to tell them? He gives talks at colleges regularly, but not at middle schools or high schools. “I would never get permission,” he said, blaming a system of “parents, preachers and teachers” who “believe they can terrorize gay children out of being gay as they grow up.”

His realization was this: “I was waiting for permission that — in the era of YouTube, Twitter, Facebook — I didn’t need anymore.”

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It's been 6 days since DADT was thrown out, and no enormous consequences yet

Perhaps it's time for someone to ask the President when exactly these "enormous consequences" kick in - you know, the sky is falling stuff that supposedly will happen if DADT is summarily thrown out, like it was last Tuesday. It's been almost a week, and no enormous consequences. No small infinitesimally small consequences either. So why did the Obama administration claim that there would be? When exactly do these enormous consequences begin? On day 7? Day 30? Day 365? Are they invisible consequences that you can only see with super duper Department of Defense decoder rings?

Our mainstream press needs to be asking the White House every single day when these consequences are supposed to kick in, because they haven't, and the President is looking awfully silly. Read More...

Judge tentatively denies Obama admin's motion to bring DADT back for the time being

At least someone isn't afraid of the Pentagon.

A federal judge issued a tentative ruling Monday denying the government’s request for a stay in the injunction against "don’t ask, don’t tell" but will issue a final ruling by late Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.

During a 25-minute hearing in Riverside, Calif., U.S. district judge Virginia A. Phillips wasted no time in rejecting the government's position that barring DADT immediately would be an undue burden on the military, calling the arguments "vague" and "insufficient."

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