Monday, July 26, 2004
ACTION: Email Jay Timmons. And a names update.
The first Roy Cohn Award, July 23, 2004
Wow, if you saw the email we've had to sift through...and so much of it with corroborating evidence. Thanks for the links to pictures of our many ROY COHN AWARD nominees at parties and events. There's no way to write back to each of you...there's just too much mail, --- we are trying! Please keep the mail coming...our new addresses are on the left column.
This week's winner, to be announced Friday, is one of the most shocking examples yet. In preparation, be sure you take a minute to read about his boss, Sen. Trent Lott. Do you remember when Lott said "You should try to show them a way to deal with that problem, just like alcohol,others have a sex addiction or are kleptomaniacs."?
The question I am asking is why on earth would Trent Lott entrust A LOT of money to someone who he feels is mentally ill, eh? We'll be up with the award Friday.
On another ROY COHN AWARD note, I tried to get a meeting with Jay Timmons to present him his award. It seems, however, that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is not ineterested in me meeting with them. Go figure! The plaque Above is Timmon's award from Friday. Be sure to write Jay Timmons a message of congratuations for receiving the first Roy Cohn Award for outstanding acheievement AGAINST the gay and lesbian community." Jay's email address is jtimmons@nrsc.org. Be sure to send us a copy too!
Sunday, July 25, 2004
New York Times: The Roy Cohns attempt a defense.
A GREAT Article in the New York Times.
Lyndon Armstrong, an aide to Sen. Pete Dominici (R-NM) explained to the New York Times that he would not state his opinion on the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) at the request of his boss. If you're like me, your jaw probably dropped in shock that in the United States of America the co-chairman of the Gay, Lesbian and Allies Senate Staff Caucus has been told by his boss not to express his view about the FMA.
The article spoke of various efforts of activists spreading across the nation's capital. It was absolutely wonderful to hear that our brothers and sisters (straight and gay) are calling out these modern day Roy Cohns. I was ecstatic when reporter Lynette Clemetson described that:"
During a recent dinner at a Washington restaurant, a friend loudly berated Mr. Armstrong in front of other patrons. He was even confronted about his political allegiance during a weekend getaway in Rehoboth Beach, Del., again, by people he considered friends.""YES!" I thought. People are tired of the Roy Cohns in their own community and they are standing up in public to them. In the article Mr. Armstrong also said,
"I don't feel like I'm being attacked by anyone in my office"I have some news for Mr. Armstrong. By serving on Dominici's staff while the Senator casts votes against us, Lyndon helps the Senator to be in complete denial about his homophobic actions. If Mr. Armstrong wants to see someone in his office attack him, he only needs click here and review the Senator's voting record. Some interesting highlights:
In 1996 the Employment Non-descrimination Act (ENDA) failed by ONE vote in the US Senate. Senator Pete Dominici, Mr Amstrong's boss, voted AGAINST equal job protections for every gay and lesbian American. In other words, Mr. Armstrong's boss, singlehandedly defeated these protections. Where was his leadership for the gay and lesbian people of New Mexico when he cast that vote? (you can see the vote tally here.) Oh, the other New Mexico Senator, Jeff Bingaman (D) voted for ENDA and then went on to win reelection with 62% of the vote. (So please spare us the "he was only representing his constituents" line.)News Flash for Mr. Armstrong: The other New Mexico Senator, JeffBingaman has voted with the Human Rights Campaign 100% of the time in the past two sessions of Congress and he is a four term US Seanator. Obviously, if ANYONE is in a strong position to lead gay people to full inclusion in in the Republican party it would be Sen. Dominici, a supposedly moderate Republican from a moderate state with a Jr. Senator who supports gay and lesbian equality without losing votes. Under circumstances like these, Sen. Domenici hangs gays and lesbians out to dry.
Just two weeks ago Mr. Armstrong was again stuck explaining Dominici's vote against the gay and lesbian community. Dominici again abandoned the gay community of New Mexico when he voted with the hateful minority the Federal Marriage Amendment. Here's what Mr. Armstrong told the Times: "[T]he polling in the state shows that the constituents there are overwhelmingly in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment"
When will these guys learn?
Friday, July 23, 2004
ACTION: Cracker Barrel Supporter (in 1997!) has gay LD: Pete Meachum
That's Homophobe Ginny Brown-Waite on the left. On the right, it's Pete Meachum as he appeared in The Hill feature on The 50 Most Beautiful People on Capitol Hill.
Please join me in writing to Pete Meachum. Be sure to congratulate Pete on his selection as one of the Hill's 50 most beautiful people. Your e-mail is probably a good chance to ask "how an openly gay man works for such a homophobe?"
Pete's boss, Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL-5), has one of the Florida House delegation's most homophobic records:
Marriage Protection Act of 2004, Brown-Waite, Ginny: YES
Federal Marriage Amendment: CO-SPONSOR
Cracker Barrel Store Opening Attendance: November 21, 1997, ignores protesters from P/FLAG who oppose Cracker Barrel’s homophobia. (at the time, it was Cracker Barrel’s policy to eliminate gay and lesbian employees from it's workforce. For more info on the history, click here
If you'd like to learn more about Pete, be sure to read the article from the Advocate where Pete and his partner's commitment ceremony is described. Want to learn about Pete's out of office activities? Check out this site, he's a member of the local multicultural rugby club, The Renegades.
Here's blogACTIVE's question: How can one of The Hill's "50 most beautiful people," work for such ugly homophobes?!
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Homophobe Mel Martinez own Uncle Toms Uncovered
Here's the Blade's take on Former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez use of gay men to try to get elected to the senate.
I'm so psyched that the press is finally stepping up to the plate and outing these horrible Roy Cohns! Bravo to the Blade and Window Media.
I'm so psyched that the press is finally stepping up to the plate and outing these horrible Roy Cohns! Bravo to the Blade and Window Media.
Timmons Exposed in the Blade...and Winner of First ROY COHN AWARD
Kudos to the Washington Blade for their coverage of Jay Timmons' work at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Timmons' is being exposed in a cadre of publications owned by Window Media. Congrats to Window Media for not being part of the conspiracy of silence in DC.
It's coincidental that Jay Timmons has been named the first recipient of the blogACTIVE Roy Cohn Award. Each Friday, I'll be awarding the Roy Cohn Award to a man or woman who, through their work, hurts the gay and lesbian community.
O'Reilly spins in the "No Spin Zone!"
When I took Bill O'Reilly to task for outing a lesbian judge on his show a week before my appearance, I thought I was just another No Spin Zone guest proving Al Franken right. When the story started receiving coverage in papers like the Chicago Tribune, I knew that I was right about one thing: For years I've watched The O'Reilly Factor with the hope of taking Bill on in the "No Spin Zone" so I could prove him to be the chronic liar that he is.
As I look back at this transcript and the follow up media, I realize that O'Reilly must be spinning at this!
For those curious to see Bill get caught up in his own lies, here's the complete transcript (my comments are in red and in [brackets].
THE O'REILLY FACTOR
July 19, 2004 Monday
GUEST: Michael Rogers
O'REILLY: "Personal story" segment tonight, there's no question some gay activists are angry about opposition to gay marriage. And one of those activists, Michael Rogers, has begun an outing campaign on his Web site. He joins us now from Washington. As I told you in the pre-interview, Mr. Rogers, I don't really want you to mention anybody's name...
[Wow, that was fast...O'Reilly manipulated the truth in the opening paragraph. The, so-called 'pre-interview' was nothing more than a 45 second (or less) off air introduction by Mr. O'Reilly. 'Pre-Interview' as used on the show, is supposed to make the viewer believe O'Reilly and I had actually met prior to the show.]MICHAEL ROGERS, GAY ACTIVIST: Sure.
O'REILLY: ...on The Factor. And if you do, we'll bleep it out, because it's not fair. And you know, we're uneasy with this kind of exposition. But what are you trying to accomplish? Are you trying to intimidate people to vote for gay marriage?
ROGERS: Absolutely not. And we are also as uncomfortable as you are, Mr. O'Reilly. But we feel that it's necessary to let people know in the government who are gay and lesbian people working against the gay and lesbian community.
O'REILLY: Why? Why would that be an issue in the sense that you can let them know which politicians are, but why would you -- it would be like...
ROGERS: Well, these people have high positions in the government. They have taken on very public positions, such as chiefs of staff or executive directors of organizations charged with electing pro FMA senators to the Congress.
So -- and the most important part of it is that these people actually are out already. They...
O'REILLY: Yes, but here's...
ROGERS: They live completely out gay lives. In fact, in most cases, the staffers have told the members that they work for...
O'REILLY: But, this should be....sex.....somebody's personal sex life should have nothing to do with any kind of a policy, and let me give you an example. We reported on a judge in Boston, OK, who dissented from the...
ROGERS: Correct. But you outed her on your show.
O'REILLY: But we didn't, because her...
[Note from Mike on this: O'Reilly is lying here - O'Reilly outed MA judge Margaret Sosman on his show, three times counting this incident, A thorough LexisNexis searches make it clear the Mr. O'Reilly did the outing, not one of his guests.]ROGERS: Well, nowhere in Lexis-Nexis does it talk about her sexual orientation.
O'REILLY: But interestingly enough, our guests -- our guests were the ones that mentioned the fact that this was...
[Yup, O'Reilly lied there again]ROGERS: But these gentlemen appear as cover boys in local gay magazines. They go to gay and lesbian organizations...
O'REILLY: OK, I'm not disputing the fact that they may be gay.
ROGERS: ...they are out there as much as any judge
[At this point, I leaned over and grabbed a copy of The O'Reilly Factor transcript from a week prior to my appearance. In it, O'Reilly clearly outs the judge on TV...Again, it is O'Reilly, not one of his guests, who did the outing.]
O'REILLY: But let me just make my point, and then you can rebut. I'm not disputing the fact that they might be gay and that they might have the gay lifestyle. But you can be gay and be against gay marriage. See, that's the thing.
ROGERS: But they're not against gay marriage. They are in favor of it, and they're hiding their sexual orientation, like Roy Cohn did when he worked for Senator Joe McCarthy. They're hiding their sexual orientation on the job, and they're turning around and hurting gay and lesbian people by the people that they work for.
O'REILLY: Well, how do you know that? How you you know... Maybe they sincerely believe that...
ROGERS: Does Kirk Fordham (name bleeped out on TV)... believe that gay marriage -- and again, he's completely out. These are people we're talking about who have come out on their own in the press, so we're not outing anybody on your show. But does the finance director of Mel Martinez's (name bleeped out on TV) campaign owe it to his community to not run advertising that says gay marriage is equivalent to totalitarian rule under Cuba?
[Here, in the excitement of the moment, I mention Kirk Fordham, Finance Director for Mel Martinez Senate campaign in Florida. I did mention Kirk's name on the show after I agreed not to out anyone...It was an honest mistake and I apologized to O'Reilly immediately after the taping. He was fine with it. And Kirk, well...he was exposed in a cover story in the Washington Blade and, yup, still works for the homophobe]O'REILLY: Look, I don't buy into that. But maybe he believes it.
ROGERS: But that's what's happening.
O'REILLY: Well, but look...
ROGERS: And if they live an out gay life, we have the right to tell people that here is people in your community who are doing this.
O'REILLY: But I think that -- I don't think that you have the right to do it. I think it's a sleazy tactic.
[In typical fasion, O'Reilly tried to shift gears from 'outing' to 'gay marriage.' I was ready and hit him with the base of our argument...the 'harboring enemies' line!]ROGERS: What other community...
O'REILLY: Whoa, Whoa, Whoa -- if you challenge somebody's take on gay marriage, do it on a political, ethical level rather than a personal level.
ROGERS: What community is expected to harbor its enemies from within when a president is squarely aiming a constitutional amendment at it during an election campaign? It's not about private lives. They are deciding to use sexual orientation as a weapon in the elections.
It has died in the Senate, yet the House wants to keep it alive, both parties.
O'REILLY: Because there are people, sincere Americans, who wish you no ill, all right,
ROGERS: We disagree with that
O'REILLY: who don't believe that gay marriage is good for the United States. And some of those people are homosexual.
ROGERS: But the people in Massachusetts want to move forward.
O'REILLY: That's not true. It's a 50/50 split there.
ROGERS: So let them decide.
O'REILLY: Absolutely, I'm with you. Let them decide.
ROGERS: So what we're saying is, simply put, if you're going to be gay and lesbian and go to work every day for the biggest homophobes in the United States Congress, we're going to expose that.
O'REILLY: It's wrong.
ROGERS: Why is it wrong?
O'REILLY: Let me give you another analogy.
ROGERS: You did it to a judge. You did it yourself last week to a judge.
O'REILLY: I didn't do anything.
[Ooops, Bill lied again here when he denied outing Magaret Sosman.]ROGERS: Well, on your show it was done.
O'REILLY: Our guests -- we have done many reports, and the guests that came on put it into the perspective that -- we didn't do anything. In fact, we have a call in to the judge, she can come on anytime, say anything she wants. If we got it wrong, we're absolutely willing to have it. It wasn't about that.
[Yup...He did it again... No guest on O'Reilly outed Sosman. O'Reilly did.]ROGERS: I'll say the same to any of these -- I'll say the same to the executive director of these organizations who are working against their own community by day...
O'REILLY: Oh, but your tactic is to make it a personal, and we say keep it political.
ROGERS: Listen, we don't want it to be personal. They're the ones who are attacking my family values.
O'REILLY: Don't tell me you don't want it to be personal when you're actually threatening these people.
ROGERS: We want to drop the issue. We want to drop the issue, Mr. O'Reilly.
O'REILLY: No, you want them to surrender their opposition.
ROGERS: No, no, no, we don't. We want people to realize that if you work for the enemy, you will be called on it.
O'REILLY: But they don't have to be your enemy. All right...
ROGERS: They are.
O'REILLY: ... Mr. Rogers, I appreciate your point of view. The Factor will be right back.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Tonight, In the No Spin Zone.... and, are you registered?
Well, friends, I'm taking it to the other side for TONIGHT! I'll be stepping into Bill O'Reilly's No Spin Zone (or so *he* calls it) on his show, The O'Reilly Factor
The show airs at 8:00pm EST (repeats at 11:00pm) on the Fox News Channel (Not Fox-TV, but the News Channel) -- I'm waiting to see how fair and balanced he his tonight! Hope you can watch!
Sunday, July 18, 2004
ACTION: Tell Jonathan Tolman what you think of his boss!
If you had a chance to read the Roll Call Story (subscription reqd.), you know that MW Coverboy Jonathan Tolman said "...I didn't come to the Hill thinking I was going to find my political soul mate in a Member."
Well...What exactly was Mr. Tolman thinking when he signed up with the Senate's most notorious gay hater??? Even Rick Santorum has not put out a statement in writing that says he refuses to hire openly gay people!
Call Jonathan Tolman and tell him what YOU think of gay men working for right wing homophobes on the hill. His direct line is 202-224-3119.
After the call, drop blogACTIVE an e-mail and let me know how it went.
HELP US SPREAD THE NAMES OF THESE HOMOPHOBES:
Well...What exactly was Mr. Tolman thinking when he signed up with the Senate's most notorious gay hater??? Even Rick Santorum has not put out a statement in writing that says he refuses to hire openly gay people!
Call Jonathan Tolman and tell him what YOU think of gay men working for right wing homophobes on the hill. His direct line is 202-224-3119.
After the call, drop blogACTIVE an e-mail and let me know how it went.
HELP US SPREAD THE NAMES OF THESE HOMOPHOBES:
Thursday, July 15, 2004
BLOG Active in the News -
BLOG Active covered in hill and across Nation as
part of stunning set back for Radical Right
BLOG Active will be placing ADS to expose hypocrisy... PLEASE SUPPORT US TODAY.
How's this for exposure for our campaign?! Mary Jacoby wrote a wonderful article, The Outing of Congress, in Salon.com's Politics and News section. We are the top story of the day!
Rebecca Dana and Jose Antonio Vargas over at The Washington Post have a great article on page one of today's Style Section. Mr. Vargas, a new reporter to the Post, was one of the most thorough reporters I've ever dealt with...the article is GREAT!
Here's an update story, (video) on DC's CBS Affiliate.
The Chicago Tribune's Jill Zuckerman and Anastasia Ustinova wrote an article that does a great job of including our campaign in the main Senate marriage debate.
Click on over to The Advocate and read their piece on our campaign. There's also some interesting facts in there, like the fact that the ED of the Log Cabin Republicans refuses to tell anyone who he is voting for In November! I bet that's going over well with the party faithful like Openly Gay JAY TIMMONS at the NRSC.
Gay.com, the largest gay internet site on the planet, has an article by seasoned political reporter, Chris Bull. Check out their take on the "Coverboy Exposed" scandal.
How's this for exposure for our campaign?! Mary Jacoby wrote a wonderful article, The Outing of Congress, in Salon.com's Politics and News section. We are the top story of the day!
Rebecca Dana and Jose Antonio Vargas over at The Washington Post have a great article on page one of today's Style Section. Mr. Vargas, a new reporter to the Post, was one of the most thorough reporters I've ever dealt with...the article is GREAT!
Here's an update story, (video) on DC's CBS Affiliate.
The Chicago Tribune's Jill Zuckerman and Anastasia Ustinova wrote an article that does a great job of including our campaign in the main Senate marriage debate.
Click on over to The Advocate and read their piece on our campaign. There's also some interesting facts in there, like the fact that the ED of the Log Cabin Republicans refuses to tell anyone who he is voting for In November! I bet that's going over well with the party faithful like Openly Gay JAY TIMMONS at the NRSC.
Gay.com, the largest gay internet site on the planet, has an article by seasoned political reporter, Chris Bull. Check out their take on the "Coverboy Exposed" scandal.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
VICTORY IN THE SENATE....The battle is won...the war against gay and lesbian America continues!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
You would think with how ridiculous the right wingers looked in the Senate today...They would learn from this week that America does not support their campaign of division. But, Noooooooooooooooooo..... They want to keep pressing on.... We're ready and we'll be as successful in the House as we were in the Senate today.
I'm not a political analyst...but I know one of the best and has an amazing blog. Check out John Aravosis' AmericaBlog.org for some in-depth comments on today's victory.
The radical right wing has declared war on the gay and lesbian nation. As we look past today's HUGE VICTORY for the Left...WE will be ever mindful of their sneak attacks and their proclamation to keep this issue alive through the election. As someone once said:
BRING IT ON!
BLOG Active will be placing ADS to expose hypocrisy... PLEASE SUPPORT US TODAY.
BLOGActive: On WAMU-88.5 at Noon
Be sure to tune in to 88.5 FM in DC, WAMU Radio, the DC NPR Affiliate. I'll be on at some point between 12:05 and 12:30. If you don't live in DC, you can access WAMU's webcast at WAMU's Listen Live Page
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution gave us great coverage, including the Blog address in the article and on line! Thanks AJC!! To read the story, go here:
'Outing' of gay Capitol aides adds angst to same-sex marriage battle
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
METRO WEEKLY: From Coverboy to Cover Story and Original Tolman Interview on line. (Pictures)
Metro Weekly, the weekly lesbian and gay magazine of Washington, DC, has posted an article on its home page relating to the controversy surrounding Senate Staffer Jonathan Tolman, who is employed by Sen James Inhofe (R-OK). Click here to see the article AND the ORIGINAL TOLMAN INTERVIEW from 2001 (PICTURES)
Monday, July 12, 2004
ACTION: Write to Kirk Fordham,
at the Mel Martinez for U.S. Senate campaign
Please take a moment to read my open letter to Kirk Fordham, Finance Director Mel Martinez's U.S. Senate Campaign. Once you've read it, be sure to write Kirk an email to tell him how you feel about an openly gay man serving on the staff of a homophobe. (Be sure to add BLOGActive@hotmail.com to the cc line!)
**** WARNING **** WARNING **** WARNING ****
AUDIO LINK INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT WILL NEEDLESSLY SCARE CHILDREN AND ADULTS!
If you'd like to hear Mel Martinez speak about gay marriage as being equal to living under a totalitarian dictator, click here.
**** WARNING **** WARNING **** WARNING ****
AUDIO LINK INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT WILL NEEDLESSLY SCARE CHILDREN AND ADULTS!
If you'd like to hear Mel Martinez speak about gay marriage as being equal to living under a totalitarian dictator, click here.
FREE FAX
Take a look at the Pride At Work's website and see how America's labor movement is standing with our community at this time of unprecedented attacks and use their FREE FAX SERVICE to see how they are motivating the entire labor movement to stand with us during the attack on the lesbian and gay community.
Pride At Work's Acting Director, Jeremy Bishop, has been working every labor angle to make it perfectly clear that our nation is not under attack by gay marriage, but by an administration that attacks true family values for America's working families.
Use Pride At Work's FREE FAX SYSTEM to send your opinion to your Senator TODAY, be sure to drop Jeremy an e-mail to say "Hey, Labor...thanks for standing with us!"
ACTION: Let's make some calls to Congressional Offices.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
ACTION: Please Thank Pat Robertson
TOLL FREE 800-373-5504
When the gay community's enemies take a step in the right direction, it is important for us to show our thanks. When you have a moment, pick up the phone and thank Regent University President, Rev. Pat Robertson at 800-373-5504 (ask for the President's Office)
Here's some pictures from a recent Regent University student trip to DC. In addition to meeting with the usual suspects of homophobic legislators, Regent students were also treated to time with openly gay Executive Director of the NRSC, JAY TIMMONS. For a university that goes to lengths to highlight the work of its alumni in the fight to protect society from the devaluation of the very fabric of the family—marriage, this is a huge step forward! The University has a toll free number 800-373-5504 (ask for the President's Office). Call Pat and tell him what you think.
If you are not a Regent U. student you can still feel like you are part of the excitement of this event. Just click on any of the pics below to read the story on Regent's own website.
l. That's Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) on the left...she's the lead FMA sponsor in the House.
r. James Inhofe -- he's the one who refuses to let gay Oklahoma residents work in his office.
Here's Jay and his work buddy, George Allen (R-VA). According to the website where Jay works, his group has only one job, which they call a "crusade": to elect more republicans to the United States Senate. (Let me make this simple: Jay is a gay man who works to elect anti-gay people to the Senate!) And, who could forget the lovely reception for Regent Students at the Heritage Foundation!
Here's some pictures from a recent Regent University student trip to DC. In addition to meeting with the usual suspects of homophobic legislators, Regent students were also treated to time with openly gay Executive Director of the NRSC, JAY TIMMONS. For a university that goes to lengths to highlight the work of its alumni in the fight to protect society from the devaluation of the very fabric of the family—marriage, this is a huge step forward! The University has a toll free number 800-373-5504 (ask for the President's Office). Call Pat and tell him what you think.
If you are not a Regent U. student you can still feel like you are part of the excitement of this event. Just click on any of the pics below to read the story on Regent's own website.
l. That's Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) on the left...she's the lead FMA sponsor in the House.
r. James Inhofe -- he's the one who refuses to let gay Oklahoma residents work in his office.
Here's Jay and his work buddy, George Allen (R-VA). According to the website where Jay works, his group has only one job, which they call a "crusade": to elect more republicans to the United States Senate. (Let me make this simple: Jay is a gay man who works to elect anti-gay people to the Senate!) And, who could forget the lovely reception for Regent Students at the Heritage Foundation!
Friday, July 09, 2004
Washington Post weighs in.. Kudos to DearMary.com
JUST IN: Our campaign is clearly in style -- Page 1 of the The Washington Post's Style Section to be exact. Click here to see the article.
When interviewed by the Post, I said "...congressmen have declared war on gay people, and we're fighting back. We need to expose the hyprocrisy of Congress."
THANK YOU DEARMARY.COM
Check out the amazing ad that the wonderful folks at DearMary.com ran in today's Washington Blade. The ad sums up this campaign perfectly! My favorite line? That's an easy one: "For Years Our Silence Has Protected You. Today that silence ends."
When interviewed by the Post, I said "...congressmen have declared war on gay people, and we're fighting back. We need to expose the hyprocrisy of Congress."
THANK YOU DEARMARY.COM
Check out the amazing ad that the wonderful folks at DearMary.com ran in today's Washington Blade. The ad sums up this campaign perfectly! My favorite line? That's an easy one: "For Years Our Silence Has Protected You. Today that silence ends."
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Coverboy in Today's Roll Call REVEALED!
WOW... Less than two weeks into our groundbreaking campaign, we've already gotten fantastic coverage! Be sure to pick up today's copy of ROLL CALL, where you can read the phenomenal article by Mary Ann Akers. Akers, author of Roll Call's HEARD ON THE HILL COLUMN won't print the coverboy's identity, but that wont stop BLOGActive from giving you ALL the details.
Jonathan Tolman, a senior staffer for Senator James (I refuse to hire gay people) Inhofe, was Coverboy Confidential in the May 2001 issue of Metro Weekly, Washington, DC's premiere lesbian and gay magazine.
A little history here folks: Jonathan Tolman's career has been spent working for organizations and politicians that have not exactly been seen as supportive of the gay community. He worked on the staff of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a right wing think tank.
What does he do now: Well, Jonathan Tolman was hired by Sen. James Inhofe who according to today's Roll Call, ran a campaign of "God, gays and guns," and has put in force a policy that he refuses to hire gay people in his Senate Office. Sen. Inhofe has no problem hiring gay people to do committee work....Just don't ask him to have to look at gay people in his own office. Huh?
Jonathan Tolman, a senior staffer for Senator James (I refuse to hire gay people) Inhofe, was Coverboy Confidential in the May 2001 issue of Metro Weekly, Washington, DC's premiere lesbian and gay magazine.
A little history here folks: Jonathan Tolman's career has been spent working for organizations and politicians that have not exactly been seen as supportive of the gay community. He worked on the staff of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), a right wing think tank.
What does he do now: Well, Jonathan Tolman was hired by Sen. James Inhofe who according to today's Roll Call, ran a campaign of "God, gays and guns," and has put in force a policy that he refuses to hire gay people in his Senate Office. Sen. Inhofe has no problem hiring gay people to do committee work....Just don't ask him to have to look at gay people in his own office. Huh?
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
ACTION: Jay Timmons...Stand up for your community. CALL JAY AT 202-675-6060
Friends,
You've asked for names and numbers to take action. Here's the first call to make!
Now some of you might find this absolutely impossible to believe, but the Executive Director of The National Republican Senatorial Committee is an openly gay man, Jay Timmons!!!!
If you are like me, you're probably wondering: How, in America, in 2004, can an openly gay man work to elect those who would ensuring second class citizenship upon the gay community? TAKE ACTION. Pick up the phone, just like I did, and call JAY TIMMONS. His direct line is 202-675-6060. If you'd like to have the NRSC pay for the call, their Press secretary Dan Allen has offered up this free number: 800-877-6775.
Once you call, drop me a note at my BLOGMAIL and let me know how the call went.
You've asked for names and numbers to take action. Here's the first call to make!
Now some of you might find this absolutely impossible to believe, but the Executive Director of The National Republican Senatorial Committee is an openly gay man, Jay Timmons!!!!
If you are like me, you're probably wondering: How, in America, in 2004, can an openly gay man work to elect those who would ensuring second class citizenship upon the gay community? TAKE ACTION. Pick up the phone, just like I did, and call JAY TIMMONS. His direct line is 202-675-6060. If you'd like to have the NRSC pay for the call, their Press secretary Dan Allen has offered up this free number: 800-877-6775.
Once you call, drop me a note at my BLOGMAIL and let me know how the call went.
ACTION: Thank The Washington Blade. Editorial Board stands for truth!
OK, Folks...Here's our first easy to do action. Take a look at the Washington Blade's editorial on lesbian and gay hill staffers and then send a note off to Executive Editor Chris Crain on how fantastic this Viewpoint is. You can see the entire editorial here: DON'T CRY FOR HILL STAFFERS
While the entire editorial is worth a read, I couldn't resist posting some of my favorite lines from it:
"IF EVER THERE were a definition of a gay Uncle Tom, it would fit these people. These are not dishwashers or short-order cooks at Cracker Barrel, facing poverty if their redneck bosses learn they're big homos.
"These are smart, talented, well-educated professionals who could find success in any number of highly paid positions on or off the Hill but who instead have chosen to devote their professional lives to advancing the careers of politicians who would strip them and their friends of basic civil rights protections and even redress of their grievances in the courts.
It is 2004, not 1954, and sexual orientation in and of itself is no longer a "private fact" beyond the pale of inquiry.
It is not the job of the Washington Blade - and ought not be the job of HRC - to protect the identity of semi-closeted congressional aides who have important questions to answer about why they have not acted to protect their fellow gay citizens.THANK YOU CHRIS CRAIN AND THANK YOU WASHINGTON BLADE!
And the Press is Hot HOT HOT!
Friends...
The gay press has really stepped up to the plate on this issue. Strong congratulations to the Washington Blade and the Gay City News for being on top of the story.
Here's what's run so far in these papers relating to the hypocrisy of hill staffers:
Adrian Brune, an ace star reporter who recently joined the staff of the Washington Blade, wrote an amazing article about what exactly this campaign is about. Take a look at her fine writing at Wave of outings hits Congress. The story also ran in editions of The New York Blade, The Houston Voice, and The Southern Voice.
Meanwhile,over at Gay City News, a New York Publication which claims to have the largest circulation of any gay paper in the country, Reporter Stefan Styrsky wrote a great piece. Check it out at: Outing on Capitol Hill Stirs Debate.
The gay press has really stepped up to the plate on this issue. Strong congratulations to the Washington Blade and the Gay City News for being on top of the story.
Here's what's run so far in these papers relating to the hypocrisy of hill staffers:
Adrian Brune, an ace star reporter who recently joined the staff of the Washington Blade, wrote an amazing article about what exactly this campaign is about. Take a look at her fine writing at Wave of outings hits Congress. The story also ran in editions of The New York Blade, The Houston Voice, and The Southern Voice.
Meanwhile,over at Gay City News, a New York Publication which claims to have the largest circulation of any gay paper in the country, Reporter Stefan Styrsky wrote a great piece. Check it out at: Outing on Capitol Hill Stirs Debate.
The Story So Far.....(VIDEO)
Well...Washington, DC is in a complete tizzy. Everyone on Capitol hill is wondering: "Who will be the next person working for PRO-Federal Marriage Amendment Legislators to be exposed for their hypocrisy?"
The story started when a group of independent activists revived a proven tactic for securing justice and freedom for gay and lesbian Americans: Expose those who hide deep in the closet during the day, yet have completely out lives in the evening.
To watch an excellent news item, summarizing both sides of the issue, check out the story that ran on WUSA-TV9 (CBS Affiliate) in Washington, DC.
You can find the story here:
WUSA TV-9 (Washington, DC) - GAY SECRETS
Be sure to watch the video of the debate. I know I'm a bit biased, after all, that's me in the center of the three folks, but from this perspective it looks like we wiped up the debate with the Log Cabin Republicans.
(If you have trouble watching the video from the site and have Windows Media player installed, here's a direct link to the video clip.)
Take a look yourself and tell me what you think.
You Asked...We Deliver!
Greetings friends.
The Federal marriage Amendment continues to wind its way through Congress and, as a result, the rumors and innuendo about the lives of lesbian and gay Americans continues to be exploited by right-wing elements of both political parties.
On BlogAction we'll provide you with the information AND fun quick actions you can take to help bring our civil and human rights to the forefront.
WELCOME!
The Federal marriage Amendment continues to wind its way through Congress and, as a result, the rumors and innuendo about the lives of lesbian and gay Americans continues to be exploited by right-wing elements of both political parties.
On BlogAction we'll provide you with the information AND fun quick actions you can take to help bring our civil and human rights to the forefront.
WELCOME!