Monday, October 31, 2005
Back Wednesday
After a few days off from the blog, I'll be back with new posts Wednesday....
-Mike
-Mike
Thursday, October 27, 2005
The Miers Fallout
I'm always grateful when Pam Spaulding at Pam's House Blend takes the time to sift through the various remarks over at the FreeRepublic (of course what they mean is Free Republic for Straight White People).
You really have to give Pam credit. When I read the comments over there and after about, well, two of them I am between bored (soooo predictable) and angry (people like that are live in this country). Pam's patience and tolerance makes for great reading.
Now they are ballistic over Miers. They can't decide if they're happy to see one of their own tossed aside or if they're angry at Bushie for putting up Her Royal Incompetence in the first place.
Stop by the entry, here, and see what the haters have to say.
You really have to give Pam credit. When I read the comments over there and after about, well, two of them I am between bored (soooo predictable) and angry (people like that are live in this country). Pam's patience and tolerance makes for great reading.
Now they are ballistic over Miers. They can't decide if they're happy to see one of their own tossed aside or if they're angry at Bushie for putting up Her Royal Incompetence in the first place.
Stop by the entry, here, and see what the haters have to say.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Fight the wingnuts, email Walgreens today
I had a delightful conversation with the Media Relations department, despite the wingnuttery of the American Family Association, I was told there is no way that Walgreens will reverse it's decision to sponsor the Gay Game scheduled for next year in Chicago.
Be sure to check out GOOD AS YOU. At the site, Jeremy gives a full rundown of just how insane these people are, going so far as to accuse the drugstore chain of supporting events that, in their twisted logic, spread HIV, resulting in more Walgreens customers.
As we did with Kraft, it's important for our side to counter this stupidity by taking a moment to write to Walgreens to THANK them for their support.
TAKE ACTION: 1.) Visit GOOD AS YOU and read what the AFA has to say about Walgreens and the Gay Games -- Warning: The AFA has pictures of attractive homosexuals enjoying themselves, and...
2) Click here to drop a quick note to Walgreens. Thank them for standing by the gay community.
Be sure to check out GOOD AS YOU. At the site, Jeremy gives a full rundown of just how insane these people are, going so far as to accuse the drugstore chain of supporting events that, in their twisted logic, spread HIV, resulting in more Walgreens customers.
As we did with Kraft, it's important for our side to counter this stupidity by taking a moment to write to Walgreens to THANK them for their support.
TAKE ACTION: 1.) Visit GOOD AS YOU and read what the AFA has to say about Walgreens and the Gay Games -- Warning: The AFA has pictures of attractive homosexuals enjoying themselves, and...
2) Click here to drop a quick note to Walgreens. Thank them for standing by the gay community.
Friday, October 21, 2005
The Lord is My Shepard, I shall want to sleep with you....
Fox News Anchor Shepard Smith is outed by Blade's Kevin Naff....
>
The right wing news channel apparently has a show tune loving anchor, or so says the Washington Blade's Kevin Naff in today's editorial. I compliment Mr. Naff for coming on board the with the work supported by blogACTIVE.com. After all, Mr. Smith works for the most anti-gay news channel in America.
From Kevin's editorial:
>The right wing news channel apparently has a show tune loving anchor, or so says the Washington Blade's Kevin Naff in today's editorial. I compliment Mr. Naff for coming on board the with the work supported by blogACTIVE.com. After all, Mr. Smith works for the most anti-gay news channel in America.
From Kevin's editorial:
Smith once chatted me up in a New York City gay piano bar, bought me drinks, and invited me back to his place. When I declined, he asked me to dinner the next night, another invitation I politely refused.I am happy Kevin wrote this item about Smith...people who are in bed, figuratively, with right wingnuts like Bill O'Reilly, Brit Hume and the rest of the gang over at Fox deserved to be called, um, out!
We sat at the bar chatting and drinking martinis until 3 a.m., our conversation interrupted only when he paused to belt out the lyrics to whatever showtune was being performed.
MTV on LGBT Bloggers covers BlogActive and Pam's House Blend
Thanks to Pam's House Blend for finding this one...
MTV.com has an item up on gay and lesbian blogging in which blogACTIVE is mentioned:
MTV.com has an item up on gay and lesbian blogging in which blogACTIVE is mentioned:
Pam's House Blend has taken off in popularity and has received over 200,000 hits since its inception. BlogActive.com, listed as the most popular LGBT-focused progressive blog by the New Politics Institute, receives more than 13,000 weekly hits. (The article was written a while ago and the numbers for both Pam's site and blogACTIVE have risen substantially.)
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Proud of Who We Are
I had the pleasure of meeting with members of the press representing outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Roll Call, and National Journal about a grassroots effort, Proud of Who We Are, to hold Congressional leaders accountable when they decide to allow folks like gay US Representative David Dreier to be tossed aside simply because they are gay.
Of course, this is the issue that the press won't touch. Why? Because they're afraid of losing access. It's not, of course, about "outing," but a failure to "report" the truth.
ProudOfWhoWeAre.org is a group of activists who plan to use creative techniques to educate the public, much like BlogACTIVE.com, on the failures of the press to cover these issues. The group will hold leaders accountable by demanding that they confront their own homophobia...Are you listening Rep. Hastert and Rep. Blunt?
Of course, this is the issue that the press won't touch. Why? Because they're afraid of losing access. It's not, of course, about "outing," but a failure to "report" the truth.
ProudOfWhoWeAre.org is a group of activists who plan to use creative techniques to educate the public, much like BlogACTIVE.com, on the failures of the press to cover these issues. The group will hold leaders accountable by demanding that they confront their own homophobia...Are you listening Rep. Hastert and Rep. Blunt?
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Oy...when will they learn
As a rather incompetent nominee comes to the US Senate, our elected officials have nothing better to do than to hold hearings about the Federal Marriage Amendment. I know there are a number of Senators I will be watching closely during this debate.
When will they learn?
It makes me so angry, I think I'll head over to the House sometime tomorrow to tell the press about it. If one thing is true, WE HAVE THE POWWA!!!! (More details on Thursday...after I get back.
When will they learn?
It makes me so angry, I think I'll head over to the House sometime tomorrow to tell the press about it. If one thing is true, WE HAVE THE POWWA!!!! (More details on Thursday...after I get back.
Monday, October 17, 2005
What I would do if I were in Boston on Thursday
Michelangelo Signorile
I love Boston...smart people, great food and a ferry ride or short airplane hop to Provincetown. This week there is another reason to head up to New England... Michelangelo Signorile is hosting a panel discussion at Harvard. Titled Marriage Equality: Where Do We Go From Here? The panel promises to be an interesting exchange on gay marriage and the gay rights movement today.
In addition to Michelangelo, whom I have the greatest admiration and respect for -- his work is a model I try to follow -- the panel will also include two friends:
Marty Rouse, the campaigns manager for MassEquality and I first met in the early 90's. One of my earliest recollections of knowing Marty was when I was invited to his apartment to meet someone running for President. "He is a former governor of Arkansas." we were told as we were encouraged to meet with the first presidential candidate in history to directly reach out to gay voters. Marty is a very smart political operative and our community is lucky to have him on our side. (On a related note, Marty's partner Scott is host of The Gay Parenting Show on the Podcast Network -- check it out here.)
Left Photo: Julie (l.) and Hillary Goodridge
Right Photo: Marty Rouse (r.) his partner Scott Sherman,
son Sasha, and community leader, Donna RedWing
Hillary Goodridge and her partner Julie were the lead plaintiffs in Massachusetts historic Goodridge marriage case. I've known Hillary since 1989, when she was the star fundraiser for the Haymarket People's Fund. Her thoughtful analysis and incredible sense of humor will make the panel one not to be forgotten. If you're lucky enough to be in Boston -- well, technically it's Cambridge -- Thursday evening, give yourself a real treat by attending this panel.If you can't be there in person, the show will be broadcast on Sirius Out Q radio channel 106 on Monday, October 24, from 4 - 6 pm. FOR COMPLETE EVENT INFO, CLICK HERE.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
FINALLY THEY ARE STARTING TO GET IT
True, Patrick and the crowd over at the Log Cabin club are slow on the uptake, but these are:
He claims he's against "outing," -- I am glad to hear he wasn't against "reporting!"
He claims he's against "outing," -- I am glad to hear he wasn't against "reporting!"
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
LA Weekly: The REAL deal about Dreier's job application...
Doug Ireland hits the nail on the head with his latest piece in LA WEEKLY:
Closet Politics: What doomed Dreier’s rise to the top by DOUG IRELANDALSO: Visit Doug's blog , DIRELAND
Fast-forward to the majority-leader revolt: Within minutes after Hastert’s selection of Dreier, Blogactive.com — the D.C.-based Web site that first outed Dreier — posted online and widely e-mailed an alert. “Call Dennis Hastert and thank him for standing up to the Radical Right by recommending a gay man as Majority Leader,” Blogactive’s Mike Rogers wryly wrote, giving Hastert’s phone number. Within hours, according to a low-ranking Hastert staffer who requested anonymity, the speaker’s office received more than 400 phone calls about Dreier’s being gay.Read Doug's entire piece at LA Weekly.
...
And it’s a damn shame the press didn’t feel the voters should know what everyone in Washington knows.
Closet Politics: What doomed Dreier’s rise to the top by DOUG IRELANDALSO: Visit Doug's blog , DIRELAND
Please Stand By...
The site has had some technical problems over the past day or two -- Manual posting means no comments for the moment...I'm working on it -- or bailing on blogger this weekend and moving to Word Press or Movable Type...Thanks for sticking with the blog....Mike
A special note to friends of blogACTIVE
Friends...
If you received the latest issue of the newsletter, you can skip this post. If you were not on the list the other day, I hope you'll take a moment to read this note I sent along with the newsletter.
A SPECIAL NOTE
I hope you will consider donating just $1.00 per name on the list Long list below...that's just $30 to help the work of blogACTIVE.com. Of course if you can contribute more, that's great. If $30.00 is above your budget, please know that every gift helps.
If you received the latest issue of the newsletter, you can skip this post. If you were not on the list the other day, I hope you'll take a moment to read this note I sent along with the newsletter.
A SPECIAL NOTE
I am sure it's no surprise that the Washington political establishment has little interest in helping the work of blogACTIVE.com. The right wing is too busy protecting closet cases who are anti-gay and many on the left are too busy blaming our community's desire for equality (e.g. civil marriage equality) for its losses over the past few years. Because of this, blogACTIVE.com counts on the contributions of visitors and subscribers to blogACTIVE Confidential to make this work possible.
In addition to the thirty cases already reported on, my blog, I have hundreds of tips, many in the highest levels of the government.I hope you will consider donating just $1.00 per name on the list Long list below...that's just $30 to help the work of blogACTIVE.com. Of course if you can contribute more, that's great. If $30.00 is above your budget, please know that every gift helps.
In any case, your support is greatly appreciated and make the work of blogACTIVE.com possssible. To donate to the work of blogACTIVE.com, click here.
Gifts to the site are NOT tax deductible -- the last thing the government wants to do is support the exposing of their hypocrisy! All gifts are processed via PayPal, which is fully secured for
all transactions.
In advance, thank you so much for considering a gift in support of this important work.
Mike RogersMonday, October 10, 2005
I've been asked a few times, "How many people have you reported on?" While I've never kept a count, I did go through the blog today to make a list. In 15 months of reporting on hypocrites in the government, blogACTIVE has told the stories of 30 individuals:
United States Representatives
US Rep. Ed Schrock (VA)
US Rep. David Dreier (CA)
US Rep. James McCrery (LA)
US Rep. Mark Foley (FL)
Senior Republican Staff
Jay Timmons - National Republican Senatorial Committee
Dan Gurley, National Field Director, Republican National Committee
Jay Banning, Chief Financial Officer & Director of Administration, RNC
Israel Hernandez, office of Karl Rove and Assistant Secretary of Commerce
Jeff Berkowitz, Bush Liaison to Jewish Community
US Rep. Ed Schrock (VA)
US Rep. David Dreier (CA)
US Rep. James McCrery (LA)
US Rep. Mark Foley (FL)
Senior Republican Staff
Jay Timmons - National Republican Senatorial Committee
Dan Gurley, National Field Director, Republican National Committee
Jay Banning, Chief Financial Officer & Director of Administration, RNC
Senior Senate Staffers
Robert Traynham, Rick Santorum (PA)
Jonathan Tolman, James Inhofe (OK)
Kirk Fordham, Mel Martinez (FL)
Dirk Smith, Trent Lott (MS)
John Reid, George Allen (VA)
Paul Unger, George Allen (VA)
Linus Catignani, Bill Frist (TN)
House Staffers
Jim Conzelman, Rep. Mike Oxley (OH)
Lee Cohen, Rep. Melissa Hart (OH)
Robert O'Conner, Rep. Peter King (NY)
Pete Meachum, Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (FL)
Israel Hernandez, office of Karl Rove and Assistant Secretary of Commerce
Jeff Berkowitz, Bush Liaison to Jewish Community
Local Elected Officials
Vincent Gentile, NY City Council
The rest of the gang...
Ed Koch, former mayor of New York City
Jennifer Helms-Knox, Judge in NC campaign staffer for Jesse Helms Campaigns
Armstrong Williams, Talk show host.
Matt Drudge, Headline writer
Steve Kreseski, Governor Bob Erlich of MD
Chip DiPaula, Governor Bob Erlich of MD
Lee LaHaye, the chief financial officer of the Concerned Women for America
John Schlafly, Eagle Forum legal staff (son of Phyllis Schlafly)
Vincent Gentile, NY City Council
The rest of the gang...
Ed Koch, former mayor of New York City
Jennifer Helms-Knox, Judge in NC campaign staffer for Jesse Helms Campaigns
Armstrong Williams, Talk show host.
Matt Drudge, Headline writer
Steve Kreseski, Governor Bob Erlich of MD
Chip DiPaula, Governor Bob Erlich of MD
Lee LaHaye, the chief financial officer of the Concerned Women for America
John Schlafly, Eagle Forum legal staff (son of Phyllis Schlafly)
Friday, October 07, 2005
Final Polling Update
The poll is still on at AOL but since traffic to the article is done, I think we can assume that it's pretty much over. Of course there's always the chance that Katherine Harris can show up and "lose" 3,000 votes or so, but since she is so busy with her faltering Senate campaign, I won't worry about it.
Here's the latest and final report:
Here's the latest and final report:
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Polling update
With more precincts reporting, the vote supports pro-reporting hypocrisy. (and from the numbers in Bushworld, I have a mandate. (Or was it Mark Foley who had a mandate, or Ed Schrock?)
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Update:Poll now at 50% 50%
Affecting those silly on-line polls...Well this one is mine
I know that both supporters of this work and opponents of it stop here, so here's the link to the poll...let them know what you think.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS ON OUTING CAMPAIGNS
What a nice surprise....
I get off the train in NYC, where I am to talk to students about the future of gay and lesbian activism and one of my best friends IM's me with, "Check out this on the AP:
Gay Community Still Divided Over 'Outing.'
You would think that after a year of this, the Log Cabin Republicans could come up with a better answer than saying the campaign has had no effect. Hello? Are you all still in denial over Senator Paul Koering? Are you in denial over the attention this has mustered in the Black Community as Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin call out, and I mean CALL OUT, homophobic black pastors?
I will, once again, make my offer to the Log Cabinettes here, publicly: Let us sit down, face to face and discuss the issues in our community. Let's talk about why you want to protect the Ed Schrocks of the United States House (and those on the other side of the Capitol). If the Log Cabins really cared, and I mean REALLY cared, they would sit down and reach out to these closet cases and homophobes BEFORE their stories appear on blogACTIVE. (Note to LCR: Instead of slamming me, why not reach out?)
Heading out for now, but I will be sure to post more on the article later on. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your comments on it.
- Be sure to check out the Cannick/Boykin Campaign here.
- Read the Associated Press article in the Washington Post here.
I get off the train in NYC, where I am to talk to students about the future of gay and lesbian activism and one of my best friends IM's me with, "Check out this on the AP:
Gay Community Still Divided Over 'Outing.'
You would think that after a year of this, the Log Cabin Republicans could come up with a better answer than saying the campaign has had no effect. Hello? Are you all still in denial over Senator Paul Koering? Are you in denial over the attention this has mustered in the Black Community as Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin call out, and I mean CALL OUT, homophobic black pastors?
I will, once again, make my offer to the Log Cabinettes here, publicly: Let us sit down, face to face and discuss the issues in our community. Let's talk about why you want to protect the Ed Schrocks of the United States House (and those on the other side of the Capitol). If the Log Cabins really cared, and I mean REALLY cared, they would sit down and reach out to these closet cases and homophobes BEFORE their stories appear on blogACTIVE. (Note to LCR: Instead of slamming me, why not reach out?)
Heading out for now, but I will be sure to post more on the article later on. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your comments on it.
- Be sure to check out the Cannick/Boykin Campaign here.
- Read the Associated Press article in the Washington Post here.
Now, Mr. Barron...you can say blogACTIVE is not effective...by what standard would you like to compare my work?
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Major Hit! Jewsweek cover story on Berkowitz!
When I first came up with the idea for the TAKE ACTION item on Berkowitz, in which I asked blogACTIVE readers to email the editors of 45+ Jewish publications, little did I know that so quickly one of them would jump on the story.
The new cover story of JEWSWEEK is all about the closeted Jeff Berkowitz who works in the White House for George Bush as liaison to the Jewish Community.
The new cover story of JEWSWEEK is all about the closeted Jeff Berkowitz who works in the White House for George Bush as liaison to the Jewish Community.
The article has some great quotes and even elevated some of the commetns on blogACTIVE into the piece.
TAKE ACTION: Call Bob Schieffer and ask why CBS is part of the conspiracy of silence.
UPDATE: You can email Face the Nation here: ftn@cbsnews.com.
People ask me, "Do you really think it was blogACTIVE callers that derailed Speaker Dennis Hastert's decision to pick a gay man, David Dreier, as Majority Leader?"
The answer is, in true Washington form, both "yes" and "no."
This week's calls had a small role with the House Republican caucus' inability to wrap their little minds around a gay Majority Leader. But, BlogACTIVE's campaign of education over the past year put into place the events which exposed the GOP leaders as the true homophobes that they are.
A year ago most members of Congress had no idea that David Drier was not only gay but that he took 25 international junkets with his boyfriend and Chief of Staff, Brad Smith. BlogACTIVE's campaign of education helped push to the forefront the absolute hypocrisy of the GOP leadership on the matter. Rep Tom Davis (R-VA) went to far as to say he knew why Dreier was cast aside and then refused to explain the reason.
Oh, irony of ironies, as the Dreier story is proof of why a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act is so important. Here we have a man, in the highest level of government, denied a promotion simply because he is gay. Imagine how tough it is in so many other places for gays and lesbians to work free from discrimination.
So, why exactly didn't Bob Schieffer ask the former, um, boyfriend -- excuse me while I laugh -- of Bo Derek and Doro Bush, why he was selected and then tossed aside? Because Bob Schieffer is part of the conspiracy of silence that protects closeted gay men from being held to account for their homophobic actions.
TAKE ACTION: Call Bob Schieffer at CBS' Face the Nation and ask why he failed to cover the fact that a gay man was tossed from the leadership just because he was gay? PHONE NUMBER FOR FACE THE NATION: 202-457-4481
UPDATE: You can email Face the Nation here: ftn@cbsnews.com.
People ask me, "Do you really think it was blogACTIVE callers that derailed Speaker Dennis Hastert's decision to pick a gay man, David Dreier, as Majority Leader?"
The answer is, in true Washington form, both "yes" and "no."
This week's calls had a small role with the House Republican caucus' inability to wrap their little minds around a gay Majority Leader. But, BlogACTIVE's campaign of education over the past year put into place the events which exposed the GOP leaders as the true homophobes that they are.
A year ago most members of Congress had no idea that David Drier was not only gay but that he took 25 international junkets with his boyfriend and Chief of Staff, Brad Smith. BlogACTIVE's campaign of education helped push to the forefront the absolute hypocrisy of the GOP leadership on the matter. Rep Tom Davis (R-VA) went to far as to say he knew why Dreier was cast aside and then refused to explain the reason.
Oh, irony of ironies, as the Dreier story is proof of why a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act is so important. Here we have a man, in the highest level of government, denied a promotion simply because he is gay. Imagine how tough it is in so many other places for gays and lesbians to work free from discrimination.
So, why exactly didn't Bob Schieffer ask the former, um, boyfriend -- excuse me while I laugh -- of Bo Derek and Doro Bush, why he was selected and then tossed aside? Because Bob Schieffer is part of the conspiracy of silence that protects closeted gay men from being held to account for their homophobic actions.
TAKE ACTION: Call Bob Schieffer at CBS' Face the Nation and ask why he failed to cover the fact that a gay man was tossed from the leadership just because he was gay? PHONE NUMBER FOR FACE THE NATION: 202-457-4481
UPDATE: You can email Face the Nation here: ftn@cbsnews.com.