Thursday, December 28, 2006
Thank you Steve and Stephanie...
What could connect a five year old boat trip and the latest issue of The Advocate? If you'd like to know, Read on.
Five years ago, as I embarked the Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of Greenpeace, I knew the trip I was about to begin would be one of my life's most memorable experiences. As a staff member of the then 30-year old environmental organization, I was encouraged to take a trip on the boat, and what better event to sail to than Greenpeace's 30th anniversary party on the piers of Manhattan's west side?
I knew the trip ahead was going to be one filled with many memorable moments. Little did I know, however, that being aboard that ship would connect me to an incredible group of people in a way no one ever imagined; people who, for the rest of my life, I will be inextricably linked.
So, there I was, aboard this incredible ship, rich with history, with these amazing people. Off the coast of Massachusetts we saw the majesty of whales breaching and, as we sailed down the east coast, a group of dolphins swam alongside the front of the ship swimming ahead as if to guide us on our journey.
Over the years, the Warrior has hosted visits by the Dalai Lama and the band U2. The ship has been used to evacuate an island contaminated by radiation, participated in actions to prevent the killing of whales, and years after my trip, provided relief after the 2004 South East Asia Tsunami. I had no idea that the ship was about to, once again, be present at one of those moments that will be remembered for generations. (The current Rainbow Warrior was launched on July 10, 1989, on the fourth anniversary of the bombing of the original by the French government.)
On this day, September 11, 2001, we were just off the coast of Long Island headed to New York City. As we sailed along the shore toward Manhattan, a rising plume of smoke could be seen in the distance. It was, no doubt, skyward-headed proof of the horror we had witnessed earlier in the boat's small, crowded radio room on an old TV with fuzzy reception.
After spending the day anchored off the coast of Manhattan, we were directed by the Coast Guard to continue down the east coast and then up the Delaware River to Philadelphia.
This was not the time to question such directives.
The remainder of our trip was surreal. The feelings of safety I felt aboard this ship at sea, away from the horror of the day, were only bested by my strong desire to want to be on land, at home, on familiar ground.
As ordered, we made our way up the Delaware and docked in Philadelphia, where we we hopped in a van for the trip back to DC. It felt very strange to step back into a world that had been so rocked. As each of us was dropped off at our respective homes, we knew this experience would bind us together for a lifetime.
For that experience, Greenpeace will always hold a special place in my heart.
It is those types of connections at Greenpeace that contributed to my excitement, five years later when I saw lesbian and gay environmentalists as the subject of a feature story in the latest issue of The Advocate. In a great story, spanning seven pages, Rachel Powell profiles no less than five Greenpeacers.
I cannot begin to describe the sense of pride I feel in my out lesbian and gay colleagues at Greenpeace, especially Steve Smith and Stephanie Hillman of the US office. I had the honor of working alongside Steve and Stephanie…There are no people more committed to saving the planet than these two. To know we are inextricably linked because our mutual connections to the world's best know environmental organization, makes me all the more prideful.
Being out in the gay and lesbian activist world is one thing. Being out and proud in a field which thrives on the machismo of sailors and forest saving is entirely something else. Thank you Steve, Stephanie and all of those profiled for your work for being out and for your undying commitment to the planet.
Click on these links to see profiles of Steve Smith and Stephanie Hillman from The Advocate.
Special thanks to Anne Dougherty for providing the photograph from aboard the Rainbow Warrior. Since its inception Greenpeace has held firm to the principle of bearing witness. It is the talents of Greenpeace's gifted photographers that document the worst travesties against our planet, for all to see. Thank you, Anne.
Five years ago, as I embarked the Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of Greenpeace, I knew the trip I was about to begin would be one of my life's most memorable experiences. As a staff member of the then 30-year old environmental organization, I was encouraged to take a trip on the boat, and what better event to sail to than Greenpeace's 30th anniversary party on the piers of Manhattan's west side?
I knew the trip ahead was going to be one filled with many memorable moments. Little did I know, however, that being aboard that ship would connect me to an incredible group of people in a way no one ever imagined; people who, for the rest of my life, I will be inextricably linked.
So, there I was, aboard this incredible ship, rich with history, with these amazing people. Off the coast of Massachusetts we saw the majesty of whales breaching and, as we sailed down the east coast, a group of dolphins swam alongside the front of the ship swimming ahead as if to guide us on our journey.
Over the years, the Warrior has hosted visits by the Dalai Lama and the band U2. The ship has been used to evacuate an island contaminated by radiation, participated in actions to prevent the killing of whales, and years after my trip, provided relief after the 2004 South East Asia Tsunami. I had no idea that the ship was about to, once again, be present at one of those moments that will be remembered for generations. (The current Rainbow Warrior was launched on July 10, 1989, on the fourth anniversary of the bombing of the original by the French government.)
On this day, September 11, 2001, we were just off the coast of Long Island headed to New York City. As we sailed along the shore toward Manhattan, a rising plume of smoke could be seen in the distance. It was, no doubt, skyward-headed proof of the horror we had witnessed earlier in the boat's small, crowded radio room on an old TV with fuzzy reception.
After spending the day anchored off the coast of Manhattan, we were directed by the Coast Guard to continue down the east coast and then up the Delaware River to Philadelphia.
This was not the time to question such directives.
The remainder of our trip was surreal. The feelings of safety I felt aboard this ship at sea, away from the horror of the day, were only bested by my strong desire to want to be on land, at home, on familiar ground.
As ordered, we made our way up the Delaware and docked in Philadelphia, where we we hopped in a van for the trip back to DC. It felt very strange to step back into a world that had been so rocked. As each of us was dropped off at our respective homes, we knew this experience would bind us together for a lifetime.
For that experience, Greenpeace will always hold a special place in my heart.
* * *
It is those types of connections at Greenpeace that contributed to my excitement, five years later when I saw lesbian and gay environmentalists as the subject of a feature story in the latest issue of The Advocate. In a great story, spanning seven pages, Rachel Powell profiles no less than five Greenpeacers.
I cannot begin to describe the sense of pride I feel in my out lesbian and gay colleagues at Greenpeace, especially Steve Smith and Stephanie Hillman of the US office. I had the honor of working alongside Steve and Stephanie…There are no people more committed to saving the planet than these two. To know we are inextricably linked because our mutual connections to the world's best know environmental organization, makes me all the more prideful.
Being out in the gay and lesbian activist world is one thing. Being out and proud in a field which thrives on the machismo of sailors and forest saving is entirely something else. Thank you Steve, Stephanie and all of those profiled for your work for being out and for your undying commitment to the planet.
Click on these links to see profiles of Steve Smith and Stephanie Hillman from The Advocate.
Special thanks to Anne Dougherty for providing the photograph from aboard the Rainbow Warrior. Since its inception Greenpeace has held firm to the principle of bearing witness. It is the talents of Greenpeace's gifted photographers that document the worst travesties against our planet, for all to see. Thank you, Anne.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Saying goodbye to Congressman Kolbe
U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R) will be retiring next month and has taken the opportunity to talk with Washington Blade about his experience being the only openly gay Republican in Congress.
From Southeastern Arizona, Kolbe came out in 1996 after voting for the Defense of Marriage Act, afraid that he would be outed by the media or certain organizations *ahem*. Since then, he's been an avid supporter of LGBT rights, earning him a perfect "100" from the Human Rights Campaign's Congressional Scorecard this past year. But you can read all about that in the article. The real question is: how did this man become a visible supporter of LGBT equality? Could it be that his expediated coming out helped Kolbe support LGBT rights?
The inevitable answer is yes. Coming out of the closet gave Kolbe the confidence to become a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. Kolbe even says:
To that I say: COME ON JIM! You already admitted you would not have come out without the pressure that we at blogACTIVE and others like us provide. You've said that it was a huge personal relief to come out. It obviously didn't hurt your political career. Instead of condemning us you should be thanking us. We both know there are a lot more closeted Republicans in political power who continue to fight against LGBT rights. Congressman Kolbe, you should be joining us in calling for these hypocrites and liars to come out of the closet so that they can experience the joys of honesty that you have.
And on a different level, I want to personally thank Congressman Kolbe for his strength and tenacity. It takes enormous courage to become the first openly gay Republican in Congress. We must never forget the incredible service that Congressman Kolbe has done for the LGBT community. I only hope that others may see him as a role model and follow in his footsteps.
From Southeastern Arizona, Kolbe came out in 1996 after voting for the Defense of Marriage Act, afraid that he would be outed by the media or certain organizations *ahem*. Since then, he's been an avid supporter of LGBT rights, earning him a perfect "100" from the Human Rights Campaign's Congressional Scorecard this past year. But you can read all about that in the article. The real question is: how did this man become a visible supporter of LGBT equality? Could it be that his expediated coming out helped Kolbe support LGBT rights?The inevitable answer is yes. Coming out of the closet gave Kolbe the confidence to become a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. Kolbe even says:
“My strongest contributions were simply standing up and talking about these issues on the floor, in caucuses and when it came up for debate. There’s something to be said for speaking up for equality.”Kolbe had nothing to lose from speaking honestly; he was already known to be gay. He also said about coming out:
“It was the most gratifying thing that’s ever happened to me. It was a huge burden that was lifted from me.”Still, Kolbe denounces groups like blogACTIVE and Proud of Who We Are for their outing of politicians, despite the obvious beneficial impact it had on him personally.
To that I say: COME ON JIM! You already admitted you would not have come out without the pressure that we at blogACTIVE and others like us provide. You've said that it was a huge personal relief to come out. It obviously didn't hurt your political career. Instead of condemning us you should be thanking us. We both know there are a lot more closeted Republicans in political power who continue to fight against LGBT rights. Congressman Kolbe, you should be joining us in calling for these hypocrites and liars to come out of the closet so that they can experience the joys of honesty that you have.
And on a different level, I want to personally thank Congressman Kolbe for his strength and tenacity. It takes enormous courage to become the first openly gay Republican in Congress. We must never forget the incredible service that Congressman Kolbe has done for the LGBT community. I only hope that others may see him as a role model and follow in his footsteps.
Larry Craig, Not a straight shooter...
Well, I'll give the NRA one thing...While they are not out racebaiting and fighting progress, I'm glad to see they are open minded enough to give an award to a gay Senator... Congratulations, Larry!
The Raw Story | NRA comic called a hoax, but accusations later withdrawn: A controversial, leaked graphic novel produced to bolster the National Rifle Association's agenda was called a hoax over the weekend. But further analysis of the source material appears to confirm that the purported NRA publication, which contains alarming racial overtones, is legitimate.
Raw Story has the comic book.
A source of mine at the NRA tells me the Larry Craig situation is no secret there.
Is that a gun in your pocket, Larry,
or are you just excited to see me?
or are you just excited to see me?
The Raw Story | NRA comic called a hoax, but accusations later withdrawn: A controversial, leaked graphic novel produced to bolster the National Rifle Association's agenda was called a hoax over the weekend. But further analysis of the source material appears to confirm that the purported NRA publication, which contains alarming racial overtones, is legitimate.
Raw Story has the comic book.
A source of mine at the NRA tells me the Larry Craig situation is no secret there.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A Holiday Gift to Ken
First off, let me apologize to everybody for not posting for so long. I have learned two things recently. They are:
1) Don't disappear from college for two weeks and expect no repercussions.
2) Two week activist journeys are certainly worth said repercussions.
That being said I am back on the blogosphere and ready to reveal the fun Mike and I had while I was in Washington D.C.
You all (hopefully) remember when Bill Maher was censored on CNN for outing Ken Mehlman. Well, Mike and I decided that we would find out what Ken thought about that. After all, the Republicans are always going on about how accepting they are and how being gay isn't a bad thing - we decided to go to Republican National Committee and give them a chance to put those words into action. View the hilarious results (along with some interviews on the street) below. It's our holiday gift to Ken.
1) Don't disappear from college for two weeks and expect no repercussions.
2) Two week activist journeys are certainly worth said repercussions.
That being said I am back on the blogosphere and ready to reveal the fun Mike and I had while I was in Washington D.C.
You all (hopefully) remember when Bill Maher was censored on CNN for outing Ken Mehlman. Well, Mike and I decided that we would find out what Ken thought about that. After all, the Republicans are always going on about how accepting they are and how being gay isn't a bad thing - we decided to go to Republican National Committee and give them a chance to put those words into action. View the hilarious results (along with some interviews on the street) below. It's our holiday gift to Ken.
I've waited... It's an issue...
Some time ago I noticed that the Democratic National Committee refused to put its non-discrimination clause on its website. After a few emails with staffers at the DNC, a number of fellow political activists suggested I wait until after the mid-term election to make this an issue.
I've waited... It's an issue.
I had another recent exchange with the press office of the DNC... And while the human resources department refused to provide the policy back when I first asked for it, the media folks sent it to me:
Damien Lavera, a spokesman for the DNC, explains it this way:
Is the DNC ashamed equal employment policies? What good are non-discrimination policies if they are kept a secret from the public? And, don't such policies demonstrate the party's commitment to equality? Back when I first learned this news, a job seeker who called the DNC was also refused a copy of the policy.
A non-discrimination clause is not just a "policy" for employees, it's a statement to the general public about an organization's beliefs. Does the DNC believe in non-discrimination or don't they.
This issue, I promise you, will not end until the DNC starts to stand up for what it believes in. Their refusal to post this policy is pathetic.
I've waited... It's an issue.
I had another recent exchange with the press office of the DNC... And while the human resources department refused to provide the policy back when I first asked for it, the media folks sent it to me:
The DNC is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. It is our policy to recruit, hire, train, promote and administer any and all personnel actions without regard to sex, race, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, ethnic identity or physical disability, or any other legally protected basis. The DNC will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination and any such conduct is prohibited.Now, I'm not saying the DNC has to put this on the top of the front page, but why won't they put it somewhere, anywhere, on the site? A great place might be on the bottom of the "About Our Party" page, below the bit about internships at the DNC.
All job openings are to be posted internally and priority consideration should be given to current staff and minorities. Within certain limitations, all new employees should be vetted before hire.
Damien Lavera, a spokesman for the DNC, explains it this way:
As I've mentioned before, we do not put any human resources or personnel-related documents on our website. Our site is devoted solely to providing Democrats and common-sense voters with the tools they need to interact with candidates and state parties, help disseminate our party's message, and help Democrats win up and down the ballot in every state.Sorry, Damien, not good enough.
Is the DNC ashamed equal employment policies? What good are non-discrimination policies if they are kept a secret from the public? And, don't such policies demonstrate the party's commitment to equality? Back when I first learned this news, a job seeker who called the DNC was also refused a copy of the policy.
A non-discrimination clause is not just a "policy" for employees, it's a statement to the general public about an organization's beliefs. Does the DNC believe in non-discrimination or don't they.
This issue, I promise you, will not end until the DNC starts to stand up for what it believes in. Their refusal to post this policy is pathetic.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
New Life Church....
Another poll...
This site's readers have been big supporters of Lane Hudson, the blogger who first posted the Mark Foley letters. I'll be writing more about his being honored by Time magazine and The Advocate in a bit. In the meantime, I hope you'll visit Joe My God and vote in the Queer of the Year contest.
As regulars here know, I believe it was his taking the risk he did that help make sure the homophobes got tossed from congress.
I hope you'll vote for him here.
As regulars here know, I believe it was his taking the risk he did that help make sure the homophobes got tossed from congress.
I hope you'll vote for him here.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
James Dobson's next target...?
I bet he goes berserk over this new candy... They even got the order of the rainbow right!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
A gay hero needs our help
Within hours of Ted Haggard's exposure, the community was calling on folks to donate funds to Mike Jones, the man who exposed the evangelist of hate as a closeted, a crystal meth user.I was a bit confused. If we are to believe Jones, he was not a regular dealer of crystal. So, It's not like his telling the truth about Haggard cost him much. And, as I predicted the same day the story broke, Jones inked a book deal soon after going public. Not bad for a man who helped fuel our community's meth problems.
While I love exposing hypocrites and am thrilled Jones did what he did, his actions had nothing to do with the Democrats taking Congress. To find the start of the Republican decline one need look no further than the date that Lane Hudson posted the first set of Mark Foley emails on his blog, Sunday, September 24.
Unlike Jones, Hudson has no income, no book deal, and no job. I believe Lane deserves -- and I know he needs -- our help; I hope you agree. I hope you'll consider clicking here to send Lane a few bucks so he can maintain his apartment through the holidays. When you sit down and think of how grateful you are that the homophobes have been tossed out, toss a little gratefulness toward Lane -- he's responsible for a lot of holiday cheer out there.
If you need proof, take a look at the gambling and odds tracking sites. There are no better predictors of political winds and up until the day that Lane posted the emails the GOP had been enjoying a slow, yet steady, rise in the polls.
Before he was exposed as the blogger who posted the emails, Hudson did not seek the spotlight and went to great lengths to maintain his anonymity. His one misstep, sending a personal email while connected to his employer's network, cost him his job and Lane is still unemployed. (Lane has far too much class than to condemn the organization he worked for...the problem here is that no one else on the left is stepping up to help him.)
Lane Hudson tells
his story in the Advocate
Given the choice between the publicity seeking meth salesman and an 'on the ground' field organizer who hoped to remain anonymous and lost his job by blogging, the answer is easy. In every case, I'll stick with the guy who has dedicated his life to long-standing social change.his story in the Advocate
I've been lucky. After two and a half years of this work, I have finally become able to regularly cover expenses and continue my work. Trust me, it's not easy. I completely identify with where Lane is right now and I hope folks will consider stepping up to the plate to give him a hand...every penny counts, especially for this great hero to our community and everyone else who stands for a progressive agenda.
I'm not asking readers to do anything I haven't done myself. I hope you will consider joining me in making a gift to Lane. And, as I write this, I've convinced myself to go back to Lane's site and send him an extra bit.
While Lane seeks work, he's using his years of experience on Capital Hill to continue to write about stories and, to me, it's all the more reason to give him a helping hand.
If you wake up and wonder "What could I do to really, really help someone who contributed to this past election?" The answer is a no-brainer, make a gift to Lane Hudson.
If you're a blogger, I hope you'll consider running this ad, with this link, on your site for a few days or that you will post about this effort.
Thanks!
Monday, December 11, 2006
Are there any heterosexuals in Colorado?
No wonder Marilyn Musgrave is all over the gays... we're all over her state:
Pastor resigns over homosexuality:
Pastor resigns over homosexuality:
In a tearful videotaped message Sunday to his congregation, the senior pastor of a thriving evangelical megachurch in south metro Denver confessed to sexual relations with other men and announced he had voluntarily resigned his pulpit.Here's a Denver Post item about a recent sermon of Barnes:
A month ago, the Rev. Paul Barnes of Grace Chapel in Doug las County preached to his 2,100-member congregation about integrity and grace in the aftermath of the Ted Haggard drugs-and-gay-sex scandal.
Now, the 54-year-old Barnes joins Haggard as a fallen evangelical minister who preached that homosexuality was a sin but grappled with a hidden life.
On Nov. 5, the Rev. Paul Barnes scrapped his prepared sermon. The Rev. Ted Haggard scandal was still unfolding, and he couldn't let it go unnoticed.
So Barnes wrote a new sermon: "Integrity, Sin and Grace."
Barnes defined integrity as "being the same on the outside as you are on the inside."
All people come to God broken, he said. Maybe it's alcoholism, he said. Or a bad temper. Or pornography. Some people overcome their problems; others continue to live with them, he said.
"Most of us, if the truth were known, we wear masks," Barnes said. "... Sometimes, we wear masks because we want to be appear more perfect than we are. But the reality of it is, all of us are so very imperfect."
Friday, December 08, 2006
Republicans negligent in Foley matter
From Raw Story:
Next up: Foxes say they watch chicken house just fine...move along...
A House ethics panel announced today Republican members of congress showed 'disconcerting unwillingness' and negligence in handling inappropriate e-mails sent from former Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) to underage pages, RAW STORY has learned.
A report set to be issued by the panel indicates that Republican leadership failed to protect the teens from Foley's behavior.
However, the panel also concluded that no specific House rules were broken in handling the matter, and no disciplinary action should be taken against the parties found to be negligent.
Foley resigned in his sixth term in late September after emails and sexually explicit instant messages to House interns surfaced.
Next up: Foxes say they watch chicken house just fine...move along...
Liza has a store...
Check it out. Liza over at Culture Kitchen has posted about her new Mary Cheney Baby Shower store. Liza asked for readers to share their own designs... Here's mine...
A milestone...
Not as exciting as 1,000. But considering it all, it's nice to recognize a milestone...
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
From Jeremy at Good As You:
(At least when this guy appeared at the LOGO party in DC he told people he was closeted and then outed by me.)
This is a totally unconfirmed Internet rumor. We repeat, this is a totally unconfirmed Internet rumor sent to us by a reader: Robert Traynham, the spokesman for recently defeated, extremely anti-gay Senator Rick Santorum, is rumored to be the choice of....Hop over to Jeremy's site and see what the buzz is about.
(At least when this guy appeared at the LOGO party in DC he told people he was closeted and then outed by me.)
I can't wait to see their faces...
Mary Cheney and Partner Are About to Be Moms:
This is great for queers. I can't wait to see Dobson, Perkins and Falwell try to talk their ways out of this one.
Mary Cheney, the vice president's openly gay daughter, is pregnant. She and her partner of 15 years, Heather Poe, are 'ecstatic' about the baby, due in late spring, said a source close to the couple.Who's the dad? Ken Mehlman? David Dreier?
It's a baby boom for grandparents Dick and Lynne Cheney: Their older daughter, Elizabeth, went on leave as deputy assistant secretary of state before having her fifth child in July. 'The vice president and Mrs. Cheney are looking forward with eager anticipation to the arrival of their sixth grandchild,' spokesman Lea Anne McBride said last night.
This is great for queers. I can't wait to see Dobson, Perkins and Falwell try to talk their ways out of this one.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
An in-depth look at our favorite closet case
This is probably the most detailed look at Mark Foley out so far:
Sure, Mark, that's what it was.
...Just as his parents had been totally unaware of the sexual advances to which their son was surrendering, right under their noses, so, years later, were Foley's "girlfriends" and his longtime gay partner unaware of his adult addiction to fraternizing with and fantasizing about sex with teenage boys. Foley was able to juggle a triple life—as a political chameleon, a semi-closeted gay power broker, and a secret sexual predator.It seems very juicy. But probably not as juicy as the novel Foley will write in five years depicting how priests and alcohol led him down a path of same-sex sin.
Sure, Mark, that's what it was.