LGBTQ – Page 2 – I Ain't Marching Anymore

Don’t ask, don’t tell — don’t fight? queer notes from another pacifist for soldiers

I mentioned David Mixner back on Groundhog Day, when, appropriately enough, the Senate held their first-ever hearings on DADT. Now, you can click here to read a longer version of my interviews with him, including one about Sec. Gates’ slow-mo plan for repeal. The money quote, to me: If Obama had to live by (DADT)Continue reading “Don’t ask, don’t tell — don’t fight? queer notes from another pacifist for soldiers”

today’s news: gay troops and those less gay

First, via Ben Chitty of Vietnam Veterans Against War, some long-overdue adjustment on the part of the Veterans Administration: More than 4300 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans who were diagnosed in service as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but got low military disability ratings, have won an agreement with the Department of Defense to upgradeContinue reading “today’s news: gay troops and those less gay”

Unstuck in time again, in a good way

It’s been forever, I know. I should have at least updated my other shop’s cheers as Sotomayor became a Justice, especially the soulful essay about how she, a wise Latina herself, felt during that confirmation ceremony. But given the demands of that other shop (go look! Make comments!) and that I’ve been writing the lastContinue reading “Unstuck in time again, in a good way”

Matthis Chiroux gets to the hard stuff

I promised an update to the Hempstead 15, though the first update is that I’ve been spelling Matthis Chiroux’s name wrong all this time and none of my so-called colleagues have bothered to correct me. Mea culpa, sir, and bravo for your fortitude in following in the footsteps of that Fort Hood Three (see myContinue reading “Matthis Chiroux gets to the hard stuff”

hearting Keith Olbermann one more time

Before it gets too old: Paul Schindler at Gay City News (one of the hardest-working and most brilliant journos I know) sends this report from the weekend’s Human Rights Campaign dinner, where Keith Olbermann (above) schooled the lawmakers in the room: In an evening when the governor of New Jersey made his most forceful statementContinue reading “hearting Keith Olbermann one more time”

By the way, for those who tweet

I can’t decide whether Twitter is an exercise in mass haiku, an ADD enabler, a time sink or all of the above. I’m therefore not doing a widget with this. But if you tweet, consider following Chris411 and I’ll reciprocate. (Though if I know you, you’re too busy following Brent Spiner or Rachel Maddow.) Update:Continue reading “By the way, for those who tweet”

If you're mad about Rick Warren, get out tomorrow and light up the night.

I was going to try to write about Rick Warren being asked to give the inaugural invocation, which yesterday pulled me from my bookwriting stupor back into that November 5, no we can’t! fury. And as you see above, I wasn’t alone: As Michelle Goldberg puts it so pleasantly in The Guardian: He is aContinue reading “If you're mad about Rick Warren, get out tomorrow and light up the night.”

Diversity begins at home.

You’d think that someone who started out her interest in military-GI issues advocating for women in the military, working hand in hand with the likes of Linda Grant de Pauw, Rep. Patricia Schroeder and Captain Barb, who therefore knew about women in every war fought by the U.S, would have women as characters easily lacedContinue reading “Diversity begins at home.”

and we wonder why we're invisible

When the frigging New York Times “Public Editor” is that clueless: I said incorrectly last week that Matthew Shepard had been murdered in Colorado. He died in a hospital there. Thank you to readers who pointed out that the fatal beating took place near Laramie, Wyo. It was all over the news, sir. Before youContinue reading “and we wonder why we're invisible”