Concerning Obama on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots

I've tried to refrain from weighing in too heavily on how gay rights issues are being dealt with by the Obama administration. I was cool with the argument that there are really big issues to deal with, because it 's true. There is no dispute. I was cool with the idea that BHO would get to GLBT issues eventually, and work to maintain his campaign promises, promises he did not have to make. I was excited when BHO called himself a "fierce advocate" for the rights of the GLBT community.

The novelty has worn off.

How does a self-described "fierce advocate" allow the nasty rhetoric of a brief defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to stand without substantive comment, and/or, preferably, a rescinding of said brief so that it could be re-written without the comparisons between gay marriage and incest and the like?

How does a self-described "fierce advocate" state clearly that he does not support the "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" law, then decide not to take the one legal option he has to circumvent the application of the law, through an executive order of stop-loss, or push Congress to act swiftly, especially when support for lifting the ban is at an all-time high across demographic groups?

How does a self-described "fierce advocate" remain quite silent as Vermont, Maine, Iowa and New Hampshire usher in marriage equality, in spite of that "advocate's" continued disagreement (now) based on religion over marriage equality? Wouldn't those who agree to disagree still offer congratulations?

Stephen Colbert offered a good explanation for this "fierce advocacy" on his show last week:

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Feels close to the mark to me, and that's a shame. We don't need a "fierce advocate" like that.

Students of history will recognize that few civil rights movements have advanced as quickly as the gay rights movement, if you use today's anniversary of Stonewall as the start. Those same students also will recognize that never before in the history of this nation has the country been so poised to enact all sorts of laws advancing that cause. Yet, the party in power, under the leadership of the GLBT community's "fierce advocate," is acting as though it does not recognize the benefits of the confluence of these events.

So, I have a suggestion for our "fierce advocate." I think BHO should take a page out of the book of those whose actions he graciously noted we should recognize this month. Take a real stand against those who you think hold some sort of power over you, those who make you nervous about the so-called political implications of being on the right side of history. Fight back against those who want to maintain second-class citizenship for the GLBT community. Remember all of those people who fought back 40 years ago today, and look at how far the nation has come. "Fierce advocates" know that history, and they would also know what to do. Honor those who fought by doing what's right, and it will be one hell of a parade on the 41st anniversary of Stonewall.

Do You Remember the Time When You Fell in Love with a Michael Jackson Song?

Man, I was trying to process the death of Farrah Fawcett, and there I was sitting at Halo with friends, and the news of Michael Jackson appears. Now I am the first one to tell folks that I was not a big MJ devotee, like many. Yet, I fully recognize the power of his position within the context of pop music. He was (I cannot believe I am writing this so soon) the "King of Pop"; there is no dispute.

"Off the Wall" and "Thriller" were the albums that spoke to me the most. Though I love other artists, I am the first to concede that those albums were fucking off the charts. Man! His videos were iconographic, and he always had a presence, always. "Remember the Time" was my song though. The video seems to evoke an African beauty, and a spot on pop sensibility.

A friend of mine wrote that she felt that our childhood was over. From the Jackson 5 cartoon, to the rise of MTV, to the crowning of MJ as "King of Pop," Michael Jackson belonged to Generation X, all of us. I don't care if you were a fan of the hair metal bands, new wave, hip hop or contemporary country, Michael Jackson was a part of the Generation X world. Whether you loved him or not, you acknowledged him.

The king is dead; long live the king. And may he rest in peace, finally.

Don't Cry For Him Argentina

What is it with POTUS hopefuls and women? The moment WYFF in Greenville, SC reported that a Federal Marshal saw Governor Sanford in Atlanta boarding a plane, I, like many others, guessed he was having an affair. The mystery was the gender. So now Sanford admits to an affair with a woman in Argentina that he's known for years (did Mrs. Sanford know her too?). I am only jumping on this because it's guys like Sanford and Senators Ensign and Vitter, men who are so holier than thou when it comes to talking about the need to preserve the sanctity of marriage from the likes of people like me, who deserve these types of comeuppances.

What is it about power that seems to render these men incapable of thinking clearly with the head found at the top of the body? In the case of Sanford, I am just stunned that he was so ready to get out of SC that he didn't even do the minimum for his state Even if it hadn't been an affair, he needed to make sure that SC was prepared. Anything could have happened to him between Columbia and Buenos Aires.

Well, I ain't cryin.' Though I do admit that I feel sorry for his family. It takes a real ass to leave your family to hook up around Father's Day.

J-I-L-L-S-C-O-T-T

Jill Scott. What is there not to love? Incredible voice. Talented actress. Moving poet. Classic sistah/friend/diva beauty. The first time I heard Scott's voice was at the Uptown Movie Theater in Cleveland Park, here in DC, waiting for my movie to start. I have loved that voice ever since.

Jill Scott -- "Not Like Crazy/Free"


I am particularly fond of the song "Free," for reasons obvious to those who know me. Governor Sanford might appreciate aspects of "Free" too, but I digress.

"Where in the World is...Governor Sanford?"

Imagine if BHO would have even thought of pulling a stunt like South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. How do you simply disappear with no public word to anyone, including your spouse or your Lt. governor?

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I suppose things will be alright now that Sanford is supposed to be back on the job tomorrow. I think the state's Lt. Governor Andrew Bauer will be scheduling a meeting very, very soon.

So, is this something we should expect if by some strange happenstance, Sanford became POTUS?

UPDATE: There has been an interesting development. So, was Sanford on the Appalachian Trail or not?

Which Would You Want in the Military, the Openly Racist, the Former Criminal, or the Openly Gay?

I read this piece by Matt Kennard at Salon.com with real interest. By the time I was done, I felt even more angry about the policy of "Don't Ask; Don't Tell." The U.S. Military is continually, according to Kennard, relaxing or not enforcing the standards that govern who should be allowed in the military with regard to racist or criminal activity. Yet, it seems comfortable with the notion of drumming out gay or lesbian service members. WTF!!!!???????

It offends me to my core that there are straight up racists, intent on actual violence (eventually) within the U.S, allowed to serve this country. Our military is training these folks, shrugging its shoulders when evidence shows that they are infecting like a cancer our troops. Is it widespread? I hope not. But, it would no doubt send some on the right into full apoplexy if we focused on finding out. We all remember the reaction that hit DHS for a Bush era requested report on right-wing extremism (a reaction that pretended that there was not an earlier report issued about left-wing extremists), in spite of its prescience.

Let me break it down this way. My father was in the Marine Corps (Vietnam vet). My step-father was in the Army (Vietnam vet). One of my brothers was in the Air Force (first Iraq War vet). Both of my grandfathers were WWII veterans. I grew up in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. I care about the military. I recognize its value, and honor what it stands for. But it amazes me that I would not be welcome, just as I am. It bothers me even more that someone like me is seen as a threat to unit cohesion, while someone who is a gang member, criminal or supremacist (as long at he/she is straight) gets a pass.

That makes no damn sense.

UPDATE: The NPR show "Fresh Air" focused on DADT today. Here is a link on historian Nathaniel Frank's perspective on the issue, as well as information on his book Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America. And here is a link to Terry Gross' interview with Alex Nicholson, a recent veteran.

30 Years Later: Iran and Revolution?

I have followed with amazement the events unfolding in Iran. And I have really enjoyed the coverage that has been coming from The Daily Dish; it has been invaluable in trying to understand both what is happening on the ground, as well as what these events could mean.

So often, I've heard touted this idea that the Iranian people were actually fans of the West, much to the chagrin of the religious leadership of the country. I only remember flashes of the events from '79 (I was 11), particularly the taking of the American hostages. Following the freeing of the hostages, I hadn't given Iran much consideration. It was President Bush's naming the country as one in the "Axis of Evil" that brought Iran back into my mind.

I realized that I knew very little about the contemporary circumstances of the country, though I was familiar with the importance of Persia in the development of civilization generally. These past few days have really peaked my interest. If indeed the people of Iran want to become a part of the global community with peace at the fore, then I wish them well.

In the meantime, I am going to really look into what is happening there, and then I will give a more substantive post.