Washington Blade Blog

Fundie contradictions

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:04:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jul. 6 at 3:04 PM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

In one of the latest essays from Concerned Women for America on the Sanford affair, Penny Nance and Wendy Wright chastise the media and blogs for coverage of the situation. They ask us to have compassion for the family. They wonder, "Has this 'reality TV' generation become so coarse and hardened that it is incapable of human empathy?"

HUMAN EMPATHY! Is this human empathy?

Posted by WGAY.FM, | Jul. 6 at 2:09 PM | soundoff@washblade.com

Podcast feature brought to you by WGAY.FM and Washington Blade! Listen to a clip of a recent WGAY.FM radio broadcast as they discuss Lou Chibbaro Jr.'s recent article, "Seven Arrested In Texas Gay Bar." If you'd like us to provide more of these features, please let us know by e-mailing us at soundoff@washblade.com. For the full radio broadcast, please visit WGAY.FM online.

Maggie migrates

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:38:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jul. 6 at 11:38 AM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Maggie Gallagher is in town, and she's brought the National Organization for Marriage with her. NOM will open the D.C. office (which is actually in Hyattsville, Md.). Now they can bring the DOMA Defense Fund and their sadly ineffective ads (oh, Carrie Prejean) to the Capitol. To keep on top of the opposition, check out NOM's Twitter feed here.

Maggie and her friends better start gearing up for the National March for Equality, happening in our very own D.C. October 10 ...

Mike Adams, meet Dan Savage

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:19:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jul. 1 at 3:19 PM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

One of my favorite things that Dan Savage writes is his "Every Child Deserves a Mother and a Father" column, which debunks any fundie's argument that a same-sex couple is an unfit parenting match for a child by providing examples of opposite-sex parents who abuse their children in the manner that fundies think all same-sex couples do.

The point is, there are some horrible people in this world who will do effed up things to their children, regardless of the sexual orientation of the parent.

This week in North Carolina, it was revealed that a gay parent of an adopted c ...

Rainbow Lounge updates and help for Chad Gibson

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:20:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jul. 1 at 1:20 PM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Chad Gibson, who was critically injured in the events that occurred at the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Tx, is still in the hospital. The blood clot in his brain has stopped growing, according to Tammye Nash, editor of the Dallas Voice, which is good news.

Last night, the Fort Worth Police Department held a community forum to address the policemen's actions at the bar. Tonight, there is a candlelight vigil at the Rainbow Lounge for Chad Gibson. Police chief Jeff Halstea ...

Keith Olbermann on 'DADT'

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:17:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jul. 1 at 10:17 AM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Last night, Keith Olbermann slammed President Obama on his failure to move forward with his promised repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Yesterday, a military administrative board voted to boot Lt. Daniel Choi from the National Guard under the policy.

Olbermann had Dan Savage on the show to talk about how Obama has the authority to suspend the policy himself. Olbermann himself said Obama is "goddamned wrong" on "DADT."

Metro hell lingers on the red line today - sheesh!

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:48:00 PDT

Posted by Joey DiGuglielmo, Washington Blade News Editor | Jun. 30 at 4:48 PM | JDiGuglielmo@washblade.com

My heart goes out to anyone forced to use Metro on a daily basis — sure, it beats fighting that daily clusterfuck we call the Beltway, but the subway has become its own clusterfuck this week, especially on the dreaded red line.

I haven't been following the situation closely, but it's no doubt hangover from last week's deadly crash (on the red line). System managers may have legitimate reasons for the clogs (they've slowed speeds around the accident area and on the entire red line), but riding has become a royal aggravation. I'm lucky — I can walk to work and do most days. But I had ...

Jared Polis on Obama's LGBT speech

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:32:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jun. 30 at 11:32 AM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Openly gay Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) was on "Hardball" last night to talk about President Obama's speech to the LGBT community yesterday. Obama specifically addressed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," of which he advocates repeal, but asked for patience in doing so.

Polis: "This is a policy that continues to weaken our military every day it's in existence ... I'm proud to take Obama at his word today."

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jun. 30 at 10:19 AM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Obama may be making headway with the gays after yesterday's White House Pride celebration, but something very backwards is going on at the Labor Department. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis had to issue a warning letter to departmental employees last week because some of the 'round-the-workplace Pride posters had been defaced.

The New York Times quoted the letter:

“It appears, however, that some members of the Labor Department team have ...

VIDEO: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' protest

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:11:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jun. 29 at 5:11 PM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network held a protest Saturday, June 27, regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The protest was staged outside the White House. Watch video below:

...

Live streaming of White House reception

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:05:00 PDT

Posted by Rebecca Armendariz, Online Editor | Jun. 29 at 1:05 PM | RArmendariz@washblade.com

Today's White House reception to celebrate Pride month (featuring invitees from the LGBT community) will be broadcast live here beginning at 4:25 p.m. Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Brian Bond, who is openly gay, wrote a blog post commemorating the Stonewall anniversary here. You can read the Blade's coverage of the event here.

CNN did a piece on Pride parades and the 40th anniversary of Stonewall. Vie ...

Podcast - WGAY discuss this week's article: "Pop culture shell shock"

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:34:00 PDT

Posted by WGAY.FM, | Jun. 29 at 10:34 AM | soundoff@washblade.com

Podcast feature brought to you by WGAY.FM and Washington Blade! Listen to a clip of a recent WGAY.FM radio broadcast as they discuss Joey DiGuglielmo's recent story, "Pop Culture Shell Shock: Remembering Farrah and Michael." If you'd like us to provide more of these features, please let us know by e-mailing us at soundoff@washblade.com. For the full radio broadcast, please visit WGAY.FM online.

Weary of protests

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:47:00 PDT

Posted by Joshua Lynsen, News Editor | Jun. 26 at 1:47 PM | jlynsen@washblade.com

They look good on camera and make for compelling stories. But to be honest, I'm growing weary of protests.

Our video of gay protestors shouting at attendees of the Democratic National Committee's fundraiser Thursday in Washington was almost embarrassing to watch. In it, two distinct groups yell their messages at people going into the fundraiser. One group, representing a more organized effort from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, presented a focused appeal for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The message wa ...

Pop culture shell shock: remembering Farrah and Michael

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:06:00 PDT

Posted by Joey DiGuglielmo, Washington Blade News Editor | Jun. 25 at 9:06 PM | JDiGuglielmo@washblade.com

Wow, what a day. And not in a good way. Like much of the world, I'm mourning the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, the former, sadly, expected, the latter — one of those “what-the-fuck” moments, similar to what I felt when I heard John Ritter or Aaliyah had died.

I was fans of both Farrah and Michael, though I never thought I'd be mentioning them in the same sentence. Their photos are both included in a crazy quilt pop culture collage I have above my desk — more than once, in fact. I have a shot of the famous “Charlie's ...

Arrest the gay exorcists

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:42:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 25 at 12:42 PM | knaff@washblade.com

The hoopla surrounding the already infamous YouTube clip of a 16-year-old boy being “delivered” from homosexuality raises one key question: Why haven't the adults in the video been arrested?

They are clearly assaulting the youth; he can be seen suffering apparent convulsions and even vomits during the beating.

If this isn't child abuse, then what the hell is?

Connecticut authorities should investigate and arrest those responsible for beating this innocent teenager.

Contrary to the cl ...

'Homo Nest Raided'

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:05:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 25 at 10:05 AM | knaff@washblade.com

As we remember the events at the Stonewall Inn 40 years ago this week, it's instructive to revisit media coverage of the rebellion, which provides startling evidence of just how far the movement has come.

The article below was published in the “New York Daily News” on July 6, 1969, and is filled with anti-gay stereotypes from the headline right through to the final paragraph. This was a time before LGBT media outlets existed to any significant degree; there was no HRC or GLAAD to protest the biased news coverage. The Washington Blade, like many other publications, was founded just after Stonewall. The events at the Inn ...

Where I've Been Eating

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:49:00 PDT

Posted by Amy Cavanaugh, News Reporter | Jun. 24 at 3:49 PM | acavanaugh@washblade.com

During the winter I'm perfectly content to stay in and cook dinner every night, but when summer's here I want to get out and have dinner with friends and see how chefs are using fresh, summer produce in their dishes. Here's a run down of a few restaurants I went to recently.

BOURBON STEAK

Last week I went to lunch at BOURBON STEAK to check out their new outdoor patio. Eating outside is one of my favorite things, and the quiet patio, which seats 47, is lovely.

I had a delicious English pea agnolotti and strawberry ...

Gov't apologizes to Kameny

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:11:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 24 at 2:11 PM | knaff@washblade.com

More than 50 years after firing Frank Kameny from his job for being gay, the federal government today officially apologized.

John Berry, the gay director of the Office of Personnel Management, presented Kameny with an official letter of apology along with the department's most prestigious award, the Theodore Roosevelt Award.

“In what we know today was a shameful action, the United States Civil Service Commission in 1957 upheld your dismissal from your job solely on the basis of your sexual orientation,” the letter states. “… And by virtue of the authority vested in me as Director of the Office Of Pe ...

Being openly gay at church is a wonderful thing

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:28:00 PDT

Posted by Joey DiGuglielmo, Washington Blade News Editor | Jun. 24 at 1:28 PM | JDiGuglielmo@washblade.com

For the last six months I've been playing piano and organ at a United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Va. It's been a wonderful experience on several levels — after playing in churches pretty much every Sunday since I was 15, I'd missed it the last two years since I arrived in Washington. But it's also been an incredibly affirming experience to be able to take a leadership role in a Christian church and be out of the closet.

For some, in Christian denominations like the United Church of Christ and the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, this is no big deal. But having grown up in a conservative Fundamentalist and E ...

OPM honors Kameny

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:00:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 24 at 10:00 AM | knaff@washblade.com

Legendary gay rights activist Frank Kameny will be honored today by the Office of Personnel Management, 52 years after the government fired him for being gay.

Kameny will speak at the event. The honor represents a powerful moment of closure, as Kameny will be introduced by OPM's openly gay director, John Berry.

The event will start at 11:30 a.m. today and can be viewed here.

...

What a week!

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:19:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 19 at 9:19 AM | knaff@washblade.com

What a week. In nearly seven years at the Blade, I've never seen such a consistent volume of LGBT-related news.

In just the past week: Capital Pride drew tens of thousands to D.C. to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Stonewall; prominent gay activists and donors announced a DNC boycott; an aide to Rep. Barney Frank announced plans to introduce a trans-inclusive ENDA next week and Frank himself lauded trans activists for their lobbying work on the measure; Sen. Harry Reid held a press conference announcing plans for a vote on the hate crimes bill before the August recess; D.C. government officials rejected a proposed refere ...

When racism meets homophobia

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:31:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 12 at 6:31 PM | knaff@washblade.com

This essay by noted D.C. poet and cultural critic Reuben Jackson (who is not LGBT) aired today on WAMU radio. In his commentary, Jackson writes of his recent experience of anti-LGBT sentiment in a District restaurant, and the link between racial prejudice and anti-gay discrimination. (Hat tip: Adele Stan)
...

'You've been had'

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:10:00 PDT

Posted by Joshua Lynsen, News Editor | Jun. 12 at 2:10 PM | jlynsen@washblade.com

Twitter users are responding fiercely today to news that the U.S. Justice Department is defending in court the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Although many gay legal experts had frowned upon the case in question and didn't expect it to go anywhere, many Twitter users made it clear they strongly opposed the Obama administration's efforts to keep DOMA in place. Here's a sampling of the anger and disappointment:

@lesbiandad: My 5 stages of grief over Obama's DOMA backstabbing: denial > anger > bargaining > anger > ANGER.

@Ox ...

Hot off the presses

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:49:00 PDT

Posted by Joshua Lynsen, News Editor | Jun. 12 at 10:49 AM | jlynsen@washblade.com

Today's issue of the Blade - a robust volume of 104 pages - was no small undertaking. Our editorial, advertising and production teams were exhausted after we assembled the annual Pride issue.

But the job wasn't done when we hit "send" late Wednesday night to transfer the files to our printer. The actual printing still had to be done. And with an issue as large as this one, the job actually needed to be divided into two printing sessions. Our printer's system can only produce 96 pages at any one time, so the issue had to divided into two jobs: the outside 64 pages and the innermost 40 pages. As the process was new to al ...

Rev. Jackson plays victim on Fox News

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:30:00 PDT

Posted by Kevin Naff, Washington Blade Editor | Jun. 12 at 10:30 AM | knaff@washblade.com

Rev. Harry Jackson appeared on Fox News' “O'Reilly Factor” Thursday night to play the victim and complain that the Blade has endangered his and his family's safety by reporting details of his multiple home addresses.

“They hacked into my records, found out when I registered to vote in the District of Columbia. They printed in two newspapers my home address and the addresses of houses I own in the Maryland region, outside D.C. And there have been e-mails that have gone forth saying they want to destroy my church. Kind of amazing, isn't it?”

There was no “hacking” required, as all the ...