HRC: Comments Comparing Prop 8 Protestors with Mumbai Terrorists Shows True Colors of Anti-Gay Movement

FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN:

Pat Boone’s Bizarre Rant Claims “Awful Similarity” Between “Jihadists” in Mumbai and Prop 8 Protestors; Attacks CA Gov Schwarzenegger for Encouraging Protests

12/9/2008

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization, responded today to the exclusive commentary posted on the extremist, right-wing website World Net Daily by anti-gay activist and former singer Pat Boone. Boone published a bizarre and disturbing commentary comparing the horrific tragedy in Mumbai, which took the lives of over 170 people, to the protests against Proposition 8 here in the U.S. In essence, equating the Mumbai tragedy with those protesting the passage of the discriminatory amendment in California that took marriage rights away from gay and lesbian couples to terrorists.

In the commentary titled “Hate is hate, in India or America,” which can be viewed at http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82830, Boone writes, “let me ask you: Have you not seen the awful similarity between what happened in Mumbai and what’s happening right now in our cities?” Boone went on to state, “What troubles me so deeply, and should trouble all thinking Americans, is that there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists.”

“Pat Boone wouldn’t normally warrant a second thought, even if his only claim to fame these days is his unabashed homophobia, but his disturbing commentary on this right-wing site can’t go unanswered,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “His commentary marks a new low in anti-gay rhetoric. And yet it also demonstrates the depths of hatred from these demagogues toward the LGBT community. Most Americans would be shocked to see this level of vitriol coming from someone who presented himself as America’s sweetheart.”

Boone even lodged an attack on Governor Schwarzenegger for encouraging gay Americans to “never give up” in the quest for equality. Boone wrote, “You haven’t seen, on the evening news, prominent entertainers and even California Gov. Schwarzenegger, urging the demonstrators on, telling them they should “never give up” until they get their way?” Boone added, “Hate is hate, no matter where it erupts. And hate, unbridled, will eventually and inevitably boil into violence.”

“Bigots like Boone will never see how absurd their arguments are, but just like that other anti-gay icon from the 70s, Anita Bryant, Pat Boone’s screed actually helps our efforts for equality,” continued Solmonese. “In most places in America today it isn’t acceptable to be an outright bigot. Obviously, Pat Boone hasn’t got that memo.”

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The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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HRC’s “Equally Speaking” Transcript: 12/3/08

Via the Human Rights Campaign Newsroom:

The following is a transcript of HRC’s morning news webcast “Equally Speaking.” To view the current videos visit the main Equally Speaking page.

12/3/2008

Good morning, and thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking, your morning dose of LGBT news from the Human Rights Campaign for Wednesday, December 3rd. I’m Brad Mayer.

And I’m Frank November. First up, news from HRC.

Earlier this week, HRC announced that it was joining forces with federal employee groups to urge the Office of Personnel Management to support domestic partner benefits for federal civilian employees. The announcement is timed with the federal government’s “open season,” when federal employees and retirees are allowed to make changes to their health benefit plans. Domestic partners of federal civil servants are not extended health, dental, vision and flexible spending benefits.

Now to news from England, where a lesbian soldier has been awarded over three hundred and eighty thousand dollars in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Lance Bombardier Kerry Fletcher was the subject of long-term harassment from a sergeant who wanted her to have sex with him. The payout was the largest ever imposed by a workers’ rights board in Britain, though the amount was half of what Fletcher sought.

Binghamton, New York town council members are considering comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that would include provisions for sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity. Members of the transgender community and their allies spoke out at a town council meeting earlier this week, encouraging town officials to pass the law, which would apply to employment, housing and public accommodations. It would also protect against discrimination based on height and weight, age, race, religion, and national origin.

And on Monday in Kalamazoo, Michigan, members of the city commission made it illegal to discriminate in housing, public accommodations and employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The measure was similar to one that has already been adopted by fifteen other Michigan cities. The unanimous vote was lauded by LGBT advocates, who said the time has come for more cities to pass similar laws.

In other news, a former police officer in Missouri was convicted on Monday of first-degree murder in the death of a gay college student with whom he was having an affair. Twenty eight year old Steven Rios, a married father, was convicted of killing Jesse Valencia last June. Rios was reportedly concerned that their affair would be made public. He now faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Finally this morning, Cyndi Lauper’s world tour, which was set to end in Caracas, Venezuela, has been cut short. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has reportedly canceled the concert because of Lauper’s support of LGBT rights. In a statement, Chavez said that he feared political protests due to Lauper’s appearance. Lauper, a participant in last spring’s True Colors tour and a friend of HRC, was touring on behalf of her latest album, Bring Ya to The Brink.

That’s the news from us today. Thanks for tuning in to Equally Speaking.

Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow morning.

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Yahoo! News: Justin Timberlake’s Man Love for Samuel L. Jackson

FROM YAHOO! NEWS, E! ONLINE:

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Justin Timberlake admits he has some special kind of feelings for his Black Snake Moan costar Samuel L. Jackson.

“I am here because onscreen and off, I feel nothing but love for the great Samuel L. Jackson,” Timberlake said at last night’s American Cinematheque gala honoring Jackson in Beverly Hills. “At least for tonight that mysterious ‘L’ stands for ‘Love,’ man love—and there’s nothing wrong with it.”

While high on praise, the Cinematheque’s annual awards ceremony is more of a roast than anything else.

Timberlake got in some of the best cracks. He said past honorees like Julia Roberts, Al Pacino and George Clooney have nothing on the Pulp Fiction star…

“Did any of those other stars start their path to cinematic greatness like Sam did?” Timberlake asked. “Did Julia star in the unforgettable role of ‘Black Guy’ in Sea of Love? Did Al Pacino have the chops to play ‘Hold-Up Man’ in Coming to America? And did Geoge Clooney have the range to play ‘Taxi Dispatcher’ in Betsy’s Wedding or ‘Blind Dream Man’ in Exorcist III?”

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Bay Area Reporter: Groups push national AIDS strategy

FROM THE BAY AREA REPORTER:

By Matthew S. Bajko

The United States could have a national strategy for combating AIDS by 2010 under a proposal numerous AIDS agencies are pushing President-elect Barack Obama to adopt. It would mark the first time the country had a coordinated policy in place to combat an epidemic that has ravaged the gay community, in particular, for 27 years.

Along with a national AIDS strategy, the groups are also urging Obama to resurrect the White House Office on National AIDS Policy and appoint a new “AIDS czar” to oversee the office. They also want to see the person be given budgetary authority over the more than $23 billion in federal money spent on HIV prevention and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.

The last person to oversee the office, Carol Thompson, stepped down in February 2006 and it has been vacant ever since. At least two names are being floated as a potential AIDS czar: Dr. Helene Gayle, who served as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention between 1995 and 2001; and Jesse Milan Jr., chairman of the Los Angeles-based Black AIDS Institute.

Both Gayle and Milan are African American and have extensive resumes in terms of combating HIV and AIDS. Gayle is now president and CEO of CARE, which focuses on poverty issues facing women throughout the world. A spokeswoman told the Bay Area Reporter that, “Dr. Gayle has not been inclined to speculate about appointments.”

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