California First Lady Maria Shriver’s Conference on Women and Families takes place today in Long Beach and Equality California is not happy with the guest list:
“Equality California is shocked that the Governor and the First Lady would feature Dr. Laura at what should be a non-partisan conference on women and families,” said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. “On a day to celebrate the role of women in America, Dr. Laura casts a shadow of anti-gay sentiment and bias toward our families. Dr. Laura has spearheaded an inaccurate campaign against LGBT people, claiming we are child molesters and ‘biological errors.’ For Maria Shriver to give the blessing of the State of California to a woman who has promoted hate is unconscionable.”
Slesinger is just one of many who will be speaking at the event, including Billie Jean King, Jane Fonda and Tom Brokaw.
Oh, if only there were an organization in California that would just focus on promoting gay rights instead of ad hominem partisan attacks.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER AND FIRST LADY MARIA SHRIVER INVITE ANTI-GAY EXTREMIST DR. LAURA TO SPEAK AT CONFERENCE [EqCA]
Election shadows Shriver [AP]
Examining the record of Supreme Court Justice Nominee Harriett Miers, Log Cabin has raised some red flags over some potentially conflicting responses given when the nominee was running for Dallas City Council.
Log Cabin is troubled by the responses of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers in a 1989 questionnaire for the Dallas Eagle Forum. “As fair minded Americans, we are especially concerned by Ms. Miers answer indicating she opposed anti-discrimination laws for people living with HIV/AIDS,” said Log Cabin President Patrick Guerriero. The responses seem to contradict responses given by Ms. Miers to another questionnaire she answered for the Lesbian/Gay Political Coalition of Dallas. In the Lesbian/Gay Political Coalition of Dallas questionnaire, Ms. Miers responded that she was undecided about anti-discrimination laws for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“Log Cabin calls on the Senate Judiciary Committee to question Ms. Miers about her responses,” said Log Cabin Political Director Chris Barron. “Most importantly, the Senate Judiciary Committee should ask Miers to explain how her personal views might impact existing Supreme Court precedent such as Bragdon v. Abbott, which makes it clear that people living with HIV/AIDS are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
“Ms. Miers’ responses to the Dallas Eagle Forum questionnaire raise serious questions, and highlight the importance of the confirmation hearings during this process,” continued Barron.
“Like any American Ms. Miers has the right to have her opinions change or evolve over the years. Given that this questionnaire is 16 years old, Ms. Miers should be given the opportunity to explain her answers and demonstrate that she is willing to support current Supreme Court precedent,” concluded Guerriero.
Even within the responses given to the Lesbian/Gay Political Coalition of Dallas, Miers appeared to contradict herself, saying she supported Civil Rights for gays and lesbians but opposed overturning Texas’ anti-sodomy laws.
In honor of National Coming Out week, Patrick Guerrero urges gay conservatives to speak up:
Now is the time for closeted gay conservatives to find the courage and personal strength to stand up and be counted. Now is the time we can really make a difference. If every gay conservative came out of the closet today, the journey to full equality would be over in years instead of decades.
It would soon become ineffective to use gay and lesbian families as wedge issues in campaigns. The cynical efforts to amend our federal and state constitutions would be stopped. The hypocrisy of anti-gay political tactics being used by way too many Republicans and some Democrats would be finally exposed.
One of the biggest unkept secrets in Washington, D.C., is that closeted gay Republicans are everywhere: the White House, Republican Party organizations, the halls of Congress, the most influential law offices, and the most powerful lobbying firms in our nation’s capital.
Some of those who remain closeted have chosen to be either passive bystanders or, in some cases, active critics of our movement while comfortably partaking in the fringe benefits of our community work, sipping the finest martinis in our trendiest gay bars.
It is equally important for those who are out-as-gay but closeted-as-conservative to show their faces to underscore to Party leaders what they stand to lose by using attacks on gay rights as a wedge issue.
Come out, gay conservatives [WashBlade]
In just four short weeks, Californians will go to the polls to vote on a number of ballot measures. Here are Log Cabin California’s official endorsements:
ENDORSE - Prop 74: Put Kid’s First act.
Waiting Period for Teacher Tenure.
ENDORSE - Prop 75: Paycheck Protection.
Requires Union Members Consent for Political Contributions.
ENDORSE - Prop 76: California Live Within Our Means Act.
ENDORSE - Prop 77: Voter Empowerment Act
Reapportionment.
ENDORSE - Prop 78: Cal Rx. Prescription Drug Discounts.
OPPOSE - Prop 79: Cal Rx. Prescription Drug Discount.
OPPOSE - Prop 80: Electricity Re-regulation.
If you’re looking to see how you can help, contact your local Log Cabin chapter or drop me a note.
Normally, a California City Council passing a resolution urging the Federal government to take one action or another would get buried among the headlines…but something unique is going on in Cathedral City, CA.
The Cathedral City Council approved, by a vote of 4 to 1, a resolution on Sept. 28 calling for the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The resolution urges Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill pending in Congress to repeal the military’s ban and allow lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans to serve openly. That bill is currently supported by 97 Members of Congress, including 22 members of California’s Congressional delegation — more than any other state.
In an interview with the Riverside County Press-Enterprise, Republican Councilman Charles “Chuck” Vasquez stated that he “find(s) the whole policy morally reprehensible. It’s one last bastion of bigotry in this country.”
The Cathedral City Council resolution follows similar measures adopted by the New York, West Hollywood, San Francisco and Chicago city councils.
Although the move is being praised by gay rights groups nationally, Log Cabin was the only gay rights group who submit a letter urging the Council to take action on the issue. Councilman Vasquez, who proposed the resolution, is a member of Log Cabin’s Palm Springs chapter and should be praised for his great work on this issue.
Cathedral City (CA) Council Calls For Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ [Yahoo]
Here is Log Cabin President Patrick Guerrer’s statement on Bush’s new pick for the Supreme Court:
“Log Cabin looks forward to a thorough and thoughtful review of Harriet Miers’ nomination to the United States Supreme Court. Recognizing the importance and impact of the Supreme Court, we support the confirmation of all fair-minded jurists to the bench. Given the lack of a public record on Ms. Miers, the confirmation hearings will be a critically important part of the confirmation process. Log Cabin will carefully study Ms. Miers testimony during this confirmation process, particularly as it relates to questions of basic fairness for gay and lesbian Americans.”