Today's Quote

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

 

Benjamin Franklin

 

Today's Quote cross posted

Harvey Fierstein

Sociabiologist Edward O’ Wilson

Put forth his theory that Homosexuals was are absolutely necessary for the survival of the species

So why are we here?

We are the teachers who can stay late after school to aid slower students

We are the maiden aunts and Bachelors uncles who provide financial cushioning in cases of emergencies

We are in his view the worker bees of humanity

 

In the Soul beneath the Skin, David Nimmons

Holds that we are a superior society altogether 

We are he asserts we are the social and moral leaders of humanity

 

Roll Call Votes on DREAM Act and DADT Repeal

Note there was only one Republican who both voted for DADT and the DREAM Act: Lisa Murkowski!
There were 52 Democrats (and Independents) who voted for both.

But the Hall of Shame is for the 5 Democratic Dream Killers who voted against the DREAM Act (Baucus, Hagan, Nelson, Pryor, Tester). Three of these Senators are up for re-election in 2012 (likely to be a harsh year for Senate Democrats) and I pledge to donate to their primary challengers.

Here's the roll call vote on the 55-41 cloture vote on the DREAM Act which FAILED.

YEAs ---55
Akaka (D-HI) Bayh (D-IN) Begich (D-AK) Bennet (D-CO) Bennett (R-UT) Bingaman (D-NM) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Casey (D-PA) Conrad (D-ND) Coons (D-DE) Dodd (D-CT) Dorgan (D-ND) Durbin (D-IL) Feingold (D-WI) Feinstein (D-CA)	Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Landrieu (D-LA) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Lincoln (D-AR) Lugar (R-IN) McCaskill (D-MO) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD)	Murkowski (R-AK) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Specter (D-PA) Stabenow (D-MI) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Webb (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR)

 

NAYs ---41
Alexander (R-TN) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Bond (R-MO) Brown (R-MA) Brownback (R-KS) Burr (R-NC) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID)	DeMint (R-SC) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Kirk (R-IL) Kyl (R-AZ) LeMieux (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ)	McConnell (R-KY) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Tester (D-MT) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Wicker (R-MS)

 

Not Voting - 4
Bunning (R-KY) Gregg (R-NH)	Hatch (R-UT) Manchin (D-WV)

 

Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the DREAM Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2010 

 

Statement by the President on the Senate Vote on the DREAM Act 

 

In an incredibly disappointing vote today, a minority of Senators prevented the Senate from doing what most Americans understand is best for the country. As I said last week, when the House passed the DREAM Act, it is not only the right thing to do for talented young people who seek to serve a country they know as their own, it is the right thing for the United States of America. Our nation is enriched by their talents and would benefit from the success of their efforts. The DREAM Act is important to our economic competitiveness, military readiness, and law enforcement efforts. And as the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported, the DREAM Act would cut the deficit by $2.2 billion over the next 10 years. There was simply no reason not to pass this important legislation.

 

It is disappointing that common sense did not prevail today.  But my administration will not give up on the DREAM Act, or on the important business of fixing our broken immigration system.   The American people deserve a serious debate on immigration, and it’s time to take the polarizing rhetoric off our national stage.

 

I thank Senators Durbin, Reid, and Menendez for their tireless efforts. Moving forward, my administration will continue to do everything we can to fix our nation’s broken immigration system so that we can provide lasting and dedicated resources for our border security while at the same time restoring responsibility and accountability to the system at every level.

 

###

 

DADT Vote By State

Grouped by Home State

Alabama:	Sessions (R-AL), Nay	Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Alaska:	Begich (D-AK), Yea	Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Arizona:	Kyl (R-AZ), Nay	McCain (R-AZ), Nay
Arkansas:	Lincoln (D-AR), Yea	Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California:	Boxer (D-CA), Yea	Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:	Bennet (D-CO), Yea	Udall (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut:	Dodd (D-CT), Yea	Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Delaware:	Carper (D-DE), Yea	Coons (D-DE), Yea
Florida:	LeMieux (R-FL), Nay	Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia:	Chambliss (R-GA), Nay	Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii:	Akaka (D-HI), Yea	Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho:	Crapo (R-ID), Nay	Risch (R-ID), Nay
Illinois:	Durbin (D-IL), Yea	Kirk (R-IL), Yea
Indiana:	Bayh (D-IN), Yea	Lugar (R-IN), Nay
Iowa:	Grassley (R-IA), Nay	Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:	Brownback (R-KS), Nay	Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky:	Bunning (R-KY), Not Voting	McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana:	Landrieu (D-LA), Yea	Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine:	Collins (R-ME), Yea	Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland:	Cardin (D-MD), Yea	Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:	Brown (R-MA), Yea	Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:	Levin (D-MI), Yea	Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota:	Franken (D-MN), Yea	Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:	Cochran (R-MS), Nay	Wicker (R-MS), Nay
Missouri:	Bond (R-MO), Nay	McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Montana:	Baucus (D-MT), Yea	Tester (D-MT), Yea
Nebraska:	Johanns (R-NE), Nay	Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada:	Ensign (R-NV), Yea	Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:	Gregg (R-NH), Not Voting	Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
New Jersey:	Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea	Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:	Bingaman (D-NM), Yea	Udall (D-NM), Yea
New York:	Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea	Schumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:	Burr (R-NC), Yea	Hagan (D-NC), Yea
North Dakota:	Conrad (D-ND), Yea	Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:	Brown (D-OH), Yea	Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:	Coburn (R-OK), Nay	Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Oregon:	Merkley (D-OR), Yea	Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:	Casey (D-PA), Yea	Specter (D-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:	Reed (D-RI), Yea	Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:	DeMint (R-SC), Nay	Graham (R-SC), Nay
South Dakota:	Johnson (D-SD), Yea	Thune (R-SD), Nay
Tennessee:	Alexander (R-TN), Nay	Corker (R-TN), Nay
Texas:	Cornyn (R-TX), Nay	Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah:	Bennett (R-UT), Nay	Hatch (R-UT), Not Voting
Vermont:	Leahy (D-VT), Yea	Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Virginia:	Warner (D-VA), Yea	Webb (D-VA), Yea
Washington:	Cantwell (D-WA), Yea	Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:	Manchin (D-WV), Not Voting	Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Wisconsin:	Feingold (D-WI), Yea	Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:	Barrasso (R-WY), Nay	Enzi (R-WY), Nay

 

ERASING HATE EVENT

A FIRST FOR JCC and possibly Johnston County (to my knowledge)

ERASING HATE EVENT

Sunday 11-21 at 6pm at JCC (exit 95 on I95)

" "Erasing Hate" is geared toward students, faculty, staff and community members about what they can do to create climates that are inclusive for every member of JCC Family and our surrounding communities. Join us for an intimate discussion on how we can begin erasing hatred based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, race, religion or any other reason."

Hosted by...
JCC Global Education & Diversity Committee
JCC Student Government Association
JCC - BGLAD
and
The Matthew Shepard Foundation

PFlag Info at the Braswell Library

FW: DADT rally in nc

 

 

Subject: RE: DADT rally in nc

 

Below is the advisory with all of the details regarding today’s event in Raleigh.  Also, I’ve cc’ed Jose Rico on this email.  Jose is the on the ground media contact and will be at today’s event.

 

Please let me know if you need anything further,

 

Best,

 

Brad

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
CONTACT:  Brad Luna -- 202/812.8140 (cell) or brad@lunamediagroup.com

LOCAL CONTACT:  Jose Rico -- articuno365@yahoo.com

 

VETERAN’S DAY MEDIA ADVISORY

 

DREAM Activists and Raleigh Advocates for Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Plan Local Action; Rally for Veteran’s Day Part of National Campaign

Week-Long Campaign Will Focus on Building Pressure for U.S. Senate to Repeal Discriminatory Law During Upcoming Brief “Lame-Duck” Session

 

Raleigh, NC – Today, DREAM Activists and Raleigh area advocates supporting the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law announced plans for a local protest on Thursday, November 11, 2010. The Raleigh rally – just one of dozens of similar repeal events happening across the country during the week of Veteran’s Day – will focus on honoring the lives and service of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) veterans by building support and pressure on the United States Senate to immediately pass “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal legislation.

The last opportunity for passing repeal legislation this year will be during the upcoming “lame duck” session of Congress. The “lame-duck” session of Congress is scheduled to begin Monday November 15, and will adjourn when Congressional leadership have the votes to the end the session. North Carolina Senator – Kay Hagan – has previously voiced her support for repealing the discriminatory law.

The local Raleigh rally is part of a national campaign launched this week in many other cities across the country. Justin Elzie -- the first Marine in the nation to be discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” back in 1993 -- and GetEQUAL -- a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization -- joined forces last week to announce the national campaign, designed to run the week of Veteran’s Day (kicking-off November 8 and lasting throughout the week). To read the full text of the national action alert announcing the campaign to supporters nationwide last Friday, please go to: http://getequal.org/2010/11/the-country-is-organizing-next-week-are-you/.

WHAT: DREAM Activist and local Raleigh area Veteran’s Day event honoring LGBT veterans by calling on the U.S. Senate – including North Carolina Senators Hagan and Burr – to immediately pass legislation repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"

WHO: DREAM activists and local activists veterans advocating the repeal of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell"and The Dream Act

WHEN: Thursday, November 11, 5:30pm

WHERE: Kay Hagan's office 310 New Bern Ave. Raleigh, NC 27601

**NOTE – Media interested in scheduling pre or post-event, one-on-one interviews with local organizers should contact Jose Rico articuno365@yahoo.com. To speak with Justin Elzie (discharged Marine) or Robin McGehee (director of GetEQUAL) regarding the national campaign effort or the legislation pending before the U.S. Senate, please contact Brad Luna, Luna Media Group, at 202-812-8140 (cell) or via email at brad@lunamediagroup.com.

In announcing this national, week-long Veteran’s Day campaign, Robin McGehee -- co-founder and director of GetEQUAL -- stated, “Justin and I thought it would be great if organizers took action during the entire week of Veteran’s Day, creating momentum across the country for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal as their state’s two Senators return to DC for the ‘lame-duck’ session. As legislators head back to Washington for this last legislative session to address 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' repeal this year -- there is no better time to take our message into the states and into the streets.”

To view a map of other pro-repeal events being planned in other cities across the country this week, please visit: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6535/t/11459/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=673.

GetEQUAL is a national, direct action lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. Emphasizing direct action and people power, the mission of GetEQUAL is to empower the LGBT community and its allies to take action to demand full legal and social equality, and to hold accountable those who stand in the way.  For more information on GetEQUAL, please visit: http://www.getequal.org.  You can follow GetEQUAL on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/getequal, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL, or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/getequal.

###

 

 

Brad Luna

Luna Media Group, LLC

202-812-8140 (cell)

brad@lunamediagroup.com

Instant Messenger:  bLunaMedia

twitter.com/blunah77

 

 

BREAKING: Keith's message to us

Statement To The Viewers Of Countdown

I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and ground-rattling support.

Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small.

I would also like to acknowledge with respect the many commentators and reporters, including those with whom my politics do not overlap, for their support.        

I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule – which I previously knew nothing about -- that pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by NBC. Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations.

Instead, after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media.

You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient 'mistake' by their recipients.

When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.        

I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty - support and loyalty that is truly mutual.

 

PFlag Meeting for November

Meeting: PFLAG Rocky Mount (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 16. For more information, call 443-0345, e-mail pflagrm@aol.com or visit www.pflag.org.

GDAG in the house

This is a great family friendly event being host by Delia of the Tipsy Teapot so after the vigil stop in for some great food and music.

Hope to see you there, we must support those whom support use and Ms Delia is a friend to our community.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Community event ECU

@ecuglbtsu: Join our Relay For Life team! http://fb.me/IayxFTKj
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Some First for our Community

The first gay right demonstration to be held at the White House.

                On May 29^th 1965, picket by ECHO. Seven men and three women participated, including activist Frank Kameny, organizer Jack Nichols, and Lilli Vincenz, The sole lesbian. The picket received nationwide television Coverage.

 

The first openly gay elected Official.

                Kathy Kozachenko, running as a member of the Human Rights Party, she was elected to Ann Arbor Michigan, city council in 1974. She was the first gay person to serve on the council, however: The Previous fall, two outgoing council members who have been elected in 1972, Nancy Wechsler and Gerald DeGrieck, had come out as gay.

 

The first openly gay mayor in the US.

                Gerald E. Ulrich, elected mayor of Bunceton, Missouri in 1980.

 

The first openly lesbian mayor in the US.

                Valerie Terrigno, of West Hollywood, California in 1984. The Top Vote-getter among the five city council members, she became mayor a month after her election to the council. She later resigned and was convicted of embezzling government funds while operating an employment and housing agency.

History of Gay Spirituality forum, Sept 27

The Interfaith Alliance of Eastern Carolina is hosting a forum on the history of gay spirituality after its September 27th Prayers for Peace session. The prayers begin at 7:00 PM with the forum beginning around 7:45. One does not need to attend the prayers to attend the forum. This event is free and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greenville at 131 Oakmont Drive, Greenville, NC. For more information about the event, please contact the Interfaith Alliance of Eastern Carolina at http://www.ecinterfaith.org/about_us.html; for host location information, including directions and a picture of the building, visit http://www.uugreenvillenc.org/

 

_,___

Sound of Music Movie Screening, Sing-Along, & Costume Contest

The Triangle Gay Men's Chorus is holding a Sound of Music Sing-Along benefit on Oct. 10 at the Galaxy Cinema in Cary, NC. Tickets are $20 each, plus a $1 online service fee. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit http://www.tgmchorus.org/news/index.php. Venue information may be found at www.mygalaxycinema.com.

Sound of Music Sing-Along
Benefitting the Triangle Gay Men's Chorus
DATE: Sunday, October 10, 2010
TIME: 6pm
LOCATION: Galaxy Cinema 770 Cary Towne Boulevard, Cary, NC

PFlag Meeting

PFLAG Rocky Mount meets Tuesday, September 21, 6:00 p.m. For meeting information, call 252-443-0345 or e-mail pflagrm@aol.com.

Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast

Saturday, September 25, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m., Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast to support PFLAG Rocky Mount (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). The event takes place at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 1120 Wesleyan Blvd, Rocky Mount. For information on tickets ($6), call 252-443-0345 or e-mail pflagrm@aol.com.

Some funds/food raising with RMT PFlag

In and one line our local Newspaper has a article on PFlag, However I really think its a press release but something doesn't seem right about it

So is it a typo or a mistake..

Are they raise funds or collecting food??

I have no problem with either, however I would like to know which is going on. I will support both, Just want to know which is which here.

PFlag of RMT has done alot over the past few years, they have donated many fine books to our Local Library here in RMT.. One being Mitchell Gold's Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America. Which I'm sure no one at the Library would have ever brought the book on their own..

If this is clearly a fund raisers folks of the Eastern NC and those in the Rocky Mount Area please step up the plate and support this group.. They do excellent work for our local community. For more information please contact them pflagrm@aol.com or visit PFlag

Please Give what ever you can afford to.

Can you believe it, NOM is coming to Town

Yes, they are coming to town, well they coming to Raleigh, NC on the 10th of August. They will be set up on the south side of Capital Building..

From Ms R Mann of ENC

"There are several individuals and groups organizing NOM counter-protests (links to their pages below). ENC will have a "truth squad" there to speak with media, but otherwise is directing people to the grassroots efforts that others have put together.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134847853203064
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=132425433461728
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140147449338024
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144354515578400

By all reports their tour isn't going too well the most they have had is 54, however going by Brian and Maggie their rallies had over hundreds.

I have been told one of the above events creator has a permit to counter protest, so we shouldn't run into any problems there..

So if you are free and able to attend this please do so. We must drown them out, and Show that LGBT's of the Carolinian's are united in this cause. That we will not take their Homophobia setting down. We will no-longer stand on the side lines while they try to walk all over us..