National News: Kameny, ENDA, EHDLA

What a fabulous day it was yesterday for LGBTQ equality. Well, sort of, if only we can get the Matthew Shepard Act to move... or only if we could get rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell... or only if... blah blah blah. You get the point.

• Frank Kameny is no longer unfit for unemployment by the Federal Government. Kameny is, truly, one of the pioneers for queer rights in this country having taken his firing from the Civil Service Commission over 50 years ago and challenging it, loudly, proudly, and without apology. HE would go on to coin the phrase "gay is good" (as a response to the "black is beautiful" movement). Today, the Office of Personnell Management, formerly the CSC, officially honored him. Neat.
• ENDA -- the Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- was introduced in the House of Representatives! Unlike in years past, ENDA is gender inclusive in its language. In 2007, some of you remember, the language was stricken at the suggestion of Barney Frank (D-MA) and the new bill -- only protecting sexual orientation -- was then endorsed by the HRC, which could probably be chalked up as one of the worst PR moves of all time. It passed the House, died in the Senate, and then-President Bush said he would veto it. Hrm. Already, HR 2981 has 10 cosponsors. Also, if you check out the Wikipedia article on ENDA, it has a great timeline that summarizes the history of the bill well (seriously, what was life like before Wikipedia?). In related news, Bil at Bilerico is -- justifiably -- aghast at Indiana Equality's decision not to support ENDA because: "ENDA doesn't make us equal - rather, it creates a new form of segregation. It does not provide protections in housing and public accommodations. There are no protections for LGBT children in the public schools where administrators continue to turn a blind eye to harassment and brutality. With ENDA, we are only marginally protected in the workplace." You know, it's a good point, actually. But, really, we're already pissed about everything else, why be pissed about progress? Of course, that's what I said in 2007 about a non-gender inclusive ENDA. Hrm.
• The Ending Health Disparities for LGBT Americans Act (EHDLA) was introduced by Tammy Baldwin! This bill is a bit of a sleeper and one I didn't even realize was being tossed around. 365gay.com reports the bill will do the following: "In addition to investing in data collection and research, the bill establishes non-discrimination policies for all federal health programs, provides funding for cultural competence training for health care providers, extends Medicare benefits to same-sex domestic partners, creates a new office of LGBT Health within in the Department of Health and Human Services, and provides funding for community health centers who serve the LGBT community." In short: it will start protecting the health interests of LGBTQ Americans. Fabulous. It is HR 3001 and currently has 7 cosponsors.

Isn't this fun, now, kids? Stuff is getting done, and quickly again. Apparently yelling and screaming worked, although I have a suspicion the ongoing drama over LGBTQ individuals pulling out of the DNC fundraiser in protest of inaction had more to do with it. A friend of mine -- was it JereKeys? yea, I believe so -- suggested that the reason going is so slow on a lot of these is because, so long as there is more to do, then the Democrats can continue to dangle the metaphorical carrot of equal rights and raise some serious cash.

They understand, I think, that the Republicans, if all other things were equal, would likely be the party of establishment queers if the GOP was better on our issues.

HIV/AIDS: Respective Party Platforms

Not saying anything, but here are some key points from the Democratic and Republican platforms on HIV/AIDS:

Republicans -- 1 paragraph in a 25 page document:

We recognize that the preventable diseases of AIDS and HIV infection represent a
threat to human health. We view with compassion all people infected with HIV. We
call for appropriate levels of research to find a cure for the disease and ask
that the government give full disclosure of the causes. However, because AIDS
represents such a severe threat to both the health and economic well-being of
our citizens, we insist that the epidemic be de-politicized and that as a
society, we take all appropriate steps to protect our children from this
epidemic. All people, no matter what disease they may contract, are worthy of
deep respect as humans; however, behavior has personal and social consequences.
We call upon the United States Health Service and all states to declare HIV a
"dangerous, yet preventable, infectious, communicable disease." It should be
legally reported in the same manner as any communicable disease. We oppose the
needle exchange and bleach kit programs. We urge the return to the requirement
of blood testing in order to obtain a marriage license with the previous
reporting responsibilities to prevent the spread of dangerous, infectious, and
communicable diseases.

Pro: Talks well about compassion and taking care of people. Pushes for de-politicization and further, more expansive names-based reporting (god help us, a Bush policy worked).

Con: No needle exchange? No bleach kit? Blood testing for marriage licenses? I think we moved away from personal responsibility on that last one. Also doesn't deal at all with international AIDS.

Overall: This is the entire statement on HIV/AIDS in the Republican platform. Period. End of story. You see where I'm going with this... especially when compared to...

Democratic Party Platform -- 5 paragraphs in 94 pages -- sample sentence from each:

(page 12) We must fight HIV/AIDS in our country and around the world. We
support increased funding into research, care and prevention of HIV/AIDS. (goes
on to talk about Ryan White, ADAP, people of color, and Medicaid coverage of
HIV+ persons)

(page 37) We believe that sustainable economic growth and development will
mitigate and even help to reverse such chronic and debilitating challenges as
poverty, hunger, conflict, and HIV/AIDS. (in a section about Africa)

(page 40) We need to invest in building capable, democrat states that can
establish health and educated communities, develop markets, and generate wealth.
(Talking about the benefits of UN Millenium Development Goals, including
treating HIV/AIDS)

(page 41) The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a massive human tragedy. It is also a
security risk of the highest order that threatens to plunge nations into chaos.
(Also talks about malaria, TB, etc.)

(page 42) We also support the adoption of humanitarian licensing
policies that ensure medications developed with the US taxpayer dollars are
available off patent in developing countries. (YES!)

Pro: Covers the world -- and does step out of Africa to mention Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Carribean. Lists specific things to do to, including $50b/5y for HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria prevention. Specifically deals with programs in the US that are in desperate need of work. Oh and big pro: providing meds off-patent to third world countries -- WELL DONE.

Con: Talks nothing about prevention, only care. There may be sections on sex education, but the HIV/AIDS stuff is kept in health and development sections of the platform -- says something.

Overall: Expresses a great interest, but perhaps does not provide the zing nor the silver bullet you may or may not expect.

Just a thought for this AM...

POP CULTURE: Awww... David!!!

David Duchovny entered rehab for... sex addiction.

Interesting. He never offered to sleep with me.

Good for him. Per his statement:

"I have voluntarily entered a facility for the treatment of sex addiction," he said in a statement released through his lawyer, Stanton "Larry" Stein. "I ask for respect and privacy for my wife and children as we deal with this situation as a family."

How's that for "boilerplate?"

From the Reuters article.

PS To all those, no doubt, expecting my commentary on the Obama speech tonight... I haven't watched it. I know, I know. I hear it was great. I'm going to watch it on YouTube tomrow and do a joint post on it and the GOP VP pick (coughcoughcoughRomneynotasurprise...coughcoughcough)

ELECTION 2008: Thoughts on Hillary's speech...

CNN has a weird fact on the bottom of the screen while Hill speaks:

Clinton won more primaries and caucuses than any woman in history; 23 in all.

Ummm, unless I miss my guess, she's the only woman to have ever won a primary or caucus.

BTW ---> she hit it. Dead on. Thank you, Hill. Thank you.

And I think it's time the Clintons started championing gay rights. I think we'll hear her come out pro-gay marriage in the next two years.

But I'm rarely right on these things.

ELECTION 2008: DNC?

I'm trying really hard to get excited about it.

Really trying, but I have to say this, Nancy Pelosi is an awful, awful speaker.



I'm sure she's an excellent politician, glad she got stuck on Monday night. She was almost... well, does she Botox?

Hill's on tonight. But I have to go to bed. It's a school night.