News 9/09/10

(An Orangutan laughing. Photo by Malene Thyssen.)

Regarding the Pacific Justice Institute's attempt to force CA state officials to appeal judge Walker's decision overturning Prop 8:

• The California Supreme Court asked the Governator and AG to explain their positions in the matter:

• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to California Supreme Court: "Nothing in the California constitution...imposes a mandatory duty...to appeal decisions of any court, let alone a federal court."

• California Attorney General Jerry Brown to California Supreme Court: "I am not a potted plant." Brown went on to explain that part of his oath of office is to defend the US Constitution and that his refusal to defend an unconstitutional law honors that oath. (Are you listening President Obama?)

• The California Supremes have refused to order Schwarzy and Brownie to defend Prop 8.

Suck on that Pacific Justice Institute.

•  GetEqual to protest Nancy Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote on the Employment Non Discrimination Act. What are the Democrats waiting for?

• ...And it looks like we might be out of luck on passing the Defense Authorization Bill which includes the Don't Ask Don't Tell "compromise."

Chris Geidner is Calm and Smart: A Blog Recommendation

Regarding my tendency to shake my tiny fist in rage, I would like to offer a reading recommendation to the screaming hordes who would kill themselves instantly if I stopped blogging for even one second.

Law Dork has some great pictures from yesterday, which was a major one for LGBTQ activism.

There were the Don't Ask Don't Tell hearings in Congress.

There was Dan Choi and James Pietrangelo's civil disobedience and arrest at the White House.

Also, members of the new group Get Equal got arrested as a result of their sit-in at Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, demanding that she call a floor vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Chris has marvelous photos of all three of these events.

Chris Geidner's blog, Law Dork is well worth keeping tabs on. He is the senior political writer with DC's Metro Weekly and his level-headed analysis provides necessary perspective on some of the angrier blogs out there.

Evening News 3/18/10

Fess Parker died today at age 85.

"Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
Greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree
Kilt him a bar, when he was only three
Davey, Davey Crocket, king of the wild frontier..."

--from the Ballad of Davey Crocket
Music by George Bruns
Lyrics by Tom W. Blackburn

You can hear the whole song here.


The Democrats are still considering passing health care reform.

More on Dan Choi's arrest. I heard earlier that he crashed the HRC rally where Kathy Griffin was speaking before his arrest. She didn't mind though, tweeting later, "I dig that dude."

More about Get Equal, the group that staged Choi and Pietrangelo's disobedience. They also staged a sit-in in Nancy Pelosi's office today. They said they weren't going to leave until Pelosi committed to bring the Employment NonDiscrimination Act to the floor for a vote, or until they are arrested.

It reminds me of the good old days.

Morning News 3/18/10

The Flaming Chef (pictured, right) filled out his census form this morning, officially noting that he is married to Dr. Snickerdoodle (left). Can't help lovin' that man o' mine.

Mary Douglas Glasspool was confirmed yesterday as the Episcopal Church's first lesbian bishop. She is also the first woman to lead the Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. Atta girl!

Brian Egleston, Roland Dunbrack Jr. and Dr. Michael J. Hall have released a study showing that gay people are systematically barred from participating in a great number of clinical trials, for no good reason.

(Via Americblog Gay) Let's jump on the Blogswarm bandwagon and call Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, politely but firmly demanding that the house pass ENDA.

Her phone number is: (202) 225 -4965