Congressman tells Condi to hire discharged linguists
by PageOneQ
At a House Armed Services Committee meeting earlier today, Rep. Gary Ackerman told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the United States Military seemed more "afraid of gay people than they are [of] terrorists, but they’re very brave with the terrorists." He also suggested that the State Department consider hiring linguists discharged from the military under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy which prohibits servicemembers from being openly gay or lesbian.
Ackerman was speaking about the miltary's decision to discharge lesbian and gay servicemembers, including linguists who are able to translate Arabic.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network reacted to the news quickly, issuing a statement by Sharon Alexander, the organization's deputy director of policy. "Considering the critical shortage of linguists in the armed forces, a platoon of Arabic-speaking lesbians may be just what the military needs,” she said. “In fact, faced with the shortage of language experts, the military would do well to consider Congressman Ackerman’s point. We cannot afford to lose critical personnel because of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ There are many brave gay men and lesbians who report for duty every day, and their contributions are immeasurably important to our national security," she added.
Apparently mocking the regulations, Ackerman said "If the terrorists ever got hold of this information, they’d get a platoon of lesbians to chase us out of Baghdad."
According the the SLDN statement, the Government Accountability Office has reported that the Pentagon has discharged 55 Arabic translators. All told, over 300 linguists have been dismissed.
"Secretary Rice would have no trouble finding gay linguists. In fact, our government could go a long way in addressing the shortage of language expertise by doing just as Congressman Ackerman suggests. SLDN would be happy to introduce Secretary Rice to our many clients who speak Arabic but have been dismissed because of the ban," SLDN's Ackerman added.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I Weep for Mary Chaney
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/washington/01cheney.html?ex=157680000&en=021eb57dc8ae5250&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
The above link is to a New York Times story about Mary Chaney speaking to a group about her pregnancy.
Seeing as how she and her partner live in Virginia, I pray that our state Conservatives don't target here with their wrath.
She also "cries" about her pregnancy being used politically.
Here's a new flash: IT SHOULD!!!!!!!
She worked for her fathers election from a political party who has done it's utmost to destroy gay people not only in this state but this country as well. Homophobic doesn't even BEGIN to express how I feel about conservative RepubliCONS in Virginia. Fascism comes close........
James Dobson of Focus On The Family has expressed his dismay at gay people raising children.
RepubliCONS from Virginia such as Senatorial LOSER George Allen and Pennsylvania Senatorial LOSER Rick Santorum have liked gay parents as having an adverse effect on children. Studies have shown they are as well adjusted as children of heterosexual couples. But seems this doesn't matter to Conservative RepubliCONS.
Ms Chaney: I hope and pray that your pregnancy goes well, and you, your partner and your child have a happy and healthy life. I just hope Virginia politicos don't try to take your child "for it's own good" They are already trying to stop gay couples from adopting in Virginia, hopefully the two of you aren't next in line for their witch hunt.
The above link is to a New York Times story about Mary Chaney speaking to a group about her pregnancy.
Seeing as how she and her partner live in Virginia, I pray that our state Conservatives don't target here with their wrath.
She also "cries" about her pregnancy being used politically.
Here's a new flash: IT SHOULD!!!!!!!
She worked for her fathers election from a political party who has done it's utmost to destroy gay people not only in this state but this country as well. Homophobic doesn't even BEGIN to express how I feel about conservative RepubliCONS in Virginia. Fascism comes close........
James Dobson of Focus On The Family has expressed his dismay at gay people raising children.
RepubliCONS from Virginia such as Senatorial LOSER George Allen and Pennsylvania Senatorial LOSER Rick Santorum have liked gay parents as having an adverse effect on children. Studies have shown they are as well adjusted as children of heterosexual couples. But seems this doesn't matter to Conservative RepubliCONS.
Ms Chaney: I hope and pray that your pregnancy goes well, and you, your partner and your child have a happy and healthy life. I just hope Virginia politicos don't try to take your child "for it's own good" They are already trying to stop gay couples from adopting in Virginia, hopefully the two of you aren't next in line for their witch hunt.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Cheney Tells CNN's Blitzer: 'You're Out of Line'
Every Gay American should bring this up EVERY TIME Cheney is in the media. It shows the "Hypocracy of Conservatism" in a way I never could explain.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Mexican State Passes Same Sex Marriage
From Gay.com
The legislature for the northern Mexican state of Coahuila on Thursday approved a law recognizing same-sex unions, the second assembly to take such an action in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
The measure, which will provide same-sex couples with numerous social benefits similar to those of married couples, was approved with 20 votes in favor and 13 votes against, said Rep. Julieta Lopez of the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Lopez helped the draft the bill.
Coahuila Gov. Humberto Moreira, who is also in the PRI, is expected to sign the bill into law.
In November, the Mexico City assembly passed a similar measure for the first time in the nation's history. That law has been sharply criticized by the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative National Action Party of President Felipe Calderon.
While homosexuality is still taboo in many rural parts of Latin America, the region's urban areas are becoming more socially liberal. Mexico City and Coahuila join the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires and the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in legalizing same-sex civil unions. At the national level, lawmakers in Costa Rica and Colombia have debated, but not passed, similar measures. (AP)
Congrats!!!!
It's hard to believe, but now MEXICO is more PROGRESSIVE then the US. Another reason to be proud!!!!!!!
The legislature for the northern Mexican state of Coahuila on Thursday approved a law recognizing same-sex unions, the second assembly to take such an action in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
The measure, which will provide same-sex couples with numerous social benefits similar to those of married couples, was approved with 20 votes in favor and 13 votes against, said Rep. Julieta Lopez of the centrist Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Lopez helped the draft the bill.
Coahuila Gov. Humberto Moreira, who is also in the PRI, is expected to sign the bill into law.
In November, the Mexico City assembly passed a similar measure for the first time in the nation's history. That law has been sharply criticized by the Roman Catholic Church and the conservative National Action Party of President Felipe Calderon.
While homosexuality is still taboo in many rural parts of Latin America, the region's urban areas are becoming more socially liberal. Mexico City and Coahuila join the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires and the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in legalizing same-sex civil unions. At the national level, lawmakers in Costa Rica and Colombia have debated, but not passed, similar measures. (AP)
Congrats!!!!
It's hard to believe, but now MEXICO is more PROGRESSIVE then the US. Another reason to be proud!!!!!!!
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