Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sorry Family Research Council, but the American people want DADT overturned

I got an odious email from the Family Research Council whining about the possible (and I use the term "possible" very loosely) overturn of DADT. Particularly annoying is this part:

The President and Congress need to hear the voice of Americans on this issue. Our military is for national defense, and is no place to advance a liberal political agenda. The time to act is now, as the House and Senate are voting this week. Please join me today in signing the petition to help keep our troops from being used to advance a liberal political agenda.

Well how is this article via CNN regarding the voice of Americans:

Most Americans say people who are openly gay should be allowed to serve in the U.S. military, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay people to serve in the military, with one in five opposed.

"Support is widespread, even among Republicans. Nearly six in ten Republicans favor allowing openly gay individuals to serve in the military," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "There is a gender gap, with 85 percent of women and 71 percent of men favoring the change, but support remains high among both groups."

The poll's release comes just hours after Congressional Democrats reached an agreement Monday with the White House and possibly the Pentagon on a key legislative step toward repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bars openly gay soldiers from the military.

In a letter to President Barack Obama obtained by CNN, three congressional sponsors of legislation to repeal the policy outlined the proposed agreement that would set contingencies based on completion of a military review of the matter already under way and subsequent final approval from the president and military leaders.

Specifically, the proposed agreement calls for repeal to become final only after completion of the military review expected by the end of 2010, followed by a review certification from Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen.

The Pentagon released a statement Tuesday saying that "Secretary Gates continues to believe that ideally the DOD review should be completed before there is any legislation to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell law. With Congress having indicated that is not possible, the Secretary can accept the language in the proposed amendment."

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted May 21-23, with 1,023 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points.

If FRC had any integrity and dignity, the group would hush up and recognize that it's on the wrong side of history here.

Of course who am I kidding? FRC has been on the wrong side of history since its inception.

Why should it change direction midstream?

Related post:

Family Research Council refuses to acknowledge lgbt servicemen and women


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Anti-gay marriage group HAS to show its financial records and other Tuesday midday news briefs

White House Seeks To Speed Up 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal - We will see. I'm not breaking out any champagne as of yet.

Judge rules in Maine gay marriage case - Anti-gay marriage group NOM has to open its books and reveal its finances. This ought to be interesting.

Ex-Gay Promotes African Fundie Re-Education Camps, Prison, and Government Surveillance of Bedrooms - Holy $!@*! Scott Lively strikes again.

Louisiana Panel Rejects Gay Adoption Ban Repeal Effort - Minor setback. Keep pushing, brothers and sisters!

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High school: We did not stage a 'sham prom' for Constance McMillen

While we are encumbered by other issues, let's not forget past situations which, while seemingly fading from the public eye, still deserves our undivided attention.

Such as the situation regarding Constance McMillen and her fight for lgbt respect:

A rural Mississippi school district that was sued by a lesbian student who wanted to bring a same-sex date to the high school prom is denying accusations it routed her to a "sham prom" at a country club while most of her schoolmates partied elsewhere.


The Itawamba County School District addressed the claims made by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Constance McMillen in papers filed Friday with the U.S. District Court in Aberdeen.


It's been nearly two months since McMillen attended a prom at the Fulton Country Club that drew fewer than 10 other students from Itawamba Agricultural High School. Most of her classmates attended a separate event at the nearby Evergreen Community Center, to which McMillen was not invited, and later posted pictures from the dance on Internet sites.


At the time, McMillen had already sued the district over its policy banning same-sex prom dates and for canceling an April 2 school-sponsored prom after the teenager pressed to bring her girlfriend to the event and wear a tuxedo.


U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled in March that the district had violated McMillen's rights, but he didn't force the district to reinstate the prom. District officials had told the judge that McMillen was free to attend a parent-sponsored prom.


School District Superintendent Teresa McNeece and Attorney Michele Floyd have said little publicly about the issue despite numerous calls seeking comment.


The ACLU alleged that McNeece and Floyd attended a meeting March 29 with parent organizers, where the decision was made to hold separate proms. In court documents, the school district said McNeece and Floyd did attend a meeting, but officials "deny that the parents decided instead to hold two proms, one for the plaintiff and one for her classmates."

This situtation is far from over.

Related posts:

Reasons why the 'sanctity' of proms MUST be preserved from Constance McMillen

Constance McMillen's classmates learn the costs of gloating

McMillen: I Was Sent to Fake Prom 




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