On November 27th at 9 PM (Eastern), Gay Patriot’s America podcast will be hosting an interview with Alexander Nicholson and Jarrod Chlapowski of Servicemembers United. Both are gay veterans whose organization works for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law banning homosexuals from openly serving in all branches of the military. Join Bruce, Dan and I as we find out more about their personal stories and talk about the upcoming “tribute on the National Mall to honor the 12,000 Americans who have been discharged under the [DADT] law since its inception”. This tribute is currently scheduled Friday November 30 – Sunday December 2, 2007 in Washington, D.C. I will be there giving my own support and will report on the event at this blog and my own. If you are able to, please join us.

To listen to great past interviews with Nicholson, Chlapowski and others from the Ramble Redhead podcast, along with links to videos and other information click here. On a somewhat related matter, The Frontlines is running an excellent series I recommend on other gay veterans during this week before Veterans Day.

– John (Average Gay Joe)

In my post yesterday, I expressed my reluctance at taking a stand I know to be controversial in the gay community. We gay conservatives are all too familiar with the hostility we experience when we come out to our supposedly tolerant fellows.

I was once introduced to a guy who, after hearing me express my passion for mythology and my love for movies, was proposing to me before we even met. And while he acknowledged finding me attractive when we did meet in person, he e-mailed me to say he couldn’t “get past” my politics, describing the current administration as evil and refusing to understand how “anyone with any intelligence or compassion” could support even an iota of support for “its ideology.”

He, like so many others, dismissed my ideas offhand. Even as he acknowledged my intelligence, he refused even to listen to my arguments. Based entirely on our political differences, he closed off any possibility of friendship, much less romance. After receiving the e-mail I excerpted above, I never heard from him again.

And while many of us gay conservatives have developed strong friendships, even romantic relationships, with our ideological adversaries, nearly every gay conservative I have met (or with whom I have corresponded) has experienced a situation similar to the one I described above, where someone who has initially expressed interest in us, won’t let themselves “get past” our politics.

It’s not just in relationships we experience this. When we go out into the gay world and come out as conservatives, we face insults, ridicule, derision and rejection.

Yet, the mainstream media doesn’t seem much interested in the mean-spirited anti-Republican intolerance of all too many gays. It doesn’t fit their narrative of the way the world works. Instead, they want to show how intolerant many Southerners are of gays. And while such intolerance may well exist, it might be more interesting if some news network actually looked at both “red-state” attitudes toward gays and gay attitudes toward conservatives and religious Christians. Such a program might allow people to compare the attitudes and see that social conservatives do not have a monopoly on intolerance.

Michelle Malkin reported earlier this week, ABC News is staging an “experiment” in Alabama hiring actors to portray same-sex couples publicly displaying affection. She says this experiment has earned the network’s news division a new motto: “All the news that’s fit to stage.”

Perhaps, the network should hire a few actors to wear pro-Republican T-shirts and walk through central West Hollywood to see the reaction they might earn. Heck, I’d be willing to do that and I wouldn’t even need to act.

Or maybe I could just conduct that experiment myself. Let’s see how much it would cost to get a Republican T-shirt and buy a videocamera. . . . That could actually be a learning experience for me in more way than one — as I could finally figure out how to post video on the web.

I have spent the better part of this afternoon, hesitating to write a post I know I should write. The skies are already dark here in Los Angeles and I’m only beginning to put pen to paper, er fingers to keyboard, to tap out on a post on a issue I really should have addressed long ago.

I guess it’s because I know this piece will stir up some controversy. Despite my predilection for speaking my mind, there are times when I would just rather not stir the pot. It’s days like these when I understand why Log Cabin leaders oftentimes seem to emulate a Hollywood star who delights in being liked.

But, if I didn’t speak my mind and stand up for controversial ideas, there really wouldn’t be much point in my blogging so I’ll risk the adverse reaction and express my disappointment with the House passage today of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). While I believe it wrong for a company to discriminate against an employee because of his (or her) sexual orientation, I also don’t believe the government should set a company’s employment policies.

Moreover, as an increasing number of corporations have adopted nondiscrimination policies (see e.g., this post referencing this article), such legislation is increasingly unnecessary. And even corporations without such policies have long since refrained from discrimating against employees because of their sexual orientation (or other factors irrelevant to their ability to do their job). Not only that, corporations which discriminate will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

Despite 365gay’s report that this passed “mostly along party lines,” 35 Republicans voted in favor enough to ensure the bill’s passage. The final tally was 235-184. Had those Republicans voted against the legislation, this statist bill would have been defeated.

It was unfortunate that the debate focused on the exclusion of protections for transgender employees in the final legislation rather than the appropriateness of the continuing expansion of the scope of the federal government.

Some might claim that it’s only fair to include gay people in the protections offered to other groups, but I contend that one doesn’t reduce the size of the federal government by increasing its scope. And for the past fifty years (and then some), American conservatives have been most concerned by the unending growth of the federal government, something which, alas, the incumbent administration has done nothing to contain.

It’s unfortunate the Log Cabin cheered the passage of a bill which will keep the federal government ever more involved in matters best left to the private sector. By standing up against ENDA, this ostensibly Republican organization could have provided an example for other GOP interest groups to follow — opposing legislation designed to benefit their group because it serves to increase the scope of the federal government.

If Log Cabin is serious about reducing the size of the federal government, then they could show it by opposing legislation which increases its scope.

It’s too bad that in the quest for that elusive goal of government-generated equality, all too many groups have forgotten the guiding idea of our party and our Republic — freedom.

Yesterday, November 5, Logo announced that it is launching the “first-ever half-hour news program for the LGBT audience produced by a major network news operation.” According to the Hollywood Reporter:

The 7 p.m. Mondays “CBS News on Logo” newscast is growing out of a partnership the channel, owned by MTV Networks, has had for two years with CBS News. A dedicated CBS News crew working out of its West 57th Street broadcast center had been producing three-minute interstitials that aired daily on Logo.

Joined by Itay Hod, Chagmion Antoine and other reporters across the nation, Jason Bellini will host the show. Court Passant will executive produce it.

Given that most gay people in the news media have a liberal bias, I did some google searches to see if Bellini might have a background in left-wing politics. Instead, I found j=he’s pretty much been a media professional for his entire career. Beginning his career with CNN, Bellini also worked for MTV before joining Logo. I did find one indication of possible Democratic Party affiliaton, but not enough to suggest that it might color his reporting. He had served as a Democratic page for Congress while a junior in high school.

When commenting last fall about the Mark Foley hullabaloo, he observed, “What most angers me about Mark Foley’s behavior is the violation of trust that, if the program survives, will take years to repair. ” I wonder if he would have said the same thing had he been asked to comment the early 1980s on the behavior of then-Democratic Congressman Gerry Studds. Bellini is exactly right about Foley’s violation of trust. Let’s hope he applies the same standards to Democratic misbehavior that he does to Republican misconduct.

As the show will deal with politics and cover the 2008 election, let us hope that unlike most other gay media institutions, this new one will consider the views of gay conservatives, taking the time to seek out voices outside the gay left mainstream.

And let us hope as well that make a great effort than to seek out more non-leftist gay views than those offered by Log Cabin. For that group clearly doesn’t speak for all gay conservatives. Heck, it doesn’t even speak for a majority of gay Republicans. While that supposedly Republican group failed to endorse the president in the 2004 election, he received (by our best estimates) about three-quarters of the gay Republican vote.

We also hope that this news program will cover important gay issues which the rest of the gay media has been largely ignoring, notably the increasing persecution of gay people in such Islamofascist regimes as Iran.

Given our experience with gay media, our welcome of this new news program may not be as warm as that of other gay bloggers. But, then again, just as this half-hour telecast is pioneering so too might be its coverage of events of the day and larger trends in our community. Perhaps, unlike most “mainstream” gay media outlets, this one will pay attention to gay conservatives, treat us fairly and truly cover the diverse views of gay and lesbian Americans.

My financial advisor, Laura Norris, asked me to invite readers in Southern California to a special Financial Planning seminar geared to gay and lesbian indviduals she’s hosting next Thursday, November 15, 2007 from 6:15 – 7:30 PM at Mel & Rose, 8344 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. The seminar will include a Wine-Tasting.

The featured speaker will be Christopher Johnson of RRJ Law who’ll address such issues as:

Protecting Income and Assets for ourselves and partners.

Decision-making if one partner is hospitalized.

Ensuring that our partners or other loved ones inherit our assets.

Finding means for our partners to receive incomes from pensions when benefits cannot be transferred

RSVP to me or to Laura directly.

First, there are a lot of caveats in that headline.  Second, I’m surprised they could narrow it down to 10.  Third, I hate to have been the researcher that had to do it…. they must have been poring through every minute of tape and newsprint since 1997 so they didn’t miss anything.  After all, the outrageous lies from the “Mainstream Media” are now hourly occurrences.

In any ase, for what its worth, here are just a few of the list of Top 10 Outrageous Liberal Media Quotes Over the Past 20 Years as complied by the Media Research Center.

#1 – Reviling Ronald Reagan:  “In the plague years of the 1980s — that low decade of denial, indifference, hostility, opportunism and idiocy — government fiddled and medicine diddled, and the media were silent or hysterical. A gerontocratic Ronald Reagan took this [AIDS] plague less seriously than Gerald Ford had taken swine flu. After all, he didn’t need the ghettos and he didn’t want the gays.”– CBS’s John Leonard on “Sunday Morning,” Sept. 5, 1993.

#3 – Typical Liberal Compassion:  “I hope his wife feeds him lots of eggs and butter and he dies early like many black men do, of heart disease…. He is an absolutely reprehensible person.” — USA Today columnist and Pacifica Radio talk show host Julianne Malveaux on Justice Clarence Thomas, Nov. 4, 1994, on PBS’s “To the Contrary.”

#6 – Talk Radio Terrorists:  “The bombing in Oklahoma City has focused renewed attention on the rhetoric that’s been coming from the right and those who cater to angry white men…. Right-wing talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Bob Grant, Oliver North, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Reagan and others take to the air every day with basically the same format: Detail a problem, blame the government or a group and invite invective from like-minded people…. Never do most of the radio hosts encourage outright violence, but the extent to which their attitudes may embolden or encourage some extremists has clearly become an issue.” — Bryant Gumbel, co-host of NBC’s “Today Show,” April 25, 1995.

#10 – Rosie vs. Radical Christianity:  “As a result of the [9/11] attack and the killing of nearly 3,000 innocent people, we invaded two countries and killed innocent people in their countries…. Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America.” — Rosie O’Donnell on ABC’s “The View,” Sept. 12, 2006.

You can’t make this stuff up.  Liberal Media Elitists truly do speak for themselves. 

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

There’s not much to add to this sentiment from Mark Levin’s new book, Rescuing Sprite. (h/t – The Corner)

I think there is something special about dogs. There’s a special connection or bond between humans and dogs. It’s as if dogs exist to bring people happiness. They teach us about life, loyalty, joy, trust, responsibility, and laughter. They help us clear out all the clutter that surrounds our busy lives and focus on what’s really important. They tell us it’s okay to take time to play sock-pull or have a catch, make silly noises, and enjoy yourself despite all the pressures we adult humans have deal with. Let me put it this way: Dogs are not pets. Dogs are family.

And while we are on the topic of recommending dog-related books….

…this one is a must-read and a serious tearjerker.  You will fall in love with Marley, I assure you.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

VOTE NOW!

Hey, we ain’t gonna win… the Gay Left bloggers are doing a damn fine job of a tight three-way race between them.  So much for dividing the liberal voting bloc!But let’s make sure we make a strong showing in the final days!   Last day to vote is November 8th.

PS – Today really IS Election Day here in Charlotte, NC.   We have a mayor’s race, and a critical Tax Repeal Vote on our transit tax for light rail.   More later on this throughout the day.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

OMG! How could I forget?!? According to that paragon of objectivity and unbiased reporting, Al Jazeera, today is the 28th annual “Death To America” Day in Iran! Now as one of the minions of the Great Satan I should know this, but alas like the typical dumb American I just don’t remember. So, are we supposed to wear any special clothing? Your basic black I guess, with the appropriate exploding accessories? Do I need to buy presents for the good little jihadis and if so, what? Hmm…perhaps a nice family visit where all the loved ones gather around the table and chant “Death to America!”. It’s so hard to understand holidays from other cultures. Perhaps a video to celebrate would be enough:

And don’t forget: Death to America!

h/t Hot Air

– John (Average Gay Joe)

Thanks to Vince P for the heads-up.  Here are the two videos he referenced in comments earlier.

First, almost unbelieveably from CNN is a report featuring blogger Michael Yon (he finally is on network TV!) discussing the dramatic improvement in Iraq.

Second, is the Victory Parade in Ramadi.

I’ll give the first person $100 that provides me definitive proof that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have both watched at least the CNN report.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Even the mainstream media can no longer deny what they see…. news that the “surge” has worked; news many of us in the alternate media have known for quite a few months now.

Associated Press:  Thousands Return to a Safer Iraqi Capital – Nov. 3, 2007

In a dramatic turnaround, more than 3,000 Iraqi families driven out of their Baghdad neighborhoods have returned to their homes in the past three months as sectarian violence has dropped, the government said Saturday.

Saad al-Azawi, his wife and four children are among them. They fled to Syria six months ago, leaving behind what had become one of the capital’s more dangerous districts—west Baghdad’s largely Sunni Khadra region.

The family had been living inside a vicious and bloody turf battle between al-Qaida in Iraq and Mahdi Army militiamen. But Azawi said things began changing, becoming more peaceful, in August when radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army fighters to stand down nationwide.

About the same time, the Khadra neighborhood Awakening Council rose up against brutal al-Qaida control—the imposition of its austere interpretation of Islam, along with the murder and torture of those who would not comply.

The uprising originated in Iraq’s west and flowed into the capital. Earlier this year, the Sunni tribes and clans in the vast Anbar province began their own revolt and have successfully rid the largely desert region of al-Qaida control.

Sattar Nawrous, a spokesman for the Ministry of Displacement and Migration, said the al-Azawi family was among 3,100 that have returned to their homes in Baghdad in the past 90 days.

“In the past three months, the ministry did not register any forced displacement in the whole of Iraq,” said Nawrous, who is a Kurd.

The claim could not be independently verified, but, if true, it would represent a dramatic end to the sectarian cleansing that has shredded the fabric of Baghdad’s once mixed society.

Mahmoud al-Zubaidi, who runs the Iraqi Airways office in Damascus, the Syrian capital, the flow of Iraqis has almost reversed.

What were once full flights arriving from Baghdad now touch down virtually empty, he told Al-Sabah, the government funded Iraqi daily newspaper.  Now the flights are leaving Damascus with more passengers but the volume of travel is off considerably.

MSNBC:  Daily Iraqi sectarian death toll hits rare low - Nov. 2, 2007

As if sensing a possible shift in the capital, Iraqis in mainly Shiite eastern Baghdad have returned to the streets in numbers not seen in months.

Firas Rahim, who owns a shop selling clothing for men and children in the Karradah neighborhood, said the number of customers in the store has risen 75 percent in recent days. He now stays open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Before the chaos diminished he was open only from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“I was afraid to stay open longer because of the bombings and violence. Things are looking better now. My business is booming,” Rahim said. “I have whole families coming in again. It’s a positive sign. I hope it lasts. Baghdadis love to live at night. I used to close after midnight and hope, someday, I can again.”

Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Jack Murtha…. calling Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Jack Murtha.  Are you still in denial about the truth on the ground?

It would be nice if the MSM coverage stressed the role of our US military as much as it makes it sound like things things “just happened.” 

So we’ll do it here:  Many thanks and prayers go to our brave men and women of all branches of our volunteer United States Armed Forces.  They have turned an important corner in our global war against Islamism.  They are the true American Heroes of our time.

-Bruce (GayPatriot) 

**Hat tip for these stories goes to Gateway Pundit, always a good resource for REAL news coming from Iraq!

So I’m sitting here in the house enjoying a lazy Sunday, when who shows up at my door? Why a young woman from the Del Toro campaign to ask for my support in the local election this coming Tuesday. She then handed me a door sign with her candidates’ photo and “Commander Del Toro for Delegate” emblazoned on it. For those of you who read my posting on this the other day, you might be aware that I have some…problems with his campaign style let’s say. Nice young woman, charming even, yet I took great pleasure in asking her to pass along a message to Mr. Del Toro that not only was I voting against him but “while I honor his service in the military, I take great offense to his cheapening it by using his rank in his campaign signs and literature”. She seemed sympathetic in her response by telling me that she has heard the same objection from a number of voters. Having lived in this area for quite a number of years, I believe her. I trust that whether Mr. Del Toro wins or loses in a couple of days that he has learned a valuable lesson for any future campaigns and will not repeat this mistake again.

I’ll try and include in this post a photo of the door sign this young woman handed me tomorrow. God bless.

– John (Average Gay Joe)

UPDATE: The photo of the campaign door sign is now posted as you can see. Mr. Del Toro seems like a nice enough fellow, well he has a friendly-looking face. Of course that only goes so far in elections and this doesn’t lessen my annoyance with his error in using military rank on his signs.

This is one of the topics we discussed on our GayPatriot’s America podcast last evening.

From an email from Log Cabin Republicans:

Log Cabin Republicans is proud to partner with Liberty Education Forum, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Servicemembers United (formerly Call to Duty) and the Human Rights Campaign for a three-day tribute on the National Mall to honor the 12,000 Americans who have been discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law since its inception.

On November 30th, 2007, a three-day tribute will begin on the National Mall in our nation’s capital to coincide with the signing of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.  One American flag will be placed on the Mall (between 7th and 14th Streets) for
each discharged service member.  These flags will stand as a testament to the national security harm caused by this discriminatory law, and will serve as the backdrop for a series of events honoring LGBT service members, their sacrifice, and their fight to serve with dignity.

Interestingly, the Log Cabin email also asks for financial help:

Whatever you can contribute…$25, $50, $75, or any other amount…will help us purchase and place these American flags.  (Link here)

Not to mix apples with oranges… but how can LCR afford to run a high-profile broadcast TV ad campaign against Mitt Romney, but not afford to buy American flags for what seems to be a very good visual demonstration against this Clinton-era relic of a law.

Where ARE their priorities?  And why can Tim Gill cough up money so easily for TV ads, but not for American flags??

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

Hey everyone!  I’m happy to report that for the fourth year in a row – GayPatriot.org is a finalist in the Best LGBT Category for the 2007 Weblog Awards. 

VOTE NOW!

Just a reminder: it is a QUICK voting schedule this year — the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas, Nov. 8.  (Dan, you will have to go…. I’ll be in Hawaii next week!) 

My fellow nominees in the category are:

Republic of T

Pam’s House Blend

Joe My God

Average Gay Joe  (yeah!!!!!!!!!)

Susie Bright’s Journal

The Bilerico Project

Keith Boykin

Fetch me my axe

Mombian

Congrats to all!   Pam’s House Blend is the reigning champ in this category.  And it is VERY nice to see some new blogs on the list this year.

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

If you missed it, here is our BlogTalkRadio show from earlier this evening. Dan spoke about his recent road trip back and forth across the USA and John (AverageGayJoe) called in as well.

And although the GPW Road Odyssey was the prime topic, we did venture into the political arena with some discussion about the Bill Clinton-signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, and the recent anti-Romney ads by Log Cabin Republicans.

As Campaign 2008 moves into high gear, we will be sure to have more “GayPatriot’s America” broadcasts on a regular basis. So stay tuned!

-Bruce (GayPatriot)

UPDATE (on 11/2/07 by John @ Average Gay Joe):

I enjoyed last night’s discussion and may join Dan and Bruce again on the podcast when I’m able to. If you haven’t listened to Gay Patriot’s America, please do. I thought I’d post some brief thoughts about what was talked about and provide some useful links as well:

1. I for one really enjoyed Dan’s postings about his Cross Country Odyssey, but was also a bit disappointed too. I mean, he makes this great trek and stops to see rest areas but did what about sharing some culture, Dan, eh? I mean nothing says “America” like the World’s Largest Twine Ball, Truckhenge, or even stopping off to fill ‘er up at the Petrified Wood Gas Station. And what gay man wouldn’t stop at Dorothy’s Home? But noooooooo, Dan had to spend time with family. Sheesh, where are the man’s priorities?!?
2. Sauron in a bikini-brief? Yeah that might have been a bit over-the-top but c’mon, there are a few in LOTR I wouldn’t have minded seeing in their undergarments.
3. Is it Ja-KO-bee or JA-ko-bee? Beats me, but Sir Derek Jacobi is indeed an accomplished actor well worth seeing or listening to. His narration of The Illiad is superb and brings the story alive. Other audiobooks I mentioned in the podcast include Pyramid and 1000 Years of English Royalty. Also check out Sir Ian McKellen’s narration of The Odyssey, The Lord of the Rings, Anthony Everitt’s Augustus, Beowulf and Joseph Ellis’ Patriots.
4. Bruce & Dan tried to keep me out until after the awards (my Preciousssssss!), but I picked the lock with just a strand of hair and some chewing gum. Who knew that all those years of watching MacGyver would come in handy like this one day? I wonder if posting nude photos of Hillary would go too far? MU-HA-HA-HA!
5. Pretty cool that Dan got to meet Gateway Pundit, I’ve enjoyed his blog for quite awhile now. I’m a bit curious who the “reader in Columbus, Ohio” was he ate lunch with. Hmm…need better tracking software methinks.
6. I enjoyed Dan’s tale about the time he spent with his niece, it made me think of my nephew. I wanted to mention that I had just purchased The Dangerous Book for Boys and we are having fun with the ideas on stuff to do. It really is a good book for boys, I may just have to keep it awhile to read through it myself!
7. I’m pretty envious that Dan met Mary Cheney. I would enjoy a long conversation with her and to hear her perspective on important matters.
8. I was surprised to hear about the event on November 30th in Washington, DC to “honor the 12,000 Americans who have been discharged under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law since its inception”. I’ll have to go and give my support not only for those who have served, but for the repeal of this law that prevents those willing and able to do so from serving. I’m glad that both Bruce and Dan caught LCR’s omission of the fact that this disgraceful act was passed by the Democrat-controlled Congress in 1993 and signed into law by Bill Clinton, who had lied to gay Americans in the campaign by promising to overturn the ban only to codify it with the stroke of a pen. Btw, former Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva I mentioned works with the Human Rights Campaign to get the ban lifted. As I said in the podcast, I have serious disagreements with HRC but though our politics differ I’ll put that aside in this one case. Alva himself is an impressive fellow whose service exemplifies honor, courage, sacrifice and what it means to be a Marine.
9. In case you missed it, watch Hillary try and spin her way out of a gaffe on illegal immigration. Chris Dodd, of all people, came across as quite reasonable while Hillary looked like an idiot.

Until the next time…