Politics
Reid files cloture on 'Don't Ask' legislation
Vote set to take place on Tuesday at 2:15
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Blade photo by Michael Key)
Reid’s motion to proceed on the fiscal year 2011 defense authorization bill was met with objection by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), prompting Reid to move to end debate by filing cloture.
This manuever means a vote to start official consideration of the defense bill and amendments will take place Tuesday at 2:15 pm. Moving forward will require 60 votes from members for the U.S. Senate.
On the Senate floor, Reid said after a successful vote for cloture on Tuesday, opponents of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal would have an opportunity to strip the bill of this language as well as address other matters senators may find controversial.
“I understand there are issues that I’ve talked about the last couple of days and many other important matters that colleagues on both sides of the aisle wish to address,” Reid said.
Reid also said he expects the time before lawmakers break again for recess after the first week of October will be spent on debating and voting on amendments on the defense authorization bill.
The majority leader predicted a final vote on the legislation as a whole won’t take place until the lame duck session in November.
“I’m willing to work with Senate Republicans … to complete this bill as soon as possible, which likely will be after the recess,” Reid said.
McCain, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Commitee, objected to consideration of the defense authorization bill because he said the Democratic leadership is planning amendments unrelated to the U.S. military.
The Arizona senator said Reid’s plans to attach to the legislation the DREAM Act, an immigration-related bill, and a measure addressing the “secret holds” U.S. senators can place on presidential nominations aren’t appropriate for defense legislation.
McCain also lamented how a hate crimes protections measure was attached last year to Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization Act.
“Under this majority leader, we have witnessed the unfortunate and growing politicization of the national defense authorization act,” McCain said. “Time to offer and debate important, defense-related amendments to this bill on the floor is being limited or cut off, so that the majority leader can push through highly political legislation that has little or nothing to do with national defense — legislation that would never be referred to the [Senate] Armed Services Committee if it were introduced independently.”
McCain also expressed discontent with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal language in the bill, but had a notable change in rhetoric from what he’s said previously on the provision.
The senator acknowledged the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” provision has relevance to the U.S. armed forces. McCain also said he has no position on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal at this time, but wants to wait for the Pentagon working group to complete its study on the issue on Dec. 1.
“I want to make one thing very clear: I do not oppose or support the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ at this time, but I do oppose taking legislative action prior to the completion of a real and thorough review of the law,” McCain said. “A complete survey to evaluate the impact of repeal on the men and women serving in our military should be concluded before moving forward.”
Many speculated McCain previously had stronger objection to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal earlier this year because he was facing a challenge from conservative J.D. Hayworth in a Republican primary.
But the primary has since taken place and McCain has emerged as the victor. The Arizona senator now faces a general election against a Democrat.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) responded to McCain’s objection to proceeding by noting the Senate has taken up amendments on a variety of issues to defense authorization legislation in previous years.
“The Senate as a body has right to offer amendments which are not germane or relevant,” Levin said.
Levin said the Senate has previously considered amendments to defense authorization bills on indecency standards, minimum wage, welfare reform and the death penalty for drug-related killings.
“I didn’t hear anybody make the charge at that the time that somehow or another the Senate rules were being utilized to bring to the floor of the Senate an amendment which wasn’t directly related to the bill in front of us,” Levin said.
Activists target McCain
Earlier on Thursday, activists affiliated with GetEQUAL interrupted a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to persuade McCain to drop his objection to moving forward with the legislation., according to a statement from the organization.
Working in conjunction with HERO, an Arizona-based grassroots group, activists interrupted the hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building while holding up images of those who obstructed civil rights in the past, such as former Alabama Gov. George Wallace.
Additionally, they held up signs saying, “Senator McCain repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ do you want to be the next George Wallace?” and “Senator McCain repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,’ it’s not too late to change your legacy.”
Robin McGehee, co-founder of GetEQUAL, said in a statement the protest was necessary because McCain is “more interested in placating the McCain-Palin wing of the Republican Party.”
“When 80 percent of the American people, the Joints Chiefs of Staff, military leaders, and active-duty servicemembers all agree that it is past time we stop the firing of critical military personnel, you can be assured that you’re standing on the wrong side of history,” she said.
Politics
Anti-LGBTQ Daily Wire host says 2 men shouldn’t be allowed to adopt babies
” […] because babies need mothers. They also need fathers, which is why two women shouldn’t be allowed either.”
NASHVILLE – Anti-LGBTQ Daily Wire podcast and YouTuber Matt Walsh joined the growing chorus of far-right and conservative voices outraged that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg went on paternity leave from his job in August after he and his husband Chasten had adopted two children.
On his show Monday Walsh not only criticized Buttigieg, but he attacked same-sex couples adopting children altogether.
“It’s absurd for any public employee, paid on taxpayer dime, to be given that much time off. Now, you can make an argument for women on maternity leave but not for men. Paternity leave is a nice luxury for private companies that can afford it. The U.S. government is not a private company – it’s a public institution, deeply in debt, failing in just about every way and everywhere. So this is not a time and not the place for those kinds of luxuries. But that’s the somewhat safer point to make, right? You are in a much more hazardous place, you are in more hazardous waters when you go away from that and, instead, you start saying mildly critical things about paternity leave in general as a concept.”
“I also didn’t say that there’s nothing at all for a man to do for his family after a child is born. I said that as far as caring for the newborn himself, most of that is going to be done by the mother. She, in most cases, will be feeding the child. The child also needs and wants his mother’s presence, his mother’s touch, her voice. The father should be interacting with the baby also, obviously, but the infant is far more focused on his mother at that age. And needs his mother more. There is no mother in the Buttigieg household, but that doesn’t change the point here.”
“Babies need their mothers, which is why two men shouldn’t be allowed to adopt babies in the first place. And the outrage mob can now start a secondary campaign over that comment. But I’ll say it again. Two men should not be allowed to adopt babies because babies need mothers. They also need fathers, which is why two women shouldn’t be allowed either.“
Politics
Pete Buttigieg calls out Tucker Carlson over attack
Fox News host mocked transportation secretary over paternity leave
Appearing remotely on MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace’s politics program Friday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called out Fox News host Tucker Carlson for the attack on his parental leave.
“This attack is coming from a guy who has yet to explain his apparent approval for the assassination of Harvey Milk, ” Buttigieg said.
During his Thursday evening program Carlson said, “Pete Buttigieg has been on leave from his job since August after adopting a child—paternity leave, they call it—trying to figure out how to breastfeed. No word on how that went. But now he’s back in office as the transportation secretary and he’s deeply amused, he says, to see that dozens of container ships can’t get into this country.”
Sec. Pete Buttigieg calls out Tucker Carlson for the attack on his parental leave, “This attack is coming from a guy who has yet to explain his apparent approval for the assassination of Harvey Milk, ” pic.twitter.com/DsyQgCyUNO
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 15, 2021
Tucker Carlson mocks Pete Buttigieg for taking paternity leave: “Paternity leave, they call it, trying to figure out how to breastfeed, no word on how that went.” pic.twitter.com/zFnp6uSser
— nikki mccann screamírez 👻 (@NikkiMcR) October 15, 2021
National
Biden recognizes National Coming Out Day as time to honor LGBTQ people
White House statement denounces ‘bullying and harassment’
President Biden recognized Oct. 11 as National Coming Out Day in a statement on Monday calling the occasion a time to celebrate the “courage of LGBTQ+ people who live their lives with pride, create community with open arms and hearts, and showcase the strength of being your authentic self.”
Biden ticked off in the statement the achievements on LGBTQ policy, including signing an executive order on his first day in his office ordering federal agencies to implement the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last year against anti-LGBTQ discrimination to the furthest extent possible.
“Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done. Anti-LGBTQ+ bills still proliferate in state legislatures,” Biden said. “Bullying and harassment — particularly of young transgender Americans and LGBTQ+ people of color — still abounds, diminishing our national character. We must continue to stand together against these acts of hate, and stand up to protect the rights, opportunities, physical safety, and mental health of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.”
Read Biden’s full statement below:
Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on National Coming Out Day
Today, we celebrate National Coming Out Day and the courage of LGBTQ+ people who live their lives with pride, create community with open arms and hearts, and showcase the strength of being your authentic self. Today and every day, I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know that you are loved and accepted just the way you are – regardless of whether or not you’ve come out.
My Administration is committed to ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can live openly, proudly, and freely in every corner of our nation. I am proud to lead an Administration with LGBTQ+ officials serving openly at the highest levels of government — and prouder that together we have made historic progress advancing protections and equal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community. From acting on Day One to prevent and combat discrimination, to enabling all qualified Americans – including transgender Americans – to serve their country in uniform, to defending the human rights of LGBTQ+ people around the world, my Administration has been clear that we will continue to champion the dignity, equality, and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done. Anti-LGBTQ+ bills still proliferate in state legislatures. Bullying and harassment — particularly of young transgender Americans and LGBTQ+ people of color — still abounds, diminishing our national character. We must continue to stand together against these acts of hate, and stand up to protect the rights, opportunities, physical safety, and mental health of LGBTQ+ people everywhere. From defeating discriminatory bills to passing the Equality Act, we have more work to do to ensure that every American can live free of fear, harassment, and discrimination because of who they are or whom they love.
To LGBTQ+ people across the country, and especially those who are contemplating coming out: know that you are loved for who you are, you are admired for your courage, and you will have a community — and a nation — to welcome you. My Administration will always have your back, and we will continue fighting for the full measure of equality, dignity, and respect you deserve.
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AndrewW
September 16, 2010 at 8:42 pm
GetEQUAL continues to make the LGBT Community look ignorant and childish. This latest publicity stunt doesn’t change any minds or votes or anything else. It just makes people view as an inconvenience and childish.
The vote on DADT won’t take place until after the mid-terms – it will be 1994 all over again, then.
Thankfully, respectable LGBT media has chosen to ignore the self-serving publicity stunts of GetEQUAL. They are simply trying to get attention so they can raise money. GetEqual is money wasted. Keep them on ignore. If we fund them, they continue to hurt us.
R. Zeke Fread
September 17, 2010 at 10:22 am
I’m a strong supporter of my fellow GLBT activist who work tirelessly to achieve our common goal of full equality. In this case, I agree with Andrew with some of GetEqual’s tactics. I admit in my 25+ years as a grassroots (non-paid) activists, I’ve been involved in some in your face civil disobedient actions, protests. have been arrested and spent time in jail cells. Back in the day, this was the way to bring awareness to our plight, have our voices heard and solicit fair-minded allies to our cause. As the GLBT civil rights movement has evolved, so, has our method of communicating and educating lawmakers and the public .Bullying, disruptive behavior and/or intimidation can backfire, causing more harm than good. As well as serve those who adamantly oppose GLBT equality, by giving them the ammunition they so desperately desire to further their anti-gay agenda, and make our community look bad as a whole.
I’ve seen first hand how civil, respectful and open dialog with some opponents and especially those who are on the fence about GLBT equality, can indeed open their hearts and minds to listen. We must learn to work with-in the political system, supporting, not attacking, lawmakers or candidates who publicly endorse GLBT equality. Most importantly, remind them that we are in fact a strong voting block, and our votes can help to decide outcomes of elections.
It’s not my intention to trash GetEqual or their work. Only to offer my suggestions on how they can use their resources and members in a more productive manner.
Michelle Hinds
September 17, 2010 at 1:04 am
Please stop destroying the foundation of America. It seems like America is being completely crumbled. Why are we tearing apart our military with this frivolity? My husband has served 24 years in the Navy, he is a sweet heart and he knows of gays and lesbians and treats them very well. He always has. But when it comes to getting down to business on the ship, he does his job and he, like the rest of us that live the life of serving our country believe that this nonsense is a waste of energy and really pathetic frankly. Why can’t we stop spinning wheels on these petty things when we have so many people out of work? What about the straight men and women on ships and the battle field that don’t want to share berthings with lesbians or gay men? As a woman, I don’t want a lesbian or a man sharing a bathroom, shower or berthing with me!
Sloan
September 20, 2010 at 3:59 am
Lesbian, gay and straight service members are ALREADY serving side by side. The only question is do we treat them all fairly and equally — free from discrimination, regardless of whether they are straight or gay. It is time to put our national security ahead of partisan politics and petty prejudices. Call your 2 U.S. Senators TODAY at 202-224-3121 and urge them to vote to REPEAL Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Call the Senate. 202-224-3121. Repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Vote is imminent, victory is up to us.
Jim Billingsley
September 21, 2010 at 2:02 am
President Obama & Congress:
You garnered our support (votes) during the election then immediately threw us under the bus on gay marriage right after the election. I voted for you on what you promised and now I regret it. If you don’t back the repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell, regardless of the form it is represented in a bill I will never vote for another democrat in my life. Nothing is more important to me in my lifetime than this issue and I am tired of democrats talking the talk and then not walking the walk. I voted for you under this campaign issue and marriage and you threw us under the bus on the marriage issue. Do the same here and I will never vote for a democrat ever again. I don’t care who is running against you, I’ll vote against you because you lied.
My views on the subject:
Ok, it really kills me to read all of this garbage and that it’s still an issue in this country. I served in the Navy, had consistent 3.8 evals and was outed by an ex-friend. Next thing I know I am am getting hit on by complete strangers in nice clothes on the base??? I knew it was NIS personnel. What a joke, the fact that I did my job well didn’t matter and ofcourse I told the guy several times I didn’t know what he was talking about and he eventually stopped. The mere fact that they would waste taxpayer’s money on this when I was doing a great job astounds me. The next issue is the separate housing, what better way is there to label an anonymous person publicly within a society by seperating them and putting them in seperate housing? This action would expose all most every gay service member and is reminiscent of the Japanese internment camps of World War 2. It saddens me as an American that as a society we are still struggling with this issue. In most European Navies it’s no longer an issue. I’ve dealt with this for a long time and the problem isn’t about performance, it’s about ego and insecurity. What a waste.
Michelle FYI, I spent a lot of time having to shower, berth with straight men. but as a gay man I wouldn’t have a problem sharing a bathroom, berthing or showering seperately in individual showers while you were present because on the Eisenhower we had individual showers. It’s about boundaries and civil rights, women are finally allowed to serve on ships and I was enlisted long before that was allowed. So you are ok with the change that US Navy Ships now allow women to serve aboard but are opposed to gay enlistment and service?