Proud Ally

Proud Ally Soft Launch Party Tomorrow!
Tuesday August 24th, 6:30 to 8:30, Stonewall Inn

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

Fast Forward to the Future! Ella Morton teaches a tele school class in 2059 about weird U.S. laws.

Countdown to Proud Ally Soft Launch Party: 2 days!
Tuesday August 24th, 6:30 to 8:30, Stonewall Inn

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

Countdown to Proud Ally Soft Launch Party: 3 days!
Tuesday August 24th, 6:30 to 8:30, Stonewall Inn

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

Celebrities, if you’re not afraid to be a Proud Ally, others won’t be afraid either! Make a video! Tweet about us! Buy and wear a t-shirt! Use your creativity to support our mission!

Countdown to Proud Ally Soft Launch Party: 5 days!
Tuesday August 24th, 6:30 to 8:30, Stonewall Inn

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

Dancing for a cause!

Countdown to Proud Ally Soft Launch Party: 6 days!
Tuesday August 24th, 6:30 to 8:30, Stonewall Inn

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

In preparation for our soft launch party at the historic Stonewall Inn, the Proud Ally team shares with you why we care about equality and how you can get involved. Let’s show the world that love is not a special privilege.

Please join us for our soft launch party on Tuesday August 24th from 6:30 until 8:30 at the Stonewall Inn. 53 Christopher Street, New York, NY.

Video produced by Kornhaber Brown.

I’d like to begin this Friday’s news round up with a clip of Jon Stewart discussing allegations that Republican Lindsey Graham is gay. The segment is called “Friendly Fire: Gaywatch Edition”. Enjoy!

News Round Up:

*The Park Police apologized for preventing media from covering the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell demonstration at the White House.

*The San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Committee awarded Roy Ashburn its Pink Brick. The award is given to enemies of the LGBT community like former recipients Bill O’Reilly and Carrie Prejean.

*In the case of Harold Scull and Clay Greene, the county issued a statement saying their actions a response to charges of domestic abuse. Greene has yet to respond to the allegations.

*President Obama nominated the first gay man to the federal court. Edward DuMont was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District.

*Westboro Baptist church plans to picket lesbian teen Constance McMillen’s graduation.

*Maggie Gallagher resigned as president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

*Transgender Republican Donna Milo is running for congressional office in Florida.

*Rosie O’Donnell interviewed Mike Huckabee on her Sirius XM show.

Michelangelo Signorile is hosting an LGBT Leadership Town Hall today. The event will be broadcast live via Sirius XM Radio channel 109 from 2pm – 4pm Eastern. If you are not a subscriber to Sirius XM you can get a free 7-day pass and listen online.

Panelists include:

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese
National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis
Former Clinton White House adviser on gay rights Richard Socarides
Fellow contributor Pam Spaulding representing Pam’s House Blend

David Mixner provided some insider information on his blog after Press Secretary Robert Gibbs all but confirmed that there would be no legislative action on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell this year.

Mixner writes:

Today’s Denver Post carried a story that there is a fledging revolt of Democratic Senators who are no longer willing to follow White House direction on this issue. The article “Dems in Congress Unwilling to Wait…..” by Michael Riley highlights Senator Mark Udall who wants DADT repealed this year no matter what anyone else wants.

With that story, I have spent the day visiting on the phone with extremely reliable sources on Capitol Hill in both the Senate and House. With over twenty calls, I have been able to determine that the revolt is perhaps much larger than the media realizes. There is a sense of total frustration with the administration. They just don’t understand why the White House won’t move on this issue. Many of persons on the Hill that I spoke too are from states with large urban populations, including in the South. They feel the failure to vote this year on DADT will have a ‘chilling effect’ regarding voter turn out in the Fall elections. Those interviewed think that not only will many LGBT citizens stay home but also other progressives.

One high ranking staffer said, “We are going to get creamed in our district since need the gay vote. It is just only a matter of time that what is happening to Pelosi in San Fran works it way down to our districts. We don’t fucking need it. For God sakes, lets get this out of the way.” An elected official in DC told me, “If the President digs in, he then guarantees that the debate will be ugly and divisive. I am really concerned about their intransigence.” Another Chief of Staff confided to me that this is a ‘huge mistake’ since it was the President himself that set the expectations.

All that I spoke too have been involved in internal meetings to develop strategy to move this issue forward despite the White House. The “Denver Post” could have just unveiled the tip of the iceberg on this one.

Below is a video of GetEQUAL confronting Congressman George Miller on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Miller claims that it is a “complicated piece of legislation” that will take time because they want to “get it right”. He also says Congress is not delaying the mark-up. Oh really? Newsflash: ENDA has been before Congress for nearly three decades.