Black Gay Bloggers on Obama

I meant to do this a while back but, you know, things happen. But even as the turn of events in this presidential primary season have made me more bullish on my support for Barack Obama, I am often guided by people in the blogosphere and one of the myriad of factors that I take under consideration is what black gay bloggers that I respect are saying about Obama - Even those who have yet or do not plan to endorse him.

As Super Tuesday approaches, I wanted to give you a run down of some of the most thoughtful posts I have seen out there.

Supporters:

In a January 8th post well-known poet and writer Reggie Harris seems a bit amazed about the giddiness he's felt ever since Obama won the Iowa caucuses. Even if Clinton, by then, had won New Hampshire. "Obviously I need a cold compress and a little lie down," he writes, "But still, I'm sorry, I can't contain myself. In point of fact, even with Hillary's win in New Hampshire, I remain, well....kinda giddy! I've already had the dream of loading all our nieces and nephews into the car and heading to DC on January 20, 2009, to be there in person when History is made..." (full post here).

The giddy bug also bit activist Kenyon Farrow the next day. He writes "My cynicism is somewhat on hold, and I am trying real hard to show some restraint and not run out and get one of those 'Barack The Vote' hoodies I saw for sale. Maybe that’s what’s different here–elections as commodity, politicians as celebrity. But I am joining my homie The Black Snob and am allowing myself to get caught up. Fuck it!" (full post here).

A few days later, as Clinton and Obama began to trade barbs on the issue of race, Farrow takes the Clinton camp to task for pushing Bob Johnson, the founder of BET, to defend Clinton on her cred. "As black as the Clintons think they are," writes Farrow, "they are white enough to not realize how many Black people actually despise Bob Johnson."

Farrow says that he understands that not every black person will back Obama but takes Johnson and other black leaders who came to Clinton's defense to task for doing it without criticizing her campaign's actions. "I said a few posts ago this election was going to help expose the tensions of the civil rights old guard as they fall out of favor," Farrow concludes, "not because Black people are more conservative, but because they are now too entrenched in the machine to be effective as agitators. And their tacit support of the Clintons against a Black candidate generally more progressive than either Bill or Hillary, is quite telling" (full post here).

Farrow offers further thoughts on the spat on race here, in the wake of Obama's victory in South Carolina.

Oh, and you might remember that little dust-up that happened over an OpEd piece in The Advocate by Jasmyne Cannick ("Gays First, Then Illegals") in the Spring of 2006. Yes, I was one of the people who signed a letter in response to that OpEd piece.

What might surprise you, though, is that I have actually had a few cordial exchanges with Jasmyne over the years and, while I wasn't necessarily looking for specific commentary regarding last night's debate and the issue on immigration over on her blog, the 2006 dust-up has been on my mind as the Democratic candidates have tackled the issue in recent days.

So, in some ways it didn't surprise me to find that Jasmyne had reacted to the Democratic candidates' comments on immigration last night.

I don't expect Jasmyne, and many other African-Americans, or Americans for that matter, to be as immigrant-friendly as I am. But even if I sometimes wonder if I am falling for oratory over substance on the immigration issue and, by doing so, I am papering over some of the real tension that exists out there, I am still amazed that Obama is willing to stand up for immigrants.

In any case, you might be surprised by Jasmyne's comments reacting to the debate:

"For me the war isn’t against the immigrants," she says, "if I lived in the conditions many of them managed to escape, I’d be trying to get over here too…just keeping it real. I think our beef is with the employers that take advantage of the immigrants and in the process displace African-American workers" (she admits that her views have changed over time and that a particular experience involving the ex-Greys' Anatomy star Isaiah Washington had to do with it, full post here).

Michael at Bloggernista (who also blogs at Bilerico) joins Jasmyne as one of the most supportive black gay bloggers for Obama. He has a nifty compendium of the speeches that Obama has given in which he has mentioned the gay community.

Similarly Ron at Mad Professah urges people to donate to the Obama camp.

Finally A Wicked Woman has endorsed Obama because, well, John Edwards is gone.

Undecided/Unconvinced/Uncommitted:

John K. also takes on the immigration issue from a different angle and says "I think it's too soon to write off Latino support for Obama everywhere, even if some places - California and Texas, say - prove tougher than others - like New Jersey and Connecticut" (full post here).

I put John under this heading because I don't think he has outright come out in support of Obama even if he seems to be leaning Obama (I might be wrong).

This might be why he might still be on the fence: "None of my correspondents seem in the least worried about Obama's rhetoric--beyond the brilliant speeches, and his victory speech in South Carolina was one of the best I've ever heard him give--or his policies, whatever they may be, they don't seem troubled by his overt use of Republican discourse or ideological and policy vagueness, they don't think that Republican smear machine, coupled with the establishment media (I'm always trying to find the right name for these folks), will wring and wrack him in the same way that it did Gore and Kerry" (full post here)

In a January 28th post on his blog, which is also featured in the new Washington Post online site The Root, journalist and writer Kai Wright says "For all their high jinks, the Clintons are not responsible for injecting race into the campaign; they just rudely forced everyone to acknowledge it."

He also argues that by trying to make the issue of race irrelevant in order to be electable, Obama has chosen to avoid complex debates about race in America: "To reach for the future Obama envisions, he must ultimately reject the racial exceptionalism he’s been granted. If he does not, he will stand as the crowning achievement of a 'colorblind' America, in which the success of a few obscures the degradation of millions—and lets everybody off the hook on creating equality."

Wright also worries about what this means if Obama is elected president: "Obama has sold his racial transcendence as proof of the American dream, and that may just make him our first black president. The question for black America is what he will do with the power he gains from shedding his skin. If he continues to avoid unpleasant questions about race, we're in deep trouble."

But ultimately, Wright also sees potential: "In his King Day speech, Obama did point out the structural racism that circumscribes too many black lives. Here's hoping that kind of talk continues. If he uses his transcendence to prod America into a long overdue examination of these structures, he could change the course of history" (full post here).

On a similar tip, over at Pam's House Blend, Pam is sick of hearing about the "post-racial" election and also wonders is there is a wider discussion on the issue of race that is not being held (full post here).

In addition, in a separate post, Pam addresses some of her mixed feelings about Obama's usage of the word "gay" in his speeches and the times where he has been endorsed or campaigned with anti-gay religious leaders:

I am of two minds of this -- I am grateful that Barack Obama, whose campaign has needed to atone for the triangulation strategy of courting blacks by tossing gays under the bus with the appearance of homophobic "ex-gay" advocate Donnie McClurkin at a gospel concert. He has made public statements distancing himself from this flap and reiterated support for LGBT equality (sans full marriage equality, of course, something none of the top tier have supported).

However, I am disheartened by the burden Obama has been saddled with, as a person of color, to be the sole party delivering today's message. Addressing bigotry in any community that has suffered oppression at the hands of the majority can, and must be done, particularly in a year where we have both a woman and a black man with a credible chance of winning the nomination and making it to the White House.

That we cannot discuss the matter of homophobia or anti-Semitism in the black community bluntly is everyone's problem. This burden and legacy of fomenting bigotry out of fear and ignorance is borne by all of us. If no one takes responsibility, we all fail. And we're failing -- look at how easily gender bias and racial overtones have surfaced over and over in the campaign so far. It's almost reflexive to "go there," the toxicity and effectiveness of stirring those sentiments has been part of the political process by both parties for so long that they are addicted to it (full post here).

Over at The Huffington Post, Rod McCullom, who blogs at Rod2.0 and also writes for several publications including The Advocate (see this related April 2007 cover story), argues that, in endorsing Obama, Senator Ted Kennedy invoked the civil rights legacy of the wrong Kennedy family member.

"John F. Kennedy was a cold warrior," McCullom writes, "a hawk and an interventionist who escalated Dwight Eisenhower's Vietnam mini-series. Sure he inspired the youth and optimism, but if he ran today, as a Democrat, JFK would be hanging out with Sam Nunn or (shudder) Joe Lieberman."

McCullom challenges views that there is an extensive JFK civil rights legacy - despite proposing a landmark civil rights bill in 1963 - and says that Bobby Kennedy might have been a better figure to compare to Obama. "Not that any comparison is necessary," he ends (full post here).

Larry D. Lyons, II takes a look at the imagery that Obama uses on his campaign website as well as other imagery including the Obama Girl here and here.

Then there is Bernie who has made a decision on his vote but not necessarily on which candidate. "I’ve said little [on the election] because I have already made up my mind. I’m voting for a Democrat, and it really doesn’t matter who it is" he says and ads "What does matter is that we not weaken the party with a fractious campaign. Whoever comes out on top needs everyone behind him/her so that we win the White House. What does matter is that the next president articulates a vision to get us out of this mess and reinforces the basic constitutional provisions that will guarantee we never again experience the coup d’etat we’ve been living under. The next president must repair the damage done to our national reputation overseas and never again make a unilateral decision to make us the aggressor in an international conflict" (full post here).

And an update on Latino bloggers I have mentioned before:
Weird, above are some of the blogs I read from the queer black blogosphere who have expressed themselves on the presidential election and not one has necessarily come out strongly on behalf of Hillary Clinton.

But, among the Latino bloggers that I know, Emanuel Xavier and Miss Wild Thing both went for Hillary (here and here, respectively).

I did get confirmation tonight, as I had heard, that actor Wilson Cruz is definitely an Obama Guy. He just left a message here.

President Obama

So the Clinton camp is left claiming that the states they originally agreed to leave behind - Florida and Michigan - are theirs or else. This after they have played the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink gamebook on Obama.

Tonight there was no doubt left that she is done, finished, kaput. I don't say that because I am a misogynist or a Hillary-hater or an elitist or whatever else others might say. I am just a realist.

Superdelegates! History is calling! Do your thing!

RELATED:

• The end for the Clinton Strategy (The Politicker)
• This former Hoosier can't understand how Hillary Clinton could win Indiana (Manhattan Offender)
  

Obama on the black-brown divide and immigration

As blogs and punditry go, I know this blog is a little fish compared to the DailyKOS's, Huffington Post's, Andrew Sullivan's or Drudge Report's out there. Then again, punditry is not what this blog was set up for though we touch on politics from time to time.

Still when I read a CBS News blog post by Maria Gavrilovic on a Barack Obama campaign stop at a Los Angeles technical college earlier today describing his speech to a "predominantly African-American and Latino crowd," the heart soared. Again.

No. It wasn't necessarily because he used the word "gay" in his speech (as in gays are part of the community that he hopes to represent when he becomes the President of the United States), which he did. In front of what some would consider a non-gay friendly environment. Yet again (btw - blogger Chris Crain has an interesting post on Barack's usage of the g-word in his speeches).

No, it wasn't that.

It was that in a week that saw media ratchet up the interpretation that Latinos might not vote for Obama based on his race (I wrote about it on Tuesday), here's what Barack told the mostly black and Latino crowd:

Over the past few weeks, we've heard some cynical talk about how black folks and white folks and Latinos cannot come together. We've heard it before. We've heard talk about the so-called black-brown divide, and whenever I hear this I take it seriously because im reminded of Latino brothers and sisters that I worked alongside on the streets of Chicago more than two decades ago.

We have to stop letting those in power turn us against each other. No place do I see this more than in our immigration debate. I am tired of people of people using this as a political football. We need to solve this problem.

And on his father's immigrant experience:

My father when he came here, he didn’t look like you know - he didn’t look like he stepped off the Mayflower. But we have to remember the history of immigration in this country. When the Irish first came, people were anti-Irish, when the Italians first came, people were anti-Italian and so we’ve got to remember our own past history. And let me remind everybody that not everybody who came in through Ellis Island had their papers in order.

Yes, I get that he's going for the Latino vote in California. But this is damn fine oratory at that.

I know some gay immigration rights activists out there are not happy that Obama, as a Senator, has yet to endorse the Uniting Americans Families Act or UAFA (which would allow for US citizens to sponsor their foreign-born same-sex partners for immigration as heterosexual partners can through marriage). Neither has Hillary Clinton. And there definitely should be more pressure on both raise their commitment on behalf of bi-national couples.

Let's hope that Senator Ted Kennedy, who is a UAFA sponsor and recently endorsed Obama, can bring the Illinois senator there.

But imagine a candidate invoking the immigration issue not only to appeal to Latino voters but also to urge better relations between African-Americans and Latinos. Pretty amazing.

UPDATE: Hillary in tonight's debate on undocumented immigrants -

"I was in Atlanta last night, and an African-American man said to me, 'I used to have a lot of construction jobs, and now it just seems like the only people who get them anymore are people who are here without documentation.'"

If that's not racial wedge-driving at its most shameless, I don't know what is. I actually gasped when she said it and was not surprised to see Pat Buchanan of all people praising Hillary on MSNBC after the debate for her stand on immigration.

USAID to launch LGBT Global Development Partnership Initiative

[UPDATE - 6/14/12: I have been told that Monday's event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for the fall]

Few details are publicly available but this is something big.

On Monday, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is holding a gathering at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC, to celebrate LGBT pride month and to launch their Global LGBT Equality Partnership.

USAID was launched by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to handle civilian foreign aid. It operates based on guidelines from the U.S. President, the U.S. Secretary of State and the National Security Council and its goal is to provide "economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States."

The Partnership would make it current USAID policy to make federal foreign aid available to agencies working to strengthen LGBT rights throughout the world although I assume it would limit it to a number of nations that meet certain diplomatic standards and to organizations that have the infrastructure to handle federal grants from the United States.

From the event press announcement:

Eighty-five countries and territories criminalize LGBT behavior, seven countries have a death penalty for same-sex sexual activity, and fewer than 50 countries punish anti-gay discrimination in full or in part. The partnership will enhance LGBT equality through providing a greater voice in civil society and political processes, increased access to services including police and justice systems and improved economic security.

The Partnership will cast a worldwide net but, speaking specifically about Latin America, a lot of the limited funding that LGBT-rights organizations get comes from local and European sources. One of the few exceptions when it comes to U.S. foundations has been the work of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice which has long recognized the benefit of supporting international LGBT work.

I know from sources that USAID has been laying the groundwork and already granted some awards.  Details will have to wait another day.

The initiative follows a presidential directive last year to use U.S. foreign aid money to secure and protect LGBT rights throughout the world and the exemplary work done by the State Department under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on these same issues.

On a related matter, today the U.S. Department of State released the following pride month message from Hillary in which she addresses several of the Department of State's international achievements.

Ugly Betty for Hillary (Wilson Cruz for Obama?)

This election is too important to stand on the sidelines, especially for my generation, I believe that Hillary Clinton can turn this country around - Ugly Betty

That's actress America Ferrera, who is the star of the ABC television show "Ugly Betty" as quoted by the Great Britain's The Independent.

We don't doubt the intelligence and political commitment of America - even if we have been consistently underwhelmed by the show - but I am still sticking with Barack Obama.

By the way I've heard that openly gay actor and hottie Wilson Cruz (best known for the groundbreaking series "My So-Called LIfe" also on ABC) is for Obama.

I'll confirm later if I get in touch with him.

That reminds me, I should really get the complete "My So-Called Life" series on DVD.

Homosexual Immorality

It might have been shocking (if not surprising) to hear General Peter Pace, the Joint Chief of Staff and top military leader in Iraq, call homosexuals "immoral" in a Chicago Tribune interview a couple of days ago but it's even more shocking that the two leading Democratic presidential candidates have had so much trouble distancing themselves from his comments.

You would think that both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would be smart enough to unequivocally oppose those comments. Alas, neither did.

To wit:

• "Hillary: Homosexuality Immoral, Maybe" (The Politico, March 14, 2007)
• "Obama Mum on Gay 'Immorality'" (Newsday's Spin Cycle, March 14, 2007)

There is no reason why in 2007 any Democrat (ole Republican for that matter) should hesitate at all on this question. I doubt either truly thinks that homosexuality is immoral but that they should even hedge on the issue speaks to political pandering at its worst.

UPDATE: Both camps issued clarifications through spokespersons according to The NY Times.

Barack Obama on LGBT families

I have been struggling with returning to a more frequent blogging schedule. Most of it is work related stuff that keeps me from writing as much as I would like. But that's life.

It's been a while since I wrote about Barack Obama and the presidential race. I just checked past posts to see when I first mentioned the Democratic presidential candidate and I was surprised to see that it goes back to March of 2007 - loooong before his momentum-changing January caucus win in Iowa.

That all seems so long ago now and I still remember the general reaction from friends involved in politics in New York when I'd tell them I preferred Obama over Hillary Clinton. The general reaction seemed to be a mix of pity and concern for preferring someone who OBVIOUSLY had no chance in getting the Democratic nomination (I remember a friend telling me that he respected my political conviction but that sometimes in politics one had to be pragmatic and go with a winner).

Then came LGBT Latinos for Obama at a time when the argument was that few Latinos would vote for a black man and Sergio Bendixen, a pollster working then for the Clinton campaign, whispering to the New Yorker magazine that "...the Hispanic voter--and I want to say this very carefully--has not shown a lot of willingness or affinity to support black candidates."

Well, guess who Bendixen is working for now. Enough said.

Now, there's been a lot of blabbering about Obama becoming a centrist politician and of sacrificing his true political nature but, for some of us who have followed him even before Iowa, his recent positioning on issues have not been a surprise and actually reflect some consistency, except - perhaps - on FISA.

On LGBT rights some will still not forgive him for the Donnie McClurkin drama from last year despite the fact that McCain has lurched way right on LGBT issues flip-flippity-flopping on DOMA and adoption rights for same sex couples - trying to appease those on the extreme homophobic right who would love to see the gays stoned and tarred. And despite that Obama has been close to stellar on his support for the LGBT rights.

Anyway, as the presidential election enters the silly season (if these were the primaries and John McCain was a Democrat he'd long ago been asked to leave the race as desperate and insubstantial as his campaign is becoming), I wanted to bring your attention to a pretty amazing statement released by the Obama campaign earlier today.

Barack Obama on LGBT families:

In light of the recent and offensive statements by McCain on the right of same-sex couples to adopt, Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of the Family Equality Council, wrote the following to the Obama campaign:

As a lesbian mother and the executive director of Family Equality Council, the national organization working to ensure equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families by building community, changing hearts and minds and advancing social justice for all families, I know how hard parents work to raise happy, healthy children. Regardless of their sexual orientations and gender identities, regardless of how many parents or caregivers are present in a family, all parents begin each day with their children at the forefront of their thoughts. On behalf of diverse families, I ask for your plan to recognize, respect, protect and celebrate all of the loving families you seek to represent... These families want to know how your administration will address their needs. What policies and positions will you take to make sure that all loving families are recognized, respected, protected and celebrated? How will you lead all families to a brighter future?

This afternoon the Obama campaign posted excerpts from a response from Barack Obama himself which reads as follows:

While we live in a nation that is enriched by a vast array of diverse traditions, cultures and histories, it is our commonality that most defines us. The desire to build a life with a loved one, to provide for a family and to have children who will grow and thrive -- these are desires that all people share, regardless of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. My own experience has taught me this lesson well. I was born to a single mother, my devoted grandparents helped raise me, and then I married the woman of my dreams and had two beautiful daughters.

and

We know that the cost of the American dream must never come at the expense of the American family. For decades we’ve had politicians in Washington who talk about family values, but we haven’t had policies that value families. Instead, it’s harder for working parents to make a living while raising their kids. It's even harder to get a break.

That's why I'll double spending on quality after-school programs - so that you can know your kids are safe and secure. And that's why I'll expand the Family Medical Leave Act to include more businesses and millions more workers; to let parents participate in school activities with their kids; and to cover elderly care. And we'll finally put federal support behind state efforts to provide paid family and medical leave. We'll require employers to provide seven paid sick days each year. We'll enforce laws that prohibit caregiver discrimination. And we'll encourage flexible work schedules to better balance work and parenting for mothers and fathers. That's the change that working families need.

and

We have to do more to support and strengthen LGBT families. Because equality in relationship, family, and adoption rights is not some abstract principle; it's about whether millions of LGBT Americans can finally live lives marked by dignity and freedom. That’s why we have to repeal laws like the Defense of Marriage Act. That’s why we have to eliminate discrimination against LGBT families. And that’s why we have to extend equal treatment in our family and adoption laws.

I’ll be a president that stands up for American families – all of them.

My expressed support for Obama has nothing to do with a cult of personality or the so-called Obama-mania that opponents use to disqualify support for the man (as a matter iof fact, I avoided some recent 'Gays for Obama' gatherings in the city because they seemed to much about rah-rah which I wasn't interested in).

I loathe false hopes and I am always weary of predicting who will win, specially when it comes to political campaigns. But this presidential race offers such an opportunity to do the right thing. Vote for Obama!

BTW, today and a bit late to the game, the DC-based Human Rights Campaign announced that they will officially endorse Obama this week.

• Related: Sen. Obama responds to Jenifer Chrisler's questions on family policy (Family Equality Council blog, August 5th, 2008)

In Puerto Rico, AIDS care in crisis

New York Times reporter Erik Eckholm spent a few days in Puerto Rico investigating claims that mismanagement of Ryan-White HIV/AIDS care funding had led to clients going without HIV treatment medicines for weeks at a time and to HIV-treatment waiting lists for newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals.

A few days ago, upon his return from the island, I was glad to be able to act as translator for a telephone interview he did with a service provider as he sought additional information for the article he was writing.

The result of his investigation appears in an article from today's newspaper ("Puerto Rico's AIDS Care in Disarray Over Funds," June 5, 2007).

Ratching up their Latino cred (or at least attempting to do so), Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn and Democratic New York State Senator (and presidential candidate) Hillary Clinton have each released letters expressing concern about the goings-on (Coburn's letter can be accessed here; I can't find an online link to the Clinton letter but I've posted an image of it above and here).

There are advocates working diligently in Puerto Rico, New York and DC to draw attention to the dire situation in the island and to make sure that those without access to HIV medicines are quickly brought into appropriate care.

Let's hope that the Times article puts enough pressure on the Puerto Rico government and on federal HIV treatment funders to resolve the situation quickly and prevent this from ever happening again in the island.

Do Republicans get a pass?

So a minor political dust storm was kicked earlier this week when both leading Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seemed to hesitate for a moment on whether homosexuality was "immoral" in the wake of General Peter Pace's comments to the Chicago Tribune.

Both Clinton and Obama quickly released statements (here and here, respectively) seeking to quell the rising sentiment that they were perhaps more concerned about losing potential votes from centrist Democrats or moderate Republicans.

But what about those leading Republican presidential candidates?

The Politico has asked the question to representatives from the top three Republican presidential candidates (McCain, Giuliani and Romney) and - guess what - they all dodge the question as well.

In the meantime, John McCain seems to have stumbled on a question he didn't like either. No, not just on the issue of "immorality" of homosexuality but on the use of condoms to stem the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

From the Washington Post's On the Campaign Trail blog:

And then someone asked about public funding for contraception in Africa to prevent the spread of AIDS.

"I'm sure I've taken a position on it in the past," he stammered as he looked to his communications director. "I'm sure I'm opposed to government funding."

Sensing a vulnerable moment, reporters kept the questions coming. What about sex education in the schools? Should it mention contraceptives? Or only abstinence, like President Bush wants?

"I think I support the president's present policy," he said, tentatively.

More questions: Do condoms stop sexually transmitted disease?

A long pause.

A stern look.

"I've never gotten into these issues or thought much about them," he said, almost crying uncle. "Obviously, we all want to stop the spread of AIDS. Everybody wants to do that. What's the most viable way of doing that?"

Well? The reporters asked?

In a last ditch attempt to rescue himself, McCain told an aide to go get a briefing paper prepared by Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, a doctor, who he said has been advising him on "these issues." But the aide couldn't find the briefing paper. "We've lost it," McCain mumbled.

"Whether I support government funding for them or not, I don't know," McCain said about contraceptives. He then said he'd look into it for the reporters, who finally let him off the hook and moved onto other subjects again.

Yikes! This sure will be one looong presidential race...

Honduras announces LGBT hate crimes investigation unit after pressure from the United States

This week the Central American government of Honduras announced the launch of a special police unit dedicated to investigate crimes committed against members of the country's LGBT population ("Special unit will investigate crimes against 'gays'", La Tribuna, November 13, 2011).

The announcement follows years of local, regional and international criticism of the Honduran government's handling of a number of horrific crimes committed against the LGBT population in the past few years and, in particular, transgender women.

Of key interest in this announcement is not only that it's probably the first Latin American country to launch such an unit but also the direct and highly visible hand the United States government had in pressuring Honduras to investigate these crimes.

First came a statement from the office of U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens released on January 17th which read, in part, as follows:

The protection of Honduran law extends to all its citizens regardless of sexual orientation and the Lobo Administration has repeatedly expressed its commitment to defend the rights of all Honduran citizens.

It is in this regard that we call upon Honduran law enforcement authorities to vigorously investigate these crimes, bring to justice the perpetrators, and take all necessary steps to protect LGBT persons, who are among the most vulnerable to violence and abuse in Honduras.

Then came statements in late January from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. President Barack Obama himself in which they alluded to the Honduran murders and offered assistance in the form of experts who could train local police officers on how to investigate the crimes ("United States to assist in the investigation of transgender murders in Honduras", Blabbeando, January 28, 2011).

In comments published yesterday by La Tribuna, Oscar Aguilar, the Spokesperson for the newly launched Sexual Diversity Unit of the National Investigation Chairmanship (DINIC), said that the unit would work closely with local LGBT-rights advocates and organizations.

"We know that many of these crimes are left unresolved due to a failure in determining the real causes why they were committed and that is the reason why the Sexual Diversity Unit was launched: To try to resolve them," he told La Tribuna.

In the interview Arce admits that officers have yet to be trained specifically on dealing with the LGBT community but highlights the unit's specific focus on investigating LGBT crimes.   The Unit opened it's first office in Tegucigalpa on Monday and are concentrating on local crimes but Arce says that he hopes to expand their reach and open other offices in other regions of the country down the line.

I am a little weary about Arce's admission that the Unit's officers have yet to receive specific training on how to investigate LGBT-related crimes despite the public offers for assistance from the United States.  It raises suspicion that the announcement might be more of a public relations effort to push back against international criticism rather than a full-faith effort to combat homophobic crime in Honduras.

It is still a remarkable example of how the United States can use pressure on Latin American governments to demand protections for their LGBT populations in a diplomatic but effective way. 

Photo: DINIC Spokesperson Oscar Aguilar via La Tribuna.

Previously:

• U.S. to assist in the investigation of transgender murders in Honduras (Jan. 28, 2011)
• U.S. Ambassador to Honduras addresses transgender murders (Jan. 22, 2011)
• U.S. Embassy in Honduras expresses concern for recent LGBT killings (Jan. 19, 2011)
• IGLHRC: Ask Hinduran authorities to put an end to transgender murders (Jan. 11, 2011)
• Gay rights under attack in Honduras (Oct. 19, 2005)

Warning: This banner might induce transgender threesomes (UPDATED)

• UPDATE: La Prensa reports that a number of unknown individuals identified themselves as members of the Free Expression Foundation to get past security and removed the banner overnight on August 22nd of 2011. The matter is under investigation by university authorities.

In January of this year United States president Barack Obama took the highly unusual step of publicly calling on the Honduran government to step up its investigations of a series of brutal murders committed in recent months against the LGBT community - and particularly against transgender women.  The statement was quickly followed by Honduran press reports that the U.S. Department of State, under Hillary Clinton, had committed to send trained personnel to investigate the murders.

I am not aware of additional information on efforts by the United States to assist Honduras in the investigate these crimes but a week ago members of the Honduran LGBT community staged a protest outside the Honduran Congress in Tegucigalpa once again calling for justice.

In such an environment you might think a campaign calling for respect for diverse communities might be welcome with open arms. Instead, a pro-diversity campaign organized by students at the National Autonomous University of Honduras has drawn the ire of some parents and faculty members who allege that a prominently placed banner promotes immoral behavior.

"I want the authorities in charge of making the banner visible to university youth to remove it for the sake of the mental health of the students - it does nothing more than to promote homosexuality among students" said María Antonia Cruz, identified by La Tribuna as the mother of two students attending their first semester at the university.

Editors at La Prensa, covering the story in yesterday's paper, stated rather matter-of-factly "This banner invites men to have relations with men, women with women and there is even an image of a threesome, which shows a man dressed like a woman grabbing the hands of two men."

Responding to the outrage and irresponsible press coverage, a representative of the non-profit student organization that developed the campaign said it only was meant to promote tolerance and that, while the focus of attention had been placed on a banner that alluded to sexual diversity, it was one of five different banners, including one promoting racial tolerance and another promoting and end to violence in sport events.

"Students are deeply engaged in their campaign because it's about tolerance, respect," said Angela Valladares of the Free Expression Foundation as quoted in Tiempo, "Young people have raised their voice [in favor of] tolerance, choice and respect".

The banner in the middle of the controversy shows a lesbian couple and a gay couple holding each other with a transgender woman in the middle holding the hands of a man and a woman.  A legend on the top of the banner reads "Freedom starts with the respect of differences; you decide if you want to free."  It hangs prominently from the side of a university building.

The banner promoting racial and religious tolerance shows five young women each holding a heart in their hands.  The legend reads "It's not the skin that makes you different, but what you hold inside; we are more than 7 ethnicities and 2 religions - we are what we can do with our minds."

Interviewed by La Tribuna on the decision to leave the banners up despite the protests, the university's director defended the student-led campaign.

"In this country I think we sometimes lack profundity in the analysis, and institutional functions are debated and misunderstood because the role of the church is one thing and that of the University is another" said Julieta Castellanos.

Castellanos said the University did not function as the church nor did it exist to preach the gospel.

Related:

• Free Expression Foundation Facebook page

United States to assist in the investigation of transgender murders in Honduras

BREAKING NEWS: The lat 48 hours have brought tremendously sad news when it comes to international LGBT activism:

42 year-old David Kato, by all accounts a tremendous LGBT rights advocate from Uganda, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer on Wednesday, months after he was prominently featured in a local newspaper as a man who deserved to die for being gay.  This, of course, in a country whose legislature is considering a "kill-the-gays" bill drafted with the help of right-wing Evangelical preachers from the United States.

His death, understandably, has elicited worldwide repudiation in what seems to be a turning point for the global LGBT rights movement.  Sometimes it's difficult not to make facile assertions about a specific moment, but this moment certainly reminds me of the immediate outrage that followed the beating and death of Matthew Sheppard in the United States, if on a global scale.

Today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released a statement which reads, in part, as follows:

We are profoundly saddened by the loss of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato, who was brutally murdered in his home near Kampala yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues. We urge Ugandan authorities to quickly and thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for this heinous act.

Hours later, U.S. President Barack Obama also released a statement. An excerpt:

At home and around the world, LGBT persons continue to be subjected to unconscionable bullying, discrimination, and hate.  In the weeks preceding David Kato’s murder in Uganda, five members of the LGBT community in Honduras were also murdered.  It is essential that the Governments of Uganda and Honduras investigate these killings and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Last week I posted my latest update on the horrible string of brutal murders that have been happening in Honduras involving, for the most part, victims who are transgender women.  In that post, I noted that the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Lllorens, had made the Honduran authorities responsible for the proper investigation of these crimes.

What I did not say in that post was that in my years covering LGBT rights in Latin America, I could not remember the last time an U.S. ambassador had spoken up specifically on the issue of human rights violations against a Latin American country's LGBT population.

Well, tonight, add the voice of a sitting United States president to that list. And words do matter.

Time will tell if the senseless brutal murder of David Kato will bring upon the sort national soul-searching and re-evaluation of common-held beliefs that needs to happen for Uganda to counter the virulent homophobia of its political leadership (it's too soon to tell but click here for a hopeful editorial from Uganda's The Monitor).

As for Honduras: Following today's statement by United States President Barack Obama, the Honduran president Porfirio Lobo Sosa held a press conference today and announced that the United States Department of State had committed to send trained personnel to investigate the recent number of transgender murders, even as he took the opportunity to play down the number of transgender murders.

According to La Tribuna, Lobo said that the U.S. Department of State had committed to send an expert on police investigations and a legal adviser who would evaluate all internal investigations on these crimes so far.  The Honduran president said that the assistance would come at his request and added that they would help to investigate "the murder of journalists and what is alleged to be one or two gays who were murdered".

Unites States pressure on certain countries, when it comes to human rights violations, can be very effective. I am glad to see the Obama administration take these steps and hope that they show a new and open willingness to engage Latin America and, particularly, the LGBT rights movement in the region.

Previously:

• The U.S. Ambassador to Honduras addresses transgender murders (Jan. 22, 2011)
•  U.S. Embassy in Honduras expresses concern for recent killings of members of the LGBT community (Jan. 19, 2011)
• Ask authorities to put an end to transgender murders (Jan. 11, 2011)

It gets better for queer Latinos - sometimes

In the wake of a recent increase in reported suicides by young queer folk in the United States, gay journalist Dan Savage had a little idea back in September: What if people could upload short videos on YouTube and speak from personal experience telling younger folk who might be going through rough waters or be considering suicide that their lives mattered and to stick it through the hard times?

Using his nationally syndicated sex-advice column and highly visited blog, Savage launched a YouTube channel he called The "It Gets Better" Project and invited people to post their videos there.

The response has been overwhelming. In just one month, the site has posted more than 2,000 videos which have garnered more than 10 million views.  Just yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posted her own take.  Accordingly, there has been the need to create a stand alone site called, not surprisingly, "It Gets Better" which allows you to submit videos and also provides links to The Trevor Project for kids who might be feeling bullied and overwhelmed and might be thinking of taking their lives.



That's the background.  What I wanted to highlight is that a friend of mine, Emmanuel Garcia, has been taking a look at the videos and been compiling a list of those submitted by Latino folk ("Latin@s: It Gets Better / Se Pone Mejor").

I have posted a couple of the videos featured by Emmanuel. If you have leads on any other "It Gets Better" videos submitted for the project not listed on Emmanuel's blog, please go to the link above and leave a reply message on his post indicating which videos he might have missed.

Photos from the anti-Prop. 8 Rally and March in NYC

So there was this little court ruling in California today that ticked off a couple of people or more. Basically, with the exception of a Latino justice member, the court ruled that Proposition 8, which banned marriage equality in California back in November, should stand, even as they also decided that the 18,000+ marriages between same-sex couples that had taken place in the state until the voter referendum passed, would also stand.

In response there were 100+ rallies all over the country today and - wouldn't you know it - I decided I would go crash the NYC rally. Here, dear readers, is the rally in pictures.

An estimated 2,000 people marched in New York City but, to my knowledge, nobody got arrested (unlike protesters in San Francisco where 200+ people were arrested). Marchers met in front of Stonewall at Sheridan Square and promptly began to make their way to Union Square going up on 6th Avenue.

There were a couple of eye-catching banners up front...

First of all was the glittery green banner calling for a brand new March on Washington DC for Full Equality. The idea, which I personally think is counter-productive in that it draws too much energy for the impact it might get, has been recently championed by Californian activist Robin Tyler and, most recently, long-time LGBT rights political figure David Mixner.

The banner was actually the work of banner-maven (and rainbow flag creator) Gilbert Baker. More on him later.

The second banner directly appealed to sentiment that, in light of all the recent advances and setbacks when it comes to marriage equality, President Barack Obama has been mostly silent. On that respect, and as an early Obama supporter, you might be surprised to know I am in agreement, even though I also think some of the anti-Obama sentiment stems from lingering disappointment among some New York Hillary Clinton supporters that she did not win the presidency (and those who will always remain weary of Obama on LGBT issues despite his overtures to the LGBT community and the fact that this is still a young presidential term).

Most folk, though, were marching without an agenda other than to be recognized as equals.

Also, along the way, folks standing in apartment windows and balconies cheering the marchers on.

And, finally, a gathering at Union Square, with several speakers including New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Back to Gilbert Baker: Facing Union Square, is clothing store Filene's Basement. At one point someone pointed out to me that two men were standing up on the 6th floor and had unfurled a banner that read "New York Marriage Equality Now". It was Mr. Baker and a friend, who were promptly asked to fold the banner by the store's staff (additional photos in the link at the bottom of this post).

Good friends were seen, including Dougie (above) and Diana (below). Also seen: Pedro Julio Serrano, Dulce Reyes, Johnny Wilches, Joe Jervis, Father Tony, Rod Towsend, Paul Schindler, Wayne Hoffman, Wayne Besen, Andy Towleroad, Pedro Julio Serrano, Michael Camacho, Mike P., Paul Vitale, Noel "Double-Headed Disco" Alicea, Jason Nelson, Dulce Reyes, Andres Hoyos, John Ozed, Sophia Pazos, Jason Haas and many, many others.

I did not take video but Russia Today did this report featuring Diana and Dulce:


And Joe Jervis of Joe.My.God took this video as well:

Boy in Bushwick has additional photos and videos here.

And over on the West Coast, Rex captured images of a humongous rally that took place in San Diego. Click here.

My friend, John, has some sweet words here.

And, as always, Andy Towleroad has the best national wrap-up here and here.

If you want to see some of my additional photos, go here. Or click on the slide show below.

El Diario La Prensa on 'Gang of Three' deal, NYS same-sex marriage bill

For the second time in less than a month, El Diario La Prensa, New York City's largest Spanish-language newspaper, has come out inf favor of a bill granting same-sex couples the right to marry.

In "Representation that Counts" the paper's editors warily welcome the power-sharing deal that three dissident Democratic State Senators grabbed yesterday as a condition of getting back into the Democratic fold.

On the issue of Latino empowerment, [Ruben] Diaz and [Pedro] Espada Jr. both complained, and rightfully so, about the under-representation of Hispanics in government. They may have succeeded in beginning to turn a page. And they have an opportunity here to build momentum not only for increasing representation, and the quality of it, but ensuring that it yields effective policies and resources for families struggling to get by every day.

But they also take exception on one specific issue: Same-sex marriage.

But what is troublesome is that Democrats will not put gay marriage on the table any time soon, to Diaz’s relief and the disappointment of people who have been denied this right.

On November 11th, in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the paper unequivocally stood behind marriage rights for same-sex couples in New York for the first time ("A stand for same-sex marriage"):

...there are loud voices, among them State Senator Ruben Diaz, who threaten to thwart any legislation that would allow same-sex marriage in New York.

Rev. Diaz and others are supposedly not for denying rights to gays and lesbians but believe that marriage should be between a man and woman. Yet, it’s this very discriminatory position that serves to exclude lesbian and gay couples from accessing rights, benefits and treatment that heterosexuals take for granted.

This use of religious beliefs to block basic civil rights undermines the separation of church and state in this nation. The basis of that separation lies in the experience of early American colonists who had fled religious persecution elsewhere to pursue tolerance and freedom in the “new” world.

At the time I noted that it was striking that the paper had rightly singled out Diaz for scorn on this issue. In a terse response posted at the Room 8 blog, Diaz returned the favor by railing against El Diario, New York State Governor David Paterson and Hillary Clinton - while praising Republican leaders ("In total disagreement with El Diario La Prensa").

One of The Gang's most compelling criticisms before they ended their stalemate yesterday was the lack of Latino leadership in what was shaping up as the axis of power in Albany for the next few years. But is showering them with perks and titles the best way to increase Latino representation or just a reward for their intransigence and self-serving moves?

Guess which three Democrats have learned that they can grand-stand their way to power the next time the Democratic Senate majority stands in the way of one of their pet projects.

Update: Today's New York Times on the deal ("3 Senate Democrats End Holdout in Return for Power Sharing"):

More important, said people involved in the negotiations, Mr. [Ruben] Díaz is now confident that there will be no vote in the Senate next year on legislation to legalize gay marriage, something which most Senate Democrats support but which Mr. Diaz strongly opposes.

Word of the potential retreat on a same-sex marriage legislation disappointed some backers of equal treatment for gay people.

“All civil rights movements have moments where they move forward, and moments of perceived setbacks,” said Assemblyman Daniel J. O’Donnell of Manhattan. “If in fact our civil rights were bargained away, that’s deplorable. But in the end, I think justice and fairness will prevail.”

OMG! Double-headed Obama Obamarama!!!

Bestest Barack Obama presidential fundraiser ever!!!! EVER!!! Plus! It's sorta gay to boot! Hawt!!

The full monty: DOUBLE HEADED DISCO presents

OBAMARAMA: A Fundraiser

DJs Jeff Jackson and Disco Connie say "YES WE CAN!" It's a special edition of our monthly Double Headed Disco party to raise money to help make Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Disco classics, underground treats, bumper car runway and the usual shenanigans. Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin drags welcome. John McCain: stay home.

Saturday, September 27
10pm - 4am

Double Headed Disco
Nowhere
322 East 14th Street
between 1st/2nd Aves
NYC

$5 suggested donation at the door ($100 suggested by moi!)
All money raised will be donated to the Obama For America campaign

Obama Campaign Announces New LGBT Endorsements

For additional information please check out this Advocate online exclusive. I am more than glad to have been included in the list:

CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES LGBT ENDORSEMENTS
Equal rights activists from around nation announce support for Obama

CHICAGO, IL – The Obama for America campaign today announced the endorsement of LGBT activists from around the nation. The activists include state and municipal elected officials, the leadership of the AFL-CIO's Pride at Work initiative, and prominent equal rights activists from states holding upcoming primary contests.

"In order for America to make progress toward social and economic justice, we need a president who does not mock, but rather embraces bold change, and who advances the vision of the beloved community. Our movements for equality, for healthy families and excellent schools, for workers' rights and shared prosperity, for veterans' care, fairness in the courts, and a safer environment have more than a friend in Barack Obama. We have a champion equal to the challenges we face and able to lead us forward together," said Hans Johnson, President, Progressive Victory.

"The finger-pointing and polarization in politics have become a threat to our well-being as a nation. I support Barack Obama because his compassion, respect for even those who oppose him, and inclusive values can build a new kind of national unity across the many lines that have previously divided us," said Missouri State Representative Jeanette Mott Oxford.

"We're building a coalition that includes Americans with diverse ideologies from all regions of the country to bring the change we desperately need," said Senator Obama. "That's the type of coalition we'll need to build to achieve equal rights for all Americans. I'm grateful for the endorsements of these prominent activists who fight every day for the principles of equality and justice." The full list of LGBT activists announcing their support for Obama today are below:

Jeanette Mott Oxford, Missouri State Representative, District 59-St. Louis City

Wilson Cruz, Actor, Los Angeles, CA

Kevin Jennings, Founder and Executive Director, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Donna Rose, Former Board Member of the Human Rights Campaign; Former member of the Hillary Clinton for President LGBT Steering Committee; Transgender Activist

Jeremy Bishop, Executive Director, Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)

Ian Palmquist, Executive Director, Equality North Carolina; Immediate Past Chair, Equality Federation

Jo Kenny, Development Director, Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)

Stephen Glassman, Chairman, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

Hans Johnson, President of Progressive Victory

Craig Bowman, Former Executive Director of National Youth Advocacy Coalition

Donna Cartwright, Communications Director, Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)

Perry Nelson, Founder, Gateway Stonewall Democrats (St. Louis, MO)

Ben Turner, Co-Founder and Former Co-Chair of the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats (Harrisburg, PA)

Robert Perez, Public Relations Executive and Former WA Press Secretary for Kerry-Edwards

Judy Chambers, Co-Founder and Former Co-Chair of the Capital Region Stonewall Democrats (Harrisburg, PA)

Conrado Terrazas, Political Field Director for SEIU 1000 (CA)

Lisa Hazirjian, Visiting Professor, Carnegie Mellon University (PA)

Gregg Gallo, National Stonewall Democrats Board Member (WA)

Anita Latch, Washington State Stonewall Democrats President

Jenny Durkan, Washington John Edwards for President State Chair (2004 & 2008)

Krista Strothmann, Baltimore Chapter of Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)

John Klenert, Campaign Board of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and Member of Board of Directors for DC Vote

Marti Abernathy, Transgender Advocate (Indiana)

Joe Darby, Vice President, Pride at Work (AFL-CIO), Lansing, Michigan

Randall Ellis, Former Executive Director of Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas

Andrés Duque, LGBT activist (NY)

Gary Fitzsimmons, Dallas County District Clerk (TX)

Tim Downing, Member of Board of Directors for Human Rights Campaign (OH)

Christina Ocasio, Transgender activist; 2004 delegate to the DNC Convention (TX)

Dyshaun Muhammad, Former GLBT Caucus Chair, Young Democrats of America; Former Political Chair of Twin Cities HRC Steering Committee (MN)

Pauline Park, Chair, New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy

Glen Maxey, Former Texas State Representative (first openly gay member)

Marti Bier, Former Field Director for PFLAG

Doug Lakey, Director of West Coast Office of Alliance for Justice; former Development Director for the Human Rights Campaign

Terry Penrod, Member of Board of Directors for Human Rights Campaign (OH)

David Peña, Jr., Executive Director, National Hispanic Business Association

John McClelland, President, Denton County Stonewall Democrats (TX)

Joe Lacey, Dayton (OH) Board of Education Member

Tony Ballis, President, Dayton (OH) Stonewall Democrats

Noel Alicea, LGBT activist (NY)

*Organizations listed for identification purposes only.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2008
Obama Press Office, 312-819-2423

In this week's Gay City News...

Today's Gay City News has an article on the strength of the general support that Hillary Clinton enjoys in New York and California. I've been quoted in support of Barack Obama. Read on here.