House Homobigots Force Navy to Reverse Marriage Decision

[Trigger warning for homophobia.]

On Monday, it was reported that Navy chaplains would be allowed to begin performing same-sex marriage ceremonies on bases in states where same-sex marriage is legal. That prompted decent, progressive-minded people everywhere to celebrate, and prompted a collection of assholes in the US Congress to throw a bigot-fit:

House members wrote to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to object to the Navy's initial ruling, saying the service was violating the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act by appearing to recognize and support same-sex marriages.

..."We find it unconscionable that the United States Navy, a federal entity sworn to preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States, believes it is their place alone to train and direct service members to violate federal law," said the lawmakers' letter, which was signed by 63 House members.

Now the Navy has "abruptly reversed its decision that would have allowed chaplains to perform same-sex unions if the Pentagon decides to recognize openly gay military service later this year." Rear Admiral Mark Tidd, chief of Navy chaplains, said his earlier decision has been "suspended until further notice pending additional legal and policy review and interdepartmental coordination."

I just don't even know what to say anymore. Millions and millions of people out of work, hungry, homeless, bankrupt, struggling in this country, and members of Congress are wasting their time writing letters to prevent military members from having access to one of the basic rights that should be guaranteed to every citizen of this nation.

Seems to me, if someone's willing to risk hir life for this country, the least we can offer in return is equality.

Of course, everyone knows I don't enjoy clarity of thought, which is probably why I also don't understand how the fuck anyone can claim to support the troops while treating some of them like second-class citizens in the country they'd give their lives to defend.

Heads-Up, Minnesotan Shakers

The proposed Minnesota state amendment that would ban same-sex marriage and encode discrimination into the state constitution, about which Representative Steve Simon (DFL Hopkins/St. Louis Park) spoke so eloquently, is likely to come up for a final vote in the state senate today.

OutFront Minnesota notes that the vote cannot be vetoed by the governor, so Minnesotans need to get busy calling their state senators and urging them to vote against this hateful legislation.

Call your senator and tell them to oppose the amendment! All you need to know is your zip code. Just dial this toll-free number:

1.855.508.6473

From this number, our system will automatically connect you with your elected officials. Just press 1 and follow the prompts that will connect you directly to your Minnesota State Representative and Senator — all absolutely toll-free. You can call in more than once to reach both of your legislators.

It is vital that undecided and swing vote senators from the suburbs and Greater Minnesota hear from their constituents in opposition to the amendment. Tell your friends and family who live in these places to contact their senators to vote no on the amendment! Have them call 1.855.508.6473 today!

If you're unable to speak with your senator, be sure to leave a voicemail. Tell them you're their constituent (mention your address) and leave them a brief message urging them to defeat this divisive amendment that will hurt Minnesota families.

The Senate Schedule may change! Stay up to date: We don't control the Senate's schedule, but we can keep you informed. They are scheduled to go into session at 10:30am on Wednesday and the amendment may be voted on right away or later in the day. Check your email and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and outfront.org/marriage for the latest information

You can also sign the petition against the amendment here.

[H/T to Shaker GoldFishy.]

What are we going to do with you, Tennessee?

[Trigger warning for GLBTphobia and bigotry in general]

You may have heard about the "Don't Say Gay" bill working its way through the Tennessee General Assembly. The bill would have barred teachers from discussing sexuality in front of students in grades K-8, or something like that:

[This bill, as] introduced, prohibits the teaching of or furnishing of materials on human sexuality other than heterosexuality in public school grades K-8. [emphasis mine]

It doesn't look like the House will vote on the bill this year, although the Senate is scheduled to take it up tomorrow. If the full Senate passes the bill, the House will have another opportunity to approve it next session.

But wait, there's more!

Last month, the government of metropolitan Nashville passed an ordinance requiring its contractors to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

But wait, states' rights!

Yesterday, a Senate committee passed The Equal Access to Intrastate Commerce Act, or as I have nicknamed it, the "We Don't Like Your Type Around Here" bill.

This bill prohibits any local government from imposing on any person an anti-discrimination practice, standard, definition or provision that varies in any manner from the definition of "discriminatory practices" under present law or other types of discrimination recognized by state law but only to the extent recognized by the state. Under present law, "discriminatory practices" means any direct or indirect act or practice of exclusion, distinction, restriction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or any other act or practice of differentiation or preference in the treatment of a person or persons because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age or national origin.

Under this bill, any such anti-discrimination practice, standard, definition, or provision imposed on any such person by a local government prior to the effective date of this bill would be null and void. The above requirements would not apply with respect to employees of a local government.

Additionally, this bill clarifies that with regards to discriminatory practices and human rights, "sex" means the designation of the person as male or female as indicated on the person's birth certificate.

"Bonus": Last time I heard, Tennessee does not allow trans people to challenge the gender that professionals assigned to them at birth.

Extra "Bonus": As you might have noticed, this bill prohibits all kinds of civil rights ordinances.

The Tennessee House has already passed the "We Don't Like Your Type Around Here" bill. If the full Senate votes to approve it, the bill will go to the desk of Republican Governor Bill Haslam.

So yeah, um, Happy Buddha's Birthday everyone.

Shelton Apologizes

[TW for homophobia and violence.]

On the heels of last night's homophobic tweet (see here and here), Blake Shelton has apologized:

Hey y'all allow me to seriously apologize for the misunderstanding with the whole re-write on the Shania song last night...

Later Shelton said:

@glaad hey I want my fans and @nbcthevoice fans to know that anti-gay and lesbian violence is unacceptable!!!!! Help me!!!!

I hope Shelton has learned that homophobia and gay bashing are nothing to joke about. And maybe GLAAD will take him up on his plea for help. Sounds like Shelton may be willing to be educated a little on the subject. Good on him if that's true.

(Via.)

That Ain't a Voice I Want to Hear

[Trigger warning for homophobia and violence. Note: My apologies to Deeks, who gave this a quick post while I was writing this one, and neither of us realized the other was doing so. Whooooooooops!]

Well, I've been considering watching NBC's The Voice, the peacock network's answer to American Idol. I've heard a few good things about it, and there's Christina, so.

But then last night, one of the judges on The Voice, country star Blake Shelton, took to Twitter to tweet this classic in paranoid, violent homophobia: "Re-writing my fav Shania Twain song.. Any man that tries Touching my behind He's gonna be a beaten, bleedin', heaving kind of guy..."



Oh, hello, Predatory Gay Trope. How awful to see you again.
Shelton's violent homophobia would be contemptuous enough on its own, but the contestant on The Voice who is getting the most attention—and whom the show has used most prominently in its promotions—is Nakia, who is himself gay.

Clearly, NBC has a problem on its hands if it's going to continue to rely on a gay contestant to generate buzz for its fledgling show, while handsomely paying the dividends to a celebrity judge who engages in violent homophobia for fun in his spare time.

Who, by the way, has engaged in homophobic humor before, so it's not like NBC can claim ignorance of his ignorance.

Contact NBC and let them know you object to their employment and promotion of people who express violent homophobia. The Voice doesn't appear in their dropdown list of shows yet, so choose "Other" at the bottom, which will open up a contact form.

[Via Andy.]

Tweet of the Day

[TW for homophobia and violence.]

"Any man that tries Touching my behind He's gonna be a beaten, bleedin', heaving kind of guy..." — Blake Shelton, in reference to rewriting his favourite Shania Twain song and, I guess, turning it into an ode to gay bashing. Nice.

More on this story from Liss here.

(Via Andy.)