Come to the National Equality March - October 11, 2009

The Dallas Principles Articulate A National Call to Action

The Dallas Principles articulate a common set of goals and principles that we hope will inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve full LGBT civil rights now.

The idea arose from web-based conversations about the lack of progress at the federal level in achieving full civil rights for LGBT citizens. Those involved share a desire to inspire and mobilize our community, allies, and political leaders to act individually and collectively to achieve this goal. Their names and information about them can be found at http://www.thedallasprinciples.org/.

The following eight guiding principles underlie our call to action.
In order to achieve full civil rights now, we avow:
1.Full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals must be enacted now. Delay and excuses are no longer acceptable.
2.We will not leave any part of our community behind.
3.Separate is never equal.
4.Religious beliefs are not a basis upon which to affirm or deny civil rights.
5.The establishment and guardianship of full civil rights is a non-partisan issue.
6.Individual involvement and grassroots action are paramount to success and must be encouraged.
7.Success is measured by the civil rights we all achieve, not by words, access or money raised.
8.Those who seek our support are expected to commit to these principles.

Masked Gunman Kills in Israel

2 Shot Dead at Gay Center in Tel Aviv
08.01.2009 - Rueters
5:41 EST

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - A gunman sprayed automatic fire at an Israeli club for gay teenagers on Saturday, killing two people and wounding at least eight, police and witnesses said.

The shooting spree in central Tel Aviv set off a citywide security clampdown, reviving memories of Palestinian attacks that have ebbed in recent years. But a police spokesman said that the incident was "criminal, rather than nationalistic."

Citing witnesses, Israeli television said a black-clad, masked gunman stormed into the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association building and opened fire in a basement room where teenage homosexuals were holding a weekly support group.

Most of the casualties were minors, the police spokesman said, adding that the assailant was believed to have used an automatic weapon such as an M-16 rifle.

"This is an unprecedented event for Israel and for the community," association director May Pamel told Channel 10 TV.

"We have joined the roster of 'civilized' countries where hatred is the standard."

Coastal, cosmopolitan Tel Aviv has a bustling gay scene, but open homosexuality is less welcome in conservative areas of the Jewish state. Annual gay pride parades in Jerusalem meet with often violent protests from ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Tel Aviv police chief Shachar Ayalon stopped short of branding the shooting a hate crime remarks to reporters.

But one protester at the scene held up a placard blaming a powerful religious Jewish political party whose members have regularly inveighed against gays.

Israeli media said police had warned other gay clubs in Tel Aviv to close for fear of a follow-up attack.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Michael Roddy)

Nationational LGBT KissIn Events Being Planned in 15 Major US Cities on August 15th

Hattip: Seth Fowler from Equality Across America & National Equality March

Mixner on the Importance of Prop 8 Repeal in 2010 - "That Work... Will Not Be Done Without A Vehicle"

hattip: Michaelangelo.com

Report Says Gay Community Has Relinquished Momentum on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

This past Tuesday, Politico.com announced the publication of a new Palm Center report on efforts by gay and gay-friendly activists, journalists and others to block consideration of an executive order suspending “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The new report, “A Self-Inflicted Wound: How and Why Gays Give the White House a Free Pass on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” was written by
Palm Center director Aaron Belkin.

“Some members of our community have been circulating misleading arguments which ended up as talking points for the President of the United States,” Belkin said. “It is not our job to provide
Washington with reasons to continue to discriminate.”

Yesterday, a working group including former Congressman Marty Meehan and two retired Generals released a statement correcting misleading and inaccurate claims about “don’t ask, don’t tell” that are addressed in today’s report.

Copy of Palm Center Report - GAY EFFORTS TO BLOCK EXECUTIVE ORDER

The Palm Center is a research institute at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Center usesrigorous social science to inform public discussions of controversial social issues, enabling policyoutcomes to be informed more by evidence than by emotion. Its data-driven approach is premised onthe notion that the public makes wise choices on social issues when high-quality information isavailable. For more information, visit

Hattip: DavidMixner.com & www.palmcenter.ucs

Obama Administration Pressures Hastings to Drop Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell!

Hattip: DavidMixner.com