Inside, Looking Out » Government

Teabagger at DC rally: “Glenn Beck is a logical thinker.”

ILO — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:56:57 +0000

Yes. Didn’t you know? Sure it happens near the end of the clip but it’s totally worth the wait.

This is what we are up against folks, and I wonder, sometimes, how we are going to make it.

Three dead in shooting bloodbath at Tel Aviv gay youth club

ILO — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:20:04 +0000

Three teenagers are dead and 11 injured in an attack on a gay youth club in Tel Aviv last night.

A masked man opened fire on a crowd in front of a gay community centre in Tel Aviv late Saturday, killing three people and wounding at least 10 others, Israeli emergency services said.

A young man and a young woman were killed on the spot while the third victim died in hospital and one of the wounded was in serious condition, they said.

The gunman, who was dressed in black, unloaded an automatic weapon on the young group of gays and lesbians at the entrance of the centre, located in the heart of Tel Aviv, and then ran away, witnesses said.

All LGBT clubs in Tel Aviv have now been closed and there is concern that the shootings were religiously motivated.

Rep. Alcee Hastings on White House “thwarting” his anti-DADT amendment

ILO — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:26:16 +0000

Rep. Alcee Hastings (D) of Florida appeared on Rachel Maddow to discuss an amendment he introduced and then later withdrew at the urging of the White House, a measure which would have suspended funding of discharges under DADT, effectively shutting the policy down.

Bill Maher on CNN calls U.S. a stupid country, getting “dumber by the day”

ILO — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:57:48 +0000

Bill Maher has a politically incorrect visit on CNN today with Wolf Blitzer. Even the police and their “bad attitude” aren’t safe.

Note his play on word’s with “Stupid Country” when discussing Sarah Palin. He’s gonna catch some flack for this…

Senate to debate Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the Fall

ILO — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:56:28 +0000

The Senate Armed Services Committee has agreed to hold hearings on Don’t Ask, Don’ Tell (DADT) this fall thanks to a commitment secured by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who is trying to overturn the policy. The agreement comes on the heels of an amendment floated by Sen. Gillibrand two weeks ago which would have placed a temporary moratorium on discharges under DADT. The amendment was never introduced as Gillibrand failed to gather the 60 votes necessary for passage.

This will be first time Congress has evaluated the policy since it was enacted in 1993 under President Clinton. There are also efforts to overturn the DADT in the House under the leadership of Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), an Iraq war veteran.

Congressmen peddle lies on hate crimes bill on eve of vote

ILO — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:03:17 +0000

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) serve up more of the same lies and half truth’s in the Family Research Council video below. Watch:

For the record, the bill does not curb free speech; it only applies to people who commit physical acts of violence against other people. This is just more fear-mongering.

It appears the hate crimes bill will be voted on in the Senate later today, but is encountering resistance from the usual suspects, the measure being called “highly explosive!”

Gay finally okay in India… sort of…

ILO — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:28 +0000

While there is cause for much celebration today for the LGBT community in India, today’s landmark ruling only applies to the New Delhi… the nation’s capital. But it is progress…

Update: Contrary to initial reports, it appears the ruling DOES apply nation-wide.

The Delhi High Court ruled that treating consensual gay sex between adults as a crime is a violation of fundamental rights protected by India’s constitution. The ruling, the first of its kind in India, is not binding outside New Delhi.

Hours after the ruling was issued dozens of members of New Delhi’s gay community — some with rainbows painted on their faces and others holding signs that read “Queer and loving it” — gathered in the heart of the capital to celebrate.

…

But some religious leaders quickly criticized the ruling. “This Western culture cannot be permitted in our country,” said Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, a leading Muslim cleric in the northern city of Lucknow.

Sex between people of the same gender has been illegal in India since a British colonial era law was issued in the 1860s classifying it as “against the order of nature.” According to the law, gay sex is punishable by 10 years in prison.

New Delhi is home to over 300 million people, nearly one quarter the entire population of India, so yeah, it’s definitely progress.

Keith Olbermann on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell… “President is goddamned wrong”

ILO — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:48:47 +0000

Strong words from Keith Olbermann on the controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy as he interviews columnist Dan Savage about the LGBT reception held at the White House yesterday and the overall lack of progress on LGBT issues. Watch:

“Fire David Letterman” protest in NY turns into crazy hatefest

ILO — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:09:40 +0000

A “small” group of protesters gathered outside of the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York on Monday, calling for the firing of David Letterman over a joke he made about Sarah Palin’s daughter last week. Watch.

Wow… Palin just brings out the crazy… ahm… I mean best, in people, doesn’t she?

Be sure to visit the blog A Conservative Lesbian. They’re on a personal crusade to get Letterman fired…

Howard Dean calls DOMA defense, “offensive”, “a terrible mistake”

ILO — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:48:58 +0000

Rachel Maddow brings on former DNC chair and Vermont governor Howard Dean to talk about the controversial defense of DOMA brief issued late last week. Dean also called DOMA unconstitutional.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Dean’s response is a strong one. I suspect Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has some ‘splaining to do tomorrow.