As I have shown in my blog – I gather my news from various sources. Often I do this in attempt to gain all sides to an issue – and gage how different sectors of the population are consuming various issues and events in our country. This evening while flipping through channels, I stopped on the Sean Hannity show to see how much I could stomach.
One of the highest rated programs on the channel – they were debating if race was even an issue in either the Ferguson or Staten Island cases which sparked outrage and protests across the country. I am ashamed to say this is the second time recently I happen to come across Hannity’s show in the past few weeks. Both times, granted I only watched for 10 minutes – he was discussing a racial issues among police.
Both times – Hannity’s guest to debate the matter was Mark Fuhrman. Yes, Mark Fuhrman who came to national fame in the O.J. Simpson trial – and thus his resulting perjury conviction for lying about his use of the “N” word among other things. .
Is America that stupid to forget? Why is this man…of all people…being brought on television to debate any issue regarding race on such a program on any network?
During yet another evening of unbelievable and disturbing news – I run across a headline on my Facebook wall that I thought was a post from The Onion. In fact, I was sure of it…could someone be THAT STUPID? Especially given one that is elected to be on a school board?
…until I saw it came from a legit news site….opened up the link…and uncovered something that is beyond sad. (…even by Texas standards…)
I’ve discussed the power of social media – and hate speech – quite openly in my blog. Yet I continue to be surprised by the hate and pure stupidity of people.
As reported by the Washington Blade this morning, during an unofficial memorial for City Councilman and former Mayor Marion Barry, Al-Malik Farrakhan, the founder and president of the anti-gang group Cease Fire: Don’t Smoke The Brothers and Sisters, made homophobic and misogynist remarks. While urging the crowd, particularly ex-offenders, to organize to make a political difference, he urged them to stop acting like “faggots” and “prostrating themselves like females”.
Present for these remarks were City Council member Orange. Orange was partly responsible for gaining the permits for the event to take place on the steps of the city council building.
Aside from Barry’s long history of supporting LGBT rights, it was both irresponsible and degrading to his memory to use such language.
Following the report of the incident, Councilman Orange came under fire for not interrupting the remarks or addressing the incident after the speaker completed his remarks. His office claimed it would have been ” inappropriate for Orange to interrupt the Barry memorial to respond to Farrakhan’s comments”.
I disagree. I think it shows a lack of political spine in Councilman Orange.
Hate speech cannot be effectively addressed in a press release or twitter posting after the fact. It needs to be addressed immediately. Everyone who heard these offensive remarks deserved to hear their elected officials, who pander to the LGBT community with expressions beliefs in equality, address these remarks directly.
At the very least – Barry – who was man enough to stand up for LGBT right in the 1980’s (decades before other politicians would even approach the subject) deserved it.
In 1983 when British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher cut the funds for mineworker’s Union – it created more of an unrest between the unions and the Thatcher administration – not to mention to struggle of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh to gain fair recognition from the British government. The struggle with the administration resulted in a strike.
In response, the Union asked that other groups from across the UK partner with them to raise funds and fight the administration.
One such unlikely group which chose to partner with the strikers was London’s gay and lesbian community, London’s LGSM. It proved wildly successful – and forged a bond between the LGBT community and the labor groups across the nation – one which provide a turning point for the community in the United Kingdom.
This year, this story is captured on film Pride
The reviews are outstanding – and I can’t wait to see!
Another break from LBGT culture to focus on radical political media, shaded all too often with racist overtones. Some, especially the political shock jocks notorious in the right wing media, don’t even try and hide their fear tactics. One of the best, and most offensive examples, is Charles Hurt’s latest take on the unrest across the country regarding events in Ferguson. You can find it here: (note…any click on the Washington Times can lock up your computer with ads for Viagra, offers to buy gold, and packaged emergency food kits ready made for your bomb shelter)
Charles Hurt is no stranger to race baiting. As much as he points a finger at figures like Al Sharpton, he is leaps and bounds ahead when it comes to feeding on the fears of his loyal white middle aged Fox News followers. A contributor and stake holder in the famous Drudge Report and Breitbart.com, he has a long history of ridiculous articles which stoke the very political and social unrest he claims distaste for.
This article referenced above blames President Obama for the riots in Ferguson – going as far as calling them “Obama’s Riots”. Shameful – and proof positive of his own complete ignorance – or brilliance for money making. Either way, it’s disgusting.
Charles Hurt is the perfect example of white privilege. Having grown up in a wealthy family, he had the benefit of private education at its best. Attending Hampden-Sydney College (with notable leave of absence that deserves a closer look) he had the benefit of a deep pocketed Virginia family and a father with strong connections to the world or journalism.
With a notable early career proving his capabilities, he quickly went to where the money was when the new media exploded. Since, he continued to profit off the outrageous and partisan journalism that he is rarely held accountable for.
His brother, U.S. House Representative Robert Hurt from Virginia, rarely is asked about his brother’s wildly irresponsible publications – a privilege that Charles rarely allows any other politician to avoid. The hypocrisy is astonishing – but common among his journalist style.
I find the exploitation tactics of not only Charlie Hurt, but the Washington Times, of the Ferguson unrest beyond the pale – but certainly the clearest proof that racial injustice does exist. Why else would they cover it in such a fashion?
UPDATE: Ms. Lauten resigned on Monday morning – but not before certain events and photos from her own teenage years were exposed. For one, at the age of 17 she was arrested for shoplifting from her hometown Belk store. Secondly, this lovely image of her surfaced.
I am all for the freedom of the press – and the open political debate of any and all policies. I even stomach the low blows that both the right and left wing new media and candidates themselves are too often known to throw without much offense. However over the holiday weekend GOP staffer Elizabeth Lauten crossed a line when she used her political online platform to criticize President Obama’s daughters.
It was the lowest of lows. Targeting children of politicians is filthy.
I will not repeat the words Ms. Lauten used to describe the Obama daughters – but I will point out the culture Ms. Lauten surrounds herself with.
Let’s make it clear, Ms. Lauten lists on her Linkin profile that one of her noted attributes is: “Specialties: Political strategy on social media platforms (particularly Facebook and Twitter) Government consulting”
If Ms Lauten is in fact a self-described “digital and media online specialist”, she above all knows what she was doing.
Ms. Lauten, has not represented the most reputable members on the Hill. Currently she works as communications director for Rep Fincher from Tennessee. It should be noted that Rep Fincher is ranked by CREW as one of the most corrupt politicians on the Hill. Her previous job was for the infamous Rep. Joe Walsh who is well known for stuff like this.
During his failed re-election campaign he also attacked his opponent, Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee survivor of the Iraq War, questioning her military service and status as a hero: ” Now I’m running against a woman who, my God, that’s all she talks about. Our true heroes, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about.”
Joe Walsh has sued his wife to terminate his child support obligations since losing his income from the government. Also when ticketed for not having car insurance, he stated that the paper that reported it was “wast[ing] time and ink scrutinizing [his] driving record over the last 22 years rather than Washington’s unsustainable spending”.
Seems to me, just on the surface of the above, Ms. Lauten has enough other things to tweet and facebook about.
I usually don’t call for people’s heads to roll – but in this case I think Ms. Lauten should not have the privilege to work on the Hill. Sometimes, you have to take responsibility for your actions… https://www.change.org/p/stephen-fincher-fire-elizabeth-lauten
There are two movies I am quite excited about seeing this year that highlight LGBT history. As in previous years, it seems that Hollywood is finally addressing this once taboo subject – almost in overdrive to make up for lost time.
The first is The Imitation Game which tells the story of Alan Turing. Turing played a pivotal role, if not the major, in breaking the Nazi code during WW2 – which in turn allowed Allied Forces the ability to turn the tides of the war.
Alan Turing excelled in many areas, but is widely considered to be the father of computer science. He also was a homosexual in a time when it was illegal in England.In 1952 he was charged with such offense, and was given the choice to undergo harsh hormonal medical treatments to reduce his libido – or prison. He chose to undergo the medical treatments which lasted for over a year and left him scared both physically and mentally. Moreover, his conviction led to the loss of his security clearance, and thus his career. Less than two years later, he committed suicide.
In recent years, his conviction has been pardoned – and his name and work have finally received the attention and praise they deserve.
I’ve lived in the Dupont Circle neighborhood almost 10 years – and certainly taken the metro thousands of to times. It was not until today however that the words inscribed above the north escalator entrance really provoked meaningful thought.
“Thus in silence in dreams’ projections, Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals;
The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand,
I sit by the restless all the dark night — some are so young;
Some suffer so much — I recall the experience sweet and sad . . .”
The words come from a 1865 poem by Walt Whitman entitled “The Dresser” . These words penned describing his time working in the DC hospitals at the height of the Civil War, are ironically meaningful today when considering how our government is handling the Ebola epidemic.
In 2007, almost twenty years after the height of the AIDS crisis in the US, Whitman’s words were inscribed on the Dupont Circle metro entrance to honor health care workers who bravely fought on the forefront of the AIDS epidemic. Looking back on the manner in which both the AIDS and Ebola epidemics were handled by our government – and the treatment of those caregivers – there is a stark contrast.
The first time AIDS was mentioned in the White House publicly was during a press conference on October 15, 1982. By this point, over 200 had died and close to 600 were infected within the United States. Although almost nothing was known about the virus at the time or how it was transmitted, there seemed no urgency to address or even acknowledge the health crisis by the Reagan administration. A question posed to the acting White House spokesman Larry Speakes: .
Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement — the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?
MR. SPEAKES: What’s AIDS?
In contrast to the Reagan administration, President Obama’s team was quick to address the Ebola epidemic. At the point it was first addressed in a White House press conference on July 30, 2014, only two Christian aid workers who had contracted the disease while working in Africa had the virus on U.S. soil.
Q: Is the President being briefed on the Ebola outbreak in Africa? And will it be addressed at the Africa summit and/or alter the Africa summit in any way?
MR. SCHULTZ: Yes, we continue — well, no, it will not alter the summit, but we do continue to monitor the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea, in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria closely. The President is indeed receiving regular updates, including speaking with his Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor Lisa Monaco as early as yesterday before departing Washington.
The U.S. government, including the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, USAID and the Department of Defense, continue to provide a range of support and assistance to those countries and multinational organizations responding to the outbreak.
This includes the provision of personal protective equipment and other essential supplies, public health messaging and technical expertise. We’ve actually been engaged in this outbreak since March.
With the seemingly endless outrage over Obama’s handling of the Ebola crisis from the right wing – and thus frightened public sector to which they pander – it’s hard to not to wonder how they forget so easily what true negligence is when it comes to handling a public health crisis. Not only do we know how Ebola is transmitted – the public health risk continues to be addressed seriously by this administration.
Over this past weekend, a health care worker returning from West Africa, where she was working on the front lines to combat the virus, was ordered by New Jersey and New York governors to be quarantined in a tent for 21 days – even though she showed no symptoms and tested negative for the Ebola virus. She had to fight through the media and legal channels to be released. After returning to Maine, the CDC recommendations are being ignored by the extreme administration of Governor Paul LePage, stating:
“We fully expect individuals to voluntarily comply with an in-home quarantine,” LePage spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett said Monday. “If an individual is not compliant, the state is prepared to take appropriate action.”
In my view, this nurse is an hero, and deserves to be treated as such. Those words of Walt Whitman ring in my ears when I think of this brave woman. In fact, her lawyer stated such perfectly:
“She’s a very good person who did very good work and deserves to be honored, not detained, for it,”
We have a long way to go in this country in merging actual science, fact and reality with the spin that unnecessarily confuses and causes panic in among the public.
As President Obama stated on Tuesday,
“We don’t just react based on our fears. We react based on facts and judgment and making smart decisions…”
In various public schools across the nation – children are learning valuable LBGT history that has too often been overlooked. Needless to say, it has the right wing going nuts. For example, the Liberty Council, which bills its purpose as “restoring the culture by advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family”, released a “Liberty Alert” to thousands of its members stating:
“Enough is enough! The innocence of our children is under assault in the public schools. Parents and concerned citizens must stand up and demand that public schools focus on the essentials of learning and not become vehicles of a sexualized agenda…”
This is nothing new. The right wing news outlets, especially the new media, have sensationalized almost anything to do with the LGBT movement for years. While I can appreciate and respect their right to vocalize their moral and religious objections – I look at this month in quite a different way.
Here’s why.
In my own personal “innocence” during my youth, my own sexual identity was a mystery to me. Growing up in a small sleepy southern town, the only gay or lesbian individuals I ever saw where on television – which of course where the stereotypical extremes. I knew I was gay, I just didn’t fit the type of “gay” the media and society allowed to be portrayed in the mainstream. Had I been exposed to positive examples of gay men through LGBT history in public school – my journey to whom I am today certainly could have been easier.
LBGT youth face unique challenges. These stats, according to the CDC are pretty stark:
Nearly 6 times as likely to have high levels of depression;
More than 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide;
More than 3 times as likely to use illegal drugs; and
More than 3 times as likely to engage in unprotected sexual behaviors that put them at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Regardless of your personal or religious beliefs, these are serious statistics. In absence of conversion therapy, which has been proven over and over and over to be detrimental to the health of LGBT individuals, I support an open and honest dialogue of homosexuality in every home. It should be noted however – and I support without question the recognition of some of our culture’s most illustrious figures – which give some balance to children trying to figure out their own identities. If I had been exposed to the fact that such figures as Walt Whitman, Bayard Rustin, and others were gay – I may have had more self confidence and pride in my own sexual identity.
This week on Facebook, a friend posted a rather distasteful, yet amusing clip of the German movie Downfall in which subtitles have been altered for comedic effect. This is not a new trick. The clip and subtitles, which show Hitler screaming at his top command in the final hours before his death, have been used countless times on the internet for this very purpose alone – comedy.
In this particular clip, contributed by J. Justin Wilson entitled ” Hitler Finds Out about Straights’ Siege on DC’s Gays”, an irritate Hitler goes on a rant about “straights” taking over gay areas of the DC.
You can watch it here:
As humorous as this clip is, there is some truth to it all. It proposes a question greater than the” straights” taking over DC’s historically gay neighborhoods and hangouts – but how the city is rapidly changing – and remolding neighborhoods and cultures that have been deeply rooted for generations.
Two weeks ago the Washington Blade, DC’s Gay & Lesbian newspaper, celebrated it 45th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the paper ran its original one page edition on the cover. One story in particular caught my eye. I have posted it below:
The history of Dupont Circle being a mecca for the gay community, as with many gay neighborhoods across the nation, can be traced back to “white flight” in the mid 20th century. In Dupont Circle’s case, the 1968 riots only fueled the rapid decline of the once majestic neighborhood. In the two decades that followed however, the “out” gay community reclaimed the area and it slowly blossomed into one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in the city. Alongside the Castro in San Francisco, Dupont Circle became one of the first of its kind in the United States.
As the notification in the Washington Blade made clear, the flourishing neighborhood was not welcomed by the city in 1967. Still the gentrification of Dupont Circle, or the Fruit Loop as was mockingly called well into the 1990’s, continued to thrive. This growing community allowed for a unique political stronghold that was courted by politicians when the city gained home rule in the early 1970’s – something almost unheard at the time.
Study after study after study has shown that gay gentrification increases property values. Dupont Circle and its once thriving gay community is the perfect example. It also serves as a case study in how it drives the gay community out over time.
Forty years after Dupont Circle reached its peak as one of the first gay neighborhoods in the United States, the largest population that currently inhabits it is single white professional females, enough even to draw a Anne Taylor Loft to the strip on Connecticut Avenue. Shifts in the “gay neighborhoods” in DC have been driven largely by the rising costs in housing.
So….while the re-make of Hitler’s rant in Downfall is hilarious – it begs the question – will Dupont Circle completely lose its historic integrity and importance?
For me, it’s something that should be at the very least remembered.
society culture forward 