Is “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” on its deathbed?

This article suggests that when Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen came out against the policy, he put the writing on the wall.  It explains why the immediate responses of McCain and other Republicans during the hearing were borderline manic.

Poll shows that 14 percent of the population is stupid, illiterate, or both

Sometimes I’m optimistic about human potential.  But there are moments when I’m ready to give up hope.

To summarize the poll, 44 percent of the population supports a policy allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military.  But when asked whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly, the support increases to 58 percent.

Yeah, I know.  The latter terms “humanize” the subjects of the poll, and frame the issue in terms of people rather than abstractions, yada, yada, yada.  I just wonder if many of this same 14 percent are represented by those in Massachusetts who supposedly voted for Scott Brown because they support the public option in health care.

For a lark, I wish they had asked the same sample whether they support heterosexuals serving openly in the military.

Meanwhile, in related news taking a page from Harvey Milk’s playbook, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Tour is embarking on a “Freedom Tour” of California.  There are several videos through the link.

He was asked and he told

And Lt. Dan Choi is back in service.  It doesn’t necessarily mean they will be repealing DADT, but it’s a good sign that it’s on the table.

Addendum: In a remotely related story, here’s a brief editorial profile of the Judge presiding over the Proposition 8 trial.  He is gay, which makes his history kind of interesting.

Second addendum: Poll says 2/3 of Americans want DADT repealed.  The only more definitive poll I’ve seen on an issue of late are the numerous polls which show that over 70 percent support a public option for health care.

New Hampshire starts the new year right

The First Step…

Buju Banton has his first ever meeting with gay community leaders.  Good for him.

Buju Banton concert reported canceled

Carol made the right decision.  The opposition was going to be considerably more aggressive than the Sohum opposition last time around, and there have been a few more revelations since then which do not put Banton in a favorable light.  While his fellow artists have signed pledges against homophobic lyrics he was talking about his endless “war” with homosexuals and actually denying that he signed the document (leading to much speculation as to who forged his signature).  If you haven’t done so, you can read about it in the thread below.

Addendum: Wow!  Check out the thread over at NCJ Blogthing!

Second addendum: The Times-Standard article isn’t bad, although it leaves a few things out including portions of the lyrics themselves for context, and that he continues to sing the song and profit from it to this day.  But again, the more fascinating read is the comments attached.

And nasty insults to the promoter or club owner, and apparently the latter’s family – uncalled for.

Pride at the zoo

Not lions.  Humboldt Pride is holding it’s annual event at the zoo this year.

Sometimes it’s the small things

Elections matter.

Stonewall the sequel?

Lots of articles on a raid on a gay bar in Ft. Worth, Texas on Sunday – ironically the 40th anniversary of Stonewall itself.  The police claim people were being arrested for public intoxication (as strange as it seems, it is actually illegal to get drunk in a bar) and blame the incident on unruly patrons.  The patrons attribute the incidents to gay panic.

According to one of the sources, there will be an investigation of the incident.  This article has photos and a video.

….

Meanwhile, San Diego has its own pepper spray incident.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that a fundraiser for Francine Busby, who previously ran for the deeply-Republican Fiftieth District and came close to winning in the 2006 special election and subsequent regular election, was raided by sheriffs after an unnamed neighbor made a noise complaint. Busby now calls it a “phony” noise complaint, and the article says that multiple neighbors said there was no great noise at all.

The fundraiser was hosted by a lesbian couple, and by some account one of the neighbors was shouting anti-gay slurs prior to the raid.  The raid involved several vehicles and a helicopter.  What happened next is disputed, and one of the hostesses was arrested with a number of guests being pepper sprayed.

Oh, and there will be an investigation of the incident.

The photo comes from Talking Points Memo.

China’s first ever gay pride festival

In Shanghai.