First day post-DADT - soldier calls home: "Daddy I'm Gay"

Well I'm sure glad no one can see me since I have mascara running down my face. This video clip really riled me up. First because he was taping this phone call and there was no way of knowing how his dad was going to react and then because .... well ... watch it and see for yourself.



Some nice comments on the YouTube page too:

• In the Army and Im not gay. Proud to have you in the armed forces. We are brothers and Im glad you dont have to live in the closet anymore. Hoorah.
• How courageous. Good for you! Glad you don't have to live in fear anymore over anyone's ignorance. What a GREAT FATHER!!!!! And people on here clearly FEAR the stupidest things.
• Dude, this is cool. I mean he's in the army, so that's cool. Cool southern sounding dad. Ya know and you're cool. Being gay is fine man.
• Are you aware that you're front page news on Yahoo! right now? I've said that you're amazing this whole time, but...congratulations, my good man.
• You are an amazing person. Brave is not an adequate word to describe you. Something much better must be created specially for you.

And kudos to this wonderful young man's "Daddy".  I wish he were close enough to hug.

And last but definitely not least, I dedicate this post to two more amazing parents who cannot be honored enough, Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt, the Minnesota parents who lost their son Andrew to an IED in Kandahar, Afghanistan this past February. They are my heroes. And I am hoping and praying that they are doing ok on this very bittersweet first day of no more DADT.

UPDATE: ABC follows up on this emotional story. And by the way, dad had no idea his son was taping the call or that he had posted it to YouTube:

The Clock is Ticking for Repeal

And JMG provides us with the Official Notice Of DADT Repeal:

Is it that obvious?

Via: JMG

Always liked Clint Eastwood and this is why ...

Clint Eastwood

Yes yes, I know, he has always been a Republican. But as the man himself says:

“I was an Eisenhower Republican when I started out at 21, because he promised to get us out of the Korean War.

“And over the years, I realized there was a Republican philosophy that I liked. And then they lost it. And libertarians had more of it. Because what I really believe is, let’s spend a little more time leaving everybody alone.” (emphasis mine)

But here is what really captured my heart and ensured my undying admiration and love for the man:

"These people who are making a big deal about gay marriage? I don’t give a fuck about who wants to get married to anybody else! Why not?! We’re making a big deal out of things we shouldn’t be making a deal out of. Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want."

He also ripped the GOP by telling GQ Magazine that "that Republicans should cut out the 'sanctity crap' when it comes to gay marriage."  Although this mamma doesn't think she can improve much on Mr. Eastwood's advice,  I'd actually go one better by telling the GOP to cut the "sanctity crap" when it comes to everything.

As the wife of a former Marine

This could not make me any more proud:

And from KMTR Eugene:

The Army general who co-directed a study on ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military says he thinks repeal will prove "pretty inconsequential."

[...]

But he says that inside the military, the prevailing attitude likely will be business-as-usual, with no call for further debate about the merits of repeal.

But for the Religious Right Neanderthals it will never be business as usual, it will be yet another reason they will long to go back to the dark ages where women were barefoot and pregnant, gays, lesbians, non-virgins, and anyone who didn't fit their idea of normal were either stoned to death, shunned or imprisoned and the white man reigned supreme.

Reason number 1,000,001 for why I loathe with every fiber of my body the Republican Party

When I saw this video clip of Rick Perry staunchly and proudly defending his state's liberal use of the death penalty and the audience's very loud applause in response, I was stunned and horrified. My first thought was "this is the party of pro-life and Christian values?"

This clip pretty much chrystallizes for me in one minute and eleven seconds why this party deserves to be treated like a cult of bloodthirsty, insane lunatics and sent to the wilderness for more than a few elections cycles.

If you have not yet watched the clip, I am providing you the opportunity now. Just looking at any of these GOP presidential candidates morons makes my stomach turn (with maybe the exception of Huntsman - although by the time he gets done kissing the boots of the tea party crazies, I suspect he'll make me wretch as well).



And I am not alone in my revulsion. A couple more reactions here (and there are many more where these came from:

Ta-Nehisi Coates: Apparently people were shocked by the applause here. The only thing that shocked me was that they didn't form a rumba line. It's a Republican debate. And it's America. Perry's right--most people support the death penalty.

E.D. Kain: [W]hen Perry is asked about the two-hundred and thirty some people he’s executed on death row during his governorship, the audience bursts into applause. Torture, war, and death, and this is the “pro-life” party. I submit to you that this moment is perhaps the most telling since George W. Bush left office; that the modern Republican party is not only intellectually bankrupt, but morally bankrupt as well.

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules Arizona same-sex partners entitled to benefits

Arizona’s chief hatemonger and bigot, Cathy Herrod, is probably not having a very good day today. One of her pet projects, demeaning-dehumanizing-and stripping gays and lesbians of all rights and dignity- has suffered a serious setback today. Seems those dirty, rotten, libruul, activist justices on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have decided that "denying them [health-care benefits] to a specific group of employees violates the equal-protection provisions of the U.S. Constitution".

Yup Cathy, you lost this round, but I know you. Your cup runneth over with hate, homophobia, and a strong need to police everyone else's morals. So I harbor no illusions. This ruling only emboldens you. Cuz there's no keeping a good ole homophobe like you down. But your time is running out, public opinion is turning. Hate and bigotry just doesn't have the same shine to it that it used to.

Sorry Cath. Hope the heartburn doesn't get too bad for you today. But rest assured my day is going to be great.