Category Archives: Poltics

Oklahoma has become the fourth state to deny processing benefits for same-sex military couples; the state joins those other bastions of progress and intellect (I jest):  Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Military couples in those states can still apply for such rights on federal military bases but that is not necessarily feasible in some of these states that are quite large .  This begs the question since when do Governors of certain states get to ignore Federal law? The answer is apparently when you are a bigot and find it convenient to appeal to your homophobic base.  I suppose it goes without saying that the Governors of these four states are all Republicans.

Did you know that Russia’s new laws could send you to jail if you are “pro-gay”.  Although nobody is really certain what that means, the growing number of hate-infused bills becoming law just as Russia is preparing to host the world in the next Winter Olympics is troublesome in the least.

CNN has an interesting opinion piece entitled Make Olympics in Russia the Gayest Ever.  The editorial offers suggestions on how to support greater acceptance if not equality for the LGBT community at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.  In case you think this is all an overreaction – check out some of the recent legislation passed by Putin.

Did you know there is a law that allows police to arrest “pro-gay” tourists?  There is another law that labels any writing or statement calling for tolerance or equality (like this blog post) as pornography and is punishable by fine and jail time. Putin also banned adoptions of Russian children to any country where LGBT marriage is legal. Rumors now suggest the Russian government may start to remove children from same-sex couples.

What do you make of the vigilante laws in Russia that encourage violence against the LGBT community?  I can’t even wrap my head around this.

Last Wednesday Dan Savage’s post Why I’m Boycotting Russian Vodka made news with a number of prominent gay bloggers, but was barely reported elsewhere.  Since then many of Russia’s leading LGBT activists have stepped forward encouraging the boycott.  However, critics claim the boycott has had little traction and prominent gay bars like the soon-to-close Splash in NYC just hosted a Stoli event yesterday. Does that mean that his call to boycott Russian vodka failed?  I don’t think so.

It’d be great to see gay bars stop serving Russian vodka, but even if the boycott falls short, Savage should be credited for raising awareness and fostering dialog.  As John Aravosis from Americablog says, “the point of a boycott isn’t always the boycott itself…Rather, the boycott is a tool – a foil, really – to foment and galvanize public ire in a way that generates publicity…”

If the boycott temporarily drives down sales of Russian Vodka that’s fine – but what Savage and others really want is to get people talking about what is happening in Russia and have those discussions create pressure on that government to stop targeting the LGBT community.

Would you like to join the boycott? Here is a list of Russian vodkas currently available in the US: Dovgan, Gold Symphony, Standart, Hrenovuha, Kauffman , Kubanskaya, Moskovskaya, Narodnaya, Pyatizvyozdnaya, Putinka, Rodnik, Ruskova, Russian Standard, Shustov, Starka, Stolnaya, Youri Dolgoruki. The two best known Russian vodkas: Russian Standard and Stolichnaya.

You may also Tweet your support if you are into that sort of thing by using the hashtags #DUMPSTOLI and #DUMPRUSSIANVODKA.

I’d like to say I’ll miss you, but frankly, I’ve never liked you very much; good riddance to you and everyone who supported you.

Today the US Supreme Court sided favorably on two key rulings that has had the entire LGBT community waiting with baited breath; The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.

DOMA was ruled unconstitutional because it was deemed that it unfairly deprived of the equal liberty of persons  and violated their Fifth Amendment rights. The ruling said, “DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty.”

Page 20 of the opinion said: “careful consideration” standard: In determining whether a law is motivated by improper animus or purpose, discriminations of an unusual character especially require careful consideration. DOMA cannot survive under these principles.

What this means: same-sex couples who are legally married will be entitled to equal treatment under federal law– with regard to, for example, income taxes and Social Security benefits.

California’s Proposition 8 The US Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs lack standing and same-sex marriage is declared legalize in California.

From the majority opinion: We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when state officials have chosen not to. We decline to do so for the first time here.

What this means: Same sex marriage is now legal in the most populous state in the USA.