Olympic Pictograms: a fun look

Olympic Pictograms: A fun look

Change we thought we could believe in...

Mitch McConnell is on with Candy Crowley this morning talking about health care. "The American People do not want this... The American People do not want us to use [reconcilliation] to force this down their throats... this is arrogant. They have followed this closely..."

Pardon me. The senator does not seem to know that I am an American and it seems to me that he is the arrogant not to say the majority of the American People if he is using poll information. And of course he is cherry picking his poll because the majority of the American People want health care reform... and without those who are opposed because the proposal offer no public option, the senator would be wrong.

Have most Americans followed this closely. On a personal level I think that is just not true. The majority of the American People rely on their particular cable "news" network to spin it. That's why we don't have a democracy, we have a representative democracy (a republic) which relies on their elected leaders to be "fair and balanced" not any particular network.

Didn't we elect a President and give him a majority party for Change we can be In? But there is nothing behind the republicans opposition to removing pre-existing condition restrictions and the few other good things that remain in the gutted versions of the bill other than politics as usual.

Obama has bent over .... backwards. Enough.

Cool time to be in DC

Being in DC and watching pop-up ads on Facebook to plan your same-gender wedding here. That's pretty cool. Wonder when the first legal wedding will be held in the the National Cathedral?
Send invites to neil@integrityusa.org.

I miss my baby...

The Prop 8 Challenge Explained

Prop 8 is being challenged. The challenge will probably make it to the Supreme Court. Its clear unconstitutionality brought together an unlikely pair, the lawyers that opposed one another in Bush v. Gore. Questions are answered such as, "Why did you pursue this when many activist say a loss could set us back?" "How did a conservative and a liberal find common ground on this issue?"

This is a must see. The 50 minutes will fly. Click here.

Water Free Urinal

Wow! I have seen and used these before but had never trusted them. I'm an Episcopalian. Change is hard. But now that I know how it works I feel much more comfortable. Maybe you want to know as well...

Click here.

NEA SOGI Day 1

Yesterday we reviewed NEA's external partnerships with LGBT organizations. Many organizations were vetted for their effectiveness and more specifically for the parallel nature of their goals with that of NEA. The first MOU was signed with GLSEN. They are clearly focused on the same issues of safe schools for LGBT teachers and students. Kevin Jennings, their former ED is now working with the OBAMA Administration as Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.

We have also signed an MOU with HRC. I reported on my very positive experience at "Creating Change." This NGLTF conference focus heavily on youth. I would guess that the majority of attendees are under 30.

Betty Simpson talked to us about applying for grants. She assured me that writing a grant proposal to get GSA directors and students support for attendance at Creating Change. I would hope we might consider proposing a worskshop or other presentation at this conference.



When then spent our remaining time reviewing progress on the charges we have been given and the recommendations that we have made regarding each.

#1 Review Status of NEA's work to secure federal, state and local workplace (legal, policy, contractual) rights, benefits and protections for GLBT members and make recommendations.

#2 Review the factors that impact GLBT school truancy and dropout rates in the U.S. and make recommendations.

#3 Review testimonies from SOGI hearings and develop recommendations on addressing the issues raised where appropriate.

We had a very nice dinner at Logan Tavern on P Street. Their ginger calamari was wonderful.