Jeanne "Linda" Michel - Casualty of War

This is a really long post, but it's an article I'm posting here in case the link disappears. People really don't understand the thousands and thousands of lives being hurt by this folly in Iraq. We hear about deaths in Iraq and every now and then theres a "human interest" story about someone overcoming very serious injuries to "survive." In my opinion, we're not hearing enough about those who are coming "home" with serious mental health issues and less "glorious" but debilitating physical injuries. BTW, the woman profiled in this story was originally from Canada.

A casualty far from the battlefield
For veterans, coming home from war can be harder than being deployed
By Kate Gurnett, Staff writer

Clifton Park-- Last month, Jeanne "Linda" Michel came home from Iraq. Back in the suburbs, she tried to feel normal.

She'd been homesick for months. She couldn't wait to see her kids, ages 11, 5 and 4. Between her husband's deployment and her own, the children had been with just one parent for nearly three years.

She was 33, with a bright smile and stubborn determination. Reuniting should be easy. In another month, she'd be discharged from the Navy after five years of service.

"She had come through a lot and she had always risen to challenges," her husband, Frantz Michel, said last week.

What her family didn't see, and what she herself may not have realized, was the enormity of what she faced.

Like thousands of others returning from Iraq, her mental state was fractured. And it went untreated. Within two weeks, Linda Michel would become a private casualty of war.

Re-entry into the world of peace can be harder than deployment, experts say. Picking up where you left off doesn't just happen.

Husbands and wives report feeling like strangers to each other at first, according to Military OneSource, a support Web site for military families.

"Family roles, rituals, dynamics have changed," said Helena Davis, deputy director of the Mental Health Association in New York State. "And the vet has changed. Bonds have been fractured and need to be re-established."

Linda Michel was no exception. A self-sufficient medic known to help others, she was uncomfortable asking for that help for herself.

But treatment and self-care are critical for returnees, Davis said. Without it, "the anxiety keeps them spiraling down." Some turn to alcohol, drugs or domestic violence. Or, Davis said, "they hurt themselves." August, three veterans in New York's Adirondack region committed suicide within three weeks, Davis told a recent gathering of mental health professionals.

And the third American female to die in Iraq, Army interpreter Spc. Alyssa Peterson, 27, of Flagstaff, Ariz., shot herself with her service weapon. A devout Mormon and Arabic interpreter, Peterson had objected to U.S. techniques after just two days of participating in interrogations.

Women experience stronger forms of post-traumatic stress disorder and have higher PTSD rates, experts say. In response, the Veterans Affairs Department launched a $6 million study of female veterans.

Seeking treatment -- seen by some as a weakness -- may be even tougher for women, who still feel the need to prove themselves to men in military service.

In Iraq, female troops experience attacks, mortar fire and critical injuries such as amputation. And, women soldiers also are more at risk for sexual assaults, up 40 percent in combat zones from last year, Davis said.

Camp Bucca, the U.S.-run military prison where Michel was stationed, was investigated after a female mud-wrestling match was staged there.

Two weeks after she got home to Clifton Park, Linda Michel shot herself to death, stunning her colleagues and family.

Like many women who are assigned to Iraq, Linda Michel wanted to serve.

She grew up in Montreal, with her parents and five sisters. In the states, she married Frantz Michel, a native of Haiti who grew up in Rockland County and became a State Police investigator. They had three children, two boys and a girl, and lived in a quiet Clifton Park development dotted with kids' bicycles and basketball hoops.

By 2004, Frantz, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard, was serving in Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division.

Linda had joined the Navy in 2001.

"It was the best fit for her," Frantz said. It meant they likely wouldn't be deployed together. And her chances of being assigned to a combat zone were slim.

When Linda was called up in 2005, she didn't want a deferment.

"She felt she needed to do it," Frantz said. "So I couldn't stop her."

What she hadn't expected was a shortage of Army personnel that forced Navy and Air Force members into land-based and combat areas.

Linda went to Camp Bucca in southern Iraq, the largest U.S. military prison there and the site of a 2005 riot that saw four prisoners killed by guards.

Inevitably dubbed "Doc" by her patients, she worked hard "doing her part to accomplish a mission many people said the Navy could not do," Rob Hallmark of Virginia Beach, Va., wrote in her on-line memorial guest book. "She was always a bright shining light in such a dark, dark place."

"She was more than 'Just in the Navy' or just a 'Corpsman' or 'Sailor,' she was there for us," added Linda's Camp Bucca roommate, Tammy Cartwright, of Anchorage, Alaska. "She was the one that helped me get out of bed every morning when all I wanted to do was give up and go home."

But in private, Michel faced demons. She saw a Navy doctor and was diagnosed with depression. The doctor prescribed Paxil.

Frantz Michel knew his wife's days were long and grueling. But he didn't know about the Paxil.

Studies have linked Paxil to adverse effects, including suicide, sparking an FDA warning in May.

When Linda came home, the Navy discontinued her medication. Again, Frantz Michel wasn't told.

"I just wish the Navy would have done some more follow-up, instead of just letting her come home," said Frantz, who is on the division staff of the Army National Guard. "If somebody needs Paxil in a combat zone, then that's not the place for them to be. You either send them to a hospital or you send them home and then make sure that the family members know and that they get follow-up care."

Talking his way up the Navy's chain of command, Frantz sought answers. "Why wasn't she sent to a facility to resolve the issues? Not keep her in Iraq and give her some antidepressant medication and then just send her home. So those are the answers that I don't have. Which makes me a little angry because I know what is supposed to occur."

Duty Officer Chris Pratt of the Navy Operational Support Center in Albany could not be reached for comment Friday, a holiday.

Linda Michel's suicide drew pages of on-line condolences, from California to Iraq.

Her death came amid rising demands for counseling from veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. A 2005 Government Accountability Office study called services inadequate.

Lots of resources for vets aren't utilized, Davis said. Often, veterans don't retain what they hear during two-day stateside demobilization sessions. "They don't have the focus. All they want to do is get home."

Health care visits every four to six weeks aren't enough, she said.

Frantz Michel wishes the Navy hadn't cleared his wife for re-entry, or left her alone to withdraw from Paxil.

"You look (back) at things," he said last week. "I just wish that I had more information."

Linda Michel was given a full military funeral Oct. 23 and buried in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. Friends donated to a fund for the Michels' three children.

Shortly before she died, Linda attended a Navy weekend drill. Fellow reservist Robert Stanziano saw her there, and waved, but never got a chance to talk.

When she was mobilized "we were extremely proud ... and sent them care packages from time to time," he wrote in her memorial guest book. "We couldn't wait for them to return. Now she is gone and I'll never get the chance to ask her how it was over there.

"She was a great sailor, soldier, hospital corpsman, mom and a great woman of war for our country," he wrote in her memorial guest book. "Shipmate, I never had a chance to say this to you. Well done! Goodbye and farewell shipmate, you will be dearly missed."

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I've deleted the info about PTSD, etc. To see more, as long as the link is live, go here.

Window on the World

Today's New York Times has a a piece, "Designs on America." The caption to this one is: "Apart from indicating love for one’s country, this window also provides an undeniably American view of the world." I thought it was funny.

But, on this Veteran's/Remembrance Day, an article that I missed last April begins: "Prime Minister Stephen Harper faced a storm of criticism on Tuesday for his decision to halt the flying of the flag at half-staff for Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan, and for refusing to allow news coverage of the return of the bodies of four soldiers recently killed there."

The beat goes on...

"We choose not to work for homosexuals"

I know you couldn't have made it through the day without this little tidbit... But, seriously, what do you think?

November 11, 2006
Landscapers Cause Furor by Shunning Gay Clients
By Ralph Blumenthal

HOUSTON, Nov. 10 — Last month, a local landscaping firm prompted a furor here by telling a gay couple in an e-mail message, “We choose not to work for homosexuals.”

The message quickly made its way around the Internet, and the company, Garden Guy Inc., was bombarded with threats and hate mail. But since then, the company’s owners say they have gained far more business than they have lost.

In an interview Friday, Sabrina Farber, 34, co-owner of the company with her husband, Todd, 37, said the company had picked up $40,000 in new business in the past two weeks, while losing only two clients worth about $500 each a year.

“I’m not saying that to gloat,” said Mrs. Farber, who described the frenzy as ugly and emotionally draining. But she said they would not do it differently and deserved credit for not masking their refusal with excuses.

“Why can’t people handle it when you say the truth?” she said.

One of the two gay clients, Gary Lackey, said, “We’re hoping things would die down” and declined to comment further in a telephone interview. The other member of the couple, Michael Lord, did not return a call.

The law appears to be on the Farbers’ side, said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.

“The federal law of public accommodations says if you hang out a shingle or open your door you don’t get to say, ‘Only to whites,’ ” Ms. Graybill said. But sexual orientation is not protected. And while some localities, like Seattle, have adopted ordinances extending antidiscrimination protection to gay men and lesbians, she said, Houston has not.

The uproar began after Mr. Lord contacted Garden Guy, whose Web site contains this slogan: “Treating you with respect and honesty are the cornerstones of our reputation.”

It also carries citations from the New Testament — Mrs. Farber volunteered that her husband was Jewish and now practices Christianity — and a message against same-sex marriage that the gay couple evidently overlooked: “The God-ordained institution of marriage is under attack in courts across the nation and your help is needed.”

Mrs. Farber and Mr. Lord talked business on the phone, but after Mr. Lord’s references to his “partner,” Mrs. Farber e-mailed Mr. Lord to cancel their appointment.

“I am appreciative of your time on the phone today and glad you contacted us,” she wrote. “I need to tell you that we cannot meet with you because we choose not to work for homosexuals.”

In the ensuing uproar, the family had to change its private phone numbers, Mrs. Farber said, and turned over to the police copies of threatening messages like “I will sodomize their children.”

Mrs. Farber said her husband, who holds a degree in horticulture from Texas A&M University, had done landscaping for gay clients before but had become increasingly “grieved” over visiting their homes to discuss design and plantings.

Dumbfounded by the e-mail message, Mr. Lord and Mr. Lackey forwarded it to friends, and it circulated widely on gay Web sites. A copy reached The Houston Chronicle, where a columnist, Rick Casey, broke the story on Oct. 20, suggesting that the Farbers “should refuse to do business with all sinners.”

With the affair spreading to the radio airwaves, Houstonians have piled on.

“It seems to me the Farbers must be a little naïve,” a letter writer, Joseph Carroll, wrote The Chronicle. “Don’t they realize they are probably doing business with homosexuals every day? They should check out their pharmacist, hair dresser, bank teller, the nurse at their doctor’s office, the waiter at their favorite restaurant and the church secretary.”

The Association of Professional Landscape Designers condemned the action of the Farbers, whose membership has lapsed, and instituted a requirement for members to abide by an antidiscrimination clause.

In addition to the criticism of the Farbers, there was also widespread support. Mrs. Farber cited one e-mail message from “Eric in St. Louis,” who wrote: “Life to the Farbers who have planted themselves like solid oak trees against these strong winds of perversion.”

Mrs. Farber said she and her husband never claimed to be perfect.

“We’re sinners, Todd and I,” Mrs. Farber said. But she added: “My husband made a personal choice, according to something he felt in his heart. It was never a judgmental choice or a hating choice or even a choice that said, ‘Well, we’re better than them.’ ”

Mixed Bag

It looks as though Webb will be declared the victor in VA giving the Democrats control of the Senate as well as the House. Lots of good wins. And, I am particularly astounded that my former state of Arizona became the first state to defeat an anti-same-sex marriage ballot measure. I am glad that South Dakota, although they passed such a measure, defeated the attempt to prohibit virtually all abortions. Then, there's Rummy's departure. It's almost too much to process. But, as suggested by my friends at Canadian Hope and Life Without Borders, it's hard to celebrate the good news when our families are getting slapped in the face by thousands upon thousands of US voters who feel the need to amend their state constitutions to protect marriage. Fuck them. And don't even get me started on the complete nutcase that the MN 6th has put in the House. Check this out if you want to know more. She's a complete wack-job. I'm glad that the DFLers (Democratic-Farmer-Labor party) in Minnesota have control of both chambers in our legislature. I'm glad that it appears that the Democrats will have complete control of the US Congress. I'm glad that Bush got his ass kicked. I'm glad some really decent people will be in Washington. But, I still can't wait to get out of here.

The Sanctity of Marriage

You may recall Britney Spears' first venture into marital bliss.

From CNN, more on the sanctity of marriage...
"Britney Spears files for divorce from her husband Kevin Federline, citing irreconcilable differences."

A Death in Iraq

I'm on a listserv that focuses on issues concerning women in/and the military. A link to this story arrived this morning. I thought that some of you might find it of interest; sad, but of interest.

Soldier opposed interrogations
Ariz. specialist killed herself in Iraq weeks after objection
FLAGSTAFF - A Flagstaff soldier who in 2003 became the third woman to die in Iraq killed herself two weeks after objecting to the interrogation techniques being used on Iraqi prisoners, according to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Spc. Alyssa Peterson, 27, an Arabic-speaking interrogator who trained at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, was assigned to a unit at Tal Afar Air Base in northwestern Iraq. According to a criminal investigation report recently released by the military under the Freedom of Information Act, Peterson had been in Iraq for two weeks and participated in two interrogations in late August 2003.

She objected to interrogation techniques after the first session, the documents show, and after the second session she told her supervisor that she "could not carry out" the interrogation methods that were being used and asked to be reassigned.
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Her objections came seven months before the prisoner abuse allegations at Abu Ghraib prison in central Iraq became public.

The investigative report states that a sergeant and team leader both "detailed the aversion she had towards applying the interrogation methods to detainees."

Peterson's first sergeant, identified as James D. Hamilton, told investigators, "It was hard for her to be aggressive to prisoners/detainees, as she felt that we were cruel to them," the report states.

Army representatives declined to comment on Peterson's death or describe the interrogation techniques she objected to. Valerie Florez, Freedom of Information and Privacy Act officer at Fort Campbell, Ky., said all records of those techniques have been destroyed.

She attended a routine suicide-prevention training Aug. 29 and shortly afterward was reassigned to a base gate where she was directed to monitor Iraqi guards for duplicitous behavior. She also used her language skills to interpret for Iraqi civilians in liaison work.

However, her fellow soldiers reported that she kept to herself and did not make attempts to integrate herself into her team environment.

She avoided eating with her interrogation team and spent time reading at her desk when she did not have other assignments. No one in the unit reported signs of impending suicide.

On the evening of Sept. 15, 2003, she got off work at about 9 p.m. and was not seen again that night. According to the documents, the company executive officer heard two gunshots at about 9:30 p.m. but did not investigate.

At 9 the next morning, an aircraft passing over the nearby landing zone reported seeing Peterson's body in a grassy field next to her service rifle.

Documents disclosed that she had two gunshot wounds - her weapon apparently had been set on burst - beneath her chin.

Although the criminal investigations report concluded Peterson killed herself with her M-4 service rifle, the autopsy report has not been released. The military investigation offers no explanation of why Peterson would commit suicide.

Family members did not want to comment. A family spokesman, who asked not to be named, said family members did not want to know the details of her death.

In an interview a year after her death, Peterson's family told The Arizona Republic how their daughter was born in a leap year, on Feb. 29, 1976, in Greeley, Colo.

Because her "real" birthday came only every four years, her father would threaten to wake her up at midnight between Feb. 28 and March 1 to celebrate. But he never did.

In elementary school, she played the clarinet, was a standout soccer player and excelled in academics.

Her family moved to Flagstaff when Peterson was in fifth grade. She quickly joined soccer and ran cross country in junior high. In high school, she was a peer counselor.

She worked at McDonald's, saved her money and went to Northern Arizona University on a full academic scholarship, eventually graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

At 21, she served a mission in the Netherlands for the Mormon Church.

When she was told where she would be going, she bought books and tapes to learn Dutch and showed a remarkable aptitude for foreign languages that would serve her later in the military.

While in school, Peterson also attended classes at the Flagstaff Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

David C. Jay, director of the institute, remembered her as very unassuming. "

She was reserved to the point of being what some people would perceive as shy," Jay said in 2004. "But she was such a wonderfully gifted young lady. "

Initially you would never have suspected that here this little girl would go off and learn to speak these difficult languages in parts of the world we know so little about," Jay said.

Peterson enlisted in the Army in July 2001, telling her parents afterward, "It's already done."

"We were resigned to it," her mother said in the 2004 interview. "We feel strongly that evil exists. That you cannot escape from it, but have to stand up to it."

Peterson got the best score on a language skills test that the local recruiter had ever seen, and she was chosen for military intelligence training at Fort Huachuca after basic training in Fort Sill, Okla.

After Fort Huachuca, she was sent to the Presidio of Monterey in California for a 15-month course in Arabic so she could help with interrogations and translation.

In August 2003, she shipped out to Iraq with the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion of the 101st Airborne Division.

Her parents did not know she was in Iraq at the time of her death, thinking she was still stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.

After she died, her company commander called her family and said she had been a great asset to the unit.

He said she was well-liked and had never been happier than when she was talking with the local residents, helping to make their lives happier. He said she exemplified compassionate service.

Her death has been difficult for the Petersons, who went to Phoenix to meet their daughter's coffin.

"When the door of the cargo hangar opened, and that casket was there with a flag on it ... that was hard," her mother said.

Alyssa Peterson was buried with full military honors in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff.

Kevin Elston is a reporter for National Public Radio station KNAU in Flagstaff, which originally aired this report.

Source

Republicans Today

I have no idea who gets credit for this - probably a consortium of folks around the globe - but I thought that if it hasn't already appeared in your mailbox, you'd find it entertaining.

Things You Have to Believe to be a Republican Today
1) Jesus loves you - and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary.

2) Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

3) Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

4) The United States should get out of the United Nations - and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

5) A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body but multi-national corporations can make decisions affecting all humankind without regulation.

6) The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

7) If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

8) A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our long-time allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

9) Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

10) Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

11) A president lying about an extra-marital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

12) Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet.

13) The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.

14) Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

15) What Bill Clinton did in the 1960s is of vital national interest, but what Bush did in the '80s is irrelevant.

No news...

I hadn't posted in a bit so thought I'd write something. I've been enjoying the posts in our little ex-pat cyberworld, but with no movement on our end, alas, there simply hasn't been much to say. It's really frustrating to see other US citizens who applied through Buffalo later than we did, and didn't get transferred, receive their visas and land. I keep reminding myself that, given our plans, it's actually not a problem for us to be delayed, but you do hit the point where you think that, surely, they've simply lost your file.

Anyway - what's new? I just submitted almost the 50% of the book manuscript that was due by today. That's a relief. I've been working on chapter four today, but decided to take a break. Perhaps it was writing about Australia, Canada, and Great Britain having lifted their bans on gays and lesbians in the military that has me restless.

I've been busy the last few days dealing with bureaucracy of the public schools. For quite a while we debated, agonized, etc. over where to enroll our son for kindergarten. Although, with open enrollment there are, quite simply, too many choices, we had narrowed it down to a "traditional" neighborhood school, a French immersion program, and a year round school that focuses on "environmental science and community cultures." We opted for the latter, but, for a variety of reasons, decided that we should have gone with French immersion. I visited the school last week and now we're jumping through hoops to get him transferred. It's tough because we just love his current teacher, but thinking longer term we're really excited about the immersion program. Stay tuned.

I'm also starting to work on my courses for the next two terms. I juggled things so that, with these manuscript deadlines, I had a light load this term - one and a half courses. That means that next term I'm teaching three and a half. But, mostly they are things about which I'm jazzed. Namely - Social Problems with a new text, Global Problems: The Search for Equity, Peace, and Sustainability. In our Social Justice program I'm teaching Sexuality and the Law, also with a new casebook. And, I'll again do Crossing Borders II. It's a reflection-based course required of those students returning from a semester abroad. And, in the "not so jazzed but it can be fun" category is another round of Senior Seminar.

Then, I have to - yes, sometimes the lead time time kills me - start prepping for a fall course. But, I'm really looking forward to this one! It's a course for first year students where the content is really just the vehicle for getting them up to speed on "college" (i.e., skill development in critical thinking, oral presentation, etc.). We can create a course around any topic we wish because the goal is skill building, not the acquisition of a set body of knowledge. The tentative title for my course is - a take-off on part of our mission statement and clearly influenced by the Social Problems text - "Making the World a Better Place: Paths Toward Peace, Justice, and Sustainability." I want to introduce them to a potpourri of things like restorative justice, global volunteerism, co-housing, etc. We'll see... If you have an idea about something you think I should include, do tell! Really!

So, that's the latest. Not exactly immigration-related, but it's what's happening in my world. Hopefully I'll have something to report by the new year, but I'm not holding my breath.

Breaking News!

From The New York Times

N.J. Court Backs Rights for Gay Unions

By Laura Mansnerus
Published: October 25, 2006
"The State Supreme Court in New Jersey said today that under equal protection guarantees of the state constitution, same-sex couples 'must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes.' But it said that whether that status is called marriage or something else 'is a matter left to the democratic process.'"

Lockdown Drills

I'm not sure what I think about this... I just learned that it is now Minnesota law that schools have five "lockdown drills" each year. Today my five year old will learn the "safe zones" in his classroom and that he must be absolutely quiet if asked to go there. They will, apparently, be told in an "age appropriate" way, that this is what they will do if there is an intruder in the school.

On the one hand, given recent events, this seems like a good thing. On the other hand, I'm not sure what I think of a five year old having to think about the possibility of an intruder coming into his school and how to protect himself. I tried to analogize to the nuke drills I remember as a kid, but I can't help but think he has a much better idea - and, thus, greater potential for fear - of an intruder than I had of a nuclear bomb.

This world...

Sanity Prevails - An Update!

Metro Transit changes mind on driver, gay-themed ads

"Metro Transit said Friday that it inadvertently sent the wrong message about tolerance in trying to accommodate a bus driver's religious objections to driving buses that carried gay-themed ads.

Metro Transit spokesman Bob Gibbons said the company made a temporary accommodation to the driver on Oct. 12, allowing her not drive buses that carried an ad for Lavender, a local magazine aimed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community.

The ad showed the face of a young man with the slogan, "Unleash Your Inner Gay." Fifty buses carried it periodically.

The ad contract ran only through Oct. 18, Gibbons said, and buses no longer are carrying the ads.However, in reviewing the issue, Gibbons said the company likely would not make the same decision again."We are not persuaded that advertising, per se, infringes on religious practices and would be reluctant to make similar accommodations in the future," Gibbons said."

For the entire article, go here.

Senator Brownback is a Wing Nut

It just keeps getting better and better - see the previous two posts as well as this one!

Courtesy of The Washington Post
Sen. Brownback's Litmus Test
May a federal judge have lesbian friends?
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

IF YOU THOUGHT that fights over judicial nominations couldn't get any worse, consider the case of Janet T. Neff, whom President Bush has nominated to a federal district judgeship in Michigan. Judge Neff, who serves on the Michigan Court of Appeals, is part of a multi-judge deal between the White House and Michigan's two Democratic senators resolving a long-standing fight over federal court nominees from that state. Yet in reaching an accommodation with the home-state senators, Mr. Bush finds himself with another problem. For Judge Neff, it turns out, once attended a commitment ceremony for a lesbian couple -- and that has Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (R) reaching for the smelling salts and blocking the nomination.

Mr. Brownback has said he wants to satisfy himself that the judge was not presiding over an "illegal marriage ceremony" in Pittsfield, Mass., in 2002 -- before the state legalized same-sex marriage. He has written to Judge Neff asking for an explanation, his spokesman says, and will hold up her nomination until he learns the nature of the ceremony and its legality. "It seems to speak about her view of judicial activism," the senator told the Associated Press.

In fact it does nothing of the kind. A commitment ceremony is not a marriage; it has no legal force whatsoever but is a private expression of the love and devotion of two people. The idea that such a ceremony could be "illegal" is deeply offensive; Americans are entitled to gather, speak, celebrate and worship as they see fit. An administration official says Judge Neff has told Mr. Brownback that she didn't preside. But even if she did, that would say nothing about her jurisprudential views -- merely that she wished to help a couple recognize their relationship informally in the absence of state sanction for it. Keeping Judge Neff off the federal bench over such a matter is perilously close to declaring her unfit to serve because she has lesbian friends.

It also does a disservice to Mr. Bush. We have criticized Democrats for obstructing qualified judicial nominees; it is no more acceptable when Republicans do it. In this case, Mr. Bush has finally reached a compromise with Michigan senators to ease one of the more intractable irritants in the wars over lower court nominations. Judge Neff is a piece of that deal, all of which could get derailed if Mr. Brownback does not back off.

I Hate the USA

There. I said it. I hate this fucking country. I am so tired of the oppression I experience every fucking day just by picking up the paper. First the moron of a bus driver, now this reminder of my status as a second class citizen...

Spouse of gay congressman ineligible for pension
BOSTON. Massachusetts (AP) -- When same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts, among those who tied the knot were former Rep. Gerry Studds and Dean Hara.

But getting married didn't protect them under federal law: Hara has learned he is not eligible for any portion of Studds' estimated annual $114,337 pension following his partner's death last week.

The 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act blocks the federal government from recognizing the 2004 marriage between Studds and Hara or other same-sex couples.

Studds voted against the act, which was passed July 12, 1996, by a vote of 342-67, according to the House Clerk's office.

Go here for the rest of the bloody insult.

BTW, it's not that we don't know this is the case - it's just so frickin' tiring to keep being reminded how little respect our families warrant.

Gays, Religion, and the Bus Driver

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune -

Bus driver gets OK to avoid gay-themed ads
"The Metro Transit dispute raises questions about the point at which accommodating one group's beliefs infringes on the rights of others. A city bus driver who complained about a gay-themed ad got official permission not to drive any bus that carries that ad, according to an internal memo confirmed Tuesday by Metro Transit. Transit authorities call it a reasonable accommodation to the driver's religious beliefs."

Go here to read the entire article. What do you think?

Same-Sex Marriage

From The New York Times -

October 14, 2006
Gay Marriage Losing Punch as Ballot Issue
By Kirk Johnson

DENVER, Oct. 13 — The debate over same-sex marriage was a black-or-white proposition two years ago when voters in 11 states barred gay couples from marrying.

But this year shades of gray are everywhere, as eight more states consider similar ballot measures. Some of the proposed bans are struggling in the polls, and the issue of same-sex marriage itself has largely failed to rouse conservative voters.

In some cases, other issues, like the war in Iraq and ethics in Washington, have seized voters’ attention. But the biggest change, people on both sides of the issue say, is that supporters of same-sex marriage this year are likely to be as mobilized as the opponents.

It's worth reading - Go here for the entire article, though you do have to have a free subscription to the Times.

Gerry Studds, 1937-2006

The New York Times' article begins, "Gerry E. Studds, the first openly gay member of Congress and a demanding advocate for New England fishermen and for gay rights, died early Saturday at Boston University Medical Center, his husband said."

Read that again. The bright light in the otherwise dark news of Studds' death is that The New York Times referred to Dean Hara as Studds' husband. Yes, they married in May, 2004, shortly after same-sex marriage became legal in the Commonwealth. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the Times tried to avoid gay issues altogether and writers were forbidden to use the term "gay." That changed in the very early 1990s and under new leadership they paper took a very different stance on the coverage of GLBT issues, even including same-sex marriage announcements. Nonetheless, it's very cool, imho, to see the first sentence of the article refer to his husband.

It's unfortunate that in what turned out to be the last couple of weeks of his life, Studds name resurfaced only in the context of the Foley scandal. He did good work.

Students in the Gulf

I just wanted to post this and encourage you to pay a visit - Two of the students who went to the Gulf with me in January '06 graduated in May and have accepted Americorps assignments with the American Red Cross. They are now in New Orleans and plan to post about their adventures at Blog on the Bayou. Check it out!

Matthew Shepard, 1976-1998

Just wanted to take a moment to remember Matthew Shepard. It was eight years ago today that he died, five days after being beaten and left to die in the cold Wyoming night.

The morning of 12 October 1998, I was sitting at my desk, preparing for class, when I heard the news. Having been in my position here only three years, I had never pro-actively come out in class. That is, people figured it out, I didn't "hide," my office decor certainly "outed" me, etc. But I had never - even though I taught gender and sexuality - explicitly put it on the table in the classroom.

That morning I went to my class of 18 first year students - I'd known them just over a month - and came out. I explained that studies show that the single most important thing in changing people's attitudes is for them to realize that they know someone who is GLB. Then I went to my next class and then my next. Over the next couple of days I received notes and e-mails thanking me for my comments. I was so glad that I had summoned the courage to take that step. I like to think I made a difference.

Each year we have National Coming Out Day and then we have the day that Matthew died. Although he died in a way that nobody should experience and he died too young, I think it's fair to say that, at 21, he made - and continues to make - a difference, too.

US2CA Blogs

Are you reading this as a U.S. expat in Canada? Or, are you in the process of waiting for your permanent residency visa so that you can go to Canada? If so and you have a blog we should know about, please say so via comment. Maybe you're neither, but you've got a great blog going? If so and you would like me to link to yours, just holler.

In other news - today is 11 October 2006 and it snowed in Saint Paul, Minnesota. As I look out my office window, there is actually white stuff on the leaves of the trees. I am not kidding.

Happy National Coming Out Day!

Nope, that's not me. That's P!nk, participating in HRC's Snapshot Project. Wanna know more about NCOD? Go here!

Today, 11 October, is the 20th National Coming Out Day. That means that, 19 years ago, in 1987, I was marching on Washington, DC. It was the best of the marches, IMO. Going home was such a downer that I immediately went to Provincetown for the weekend.

Noo-klee-er

I confess, one of the worst things about North Korea's escapade is that we are now subject to more of Shrub's mispronounciation (metathesis, I've learned it's called) of the word nuclear. Take note, big guy, noo-klee-er. Grrrrr...

Published

I went ahead and sent an abbreviated version of my Foley post to the local paper and, lo' and behold, it appeared in print and on-line - scroll down to "Adolescents in the U.S." Hopefully I won't get any yucky phone calls from someone who disagrees.

Mark Foley - Moron, yes. But, pedophile?

I just had to address this somewhere...

Sixteen year old boys may be "boys." They are minors. But, they also tend to be sexual beings who act with agency. Was Foley incredibly stupid? Absolutely. Did he take advantage of a position of power? No question. But, is he a pedophile? Who knows? I do think that to refer to him as a pedophile based on the "evidence" the public currently possesses misses the mark. For one thing I believe it makes it more difficult to address dangerous pedophiles who prey on children. For another, it's one more example of how we just can't decide where adolescents fit in our world.

One minute the sixteen year old who commits a violent crime is thought to be "old enough to know better" and thrown in the slammer for decades. The next minute he's an innocent, taken in by an older man who wanted to get his jollies IMing about masturbation. It doesn't get any better at eighteen. One minute we throw you an M-16 and send you off to Iraq. But don't get any ideas about having a cold beer the night before you leave.

I'm not saying there's an easy fix here. Some sixteen year olds are more mature than some eighteen year olds. And, some sixteen year olds probably shouldn't be trusted with mom's car and $5. It's not that we can truly fix an "age of majority" and that's that. Hell, I happen to think - based on what I see every day at work - that a sixteen year old today is not what a sixteen year old was in 1974. But, I also don't think a sixteen year old in 1974 was identical to the sixteen year old in 1944. And, we could also speculate on variety based on urban/rural, birth order, etc.

My point is that while Mark Foley may have been a complete fool who was thinking with something besides his brain, to call him a pedophile and accuse him of molesting boys does a disservice both to the young men involved in this situation and to those who work to prevent the sexual abuse of children by adults.

Call him stupid. Call him arrogant. The evidence, in my opinion, supports those conclusions. But, a pedophile? Save that for the other guys.

Really, he has no clothes!

And from today's New York Times:

"Speaking to reporters on Thursday after returning from a trip that included a one-day stop in Baghdad, Mr. [John] Warner [R-VA] said the United States should consider 'a change of course' if the violence there did not diminish soon. He did not specify what shift might be necessary, but said that the American military had done what it could to stabilize Iraq and that no policy options should be taken 'off the table.'"

I have a feeling that things are going to be getting very interesting around here...

In other news - Keith Ellison (D) is running for Congress to replace Martin Olav Sabo (well, this is Minnesota) in my former district. If he wins, which everyone is expecting, he'll be the first Muslim in Congress and the first black representative from Minnesota. He's been a wonderful advocate for GLBT rights. Read about it here! You'll have to have a free New York Times account, but it's worth it.

What an interesting election it's shaping up to be in Minnesota. We may see the election of a Muslim who's great on GLBT issues in the 5th Congressional district and an evil Republican witch from hell in the 6th.

The Emperor Has No Clothes

Apparently a guy in Seattle wrote and paid out of his own pocket for this ad in the Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer. It may take a minute to load, but it will. Pretty cool, I'd say.

Nothing in particular...

Not surprisingly, there's not much to report from here in the Upper Midwest. I've enjoyed following the guys at Life Without Borders and Wondrous Canadian Renewal. Today I heard from a local "e-pal" who received his PPR on Saturday and sent them off this morning. They've planned a trip to Toronto for mid-October and, though they'll be moving to BC later, are hoping to have it serve as their landing. Another guy I've "met" on-line was transferred from Buffalo to Detroit back in February, received a request for proof of funds in early September, and hasn't heard another thing since. Not much other immigration news. On the various boards there's the same level of frustration over the Detroit stall. No surprise there.

In other news, I'm hoping to watch the GOP completely implode over the Foley debacle. IMO it's unfortunate that people don't understand that if people were free to be themselves situations like this would be far fewer. I have a cousin who left his wife the week their second child was due. Great time to decide to come out. He said that he had thought he was gay since he was 5 years old, but that he figured that getting married would "cure him," that having a child would "cure him," and - not having had any success with that approach - that having a second child would definitely do it. He finally decided that, yes, he was gay and walked out with a small child in the home and another due any moment. Then there's McGreevey... Seriously, if these guys hadn't felt they had to run and hide, would they make such foolish choices? Did I mention that my former rep in the U.S. Congress was Jim Kolbe?

BTW, do any of you from outside Minnesota know the name Michele Bachmann? She's an evil witch from hell and she may well end up in the U.S. Congress. She's running against DFLer Patty Wetterling for the seat about to be vacated by Mark Kennedy and she's maintained a steady lead in the polls. BTW, you may remember Kennedy from his brief doltish appearance in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11.

Back to Bachmann. From her website, "My record of supporting traditional marriage, family life and children, including those yet born, is unambiguous. This will not change if elected to Congress. I was the chief author of a constitutional amendment in the Minnesota Senate defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I will continue to support traditional marriage as a union between a man and woman." Be afraid, be very afraid.

Tomorrow James Dobson comes to town with "Stand for The Family," an "event designed to educate and motivate pro-family conservative Christians." That's motivate as in motivate to vote. "In addition to Dr. Dobson, the list of speakers includes Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council; Gary Bauer, president of American Values; Dr. Ken Hutcherson, senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Wash., and Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention."

Yeah, we're havin' some fun tonight!

Oh, my goddess!

I was clued into this one by Matt over at This Nurse. Hard to believe... or not.

"American Airlines Flight 45—departing Charles de Gaulle at 10:40 A.M., arriving J.F.K. at one each afternoon—is a tourist’s delight: timed just right to avoid late checkout, leaving time for one last Kir Royale at Les Deux Magots. On August 22nd, the coach cabin was packed with vacationing New Yorkers. Ralph Jackson (21A) and David Leisner (21B) were returning from two weeks in France, while Huffa Frobes-Cross (21F) had stopped over in Paris on his way back from South Africa. Assigned to seats 20A and 20B were George Tsikhiseli, a television journalist, and his writer boyfriend, Stephan Varnier. “We’ve been together only four months,” Tsikhiseli said last week. “So it felt like a honeymoon.”

Twelve days earlier, British police had foiled a terrorist plot to blow up airliners. Heightened security had delayed the flight by about two hours, and passengers, by the time they boarded, were ready to relax. “I had a José Saramago book I was looking forward to reading,” Leisner said. “And then I was going to take some melatonin and have a little nap.”

Shortly after takeoff, Varnier nodded off, leaning his head on Tsikhiseli. A stewardess came over to their row. “The purser wants you to stop that,” she said.

“I opened my eyes and was, like, ‘Stop what?’ ” Varnier recalled the other day.

“The touching and the kissing,” the stewardess said, before walking away.

To read the rest go here!

You have GOT to be kidding me! But, apparently not.

Live, from New York!

"Under New York’s well-established marriage recognition rule, courts historically have respected marriages performed in foreign jurisdictions unless the marriage is 'repugnant to New York public policy.' But Lambda Legal client Duke Funderburke, a retired teacher who married his partner of 43 years, Bradley Davis, in Canada, was denied spousal health benefits from the state for his partner, despite their legal marriage in Canada.

Lambda Legal argued that because all three branches of state government recognize several rights of same-sex couples, New York State has clearly demonstrated that it does not find such relationships to be 'repugnant' to public policy. During the Funderburke oral argument, the trial judge even acknowledged that the contention that marriages between same-sex couples are repugnant to public policy 'itself is repugnant.' In contradiction to all of this, though, the trial judge issued a hasty, two-page opinion stating that the recent Hernandez v. Robles (the New York State high court decision restricting marriage to different-sex couples) restricted the trial court from recognizing the valid out-of-state marriage license for the purposes of spousal health insurance benefits. Lambda Legal has filed a notice to appeal the trial court’s decision."

Lambda Legal

Yellowknife, red Canadian?

A post over at Moving to Vancouver made me remember this moment from Montreal...

So, I'm sitting patiently, waiting for Martina (yes, THAT Martina) to arrive. She was the speaker at the closing session. The woman sitting behind me, kind of just talking to anyone within earshot, says something about wanting to move to the States. Huh? I, of course, turned around and said something like, "What?" I mean here I am at an international conference on LGBT human rights and this other attendee - Canadian attendee - wants to move to the States? As I find myself wanting to say so often these days, WTF?

Well, she starts telling me how she had moved from Ontario to the Yukon to live with her girlfriend whom she had met on-line, that she makes better money in the Yukon, but that she'd make more money in the States. Oh, and, the Yukon is pretty nice, they even have a Wal-Mart. Had I just walked into some kind of Jon Stewart set-up? Yeah, she said, some people don't like Wal-Mart, but she does. After all, when they opened it gave her clients - turns out she's a social worker! - all kinds of job opportunities. Nice. Anyway, it went from weird to worse and eventually Martina showed up.

Reading WEB's post about deep integration made me think of that one. Again I say - how about she gets to come south and I get to go north? Not that far north, but north!

The GOP is comin' to town!

From the Star-Tribune -

"The Twin Cities will host the Republican National Convention in 2008, a state Republican source said this afternoon. Republicans and DFLers both have been angling to host their parties' next national conventions, but Republicans locked up their commitment today and are expected to make the formal announcement later today at the Xcel Energy Centre in St. Paul."

One of my pals plans to schedule her out-of-town vacation during their visit. I say, "Hell, no!" If things are a dismal as they are today I'm all about the protests.

Go here for more.

Leap of Faith

Well, this morning I took somewhat of a leap of faith and purchased tickets for our vacation in Nova Scotia next summer. The "leap of faith" is that the airline is still in business and that it can serve as our landing trip. If not, vacation is good enough, but, hey, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Then, I get home, flip through the mail, including the latest issue of Transitions Abroad, and lo' and behold if there isn't an article titled, "Nova Scotia: The Enchanted Land." I'm taking that as a sign!

Those wacky Christian Conservatives

In case you missed it:

Christian Conservatives Look to Re-energize Base
By David D. Kirkpatrick

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 — Openly anxious about grass-roots disaffection from the Republican Party, conservative Christian organizers are reaching for ways to turn out voters this November, including arguing that recognizing same-sex marriage could also limit religious freedom.

Just two years after many conservative Christians exulted that their voter turnout efforts had pushed President Bush to re-election, organizers say their constituents are disengaged.

“There is disillusionment out there with Republicans,” said James C. Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian broadcaster Focus on the Family and the most influential voice in the movement. “That worries me greatly.”

At an election-season Values Voters Summit held here by the allied Family Research Council, some conservatives debated whether “maybe losing the Republican majority would teach us a lesson and get our movement back on track,” in the words of Representative Mike Pence, Republican of Indiana.

Mr. Pence argued that in the end, Republicans were still preferable to Democrats. Like many arguments, though, his was about picking the lesser of two evils.

“My first inclination was to sit this one out,” Dr. Dobson said in an interview, adding that he had changed his mind when he looked at who would become the leaders of Congressional committees if the Democrats took over.

Some were candidly gloomy.

“At the grass roots, among ordinary people, the enthusiasm is not there, and unless that changes in the next five or six weeks, the Republicans aren’t going to make it” to retain control of Congress, said Paul Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Foundation and a founder of the modern conservative movement.

In addition to voicing more general complaints, Christian conservatives say President Bush and Republicans in Congress have not lived up to their expectations about advancing new abortion restrictions or a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Even in this crowd of nearly 2,000 Christian conservative activists, some balked at one tactic recommended to turn out church voters. In a workshop, Connie Marshner, a veteran organizer, distributed a step-by-step guide that recommended obtaining church directories and posing as a nonpartisan pollster to ask people how they planned to vote.

“Hello, I am with ABC polls,” a suggested script began.

Some attendees complained that the script seemed deceptive, Ms. Marshner said in an interview afterward. She said that such disguised calls were a common campaign tactic, that it was just a suggested script and that she never recommended answering a direct question with a lie.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, who played host to the conference, said he was “upset” to learn of her instructions and condemned any deception.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of the liberal group Americans United for Separation of Church and State, called the tactic “disgraceful” and “a desecration of the church.”

Several organizers at the event lamented that opposition to same-sex marriage, a major catalyst for Christian conservative turnout two years ago, had lost some of its emotional resonance. Massachusetts remains the only state to recognize same-sex marriage. Sixteen states have passed constitutional amendments banning such unions, and eight courts have ruled against the idea.

“Sometimes success brings complacency,” Mr. Perkins said.

To revive some of the emotions around the issue, several organizers said they were taking up the argument that legal recognition of same-sex marriages would cramp the free expression of religious groups who consider such unions a sin — an idea much discussed at the conference.

“That is an issue that wasn’t around two years ago and one that is absolutely moving to the very forefront,” said the Rev. Donald Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, a conservative Christian broadcaster and advocacy group.

Although that idea may seem far-fetched to many liberal or secular-minded voters, legal scholars across the political spectrum agree that authorizing same-sex marriages could present legal questions for some religious groups. A Roman Catholic group in Massachusetts, for example, recently stopped offering children for adoption rather than provide them to gay couples.

At the Values Voters conference, Mr. Perkins played a preview for an October telecast to Christian broadcasters that dramatized the conflicts in stark terms. He interviewed parents who are suing the town of Lexington, Mass., because its public school assigned their 7-year-old son a book called “King and King,” about two princes who marry.

“Get involved as the Lord leads before religious liberty is lost forever,” Mr. Perkins warned in the trailer.

Others looked abroad. In a pre-election letter to 2.5 million supporters, Dr. Dobson is breaking away from his traditional field of child psychology to argue that foreign terrorists are a threat to families.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, looked ahead to 2008 and the possibility that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton might be the Democratic presidential candidate. Ms. Clinton’s nomination, Mr. Falwell said to laughs, would arouse even more evangelical opposition than Lucifer’s.

[END]

Throw it out!

I am an anti-pack rat. An anti-clutter queen. Maybe it's because I've moved so much. Maybe it's the Virgo in me. No matter - if you haven't used it, don't really like it, get rid of it. I have always been this way - except for books, music, photographs, and t-shirts that have sentimental value - but now I'm on a roll.

In October 2000 we were burglarized to the tune of about $10,000 worth of, well, you name it. The obvious stuff like CD player, leather jacket, suitcases in which to haul it away. But, they also took shampoo out of the shower, food from the fridge, a 100 count bag of Halloween candy, ibuprofen... I lost my class rings, baby jewelry, grandmother's diamond. What was weird was that they didn't touch all of the baby stuff, still in the packages, easily returned to Target. I think even criminals have their limits. We were thankful that they didn't harm our animals or vandalize the house when they realized who lived there. Anyway, that got me further into the "it's only stuff mode."

Then, in January 2006, as regular readers (all four of you) know, I spent a week in Mississippi doing disaster recovery work. Once you haul virtually everything - and I mean everything - that belongs to someone out to the curb, you really know, it's only stuff. I mean, we just can't get that worked up over material goods. Seriously.

In between these two experiences I had become more and more obsessive about environmentalism and trying to "do the right thing" for my kid. As someone who used to be able to tell you where to shop and how to find "the mall" in a number of major US cities, I was becoming terribly anti-consumption. And, I love it.

So, last spring I started. Haven't worn it in a year? Out. Never use it because we've got it stashed in the back of the cupboard anyway? Out. Haven't unpacked it since moving to Minnesota in 1995? Am I really going to buy another turntable? Ummm... I'll get back to you on that one. Everything gets categorized as "If we don't use it now will we take it to Canada?" If not, gone! I'm having a blast.

The really cool thing is that while a lot of places, including the Twin Cities, have craigslist, we've also got Twin Cities Free Market. In the past month I've given away stuffed animals, kids' clothing, tapes, books, and a backpack; framed posters that haven't been on the wall since I moved in 2001, and a Walkman I haven't used since going MP3. But, this weekend was really liberating!

I used to be a real music fiend. I still love it, but I don't have time to obsessively make my own mixes, etc. I no longer even own a cassette deck. But, sure enough, I still had about 100 cassette tapes, mostly from the late 1970s to mid 1980s. A young guy had posted a "wanted" ad, looking for any LPs or tapes for his collection. He was thrilled. So was I. Then, I weeded the LPs. I kept the special ones like my very first album, A Hard Day's Night, and those that had been in my father's jazz collection. But those I'd either never listen to or would rather just have on my iPod - and, yes, I agree, vinyl is superior to all other species - (e.g., Cameo, John Denver, Hubert Laws, Barry Manilow, Melissa Manchester, Barbra Streisand, Tavares, Eric Burdon and War) would have to go. Along with 70+ 45s. I kept three from elementary school to put in my box of memorabilia (okay, okay - The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde, Mellow Yellow, and Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine). Anyway, a young woman e-mailed me immediately - "Please, please, please, pick me!" Off they went. She and her fiance came to pick them up. They were happy, I was happy.

So, this is a long winded way of saying that when we (FINALLY) do move there will be no expired cold medicine, platform shoes (from either the first or second time around), or clothes that don't really fit to debate keeping. And, I'll have to save for another post how much easier it is to clean the house... Well, if we could just figure out a way to tackle those black lab/springer tumbleweeds!

Before You Enlist!

Please go here and watch this video. Going from the blog it may take a minute to load, but it will. You can choose either a YouTube or Google Video version. Watch it and then share as you see fit. It's about 14 and a half minutes in length. Participants include parents of deceased soldiers, Vietnam and Gulf War/Iraq War vets, and a former military recruiter. Watch this video.

Leaving the US

I was walking to the office, listening to Pink and the Indigo Girls, thinking about L-girl's post mentioning the hate mail she had received, etc. That got me thinking about people's attitudes toward those of us who leave. This blog is under the radar enough and, I think, people are less torqued over the issue that I've not experienced that. But, here are my thoughts to those on the so-called-right and so-called-left who might challenge our decision.

To the so-called-right: In 1978, after finishing my undergraduate degree, I enlisted in the U.S. Army. I enlisted - as opposed to joining as an officer - because I thought I might be a career officer and I felt that I'd be a better one if I had enlisted experience. My first assignment was as a military police officer at a nuclear weapons storage site in Germany. I've spent many hours behind locked gates "protecting democracy," freezing my ass off, being bored out of my mind. In 1981 I came off active duty, entered the reserves, and, in 1985, went to Benning School for Boys - also known as Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA. As I drove through Georgia, psyched to be going, I played John Philip Sousa on my tape player. I am not making this up! A little over three months later I was commissioned as a 2LT.

For the next 15 years I was in and out of reserve and inactive reserve assignments. In 2000 I resigned my commission. After all the subterfuge, allegations, and games ("I know that you know that I know, but let's all play.") and, I admit, a completely different view on U.S. politics, militarism, etc. than I had at 22, I was finished. But, I had spent 22 years "serving" in various capacities.

The bottom line for me is that this country treats me as a second class citizen. It doesn't recognize my family. It screws me financially because we aren't treated as a family. And for this I put on the uniform. I have often asked myself, for a variety of reasons, what exactly what I "protecting" when I did so? It certainly wasn't my rights, my freedom. So, at the ripe old age of 50 I am tired of it. I just want to get my family to a place where we are equal under the law.

I served the country of my birth. I've earned a Ph.D. I've earned a J.D. I teach. I volunteer. I contribute to charity. In fact, I took 20 people to do recovery work in the Gulf last winter. But, yeah, I somehow don't deserve to be treated equally. I'm a non-person and particularly a non-mom in the eyes of this country. What would you do?

To the so-called-left: Yup. The above is true. But it doesn't capture a lot. In 1990-91, while my brother was jumping out of airplanes into Iraq, I was protesting with a sign "Reserve Officer Against the War." So, don't go all weird on me about military service. I've made a career out of challenging military policy and exposing military wrongdoing. I love Cynthia Enloe's work. Don't know it? Then don't talk to me about the military.

Think I'm "jumping ship" or that we're about to "turn a corner?" Maybe you - as an individual - think I deserve equal treatment under the law. A good number of your fellow lefties don't. Maybe you - as an individual - think my family deserves equal treatment under the law. Many of your fellow lefties don't. Mention marriage and everyone goes all wiggly about tradition or they're just too afraid of what their friends or constituents will think. Even John Kerry was a loser on this one. I never did get a good answer for how he reconciles his "belief in the tradition of marriage" with being a divorced Catholic. Hmmmm... The Democratic party is filled with chicken shits when it comes to the same-sex marriage issue. Civil unions are the 21st century version of separate but equal. It is separate and it's not equal. No way around it.

I've written, I've organized, I've protested. I'm tired. Does that mean I'll stop? Not a chance. But it does mean that I'd like to do it in a place that has at least made an effort of not just giving me a place at the table, but letting me eat, too.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming - So, no, I'm not in a bad mood. I was just thinking about how people on both sides don't really get it and wanted to spew something about it.

Have a terrific weekend! It's raining and dark here in Minnesota, but it's still Friday!

Teeny, tiny, but glad to have it good news

We received 5YO's new passport yesterday! Since kids' passports are only issued for five years his was going to expire soon enough that they wouldn't have accepted it for visa issuance. So, with new photos of the big boy and the requisite funds off it went and back it came. So, we now each have a passport that is good for at least 5 years. One more thing to check off "the" list! Yea!

And, from The New York Times

Canadians Fault U.S. for Its Role in Torture Case
By IAN AUSTEN
Published: September 19, 2006
OTTAWA, Sept. 18 — A government commission on Monday exonerated a Canadian computer engineer of any ties to terrorism and issued a scathing report that faulted Canada and the United States for his deportation four years ago to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured.

For the entire article, click on the title above.

Too funny!

This has nothing - well, not directly - to do with immigration, etc. But, it cracked me up!

I'm sitting here slogging away on this book and I had to check something on the website of the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Yeah, scary, I know. Anyway, go here to see if you can tell why I got a good laugh!

Okay, back to work!

Be afraid, be very afraid

"Bush said the Geneva Conventions’ Common Article 3 is vague and must be clarified to protect CIA interrogators from prosecution by other countries. Article 3 requires detainees be 'treated humanely' and bars 'outrages upon personal dignity.'" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14848798/page/2/

Hmmm, vague? Doesn't that man have a dog? Does he need further instruction on how to treat it humanely? As for personal dignity, yeah, I'd believe he doesn't know the first thing about that.

"A trio of powerful Republican senators -- John McCain of Arizona, John Warner of Virginia and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina -- has endorsed legislation that would protect the rights of detainees. . . . The three senators object to Bush's bid to define more narrowly the Geneva Conventions' standards for humane treatment of prisoners, which the president insists is needed for the CIA to elicit valuable information from detainees."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14718435/

What is wrong with that man? Yeah, anything that helps the GOP implode is okay in my book; well, almost anything. But, wow... I keep hearing things that just leave my mouth hanging open.

Check it out!

I'm guessing a number of you might already have seen this. But, check out Kyle McDonald's blog, one red paperclip. Imagine bartering a paper clip for a house. Wow.

P.S.

One of my favorite things about 5YO is that he now, when asking a question or referring to some place not nearby, says, ". . . another part of the world." E.g., When we saw those cows, that was when we were in another part of the world." Well, I think it's cute.

Have a great weekend!

The 5YO and Moving to Canada

In one of my other blogs I referred to my son as 5YO, as in "five year old." I didn't like using his name so publicly, especially since it is somewhat unique, so I came up with that. While I may have slipped somewhere, that's how I tend to refer to him in the blogosphere.

In a comment here Tom asked what 5YO thought about moving. Well, mostly he thinks it's pretty cool. Every now and again he's not so thrilled about leaving the only house he's known. But, he knows he gets a fish tank whenever we do move. We like to refer to parenting as a series of bribes and threats...

I thought I'd write a little more about 5YO's travels. First, we're waiting for his second passport to come back. Since kids' passports are only good for five years and he's had his since 2003, we're trying to time it right for his passport to have more than two years on it when we get visas. Since it should arrive any day it would be good until 2011. I think we're set.

He got his passport in 2003 because we were going to spend three weeks in Amsterdam. That was a wonderful trip! He was just over 2 and had a blast in Vondelpark. This time, 2006, he enjoyed a place called Tun Fun. I didn't get to go, but I guess they made an indoor playground out of what had been an underpass!

5YO's first trip was a road trip to Saint Louis when he was about 8 weeks old. Of course he doesn't remember it (tongue in cheek), but he did go up in the Arch. From there, due to a family emergency, we drove to Branson. Yes, it's true. Notice that I've not linked to info about Branson... When he was 3 months old we flew to Arizona for a family reunion - prompted by his arrival - in Sedona.

As of today he's taken 40 flights - legs, not round trip. He's done road trips in several directions. So far, by plane or car, he's been to Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and California. Wow, I've never written it down before. In Europe he's been to the Netherlands twice, Germany, Belgium, France, and Austria for a quick swing just south of Neuschwanstein. He's also joined us in the border town of Nogales to make a vanilla and tequila run.

But, Canada, oh, Canada. After a harrowing drive on a post-blizzard highway, we welcomed 2005 by spending New Year's Eve at The Forks in Winnipeg. We spent New Year's Day snowshoeing at Fort Whyte. It was wonderful, even at 1 degree.

In March we visited Thunder Bay and got married. 5YO isn't so sure that he likes "weddings" because you have to be quiet, but at least the Deputy City Clerk bribed him with a bag of candy. See, bribe and threaten.

That June we flew into Vancouver and spent the night up in Whistler. The next day he was able to take his first horseback ride in the beautiful setting of Pemberton. Then we spent about five days in Vancouver, staying in Davie Village, hanging out in Stanley Park. Fab!

Then, in November, we took a long weekend in Toronto, also making a quick trip to Niagara Falls. One of the cool kids things in Toronto was Riverdale Farm.

So, in terms of regions, 5YO has been in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Toronto. Not bad. If all goes well he'll/we'll visit Halifax and environs next summer.

All in all, he's a great traveler and he has enjoyed Canada as a tourist. I do wish that we had been able to relocate before he started primary school, but, we're doing our best to convey excitement and all the kid things that should make it appealing.

That's it for now. A nice trip down memory lane!

No news is, well, no news

This, from our attorney, in response to, "What's going on in Detroit?"

"The Canadian Consulate General in Detroit does appear to be experiencing delays in issuing the initial assessments for Skilled Worker cases, and the time frame given to you previously was merely an estimate, based on the combined processing times of the Consulates in the USA. It is true that some applications that were transferred to other offices in the USA are starting to be finalized, unfortunately this is not the case for files in Detroit. There are several applications at the visa office that have not yet received assessments. From recent experience, it appears that the Consulate is currently assessing applications for which the Acknowledgements of Receipt were issued in March of 2005. "

Okay, now find out why they're slow as molasses...

Down girl, down.

Days of Our Lives

"Like sands through the hourglass..." That's what I thought of when contemplating that today is the three month mark from transfer of our file to Detroit. What are they doing? This is soooo exasperating. Not that I'm saying anything you don't already know, but geez!

I haven't been posting because I've been crazy busy with the start of school, but mainly because there's nothing to report. If there were, I could ALWAYS find time. But, grrrr! Tell me to get a physical - really, I don't mind! Tell me to get more fingerprints - no big deal. But, tell me something!

Judging by the timelines here you'd think we'd hear something soon. SOMETHING!

I'm ready to buy a bunch of prayer candles and create a shrine on our porch. Let's see, there's the Saint Alex candle for the imprisoned. Hmmm... But, then, Anima Sola is to "pray to the lonely souls of purgatory for release from jail or when trapped in a situation you want out of." That sounds good. Of course, Saint Christopher is all about safe travels. But, what about Saint Expedite, "Known to make things happen in a hurry." Arrggghhhh! Maybe I'll stick with humor - this one is fun.

Okay, back to writing the stuff I get paid for...

Cheerio!

5 September 2006

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me... Well, I was hoping for a birthday present from Detroit in the form of an IA - something, anything! But, alas, nothing. Yes, cyber-friends, today I pass into the "I would have lost two points but my application is already in process" zone. I am 50. Arrggghhhh! But, get this. This morning I put my five year old on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. I just cracked up when I first I realized that on my 50th birthday, the exact day, my son would be starting kindergarten!

After lunch with my partner at our favorite Indian buffet I treated myself to an hour long browse at the bookstore. Heaven, I'm in heaven... After looking at dozens of books that I would like to read, but know I wouldn't have time for right now, I happened upon "Not Left Behind," a book about the rescue of pets after Katrina. Excellent.

That's about it. Still awaiting word - one word, two words, any words - from Detroit, but trying to remind myself that we're actually better off if things are a little slow. And, I live vicariously through Nick and Mason! Thanks, guys!

The Gulf Coast

I don't really know what I want to say. In a rare moment of channel surfing I happened upon the Discovery Channel's "Surviving Katrina." I don't care for their re-enactments and what I find too great an element of sensationalism, but, having been in New Orleans this past spring, when you could once again drive down Canal Street, the live footage of Katrina captured my attention.

Last year, during the first week of September I changed the course I was scheduled to teach in January from "Applied Sociology in an Urban Environment" to "Applied Sociology: The Social Dimensions of Disaster." My goal was to examine [what was then] the Katrina disaster through the lenses of, at a minimum, race, class, and gender. I also hoped to find the means to have the class do relief work in the Gulf. In January we traveled to the Gulf and spent a week working in Mississippi. We also spent a day in New Orleans learning firsthand about the disaster. I returned in April. A lot had changed. But not a lot had changed.

As I've suggested in other postings, I'm just not a strong enough writer to begin to characterize what it was like, on both trips... Watching this program I am, again, shocked, appalled, disgusted. I just can't fathom what the "leadership" in this country allowed to happen.

When we returned to Minnesota last January people here were surprised that there was still so much work to be done. After four and a half months people couldn't believe that there might not have been significant improvements. I can only imagine that, a year later, many people around the country imagine that things are pretty much back to normal. That is so very wrong. So very wrong. I don't have a particular relief program or volunteer opportunity to pitch. There are tons of opportunities for those who can help. I just had to write something. It's just beyond my comprehension what this country allowed to happen.

Motown, Slowtown

What is going on in Detroit? That seems to be the big question for those of us who have had files transferred from Buffalo to Detroit. At least several folks who had AORs of March 2005 received requests for passports in July - 16 months. Buffalo seems to be transferring files almost exactly one year from the date of AOR. Ours was exactly one year. 13 June. Under the recent trend, we should be getting a request for medicals any day now. But, then I see people who had their files transferred in February and they've heard nothing yet! No IA, no request for meds, nothing. As I've said before, it's good we've got a long timeline in front of us, but it's still frustrating...

P.S.

I gave up trying to post more about the Outgames and the international human rights conference that preceded the games. But, check out their site! It was an amazing thing in which to participate!

Time Warp

I can't believe it's been over two weeks since I posted anything and longer than that since I posted anything of substance. Time is flying by... We were in Tucson from 8-15 August and now we're getting ready for our son to start kindergarten. Oh, yeah, and then there's that law school thing - my partner starts on Monday. Then there's that book I'm [supposed to be] writing... You get the picture.

I have, however, tried to make time to check the other "Canadian blogs" - meaning those of us who have either moved North or are in the process of doing so. I was thrilled to see that Mason and Nick got their visas. That was really cool. Seattle is obviously moving more quickly than Detroit! We've not heard a thing since our file was transferred in June. We just passed the two month point from that date. "Data suggest" that we should hear something in the way of request for meds and/or more materials within the next month. I sure hope so.

I've decided that this process is like what I imagine drug addiction to be. Get a little something and be happy for a while and then start craving something more. The good news, as I've said before, is that while we will "land" we won't make the whole hog move until the summer of '09. So, while we want to get visas in hand, the delay actually helps in terms of our calendar. If all goes according to plan (i.e., we get visas in early 2007 and we have a year from the date of our meds to land), I think we'll try to land on Canada Day. That would be cool.

Well, I just wanted to post *something* and let folks know we're still here, just swamped! As always, you'll be the first to hear something when we do!

Things that make you go, "Hmmm..."

Okay, everybody should be entitled to vacation, but, c'mon - Castro is failing, Israel is still bombing civilians, Congress is listening to testimony about Iraq and Afghanistan, people are dying from the heat wave, but what's Bush doing? Yup, big surprise, going on vacation in Texas. Now I realize that the president is never really on vacation, but talk about thumbing one's nose...

Me? I've been too busy playing catch-up to update my blog with more on my fabulous trip to Montreal. But, I'll get there. In the meantime, for a great 6 minute montage - including some Cirque de Soleil footage - go here and click on "Extracts from the Opening Ceremony."

Meanwhile, it's back to work - just had to vent.

Da-da-da-daaaa!

This morning as I was standing in the lobby of the Paleis des Congres in Montreal I got a voice mail from my partner... We received our FBI fingerprint cards! And, the REALLY good news is that neither of them were rejected for being smudged, etc. Both were stamped indicating that neither of us have records. Woo-hoo! One more small step for Canada! And let me tell you, Canada is looking so good right about now! Hope all is well with anyone reading this! G'night!

Oh my gosh!

I am so behind in posting! Maybe I can catch up tomorrow. In brief, let me offer these teasers - former prime minister of the Czech Republic, former Canadian Minister of Justice, former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Martina Navratilova, Cirque de Soleil, k.d. lang... The conference is over and the games have officially begun. More soon!

More from Montreal

Well, it’s been an amazing couple of days. I’m not a good enough writer to begin to convey what it’s like being here at the conference. My roommate, J, and I agree that it’s one of those events that you really have attend to “feel.” So, I’ll have to settle for descriptions that might give you a tiny sense of things.

Yesterday we checked out Montreal – shopped, took a tour, etc. I always have to spend some time in the bookstores because I can get books on Canadian politics, etc., that are not available in the States. We also had a snack of crepes that was delightful. J has been hankering for Tim Horton’s, but we didn’t make it there until one of the breaks today…

The conference officially began with a dinner last night, Wednesday. About 1500 people were assembled in one of the large halls in the Palais des Congres, Montreal. The main speakers were Gerald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal, Yvon Marcoux, Minister of Justice – Quebec, and Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. They were all wonderful to hear, but Ms. Arbour was just fabulous! We also heard from the Ville-Marie borough mayor, Benoit Labonte. Ville-Marie contains the area known as the "Gay Village." Unfortunately the “8-10 pm” dinner ran until about 11:30 so we were really dragging when we got back to the hotel.

This morning the first plenary was held, “Plenary on Canada and the United States.” The panel was tremendous. I guess I'm saying that a lot... First, Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury spoke. He medaled for Canada in 1988 and 1992. It was really interesting to hear him talk about how he had been “groomed” to represent Canada on the International Olympic Committee and how disgusted he became when he learned about the real politics and greed of the whole process of bidding to host the Olympics. Then he talked about how members of the committee told “fag jokes.” He was also very funny and was totally jazzed about the conference and the Outgames.

Tewksbury was followed by Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. She was also terrific, emphasizing the degree to which people need to realize that LGBT issues are women’s issues, women’s issues should be of concern to those fighting racism, those fighting racism… you get the picture.

Now, with a panel of four you kind of expect someone to not be so great. All four were all just wonderful! The next speaker was Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire. He spoke about how LGBT people need to “come out of the closet” about… being people of faith.

Finally, Irshad Manji took the podium. Oh my gosh was she something. Those of you who have been in Toronto a while may remember her from CityTV’s Queer Television. She’s also the author of “The Trouble with Islam Today.” What a spectacular speaker and accomplished woman.

All four speakers – on the panel chaired by Deborah Batts, the first openly lesbian African-American member of the federal judiciary – were engaging, insightful, inspiring… What a great way to kick off the conference.

After lunch I went to the session, “LGBT Equality and Participation in the Military and the Judiciary.” It was great to hear from the openly gay military folks from Sweden and from SLDN’s Dixon Osburn. I also got to visit with a couple of other folks I’ve met at past conferences.

After a quick lunch J and I met up with the other members of our panel and did our presentations at 2:00. I think they went well, though there is NEVER enough time!!! It was then time for a stop back at the hotel and off to dinner at Chez Suzette Creperie. I had a so-so cheese fondue and we shared a yummy, albeit decadent, crepe for dessert.

We then walked over to Square Viger which is set up like a mini-pride festival with food booths, vendors, etc. as well as a stage. Tonight there were drag performers and great music. We wandered around a bit and then headed over to Old Montreal. Even in the humidity it was great to see the sketch artists set up all over the plaza, the cafes and shops open late, and all the hub-bub. Even though it’s clearly a tourist mecca it doesn’t, to me, have quite the same degree of tackiness as similar places. Yes there are dozens, it seems, of t-shirt shops with the same kitsch, but there are also nice restaurants and galleries. Maybe it’s just the evidence of French, but it seems nicer than many comparable tourist havens.

That’s about it for now. Tomorrow there are more sessions and we hope to, at some point, squeeze in a jaunt to one of the [allegedly] best bagel shops in Montreal.

Oh, last night at dinner I sat next to two women from Serbia. Today, while grabbing a snack with my colleagues one of them ran into a friend from New Brunswick who now lives in Berlin with her partner and child. I talked during one break with a fellow who is the Deputy Executive Director of PFLAG in the US and, at lunch, was able to chit-chat with Mark Tewksbury. Just a few of the highlights I neglected to mention. Highlights because it is just so wonderful to be in such an international environment in such a welcoming city.

That's it for now, g’night!

Greetings from Montreal!

I don't know where to begin. I love this country. And, yes, Quebec is still Canada.

I flew in late this afternoon to attend the LGBT Human Rights Conference that is being held in conjunction with the 1st Annual Outgames. While waiting in line at Customs the TV screens had "Welcome to the Outgames" images - FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF QUEBEC! Like that would happen in the US. One of the columns in the middle of the baggage carousel had a poster around it - rainbow flag, Outgames logo, etc. While walking in one part of the airport there was a "sticker" on the floor that was a rainbow "strip" with something like "1, 2, 3, let's go" on it. It's just so fabulous.

Well, I'm tired and don't have much more to report - got our accreditation and materials, had dinner, made our way back to the hotel. I'll write more as I'm able. The conference begins the middle of tomorrow afternoon and goes into the evening.

Meanwhile - Canada rocks!

Telling

Maybe someone out there can explain it to me... Serve your country. "Defend democracy." Swear to uphold the Constitution - which last time I checked included a right to free speech... but, don't think that honesty, integrity, and free speech apply to you, nope, no way. And, yes, before some wing-nut starts lecturing me on the nuances of free speech, I do understand that it doesn't mean one can yell "Fire" in a crowded theatre... Okay, but back to the news.

"The United States Navy has initiated discharge proceedings against a ten year veteran who attended a June 3rd rally in support of same-sex marriage on New York’s Brooklyn Bridge. Rhonda Davis, a petty officer first class journalist in the Navy, attended the rally and subsequently gave an interview to local radio station 1010WINS where she identified herself as a member of the Navy. Davis also endorsed same-sex marriage and indicated in her interview that she was looking forward to someday marrying her partner of more than three years. On June 5th, Davis’s command informed her that, after being made aware of the interview by callers to the office where she is stationed, they were forced to discharge her under the law, which prohibits openly lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel from serving in the armed forces."
http://www.sldn.org/templates/press/record.html?record=3063

What's the relevance to Canada you might ask? Well, Canada lifted their ban on the service of GLB service members in 1992. Yeah, the year before Bill Clinton signed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" into law. So, in most NATO countries - including Britain and Canada - GLB citizens can serve openly in their nation's military. Not so the US.

But, then, not everyone thinks there's much distinction to be made between the US and Canada, eh? If you're not a regular wmtc reader, check this out to understand the reference.

Note: While I'm a veteran and believe that anyone who wishes to serve in the military should have the right to do so, I would, at this point in time, try to dissuade anyone from joining the military and I fully support those who are refusing to participate in a pre-emptive war begun under false pretenses.

The Good News

I met my son's teachers on Thursday night. The one who will work primarily with the kindergarteners seems absolutely fabulous! She was wearing a red t-shirt, red shorts, red Crocs, had red fingernails, and was really great with the kids. Not bad that she's raised four kids of her own either.

And, get this. In late 2000/early 2001 when my partner and I were working with our attorney, putting things in place for my second parent adoption - thank goodness for Minnesota, we saw her new baby, a cute little guy. Don't know that we've seen him since. Well, I walked into the classroom last week and... he and my son will be classmates! So, there will be two kids with two moms and both kids have hyphenated names for folks to get their mouths around. Fab!

Also in the "good news because we're in Minnesota which is still better than most places category," next weekend we go to Rainbow Families Camp. My son hasn't stopped talking about it since last summer. It's a two night camping trip with dozens of other GLBT families. Meals are taken together and everyone gets to swim, fish, kayak, toast marshmallows... and basically just have a good time together. We're meeting up with three other families with whom we get together every now and again. Should be great - even with the heat and mosquitos! State bird, you know.

Cheers!

The Courts

New York, Georgia, Nebraska, Tennessee... The hits just keep on comin'.

“No doubt it’s been a tough week,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “But each one of these decisions stands on its own. This isn’t some tidal wave against us.” Hmmmm, certainly feels like a tidal wave. But, then, he has to say that...

A snippet from the NYT:
"The Nebraska . . . . amendment, passed by 70 percent of voters, was more far-reaching than most other marriage bans because it denied same-sex couples who were state employees domestic-partner benefits, visitation rights and other benefits. In May 2005, Judge Joseph F. Bataillon of Federal District Court ruled that the amendment went “far beyond merely defining marriage as between a man and a woman.”

Judge Bataillon said it “imposes significant burdens on both the expressive and intimate associational rights” of gay men and lesbians “and creates a significant barrier to the plaintiffs’ right to petition or to participate in the political process.”

And Judge Bataillon added that the evidence suggested that the adoption of the amendment “was motivated, to some extent, by either irrational fear of or animus toward gays and lesbians.”

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit disagreed, ruling unanimously that “laws limiting the state-recognized institution of marriage to heterosexual couples are rationally related to legitimate state interests and therefore do not violate the Constitution of the United States.”

It's not a reach for me to say I'm really hating this country right now. More on that another time.

Well, on to the work of the day... can't wait to see what's next from the sages of the nation.

Fingerprint Update!

Thanks to a poster at immigration.ca, I got an e-mail address for checking on FBI fingerprint/clearance (do1@leo.gov). At 11:45 this morning I sent a message. At 12:35 I received this reply from a real person: "We have received your record request and processing has been initiated. We have initiated a new method of processing that has caused slight delays in our results. We are processing as quickly as possible but I cannot provide you with an exact completion time. If you have any further questions, please feel free contact me."

That is good news. The slight delay isn't a problem on our end. I was just getting worried that they had never arrived. Now we keep our fingers crossed that the prints are acceptable!

Catching Up

This has been a good, but crazy busy, summer. As such, I've not been posting as much as I would like. And, there's no news on the visa front either. Today is eleven weeks since we mailed our FBI cards and not a word. And, it looks as though it could be 4-6 months before we hear anything from Detroit. Blah, blah, blah. That being the case, it was very exciting to hear that Mason and Nick appear to be on the verge of receiving good news!

I just returned from St. Louis last night and I leave for Montreal on the 25th. The former was a family trip to the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Librarians. The latter is a trip to the LGBT Rights Conference being held in conjunction with the Outgames. I was invited to present on gays and lesbians in the military; specifically, on the connection I assert exists between DADT and sexual harassment. The conference looks to be incredible - a great opportunity to hear from international scholars on issues re: LGBT rights and, of course, a great opportunity to visit Montreal. I've only been there once and I was 10. Expo '67!

This weekend is supposed to be dreadfully hot and dry. We might see a high of 97 on Saturday. Guess I'll just consider it training for our August trip to Tucson.

Well, that's really it. Just thought I should post something... What's new in your world?

States of Hate

There's been so much I could be writing about as of late, but I've had no time to do so. Even though I should be doing a dozen other things right now I had to take a moment to mention today's top headline in The New York Times, "For Gay Rights Movement, a Key Setback."

As most of you probably know, New York's highest court denied a claim that to deny same-sex marriage violated the state constitution. "We hold that the New York Constitution does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex. Whether such marriages should be recognized is a question to be addressed by the Legislature." Regardless of what one thinks about marriage, of any stripe, the text of the New York ruling is apparently quite hostile, or, at the least, insensitive. The Supreme Court in Georgia also reinstated that state's ban on same-sex marriage.

How wonderful to live in place that continues to affirm my status, and that of my family, as second class citizens...

Belated Posting

I wrote the following when I was in Germany, but had no Internet access. I'm finally getting around to posting it...

As I write from Trier, Germany it is 8:30 on Wednesday evening, 28 June. I don’t have web access, but I’m going to try to “catch up” on the past number of days so that I can post this as soon as I return.

Last Friday, 23 June, I flew to Cleveland, Ohio to attend the Saturday wedding of one of my closest friends, S. It was the sixth anniversary of my commitment ceremony in which S was a key participant. Let me tell you, it was really odd to be in a Catholic church in Ohio attending a heterosexual wedding, and on my anniversary no less. Don’t get me wrong - I’m thrilled for S. But it’s really depressing to listen to the priest go on about this couple that has been brought together, blah, blah, blah and realize that they’ve known each other almost exactly two years, dated 18 months. It’s depressing because I think of all the couples, myself included, who have been together for many more years than that and whom this institution and this state – and likely many of those in attendance – have worked so hard to oppress. I was genuinely thrilled for her and she was truly radiant - but, geez, it was also really depressing.

I couldn’t stay for the reception as I had to catch an early flight – in hindsight, probably a good thing as additional celebration and affirmation of heterosexuality was probably more than I could stomach. I had to fly back to Minneapolis and get on another flight to Frankfurt via Amsterdam.

As I was waiting for my (delayed) flight in Cleveland, I saw a fellow also waiting to board and thought, “That looks like Dennis Kucinich.” The guy next to me, with whom I’d been chatting, said, “There goes Dennis Kucinich.” I said, “I thought that was him. Our precinct actually went for him in the caucuses.” To which he replied, “I bet he’d appreciate knowing that.” So, I went over, introduced myself, told him about the caucuses, and had a nice chat. He was on his way to Vancouver to present his plan for a Department of Peace at the World Peace Forum. Pretty cool. And, btw, he’s much nicer looking in person than press photos every suggested.

If you’re interested in hearing more about my travels in Germany, click on the "Traveling..." link on the right.

Quick Question!

I've not yet had a chance to post my travel notes, but... in the meantime, I have a quick question. Tomorrow, 6 July, is 10 weeks from the day we mailed our fingerprint cards to the FBI. Those of you already past this point, any advice as to when we should assume they've been lost, etc. and we should send new cards? Thanks! Then again, maybe they'll arrive on shrub's birthday, tomorrow. That would be a nice present to us! More soon, I hope!

1 July 2006

I just returned from a quick trip to Germany and hope to catch up soon. In the meantime, I just wanted to post a quick "Happy Canada Day" to anyone who's reading! Cheers!