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Archive for the ‘Politics + EnvironMINT’ Category

Tea Party Duel

August 21st, 2010

Social Security? Only if you can pay for it. Lower taxes? Only if they can still have Medicare! But only them. Not poor people. Less income taxes! Let the youngsters work their asses off and pay for our ungrateful retirement. Gay Marriage? Only at the state level! Wait what? There are unfortunately several different factions of Tea Partiers, and many of them flip flop and go back and forth between standard party issues. Their main issue is big government, where nearly all tea partiers agree that smaller government is better with fewer services offered, though they still want social security, medicare, medicade and other 'big government handouts'. I'm guessing nobody told them that -coughcough- those are pretty socialist programs when you get right down to the facts. Another big flip-flop, though they try to keep it quiet, is civil rights, more importantly at this point in time, equal marriage. When asked about the issue, most will shy away from discussing highly controversial social issues, though some have definitely stated their opinions about gay rights or a lack-there-of.

In my opinion, most Americans are still in the dark about what issues the Tea Party actually stand for besides fiscal matters since the Tea Party as a whole tends to go back and forth between issues at random. In fact, the Tea Party tends to shy away from divi- sive social matters in general. With regards to gay rights, they're quietly split down the middle. For example, many tea partiers privately supported the judge's decision that DOMA is unconstitutional, but not because they support gay rights. It's mostly because DOMA infringes on the state's right to think for themselves with regards to marriage. But that doesn't cross the line into supporting marriage equality. It's just supporting their 'states rule' stance.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 2010 August/September, Politics + EnvironMINT

Netroots Nation 2010: This is for all the liberals and progressives

July 24th, 2010

For the left leaning crowd that enjoys websites like Huffintonpost.com and Dailykos.com , check out Netroots Nation. NN is a progressive conference that was satarted by Daily Kos. This year it is being held in Las Vegas as is their bizzaro?conference RightOnline.?The counter organization Americans for Prosperity is led by Erik Telford. We posted a live video stream that includes some of the speaker you may ahve already missed. It's a great view and sheds some postive light on the progressive movement. The movements focuses on civil rights, equality, corporate accountability, health care for all, and many other important social, finical and peaceful issues.

Streaming live video by Ustream

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

This is what were up against!. This is why we need to fight!

July 16th, 2010

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

YAY for DC! I love that town

July 15th, 2010

AP – WASHINGTON D.C.'s highest court has ruled against opponents of the city's same-sex marriage law, saying they cannot ask voters to overturn it.

Opponents had wanted to challenge a law that took effect in Washington in March allowing same-sex couples to marry. They attempted to get approval to put an initiative on the ballot asking city voters to define marriage in the city as between one man and one woman. But city officials balked, saying a district human rights law barred initiatives that would authorize discrimination.

On Thursday, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled 5-4 that officials had the authority to keep the measure off the ballot and acted appropriately.

Happy Gay hands

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

DADT Comic Book?

July 13th, 2010

Folks…If you didn't feel belittled enough with the actual existence of Dont Ask Dont Tell, here's a fun comic book to make it easier to understand for all us simple folk. The Huffington Post has a good article on this farce.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/13/dont-ask-dont-tell-policy_n_644863.html

It's complete with 'How to Railroad your Soldiers' and 'How to Spread Rumors by Telephone Like Little Girls'. A great read for the youngsters! *Happy Smiley Face*

Here's the comic book in its entirety –> http://www.ep.tc/problems/38/ WOW. What a trainwreck…

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

DOMA ruled UNConstitutional by a Federal Judge. Duh!

July 11th, 2010

I am VERY happy that someone has finally gotten down to business (no thanks to

our president – lord love him) – but wow! It is highly possibly that the Gov't will appeal

the ruling so PLEASE – Click this link to tell Obama not to appeal this decision!

It's through Courage Campaign's website so it's legit.

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/DontAppeal

Thanks! <3 your mintmale Editor.

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

Get Married on Air – Go for it Bo!

July 11th, 2010

If you're like me, then you follow the Marriage Equality world quite closely. I will

probably be a crazy person on my wedding day. But besides that! Look at this!

NBC is changing its rules to allow same sex couples to participate on its 'Today'

show weddings!!! YAY!

Link –> http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11121781

If you dont feel like following links:

Original Article By DAVID BAUDER

The Associated Press

NEW YORK

After a meeting with gay and lesbian activists on Thursday, NBC's "Today" show said it is changing the rules for its annual wedding contest to allow same-sex couples to apply for a ceremony conducted on morning TV.

NBC extended the deadline for applications until Monday. Already thousands of couples have expressed interest in the on-air wedding, which the top-rated morning show has sponsored for a decade, a spokeswoman said.

"We're thrilled that `Today' show's `Modern Wedding Contest' now recognizes what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded ? a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay," said Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

Viewers plan every aspect of the wedding, from the cake to the clothing styles of attendants. NBC picks four couples from thousands of applicants, and viewers vote on which of those couples will participate.

Same-sex couples have been excluded because New York state law does not allow them to get wedding licenses. But NBC said GLAAD pointed out that a same-sex couple would be able to get a license from another state and still have their ceremony in New York.

NBC said it had listened to voicemails and read e-mails protesting its decision not to allow same-sex marriages. The show considers relations with the gay and lesbian community very important, it said in a statement.

"Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive to all couples," NBC said.

The only time same-sex couples were allowed to apply for the "Today" wedding was in 2005, when an out-of-state wedding was held, said show spokeswoman Megan Kopf. No gay or lesbian couples were among the finalists, however.

Although "Today" viewers will decide which couple to get married on TV, it will choose from among four that "Today" producers screen and put up for a vote. So there's no guarantee that even if same-sex couples apply for the on-air wedding, viewers will have a chance to select one to participate.

GLAAD said it only learned last week that same-sex couples weren't allowed to apply, and issued a "call to action" for members to complain to NBC. Thousands did, the organization said.

Posted in Blog, Music + Art + Movies, Politics + EnvironMINT

Yes Ma'am!

July 11th, 2010

Mrs. Rachel Maddow was a hottie what what? Thank you Perez for your research savvy posts!

http://perezhilton.com/2010-07-09-who-is-this-hottie

Rachel Maddow

Posted in Blog, Politics + EnvironMINT

We Can Do It- Oh Yes, we can!

June 14th, 2010

Since the National Equality March took place last October in Washington DC, a new group of activists has emerged. They're louder, more visual and have much more of a grass roots style. Robin McGehee and Kip Williams started this group, Get Equal, when they felt that the current activist groups just weren't doing enough. They started taking a more hands-on approach and launched a website featuring the young boy from Arkansas, Will Phillips, who refused to take part in the Pledge of Allegiance in school because its promise of "liberty and justice for all" remained empty for millions of Americans. His silent and powerful demonstration sparked a national media frenzy and he was given the Outstanding TV Journalism segment award at the 2010 GLAAD Media Award Ceremony.

The mission behind Get Equal is to empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community with the help of their allies. They are taking action in demanding full legal and social equality as well as holding accountable those who stand in their way. Get Equal has a vision to make our community's voice heard clamorously and have the government be held accountable for the lack of equality offered to all Americans.

When describing the reason and cause of Get Equal, Robin explains, "The LGBTQ movement stands at a turning point. In the 40 years since the Stonewall riots, our lives have changed immeasurably. We have Gay-Straight alliances in schools across the country, positive gay characters in movies and on television, affirming communities of faith, and openly gay public officials. However, the core of our movement remains unrealized. We are still not equal. At every level of society, LGBTQ folks face rampant and unacceptable discrimination."

We had the incredible opportunity of communicating with Robin directly to get a better look at what Get Equal is really doing. They have a clear and prominent goal, and nothing shy of equal rights will do. Robin expressed, "The reality is that our legislators go home early during a campaign season to work to get votes and in our reality, they haven't given us what they've already promised with Employment Non-Discrimination policies and the repeal of Don't Ask; Don't Tell. As an organization, we have a much loftier goal. We want nothing less than equal protection and opportunity in all 50 states, in all matters governed by civil law. Our hope is that our community will begin to more largely rally around a civil rights amendment or American Equality Bill that offers us all equal protection."

What Get Equal has started is groups of activists peacefully and emphatically taking action against the disservice millions of American face as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals. For example, one team has formed called'ENDA4'. Like the ATeam, but fighting the inequality of job discrimination, these four women (Chastity Kirven, Janine Carmona, Michelle Wright and Samantha Ames) are on the front line to have sit ins at Nancy Pelosi's DC and San Fransisco offices.

The four courageous were arrested and had to agree not to break any more laws to get the charges dropped. ENDA legislation has been stuck in the House Committee on Education and Labor since last year even though Representative Barney Frank promised it would come to a vote by the end of 2009, and even more recently Frank, Representative Tammy Baldwin, Representative Jared Polis and Speaker Pelosi all claimed it was a high priority and they have the votes to pass it. The frustration of this bill not being passed has forced these members to come forward and bring the attention needed to it.

Like the last Presidential Campaign, when the excitement dies down, so does the of support from the grass roots. We inquired on how Get Equal planned to get more people involved and keep them excited about their movement, and Robin replied, "You are absolutely right; there is a quick momentum that builds with every action, but unless you are able to capitalize on that energy – you've lost that organizing moment. We are working to build grassroots connections all over the US and hope over the next months to knit together a group of community organizers that will begin to fight back and stop settling for the empty promises and excuses that our community has been receiving. We will have more actions and more ways to get involved, but it is clear there is a community demand to stop settling and to Get EQUAL."

Our biggest challenge has been the number of folks who want to be involved. So many people all around the country have been activated, and they want to take action as part of the Get EQUAL network. That's amazing, of course, because it means that more organizing is happening. But it's challenging to figure out how to support everyone when you have limited time and resources. We want to help build a network, and we also want to use our resources in the way that's most effective. We're trying to figure out how to meaningfully support all the grassroots activism, while focusing on a few specific goals that we can accomplish as an organization."

Get Equal is pushing to steer away from fighting at a State by State basis, expressing that, "We must pass 50 different laws in each state to protect us from job discrimination, marriage, and safety. These laws can't be state only: they must be national because we are all citizens of the this nation, not just the state we reside in. To make it more clear, the statewide laws can easily and consistently be struck down, by either the executive branches, lawmakers or the citizens themselves.

When we put all of our resources into state and local campaigns, we cede our power to make national change, and we inevitably leave the most vulnerable members of our community behind. Whether or not your state or community has marriage equality or employment protections, you still don't have all your rights. In the meantime, a significant portion LGBTQ people in most places in the country don't have any of those protections or rights.

We need a unified voice demanding nothing less than equal protection in all matters governed by civil law all over the country. While we may be "a little more equal" in places like Iowa or Massachusetts, there are no fractions of equality. We have the moral authority – and the right, under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution – to demand full equality." And that's exactly what Get Equal is doing.

Organizing a nation is no easy task, but with their tactile skills and boundless determination, they will mobilize via the internet. These communities will then create bases across the country where LGBTQ citizens and communities can bind together and become one voice for one option: equality for all. Get Equal is not a group of compromisers and sellouts, but rather the future of our freedom to the rights we deserve as LGBTQ citizens. The group will connect the dots across the country by creating a network of activists and volunteers.

Robin and Kip created the National Equality March in which over 250,000 LGBTQ people and their friends, families, and allies came together and demanded equality. The NEM was held last October on the west lawn of the Capitol, drawing major attention to the our rights as equal Americans. They created a march that was funded on support of the grassroots and private donors, and with the little money they had, they created a moment in time that will never be forgotten. Now is the time to mobilize and take it to the streets. We need to take those 250,000 plus people and get them to make it 1,000,000 plus to get the country up to speed on rights such as job discrimination, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Defense of Marriage Act, and other discriminatory laws that must be removed.

With passion and excitement, Kip Williams illustrated why a mobilized base must change the nation. "When properly served, we believe these people can create a ground swell of energy that will fundamentally change the current political dynamic, restrict support for those who stand in the way of full equality, and embolden those who want to do the right thing. No longer must we settle for empty promises while our young commit suicide, our rights are stripped away at the ballot box, and we are treated as second class citizens. The time has come to unequivocally say that we are more than a political movement we are a civil rights movement."

Get Equal is a strong, organized, and driven force, and they're speaking out without settling for anything less than full equality. "No one should settle for inequality. We deserve equality, and we should act like it. We should all be holding our leaders accountable, and pushing for them to do the right thing. For some of us, that means disrupting business as usual and not backing down. For others, it means withholding dollars and votes or having hard conversations with friends and family. But we all have to take responsibility for our equality, and we have to insist that we have the moral authority to do so."

*Images for this article were provided by WE CAN DO IT, Oh Yes We CAN.

The "We Can Do It" photo campaign has set out to build solidarity and personal strength through positive messaging using a well known iconic image of power and featuring modern LGBTQA people. In support of the global LGBTQA movement, the goal of this organization is to bring to life modern individuals by depicting them as powerful people and not as victims. Their worldwide campaign is looking to encompass that iconic American ideal of "We Can Do It". Our more modern slogan, 'Yes We Can', has been made famous by current President Barack Obama. WCDI is trying to change the face of the LGBTQA movement and the perception that the general public has of the movement. It's not surprising why we here at Mint Male chose this campaign to illustrate our article on Get Equal, another organization that is trying to change the direction of the LGBTQA movement. While GetEqual.org is national and WCDI is global, both are powerful forces to keep an eye out for. For more information, please check out www.MediaTempleProductions.com and www.OpenArtistMovement.com.

Posted in 2010 June, Politics + EnvironMINT

You Say Green, I Say BIKE!

June 14th, 2010

You Say Green, I Say BIKE!

By: Eric Greene

Looking outside it appears that the weather just broke. The trees are budding, flowers are reaching for the sun and bikes are coming out of storage. There are some die-hards who toughed it out this winter and while they certainly deserve a medal, most of us are just now dusting off our two-wheeled buddies. Personally, I'm excited about the end of another winter where I spent too much on cabs.

Bicycling around Chicago has its benefits. It's environmentally friendly, great exercise and it allows us a beautiful view of the city that we just can't get from trains, buses or cars. Not to mention the sense of freedom that being able to get up and go gives us.

There are a plethora of restored and recycled bikes just begging for you to give them a home. A wonderful place to start searching is Working Bikes (workingbikes.org) here in Chicago. It is a not-for-profit organization that keeps bikes from being needlessly trashed. According to their website, they also donate to countries where "a bicycle can often mean the difference between work and unemployment." Imagine how you will feel riding a bike knowing that its purchase helped improve the lives of people halfway across the globe.

Whether you relate to your bike as a new buddy or as an old friend, keeping it in proper working order is extremely important. It adds to the lifespan of your bike. It insures your safety as well as the safety of those around you. Spring is a great time for a tune up. I have had a lot of success with the friendly people at Rapid Transit Cycleshop (rapidtransitcycles.com), but there are many places around the city capable of keeping your bike healthy. Find the one that's right for you. If you prefer to be your own mechanic, plenty of cycle shops offer classes and even free seminars. Also, a number of do-it-yourself books are available. Check your local bookstore and see what's in stock.

Once your bike is safe to ride make sure you're riding safely. The City of Chicago website actually presents a helpful rules-of-the-road guide for bikers. Check it out at http://egov.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/bikemap/keymap.html. I'd like to highlight that it is both dangerous and illegal to ride on sidewalks or wear earphones while riding. Helmets are still a personal choice in Chicago, but it's better safe than skull-fractured. Lights while riding at night are a good idea as well. No one actually wants to hit you, so let them know you're there.

If you ever find that cycling strictly as a form of transportation just isn't putting enough bike in your day, there are plenty of options to explore. One of these is Critical Mass. At 5:30 p.m. on the last Friday of every month, hundreds of riders set out from Daley Plaza to "take back the streets," if only for a couple of hours. This event creates a wonderful sense of community among participants and helps to implant the seed of bike-loving in every witness. For more information look no further than chicagocriticalmass.org.

If you haven't done it yet, get on your bike and go for a ride. Do it for the environment. Do it for your health. Do it for a movement. Do it because it's cool and everybody else is doing it. You have every excuse you'll ever need, so pedal your heart out Chicago.

Posted in 2010 June, Politics + EnvironMINT