THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

THE SAUSAGE November 20, 2010
10AM - 1PM (WEST COAST TIME)

www.vegasallnetradio.com


Activist Astrid Silva will be guest co-hosting with us this week while Laura is away at ROOTSCAMP.

10:18 Chris Hayes takes a few minutes away from shows such as Maddow and Countdown to give us his take on DC and the coming political season.

10:43 Robin McGegee (pt one)of GET EQUAL tells us about her recent trips to the White House, via handcuffs AND the front door.

11am Robin McGehee (pt two)

11:12 Justin Barasky will let us in on one of Harry Reid’s secret weapons during his race against Sharron Angle.

11:27 Autumn Sandeen recounts her esteemed military career and tells us how she ended up chained to the White House fence.

11:42 Ari Ezra Waldman is our “Legal Eagle” who, this week, will cover a myriad of legal cases from across the country.

Noon Our third hour is dedicated to the rise of Latino issues in this years election.

Ruben Kihuen is a rising star in Nevada politics having recently been elected a state senator.

Vicenta Montaya of Si Si Peude Latino Democratic Caucus fills us in on the political realities of Latino life in Nevada.

12:09 Michael Flores of Progress Now Nevada is a young activist who is helping lead the fight for Immigration reform.

12:22 Gloria Nieto will give us her take on the current state of Latinos in the US and immigration reform.

12:34 Mallory Cyr from UNLV on the need for the DREAM ACT.

12:46 Juan Espinoza-Cuellar is an amazing poet who will read us a few of his stunning poetry.

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY November 29 2010
10AM - 1PM (WEST COAST TIME)
www.vegasallnetradio.com

JOHN ENSIGN (R-NV) SUPPORTS REPEALING DON'T ASK DON'T TELL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SENATOR JOHN ENSIGN SUPPORTS THE REPEAL OF DON'T ASK DON'T TELL


A coalition of Nevada's LGBTQ activists and veterans met with John Ensign's Las Vegas staff to discuss the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell



Las Vegas, NV -- This afternoon US Senator John Ensign's (R-NV) Regional Representative Margot Allen told a group of local LGBTQ activists and veterans Senator Ensign will vote to pass the National Defense Authorization Act with the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, that bans gays from serving openly in the military.



Led by Nevada State Senator David Parks, a veteran and the state's first openly gay legislator, Ms. Allen was pointedly asked several times if Senator Ensign supported the repeal and she said under no uncertain terms: Senator John Ensign does not support the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and will vote to repeal it. Ms. Allen explained that after the Pentagon releases the findings of its study on the effects of repealing the ban, he will vote "YES" to pass the National Defense Authorization Act with the repeal included. Ms. Allen also stated that any news reports citing Senator Ensign as against the repeal were false.



Prior to meeting with Senator Ensign's staff, Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada's chairman Derek Washington arranged for the group to meet with US Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid's Las Vegas office.



The group was assured that Senator Reid continues to work hard to get the Defense Authorization Act passed with Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal. Senator Reid wants the bill passed in a reasonable amount of time, but wants to also work with Republican leadership to have a fair and rational amendment process.



It is with great pride that we can now say both of our Senator's from Nevada support the repeal of one of the most blatant examples of institutionalized discrimination. We have watched with sickened hearts as people like Senator John McCain of Arizona act like petulant children and continue to defy and disrespect military generals, the Secretary of Defense, President Obama and worst, our troops.



In a press release issued last week Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stated:



“The Senate should act immediately to debate and pass a defense authorization bill and repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ during the lame duck session. The Senate has passed a defense bill for forty-eight consecutive years. We should not fail to meet that responsibility now, especially while our nation is at war. We must also act to put an end to the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy that not only discriminates against but also dishonors the service of gay and lesbian service members.



“The National Defense Authorization Act is essential to the safety and well-being of our service members and their families, as well as for the success of military operations around the world. The bill will increase the pay of all service members, authorize needed benefits for our veterans and wounded warriors, and launch military construction projects at bases throughout the country.



“The process established by the defense bill would also allow ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to be repealed in an orderly manner, and only after the President, Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have certified to Congress that repeal is ‘consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.’ If Congress does not act to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in an orderly manner that leaves control with our nation’s military leaders, a federal judge may do so unilaterally in a way that is disruptive to our troops and ongoing military efforts. It is important that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ be dealt with this year, and it appears that the only way that can happen is if it is on the defense bill.



“We are pleased that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also called on Congress to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ We must act upon our responsibility to our troops and their family members and to the thousands of gay and lesbian service members who serve their nation bravely and honorably by passing the National Defense Authorization Act before the end of the year.”



We call on all LGBTQ activists, allies and veterans to call on their Senators, especially those who live in Maine, Ohio and Arkansas, and tell them that they can not, with good conscious, end the year without passing this bill, with the inclusion of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell



Organizations present:

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

Stonewall Democrats of Nevada

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network of Southern Nevada

Equality Nevada

OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR HARRY REID FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS

The Honorable Harry Reid
U.S. Senate
522 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Reid,

A very narrow window exists during the post-election session of Congress in which swift and decisive leadership must be displayed in order to secure successful repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). With all of the hard work that you have done to get this repeal as far as it has progressed thus far, it would be simply unacceptable for Congress not to get a chance to repeal DADT before the 111th Congress concludes its term.

As Senate Majority Leader, you control whether, when, and how bills are brought before the full Senate chamber. As a strong and principled supporter of ending the discriminatory DADT policy, you have the power to see that DADT gets acted upon in the lame duck session. We, therefore, ask you, the Senate Majority Leader, to oppose any effort to strip language repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The current language in the Senate Armed Services Committee-approved version of the NDAA offers important and overdue protections for servicewomen and military dependents, as well as provides those service members who are lesbian, gay or bisexual the opportunity to serve their country with honesty and integrity. Time is of the essence with ensuring that DADT is not removed from NDAA. We have the votes to end DADT this year. Now we must see more strong leadership from you, Senator Reid.

We know that you are committed to ending the dangerous and discriminatory policy that is DADT. We know that you are one to keep your promises, and we fully expect NDAA to be brought back up before you recess for Thanksgiving. We know you will follow through on your commitment to our LGBTQ community and our military here in Nevada, and across the nation, by ensuring that the DADT repeal provision is not excluded when NDAA is brought forward for a vote.

Sincerely,



STATE SENATOR DAVID PARKS (D-NV)

ROBERTA LANGE CHAIRWOMAN CLARK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

CANDICE NICHOLS DIRECTOR OF THE GAY & LESBIAN CENTER OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

EQUALITY NEVADA

GLSEN

LAMBA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

LV EQUALITY

NEVADA STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS / CARSON, NEVADA REGION

PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA

PROGRESS NOW NEVADA

SI SE PUEDE LATINO DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

STAND OUT FOR EQUALITY

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF NORTHERN NEVADA



VETERAN & STUDENT ALLIES

Jonathan Abbinett

Ronald Ramsey

Conroe Brooks

Loretta Harper

Jennifer Webb

Nancy Kuhns

Christopher Mendez-Preciado

Marcos Penaloza

Adriana Felix

Robert Cavazos

James Lee

Edith Byrd

ALAN & ZOE or JOHN & YOKO? You be the judge.

After a few days of the latest activist “Hunger Strike”, I asked why I hadn’t heard any new news on the fast for , uh, I really don’t know why by Alan Bouneville. Evidently, while I was away from my computer for a few minutes, a whole video extravaganza had been produced.

And I doubted our Alan hadn't turned this into "A Very Special Episode of Blossom".

As if.

So, I clicked on over and imagine my shock.

Imagine.

Speaking of “Imagine”.

We are. Now.

I am a huge music fan. If we are Facebook friends you already know that my love of music can easily take you from The Cramps to Dolly Parton's Disco ( Baby I'm Burning! You got me on fire!) period in seven Youtube stops.

One of my all time fave groups (outside of any group of three Black women with Boo-Fants and high heel sneakers.) is The Beatles.

Imagine.

You really can’t talk about The Beatles without mentioning everyone else’s fave, John Lennon. I say “everyone else’s” fave Beatle because I’m a Ringo type of guy.

Well.

As I sat there watching a video of the now very weak Alan Bouneville I had the strangest feeling I had already experienced this little mise en scene.

Are you experienced?

I am.

Next to Alan was a dark haired beauty who identified herself as Iana Di Bona. Strange. I’ve seen this place before.

That’s when it hit me like a bong cloud of righteous Kush! I was looking at a modern day John & Yoko “Give Peace a Chance” redux!

Sacre Blooey!

I had to give them credit for re-imagining every 55 year old ex hippies acid dream protest! Brava! Oh. Wait. Isn’t Alan like about 12? The dark haired beauty, maybe 15? How on earth did they think to grab this hippie protest flashback all on their lonesome?

Hmm.

I said, hmmmm.

That’s when I began to look into the recent spate of LGBT hunger strikes (I won’t even get into the bit about people sending their kids to school just so they can eat.). I found a (rather) common thread.

Common.

It seems the doyenne of hunger strikes 2010 is a former radical SCUM manifesto (Google it! Do I have to do everything around here!?) type who goes by the name of Zoe Nicholson. It seems that life with Zoe often consists of enabling young activists to conduct hunger strikes, which are perfectly ok as she is an “expert” on such things.

You see kiddies, a long, long time ago, our Zoe was one of the gazillions of long haired, hippie freaks who burned their bras and waved their flags high!

All without eating.

Something tells this chubby birdie that our Zoe knew exactly what the effect of Alan and the dark haired beauty would be with the two of them sitting and protesting from a bed. Shades of John and Yoko and their uber famous “Sleep In"? Of course, John & Yoko had the good sense to invite cameras AND order Champers and Rock Lobster.

You know. Food.

I can’t prove it, however, methinks that maybe someone is getting a woody watching her recent charges behaving like wooden boys and girls while she pulls the strings and say, “Right here! Right here in my book! No, the first one, not the second one! You are SUPPOSED to be seeing double! You SHOULDN’T be able to speak above a whisper! See! Right here in chapter 62! You’re not dying! You’re finding your inner beauty!”

Or. Some. Such. Bother.

Listen, Zoe. Sweetie Dahling. Why don’t you stop luring young activists into reliving your glory days and give that boy a McRib STAT! I am old enough to get exactly what’s going on. You are using your past as a radical and allowing people to think that a guy like Alan is actually making a difference by killing himself. More importantly, in addition to killing Alan, you are helping to kill the spirit of TRUE ACTIVISM. By that I mean Ghandi (who had a real point in fasting.) and the Buddhist Monks who burned to a crisp on the streets of Saigon to protest the Vietnam War. Hell, even Patty Hearst had more cojones than you by holding the gun and having her picture taken as Tania to lay claim to her crimes. It’s time for you to stop enabling self destructive behavior and come out of the Kervorkianesque shadows.

If hunger strikes are the way to go, YOU STOP EATING.

I’ll be waiting for the video.

May I suggest something I haven’t already seen?


ALAN & ZOE or JOHN & YOKO? You be the judge.

COUPLE #1




COUPLE #2



The winner gets a McRib!

THIS WEEK IN THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY 10 AM - 1PM (WEST COAST TIME)
Vegas All Net Radio's # 1 Rated show!
www.vegasallnetradio.com

TODAY'S LINE UP:

10:20 Steve Sebelius: One of Nevada's top political journalists with a wrap up of what went wrong and what was done right during the 2010 election season here in Nevada.

10:43 Amelia Guardino: Activist will discuss the movement to plant gardens in inner city neighborhoods and how you can get involved.

11: 12 Ari Ezra Waldman: Our resident "Legal Eagle" with the latest legal news and an update on DADT.

11: 27 Steven Thrasher: From The Village Voice to give us his take on Dan Choi, Pussies and what happened to White people during the 2010 election cycle.

11:42 James Humphries: Our favorite Republican from Utah fills us in on the amazing amount of pro-equality legislation happening in Utah and the Log Cabin Republicans DADT case.

12: 15 Date Night: Where to go in the town that gives love a bad name for a little fun and romance? The Date Night crew will fill us in.

12: 31 Thomas Bruny: Downtown Vegas is the new hot spot and the Fremont Street Experience's head honcho will let us know what's hot while it's cold downtown.

12:45 Karen Grayson: Our own Stonewall of Southern Nevada Director of Transgender Outreach will give us details on this years' "Transgender Day of Remembrance".

And as always, we'll have the news, Twitter Trendz, celebrity gossip THE AFAN SCANDAL and just plain s*%t talking!

The Sausage Factory 10 am - 1 pm (West Coast Time)
www.vegasallnetradio.com

A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Hi All,

Well, we did it. We won some and we lost some. Most importantly, Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada stepped up and helped out several campaigns in a way that has never been done before.

We should be especially proud of our efforts on behalf of Senator Reid and Congresswoman Titus. I’d also like to pat you all on the back for the work we’ve done getting to know our judicial candidates. I know quite a few Stonewall members became “go-to” people on sample ballots that people took to the polls and of that I am most proud.

I have to say thank you to Chandler Levrich for getting us through the rough patches in the beginning when we needed to know how the club actually operated “backstage”.

None of what we’ve accomplished this year could have been without our board, Sandy Eddy, Chris Miller, Laura Martin, Leo Murrietta and our newest board member, Nathaniel Phillips.

I have to heap special praise on two board members. Andrew “Nerdrock” Davey is not only our Secretary; he is our Political Director who guided us through so many issues so that Stonewall has always had a ready answer when needed for our membership and politicians who needed guidance on our issues. He has been a tireless and dedicated campaign helper for several candidates and I’m not only thankful to him, but, proud as well.

Karen “Tool Time Barbie” Grayson has been an amazing Director of Transgender Outreach and been an excellent volunteer on every event we have had. In addition, I feel safe in saying; we could not have built the Senator David Parks Lending Library at The Center without her. She also has empowered the Transgender community with her tireless personal outreach to our Nevada politicians and candidates. All of this led us to present her with the very first “Stonewall Member of the Year” award named in her honor.

Sandy, Chris and Laura have been exceptional in making Stonewall one of the top clubs in the party and helping Stonewall have a national presence through our activism and Laura’s press releases.

I expect great things from Nathaniel as well. Now that he is free from his two consecutive campaigns, we hope Leo will be able to expand on the work that we have been doing in the Latino / Immigrant rights movement.

I also wish to thank Alptamise Hailey and Kimberly Michelle who helped us raise quite a bit of our election war chest through their generosity.

There are no words to express the amazing support that the staff of Senator Reid has given Stonewall. I simply say thanks.

Wes, Debra, Gayle, Tina and Ryan at The Arts Factory and Bar Bistro helped us make our name as the best place to learn about politics in the entire state, thank you!

Thank you Genevieve Flores and Linsey Peckonis for your brief but vital stay here in our state helping to “Elect Equality”.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to Rob Schlegel, Kelly MacFarlane Smith, Qvegas Magazine and the LGBT Statewide Coalition for their support as we expanded our role into helping build the LGBT community into a political force and an agent of social change in Nevada with the respect of the local media and politicians.

This letter could not be complete without a heartfelt thank you to Clark County Democratic Chairwoman Roberta Lange. She has been our advisor, friend and our champion. She and her husband Ken have been extraordinary in their support of our club and its goals. Thank you so much Roberta.

Thank you all,

Derek Washington
Chairman Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada