DEREKS BIG FAT DEMOCRATIC ADVENTURE

Chris Giunchigliani calls for downtown and event parking overhaul

2011-05-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Chris Giunchigliani calls for downtown and event parking overhaul

Mass towing of cars parked for monthly First Friday event is clear indication that downtown needs more free parking, better planning

LAS VEGAS-Candidate for Mayor Chris Giunchigliani today called for immediate steps to correct the First Friday mass towing debacle. “This marks a failure of planning by City Hall as it should not come as a surprise that people need a place to park if they are going to attend First Friday,” Giunchigliani said.

“The city is over-reliant on parking meters and paid parking. I’ve proposed long-term solutions to downtown parking. I’m also asking the Municipal Court to review the large number of statements that indicate there was not adequate posting on the property.”

While the city did provide some shuttle service for attendees, the supply was clearly inadequate for the event. “This was a failure to properly plan for the event. The city could have negotiated with the parking lots and found a means to provide free parking for attendees,” Giunchigliani said. “This is a clear example of why we need more parking and more free parking downtown.”

Giunchigliani believes attendees should not have to pay for the improper planning. She commented, “It is obvious from the sheer number of towed cars that the lots were not properly signed. That is why I am calling on the Municipal Court today to consider waiving the parking fines or at a minimum reducing the fees. Las Vegas residents should not suffer because of a lack of proper preparation.”

Increasing the number of free parking spots has long been a part of Chris Giunchigliani’s 7-Point Business Plan for Las Vegas.

Giunchigliani commented, “Downtown needs more free parking to encourage people to spend time there. This mass towing is going to discourage people from coming downtown and we can’t afford to let it happen again. We need to be better prepared to accommodate visitors who have cars.”

www.chrisgformayor.com

THE CASE AGAINST CAROLYN GOODMAN pt 1

2011-05-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

THE CASE AGAINST CAROLYN GOODMAN pt 1

Veracity is NOT her strongest point:

Carolyn Goodman says that she just “woke up and decided to run the morning of filing”. NOT TRUE. She has a full campaign staff, signs and T-shirts ready to go. WHY is that important? Do you want a Mayor whose very first statement isn’t true on the day they file?

She told “You People” at The NAACP that she “understands what you go through, I live behind UMC.” She lives “behind UMC” like Las Vegas is next to Los Angeles. Why tell people in the most depressed part of Las Vegas that you “are one of them” when you live in one of the most exclusive parts of town?

She says that she has debated “18 times”. No one can figure out where that math comes from. The total is closer to six. Carolyn goes by the old adage that if you repeat it enough, it becomes truth. Google what other historical figures lived by that mantra. In addition, she has avoided debates and cancelled debates, even on the little kids at The 100 Academy of Excellence. She has set rules where she will not speak at the same time as her opponent. Why? Possibly she’s afraid that she’ll be shown for the inexperienced candidate that she is.

She has NO experience at all:

Carolyn can say all day and night that she has run a non-profit for 30 years and that still does not translate into EXPERIENCE. The non-profit world is vastly different from a city with hundreds of millions of dollars in obligations and all sorts of groups that do not live in fear of their jobs if they challenge her. Have you seen the tuition schedule? How is the school non-profit when they are currently charged $22k a year for high school students and REQUIRE alumni to donate to their program every year (at least once a year) after graduation? The tuition rates are higher than UNLV or some out of state college tuitions. It may be non-profit but it sure is profitable. Nonetheless, this doesn’t equal the experience needed to run a major U.S. city in the throes of a recession.

If sitting on the board of a non-profit equals big city government experience, we’re in trouble.

Ok, let’s do the “3am Emergency call” scenario. It’s 3am and the Mayors phone rings to tell her that there is a terrorist hostage situation at a Downtown Casino. Do you want someone who runs a non-profit to answer? What are they going to do, call a donor, stat?

WHO is SHE? Carolyn began by saying that she was “her own candidate”. When people began to ask who that candidate is, she backtracked and began saying she and her husband were a “two for one deal”. Besides insulting the voters who want term limits by being a shill for yet another term of her husband, Carolyn has gone back on her statement that she is “her own candidate.”
WHO are you?

CAROLYN GOODMAN HAS NEVER BEEN A FRIEND OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY: Ask yourself this; where was Carolyn at this years AIDS Walk? PRIDE? HRC Gala? NCOD? Any event at The Center whatsoever? When asked if she supported Gay Marriage she asked, “why can’t Gays just sign a contract and split everything 50/50 when one of you dies?” She said NO to Qvegas for an interview. No Friend to us.

Chris G to #oscarswife: Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are!

2011-04-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Candidate for Mayor Chris Giunchigliani challenges Carolyn Goodman to series of
debates across Las Vegas

Giunchigliani calls for an on-going conversation with Las Vegas residents emphasizing experience, vision and the ability to get the job done
LAS VEGAS—Candidate for Mayor Chris Giunchigliani today issued a challenge to fellow candidate Carolyn Goodman to join her in accepting every opportunity to debate over the next two months so voters have the information they need to make an informed choice about who should lead Las Vegas for the next four years.

“I look forward to having an ongoing conversation with the Las Vegas community about the issues and who has the proven experience and understanding of the issues coupled with the vision and energy to get the job done,” Giunchigliani said. “As part of that conversation, I’m accepting invitations for debates before neighborhood organizations, established civic groups, business groups and associations, and the media. I hope that Carolyn Goodman is willing to join me at every debate the citizens of Las Vegas request of us.”

“I’m willing to attend and have a discussion on the issues facing Las Vegas and the qualifications needed to get the job done. I’ll participate either by myself or in a debate format,” Giunchigliani said. “We owe it to the voters to stand in the spotlight and make our positions and experience known.”

To date, Giunchigliani has confirmed every debate request. Unfortunately the Carolyn Goodman campaign has not confirmed several of the scheduled debates including these scheduled forums:

· NAACP Mayoral Debate: Saturday, April 16, 12:30 to 2:30 PM
· Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce: Wednesday, April 20, 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
· NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association) Thursday, April 21, 7:15 to 8:30 AM
· Sun City Summerlin Residents’ Forum, Wednesday, May 11, 7:00 to 8:30 PM
· Channel 8 NewsNow Debate, Sunday, May 15, 6:00 to 7:00 PM (Giunchigliani has confirmed, but the schedule is tentative)
· Face to Face (Giunchigliani has confirmed two debates, but the schedule is tentative)

#oscarswife Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are!

CHRIS GIUNCHIGLIANI FOR LAS VEGAS MAYOR

2011-04-04T21:38:00.001-07:00

This election season was supposed to be the one that I sat out after working so hard to reelect Senator Harry Reid and helping get the heinous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repealed.

But then, I met Chris Giunchigliani. I haven't rested since then.

Chris Giunchigliani has a resume that simply blows the other candidates running for Las Vegas Mayor out of the water. If you know me, resumes mean nothing to me. What has really impressed me is that different constituency groups have come to me and asked how could they help because Chris G wrote this bill or helped out that person and they wanted make sure she was our next Mayor. Black peoplle, Latinos, Women's groups, and Animal Rights Activists all came out and demanded to be a part of the "G-Unit". For the very first time, the Las Vegas Asian American community has come out in force to help Chris G win the Mayoral race. The Korean and Vietnamese community have both endorsed Chris G (the first time either group has endorsed a candidate!).

Chris has the only diverse campaign staff. Yes, the ONLY diverse campaign staff of any of the candidates running for Mayor of Las Vegas. They're are young and old, every color under the rainbow and LGBT all volunteering to help her be the next Mayor of Las Vegas. Don't you want a Mayor who undertsands that diversity if the key to a successful world class city?

I have a story that tells you the kind of Mayor Las Vegas will have with Chris G.

I work as a Diversity Outreach Consultant. A group of young Black women I'm helping invited Chris to come and speak to the at risk girls they are mentoring. Chris showed up after a long day at the County Commission and campaigning alone and as fresh as if she had just started her day. She spoke to the girls for about an hour and at the end of the talk she said, "before I leave, I have something for one of you." I had told Chris a few days before that one of the girls had just completed her courses and received her High School diploma. Chris took the time to get the young lady a certificate from the County congratulating this young lady.

That's who Chris G is. There were no voters, no press. Just a bunch of girls in West Las Vegas who mostly were too young to vote.

I could go forever about Chris G.

I won't.

I am just going to ask you to vote for Chris Giunchigliani For Mayor of Las Vegas.

MY VOTER GUIDE TO THE 2011 LAS VEGAS MUNICIPAL ELECTION

2011-04-04T21:35:00.001-07:00

These are MY views on this years Las Vegas municipal races. This has NO official status nor has any connection to any group I am a part of or anyone who I am employed by.

Mayor:
Chris Giunchigliani (see my previous note on why Chris G. is my choice for Mayor

2:
Larry Brown would have been my choice had Chris G. not entered the race for Mayor. We need a leader in charge after 12 years as the nation's punch line and Larry would be the kind of leader we need now. Larry recently said he would support the repeal of SB283 (Domestic Partnership). He tells me that he misspoke and I believe him He took the time to meet personally with Chris Miller and me when he could have been out campaigning to LISTEN to us about LGBT issues. He is a man of good character and if Chris G. wasn't running, he'd have my vote.

3: George Harris is one of the reasons that downtown is coming back to life in spite of the red tape of the last twelve years. His restaurant, MUNDO, is an elegant yet unassuming place to dine and I wish him all the success in the world. He is absolutely right on wantting Government to stand aside Downtown and let small business owners do what they do best, create jobs. I am not voting for George because I think his views on some of our city's social ills are a tad extreme and hard hearted. I am no bleeding heart liberal, but, I worry the homeless will end up "Soylent Green" under Mr. Harris.

4: Katie Duncan is an amazing woman. She knows more about Green Energy than anyone running other than Chris. She has given Ward 5 a new image in her role as Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce head. I sincerely hope that Chris G. will find a place for her in her administration to advise her on Green Energy. Katie isn't seasoned enough to be the Mayor (her hiring of a "Birther" to be her campaign manager took her out of the running on day one.) ,but, it would be a waste if we don't see Katie Duncan around for the next few years.

5: The Crazy Dude with the Fireman hat. I love this dude because he asked the following question at the NAACP Mayors forum, "ask yourselves, how many of those showgirls over the last twelve years were Black?". BRAVO!

The others I thank for their service and participating in the democratic process. All of which brings us to #oscarswife....

I want a Mayor whom I can trust in the highest office in the city. #ocarswife said right up until the moment she announced that she wasn't interested in being Mayor. She did not tell the truth. You do not wake up one day and decide to run for Mayor of a large city and just happen to have a campaign staff on hand. Right there, I have a problem with your character.

At the NAACP forum #oscarswife referred to the assembled as "you people". She then went on to explain how she understood "your concerns with living in the inner city, I live behind UMC."

She lives "behind UMC" like I live in Puerto Vallarta. I don't. She doesn't. She lives in a neighborhood of million dollar estates protected by guards and gates. There is nothing wrong with that, hell, I want to live in that neighborhood. BUT, I would never try to pass it off as an inner city neighborhood.

At the Latina's In Politics forum, #oscarswife referred to "your rich culture" as if she was greeting the visiting Ballet Folklorico. She then went on to say how every child at "my school" learned Spanish. What is wrong with that? Nada. It is however rather insulting to think that because a group is Latino all they care about is the fact that a bunch of kids in Summerlin can speak Spanish. It was truly patronizing. That and a manufactured shopping trip to Cardenas grocery store really should take her out of the running for any Latino voter.

Lastly, this week she was asked by journalist Steve Friess if she supported the repeal of SB283. She said, well, who the hell knows what she said. Her answer was the equivalent of, "I can see Russia from my front door." at one point she said that Gays should "just get a contract and split everythin 50/50 when one of you died."

WTF?

Worse was that the next day her campaign manager called back to say that #oscarswife supported SB283 and would not support its repeal. It was SO obvious that she had been told that was the wrong answer ,and further, that she could not be trusted to talk to a reporter on her own and a staffer had been dispatched to fix the situation.

Did I mentioned that this woman who is campaigning on her experience as an educator did not know what the DREAM ACT is?

Explain to me again how this person is qualified to be our next Mayor.

I'm waiting.

That's what I thought.

Please also vote for George Trachtman & Heidi Alamase for judge. They are both fair and honest people who deserve a chance to prove that they will be the best upholders of the law.

WARD 3 is real hard for me. Steve Evans lives and breathes Downtown. There is nothing he doesn't know or hasn't had a hand in as Downtown has reemerged. He would be an amazing city councilman and if I lived in his Ward I would have a very hard time not voting for him.

Adrianna Martinez is a great lady and an Emerge graduate. She understands the needs of the East side of Ward 3 and would make a very capable council person. If she doesn't win this race I fully expect her to come back and go on to even higher office later. I have a personal connection to this lady as well. She took care of me when I was an alternate delegate for Hillary Clinton and made sure that I met all the right people in the Democratic Party which was the very start of my being involved in politics. Yep. Blame her! Good luck my love!

I don't know Bob Coffin, but, the older LGBT leaders who've been here a long time (Senator David Parks, Bob Forbuss) swear by him. He has been a long time supporter of LGBT issues and has been reelected several times, which has to count for something. I know that in my limited time spent with him he reminds me of my old time political heroes like Richard Daly (the Chicago Boss of all Bosses) and I really liked him. When I fianlly make the plunge and run for office, I'll be calling Coffin up and asking for advice.

I did not mention Steve Ross. Just know that he is referred to on Twitter as #ericcartman.

Is Obama The "Fierce Advocate" For LGBT Rights That He Said He Would Be?

2011-03-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Organizing for America Community Action Night / LGBT ISSUES

NOTE: This will be the first time that all three Nevada Stonewall Organizations will participate in a joint meeting using New Media.

We will be discussing the Pro-LGBT policies of the Obama administration since he took office in 2009.

Just a few policies that the administration has produced in the last two years:

http://www.democrats.org/people/lgbt_community/lgbt_equality_accomplishments_of_the_obama_administration

We hope you will join us either in person or online at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/is-obama-the-lgbt-community-s-fierce-advocate-yes

Wednesday, March 16th
LGBTQ with Guest Speakers include Derek Washington, Chair Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada. Also speaking will be Angela Brooks, Chairman of Northern Stonewall. Chris Miller President of State Stonewall will be telling us about the upcoming Equality Days in Cartson City of which he is Co-Director along with him giving us an update on the pending LGBT focused bills working their way through the Nevada Legislature.

We will be broadcasting live on Ustream from 5-7pm

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/is-obama-the-lgbt-community-s-fierce-advocate-yes

WHERE:
OFA Headquarters
2475 S. Jones Blvd #7 Las Vegas, NV 89146
(NW corner of Jones and Sahara, by Taco Bell)

TIME:
5:00–8:00 PM
5:00–5:30 PM Mix & Mingle
5:30–6:30 PM Educational Portion
6:30–8:00 PM Action Portion

What is the Idea Behind OFA CAN?
Our intent for OFA Community Action Night is simple: Knowledge + action = activism. The first portion of each OFA CAN allows you to mix and mingle with fellow supporters. From there we learn about a particular legislative issue and then break up into small groups to immediately organize around the issue.

Every OFA CAN concludes by giving you time to take action on the spot! If you like writing letters to the editor/blogs or even just talking to other supporters, then this Community Action Night is for you! Please bring a laptop or pen/paper.

March 4 First Friday Candidate Forum presented by Citizen Outreach moderated by Alan Stock

2011-03-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

The event is open to the public and is free. Everyone is welcome and will be
offered the 2-1 Stoney's happy hour drink special.

The forum is scheduled to run from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm.

Not only will KXNT 100.5 FM/840 AM broadcast the forum, but the Alan Stock show will
be broadcast in its entirety live from Stoney’s from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at www.KXNT.com .

Although Stoney’s is large enough to hold over 1,000 people, you might want to to arrive a little early so as to avoid any possible long line getting in.

Members of the public are welcome to submit questions for consideration to me
at chuck@citizenoutreach.com

LOCATION
Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
9151 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 435-2855

The event is open to the public, not just our members, and is free. You are welcome to
invite your supporters to attend, and we encourage it. Everyone is welcome and will be
offered the 2-1 Stoney's happy hour drink special.

This is on the south end of the Strip, near the South Point resort and there is plenty of free
parking. Thank you again for agreeing to participate in our forum. See y’all on Friday.

STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STATEMENT ON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ENDING DEFENSE OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT

2011-02-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS -- Today US Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Department of Justice will no longer defend Section 3 of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) because it is unconstitutional.

“After careful consideration, including a review of my recommendation, the President has concluded that given a number of factors, including a documented history of discrimination, classifications based on sexual orientation should be subject to a more heightened standard of scrutiny. The President has also concluded that Section 3 of DOMA, as applied to legally married same-sex couples, fails to meet that standard and is therefore unconstitutional. Given that conclusion, the President has instructed the Department not to defend the statute in such cases. I fully concur with the President’s determination.” Attorney General Eric Holder in a statement issued today.

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada applauds the decision, bravery and leadership of President Obama, Attorney General Holder and the Department of justice for standing up to the forces of hatred and doing what's right for all American people. We will continue to support the President in his efforts to make America the land that it was intended to be by our founding fathers. This is a country that embraces the diversity and supports the equality of all its citizens. We salute the President and celebrate his leadership.

“President Obama has repeatedly shown himself to be a true friend of America’s LGBTQ community. His repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the elimination of the pre-existing condition clauses in Affordable Care Act combined with this historic decision confirms SDCSN's support of President Obama; and we will fight hard to see him reelected in 2012."

-- SDSN Chairman Derek Washington

TEAM G SCHEDULES THREE MAYORAL DEBATES!

2011-02-14T10:55:00.000-08:00

Giunchigliani schedules three debates, welcomes more!

Candidate for Mayor says public has a right to an open debate on the issues and positions.

LAS VEGAS—Chris Giunchigliani, candidate for Mayor of Las Vegas, has scheduled three debates and today called on sponsors of one debate to make it open to the media and the public.

“I believe the public wants to hear the candidates directly, in person, and up close and personal,” Giunchigliani said. “That’s why I quickly agreed to three debates and hope we will have even more opportunities to discuss our views for the future of Las Vegas.”

Giunchigliani is scheduled to participate in debates sponsored by Citizen Outreach, a conservative political action group; Rancho Manor Neighborhood Association and other nearby neighborhood groups; and a collection of four different downtown business groups.

Giunchigliani wrote the downtown business group today, asking them to reconsider their original proposal and allow both the public and the media to attend the event. “I strongly believe in transparency,” Giunchigliani said, “and while I understand there is limited space, I don’t believe debates among public candidates should be private. I’m respectfully asking them to reconsider. I want city government’s work to be done in the open, and that should start with the campaign.”

Giunchigliani said she would participate, “These sponsors and their companies have invested a great deal of hard work and capital to build their businesses, provide jobs, and produce substantial taxes. They have every right to pose questions about how each of us will deal with downtown businesses. But, that doesn’t mean the public and the press should be locked out,” she stated.

Scheduled so far:

· Tuesday, February 22nd, 6:00 to 7:00 Masonic Memorial Temple, sponsored by associations representing Rancho Manor, Rancho Bel Air, Rancho Circle, Pinto Palomino, McNeil Estates, Glen Heather, and Paseo Verde.
· Wednesday, February 23rd, 5:00 to 7:00 (actual debate from 5:30 to 6:30)El Cortez Hotel, Board Room, sponsored Downtown Las Vegas Alliance, Downtown Business Operators Council, Fremont Street Experience, Fremont East Board.
· Friday, March 4th, 5:00 to 7:00 (actual debate from 5:30 to 6:30) Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, sponsored by Citizen Outreach.

-30-

Chris Giunchigliani for Mayor
1717 South 15th Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89104 Personal Cell Phone: 521-1663
Chris Giunchigliani for Mayor Headquarters

BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT LGBT CIVIL RIGHTS, END LGBT SEGREGATION

2011-01-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

How Are We Supposed To Have Our Own Civil Rights Movement When Segregation Is Part & Parcel Of The LGBT Experience?

By Derek Washington

It really makes me feel good that so many LGBT organizations seemed to be celebrating the Martin Luther King Jr Federal holiday the way it’s supposed to be done. His speeches and sayings are all over Facebook and Twitter. I’ve received dozens of emails from my nationwide network of LGBT friends and allies extolling King’s virtues. All of this is focusing on what the man stood and died for instead of a new movie opening 3 day weekend or a Macy’s clearance sale.

Makes me proud.

In theory.

I feel that the minute we in the LGBT community understand and embrace our current struggle as the modern civil rights struggle, we will have the nation’s hearts and minds. I think instead of trying to have Melissa Etheridge or the Indigo Girls come up with a new “soul stirring” anthem, we should just go with the tried and true, “We Shall Overcome” by Charles Albert Tindley.

The problem is that so very many LGBT media outlets and organizations may as well have a “Whites Only” sign outside their boardrooms and all of the other places they make the big decisions that affect us all.

Case in point: OUT Magazine puts out a yearly “OUT 100”. It should be called “The Kids Are All White.” With the exception of one or two faces of color, it seems that OUT has a real problem finding folks who are doing anything who aren’t White (male mostly). The few faces of color feel like someone said, “Uh, there’s no Black people (Latinos don’t even register, yet.).” So, someone gets a friend on the phone and voila, a couple of colored faces make the cut.

Thanks.

Here’s a story I tell all the time to illustrate how ridiculous the situation is here in Las Vegas. The following is a verbatim quote from a board member of the organization that puts on our “Pride” festival. “Derek, you’re the only one who is ever talking about diversity. You really need to give it a rest.”

Huh?

Our own Gay & Lesbian Center has NO people of color on its board whatsoever. When you walk into the Centers lobby all you see are poor and homeless people of color and the Transgender (Trans folk, see: Latinos above.) community. Yet, there’s no one on the board who has ANY idea of what it’s like to be a poor person of color. Needless to say, there’s no real outreach targeted at the African American community. When the subject is brought up the standard answer is, “we can’t find any.”

Have ya looked?

I am proud to be the Chairman of Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada. My one legacy that I hope carries on long after I’ve left this Mortal Coil is that upon becoming Chair, we went into our bylaws and found provisions that allowed me to appoint VOTING Outreach Directors to serve the communities that the LGBT leadership in Nevada had ignored for so long. Our board has Black, White, straight, Gay, Transgender (A first around these parts. Shameful.), Latino, young people and senior citizens. We have been so successful in diversifying that Stonewall is now attracting young straight Latino activists who want to be with an organization that doesn’t just talk about diversity.

At Stonewall, we have diversity.

And how did we get that diversity that no one else in town seems to be able to find?

We picked up the phone and called people. If the people we asked to join us didn’t have time, we asked for referrals. We are now the most diverse board of an LGBT organization is the state of Nevada.

It wasn’t that damn hard.

Stop making excuses and pick up the damn phone.

Btw, even though I am a nationally known Black LGBT activist, no LGBT organization here has ever asked me to serve or if I had any referrals.

I’m jes sayin’….

Until such time that we in the LGBT community locally and nationally start picking up the phone more often, we don’t have the right to call our movement the modern civil rights movement. We shant dare sing “We Shall Overcome.” We can’t overcome as long as huge portions of our “community” are routinely shut out of the very organizations that are meant to strive for equality for all of us.

Until no LGBT board dares use the tiresome excuse, “we can’t find any”, we have no right to invoke Martin Luther King in our struggle. Until LGBT media understands that people of color exist outside of stories on MLK Day and HIV stories, we don’t dare compare the LGBT movement to that of those who were beaten in Selma. Until our LGBT activists mention Bayard Rustin every single time they mention Harvey Milk, we can have no expectations of being anything other than a Queer Tower of Babel.

And we know how that ended up.

So my LGBT brothers and sisters in arms, do me a favor. YouTube the videos of the great civil rights marches and notice something. In every shot. In the front row. In every march and demonstration. In all of these events, the FRONT row is a Rainbow.
Let’s take a look at that and promise ourselves to strive for that Rainbow instead of the fictional one we fly now.

HOW I GOT INVITED TO THE DADT REPEAL SIGNING CEREMONY, OR, ROBIN MCGEHEE MADE ME FAT!

2010-12-21T19:32:00.000-08:00

Many moons ago, I was a svelte-ish radio show co-host and Gay guy who mixed Plaids & Florals and dared anyone to question it.

Many. Moons. Ago.

Then one day as if he had the most innocuous statement to make, Christopher Allen Miller (he HATES that. Tee. Hee.) says to me, he says, "we should do an interview with this Lesbian from Fresno who is really pissed off and having a rally."

Lesbian. Pissed off. FRESNO. Rally.

Really.

I swear.

Needless to say, all I could imagine was short weeble like angry women who insist on use using gender neutral pronouns whilst telling me how the first Lillith Fair was the best.

As if.

So.

I took a look at my fave blog, Towleroad, and saw instead a cute Blonde chick with a sexy, husky voice. She gave a speech about how she was thrown off her kids PTA because she was openly Gay.

"I wanna tell ya all a story 'bout a Harper Valley Widowed Wife..."

Sorry. I'm so Gay.

Anyway.

We interview her and before I know it, Chris and I are sucked up into helping plan the National Equality March and I'm fighting with Cleve Jones over diversity and inclusion.

Never meet other people's hero's.

THEN.

Somehow.

I end up involved in Stonewall and I drag everyone I know into it with me.

Oh. Wait.

Along the way I introduced Senator Harry Reid to Dan Choi and he told us that he and the President were going to end DADT.

Ooops. Little detail.

So.

Harry goes up against the nutjob of all nutjobs. We work our asses off to get him elected and he keeps his promise and my bestest buddy at the White House (I never know if I can say his name) invites me to the DADT signing ceremony which NEVADA played a huge part in making happen.

I know. I know.

HOW DID ROBIN MCGEHEE MAKE ME FAT?

Because.

When you complain to Robin about something, she say, "fix it."

WELL.

For two years I have been sitting at a computer eating bacon wrapped bon bons, going to every political event to get Harry Reid elected, drank more cocktails than a Singapore Hooker (oops, "SEX WORKER") and eaten enough pizza to have once actually pinched out a large pepperoni and cheese!

Thanks a lot Robin McGeHee!

HELP REPEAL DADT NOW! A MESSAGE FROM SWISH!

2010-12-17T12:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Allies of Swish,

Here we go! Senator Reid filed for cloture on the DADT stand-alone bill last night (and just to be clear - this is the passed House bill, not S.4023), and the first vote is scheduled for early

Saturday, after the vote on DREAM.

Just to be clear on how the process worked - Reid called up the bill, and did not need to file cloture to proceed with it because this is "privileged" legislation. The cloture petition was filed to enable the Senate to get OFF the bill - to vote on final passage. That petition needs to sit for 30 hours before a vote, so Saturday is our day. So, on Saturday afternoon, we'll have a cloture vote to enable us to get to a final vote (60 votes needed), and then the final vote could come as early as Saturday, or Sunday (simple majority needed).

So ... action alert time!! This is it - the last chance for all of us to weigh in with our senators before they take this vote.

The ask: Call both your senators and tell them to vote for the House bill to repeal DADT. Click to call the Senate or dial the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators.

The updated targets list:

--John Ensign (R-NV);
--George LeMieux (R-FL);
--Richard Lugar (R-IN);
--Judd Gregg (R-NH);
--George Voinovich (R-OH);
--Kit Bond (R-MO);
--Mark Kirk (R-IL);
--Kent Conrad (D-ND);
--Joe Manchin (D-WV).

Those key senators particularly need calls, but of course calls are needed to all 100 senators at this point.

Also, SLDN is arranging for servicemembers to sit in the Senate gallery in shifts until the bill is passed - if some of Swish members are interested in participating, please let us know ASAP!

Here's hoping our next communication will be full of joy and bliss!

With Love and Pride,

The Swish Gang:
Sue (NY), Jamie (NY), Jason (NY), HL (NY), Adrienne (Northern CA), Josh (DC)

And our partners at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN, Follow us on Twitter)

Jewish and Queer Community Leaders Join to Demand End to Anti-LGBT Rhetoric in Jewish Community

2010-12-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

Jewish and Queer Community Leaders Join to Demand End to Anti-LGBT Rhetoric in Jewish Community

Activist Group Queer Rising Gathers Community for March and Rally “In God’s Name”

NEW YORK: Tomorrow night, on the eve of the 10th of Tevet—a day of remembrance on the Jewish calendar for those who have died in violence—a broad coalition including leaders from the Jewish and queer communities will gather to mourn those whose lives have been destroyed due to senseless hatred, and to demand an end to anti-LGBT rhetoric that is spoken “In God’s Name.”

The event, organized by grassroots activist group Queer Rising, will start with a rally at 7:30pm at the Parade Grounds of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The group will then begin a march through the heart of the Jewish neighborhood in Flatbush, the site of recent homophobic activity. The event will culminate with a communal recitation of the Jewish Mourner’s Kaddish Prayer.

Featured speakers include Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), New York City’s synagogue for LGBTQ Jews; Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Jewish Labor Committee and President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union – the first openly gay union leader; Idit Klein, Executive Director of Keshet who sponsored the “Do Not Stand Idly By” pledge campaign; and Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum, Rabbi of Orthodox Congregation Ahavas Israel in Brooklyn. Jake Goodman, co-founder of Queer Rising, will be emcee’ing the event.

In early October 2010, at the height of the news coverage of the spate of suicides by queer youth, New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino gave a pointedly anti-LGBT speech at a synagogue in Brooklyn in which he stated, “I don’t want [children] brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is an equal valid and successful option. It is not.” A video of the speech was aired repeatedly on major news networks, and included footage of Paladino’s Jewish audience applauding these comments in approval. Worse, the speech was actually written by Rabbi Yehuda Levin, the infamously homophobic fringe rabbi of Flatbush, Brooklyn. For many Jews across the country, the sight of people of their faith agreeing to these homophobic sentiments was a source of shame

“Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising tide of violence against LGBTQ people, here in the United States and all over the world,” said Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), New York City’s synagogue for LGBTQ Jews. “As Jews, we are horrified at the anti-gay bigotry coming in the name of Judaism at many of our youth, Jewish and non-Jewish.”

“It is sad to see Jewish leaders, rabbis who have amassed great knowledge of our holy Torah, ignore its holy words and teachings to preach hate against the gay community,” said Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum.

“When a rabbi says that gays are the cause of earthquakes, that gays desecrate the soil of Jerusalem, that gays are coming to pervert your children, I ask: what message does that send to a young, confused and isolated, gay, Jewish kid,” said Mordechai Levovitz, the co-Founder and co-Director of JQYouth, a social/support group for Orthodox queer youth. “It says, ‘We don’t want you.’ It says, ‘Leave the community.’”

Rafi Daugherty, a trans-identified Jew living in Israel, endured constant stigma and isolation when transitioning from female to male. “I have lost many religious friends. People have effectively and completely cut me out of their lives and the lives of their children.”

Speaking out against bullying and hate speech is a cause that crosses denominations of Judaism. The Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Renewal movements all have put out formal statements of tolerance and welcome to their LGBT members. In Orthodoxy, both the “Statement of Principles,” signed by almost 200 rabbis this past July, and a statement signed by the Orthodox Union unequivocally condemn harassment and hate speech against gay people.

Endorsing partners of “In God’s Name” include: Congregation Beith Simchat Torah – CBST, Keshet, Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of our Lives, Nehirim, Storahtelling, The Power Online, Project ACHIEVE and Columbia University Medical Center, Jewish Chicks Rock and OUTmedia.

For more information, interactive maps with detailed instructions and educational videos, visit Queer Rising’s website, www.QueerRising.org.

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY! December 11, 2010

2010-12-11T01:33:00.001-08:00

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY DEC 11 2010
www.vegasallnetradio.com

10am-1pm (West Coast Time)

10:23 Ari Ezra Waldman our “Legal Eagle” is back to update us on all things legal from the this week.

10:43 Ariel is one of Las Vegas’s most popular performers and our guest for “Ask A Tranny”.

11:12 Susan Lopez of SWOP will be telling us what life is like for a Sex Worker in Las Vegas.

11:27 Mark & Dante Reed-Walkup on their sky high love and what happened when they came back to earth.

11:42 Rob Smith returns with his take on life in the LGBT world and beyond.

Noon Pam Spaulding heated up the blogosphere this week with her call for HRC’s Joe Solmonese to pack up his Zegna suits and resign as head of the nations largest LGBT right organization. We’ll talk with her about why she thinks now is the time for Joe to go.

12:21 Paco Alvarez has the latest on the culture explosion in Downtown Las Vegas.

12:36 Nathaniel Phillips is not just the Director of Youth Outreach for Stonewall of Southern Nevada, he’s also the Co-Chair of GLSEN in Nevada AND he’s a pretty good little singer and will be performing live in our studio!

The Sausage Factory is hosted by Chris Miller , Derek Washington & Laura Martin

GUEST POST FROM HEATHER CRONK OF GET EQUAL

2010-12-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

I have to be honest -- I just vomited a little in my mouth.

The Senate just voted on whether to bring the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) up for conversation. Not for passage -- just for conversation. It failed.

We all laid everything we could on the line for this bill -- a piece of legislation that would have repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." We all know that gay and lesbian Americans are just as patriotic and capable as straight Americans -- but dysfunctional Senate processes, a homophobic Republican Party, and a spineless Democratic Party got in the way of equality once again.

Let us be clear -- this wasn't the bill we wanted. This compromised piece of legislation was far from the ideal -- it would have left our transgender sisters and brothers behind, it kicked actual repeal to some undefined date later down the road, and it said nothing about how to deal with lesbian or gay enlistees who have partners who must remain second-class citizens because their lives are still ruled by the Defense of Marriage Act.

And even this compromised piece of legislation didn't pass.

If we're ever going to fight back against these kinds of compromises, we've got to build a ground game that disallows anything less than full equality.

We're working on developing that ground game, and we'll have more to say about it in coming weeks.

For now, we mourn for the LGBT service members serving each day in silence -- some of whom will lose their lives without ever tasting equality. We mourn for the lack of courage shown by our elected leaders to put an end to needless discrimination.

But we should remain inspired by the fight left in us. Go on Facebook. Go on Twitter. Get out into the streets. Call up your friends. Get angry, and then get organized.

We'll help -- and we promise that we're going to continue building a movement from the ground up that no longer settles for this kind of political homophobia and transphobia.

-Heather Cronk

Managing Director, GetEQUAL

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA & THE CSN CAPITOL CLUB JOINT MEETING

2010-12-06T00:31:00.000-08:00

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA & THE CSN CAPITOL CLUB JOINT MEETING
Monday 06 December
6-830pm The Arts Factory #215 upstairs 107 E Charleston 89104 at Casino Center
Derek Washington 702-576-4978
Justin McAffee 702-374-6009

Stonewall will be having its monthly meeting as a joint event with the CSN Capital Club. We are going to be discussing various issues including the first day of the Prop 8 appeal trial in California after watching some of the day’s highlights. We are honored to have legal expert Ari Ezra Waldman via Skype for a Q&A session as well as UNLV Constitutional Law expert Thomas B. McAffee to discuss our various topics throughout the evening.

This meeting (with help from Progress Now Nevada’s Brian Fadie) will be an experiment in taking Stonewall to an entirely new level by using technology to expand our range and influence. There is a whole new world of opportunities for Stonewall to explore in both political and community activism, and with online technology we can exploit these opportunities in a way never before done in Nevada by any Democratic political club or caucus. We’re proud to be joined in this first endeavor by CSN’s Capitol Club.

GUESTS:

Nelson Araujo from Senator Reid’s office will join us for updates on Senator Reid’s efforts to pass The DREAM ACT.

Sue Fulton of Knights Out (an LGBT organization of “Out” former Armed Service members) will join us via Skype to talk about the latest DADT news.

Linsey Peckonis and Jerame Davis of National Stonewall will join us via Skype to tell us about what Stonewall chapters around the country are doing.

Shannon Cuttle will speak about the need for all inclusive SAFE SCHOOLS.

Stonewall’s Director of Hispanic Outreach Leo Murrieta will fill us in on his exciting new project, The Nevada Youth Coalition. The Nevada Youth Coalition (NYC) is an organization whose primary goal is to get and keep young people engaged in civics and community service projects. The NYC and its members have actively participated in community events and phone banks in support of the DREAM ACT, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and will be engaging Nevada's legislature on behalf of our state's education system in next year's legislative session.

Karen Grayson is our Director of Transgender Outreach and she’ll be asking us to brainstorm with her about better outreach through technology to America’s Transgender community. Her “One Step Closer” project will aim to reach out to those people who are not comfortable with a public display of being Transgender and really just need someone to talk to about being Transgender.

Our Vice-Chair Sandy Eddy will give us a report on the very successful Stonewall led Team BATTLE BORN at the Rock & Roll Marathon and tell you how you can support Stonewall when you shop online.

Chris Miller will explain his vision for the Stonewall State Caucus. This vision includes The Stonewall State Caucus taking an active role in the State of Nevada’s political future while making sure that the issues of LGBT Democrats and progressives are on the agenda of our elected representatives.

The club will hear about a proposed partnership with Michael Flores of Progress Now Nevada and Aid For AIDS Nevada on community gardens and other possible projects. These projects will not only help the LGBT community through providing healthy and fresh vegetables for those with HIV, but also help inner city dwellers take charge of their sexual health through innovative HIV awareness projects partnering with the African American and Latino Communities.

Michael will be telling us about a very successful project that he has initiated in on of the impoverished inner city housing projects that was recently featured in a profile in the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Our elected and newly elected Democrats are STRONGLY urged to attend this meeting as well as anyone who has never been to a Stonewall meeting.

###

MILITARY UNIVERSITY FACULTY RESPOND TO DADT SENATE HEARING

2010-12-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

MILITARY UNIVERSITY FACULTY RESPOND TO DADT SENATE HEARING
Courtesy of Renna Communications

SANTA BARBARA, CA – December 2, 2010 – The Palm Center released a statement by 12 current and former faculty members at Service Academies and Military Universities, responding with factual evidence to claims made at today’s Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

STATEMENT BY CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY PROFESSORS

Combat Effectiveness

(1) Concerns that repeal would undermine combat effectiveness are inconsistent with available evidence. While it is true that many combat troops say that they think repeal would undermine combat effectiveness, a smaller percentage say that if they were going into a combat situation, fighting alongside gay troops would be a factor. Many troops in foreign militaries said, prior to repeal, that gays would undermine combat effectiveness. Subsequent to repeal, however, foreign militaries reported no decline in combat effectiveness. Statistical analysis by Dr. Laura Miller of the RAND Corporation and a colleague found that even though many troops think that repeal would undermine effectiveness, there is no statistical relationship between whether someone knows a gay peer and the reported cohesion or effectiveness of the unit. If gays actually undermined combat effectiveness, it would be hard to understand why gay discharges always decline during wartime.

Process

(2) Concerns that the Working Group did not ask the troops whether they support repeal are disingenuous. The troops vocally expressed opinions about whether DADT should be repealed in an on-line inbox that received 72,384 comments, in 95 face-to-face forums at 51 bases that included more than 24,000 troops, and in 140 smaller focus groups. These data were not solicited in a scientifically valid way, but the Working Group certainly took them into account and even acknowledged that a majority of comments opposed repeal.

(3) Concerns that we do not know what the troops would say if asked whether they support repeal are not based on evidence. Three different polls, by Annenberg, Zogby, and Military Times, found roughly the same result: approximately 40% of the troops oppose repeal, 30% favor repeal, and 30% don’t know or don’t care. Surveys included combat troops. The Zogby respondent pool, for example, consisted of 545 combat and combat support troops who were serving or who had served recently in the Middle East.

Survey Validity

(4) Concerns about the Survey’s response rate, or that survey results are not reflective of the views of the overall force, are not correct: The 28% response rate is about average both for web-based surveys in general, and for military surveys in particular. The response rate to the military’s 2006 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey was 30% for Active Duty Members. Furthermore, response rates have nothing to do with the validity of a survey’s results, as long as the sample size is large enough and sampling is done properly. In this case, the Working Group survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1%, much better than most surveys.

Timing

(5) Concerns that repeal is being rushed are not based on the historical track-record. The authors of “don’t ask, don’t tell” referred to it as a temporary compromise when the policy was enacted 17 years ago. Generals Colin Powell and John Shalikashvili have changed their views over this time, and military and public opinion shifted dramatically as well. The roughly year-long Pentagon review process has been one of the most comprehensive reviews ever undertaken on any military personnel policy in the history of the U.S. armed forces. More than 20 studies have been conducted on whether gays harm the military.

Recruitment and Retention

(6) Concerns that recruitment will suffer are not based on evidence. In the British and Canadian militaries, approximately 2/3 of male troops said that they would not work with gays if bans were lifted. After the lifting of bans in those countries, there were only a handful of resignations, and no reported problems with recruitment or retention. The percent of troops in the U.S. military who say that they will not work with gays and lesbians is much lower.

Effectiveness of DADT

(7) The claim that DADT has been effective is inconsistent with the evidence. A U.S. District Court found that, according to all available research, DADT has harmed the military in several ways including wasting valuable talent and undermining cohesion and morale. A GAO report found that the policy has led to the discharge of a significant number of mission-critical specialists. No evidence has ever been provided to show that DADT promotes cohesion or is working in any way.

(8) The claim that DADT does not involve situations in which people are hounded day in and day out is inconsistent with available evidence. While it is true that the military has suspended witch hunts and that most DADT discharges follow statements by service members, the District Court found that gay and lesbian troops do have a constant sword hanging over their heads which undermines their ability to focus on their jobs.

Executive Order

(9) The claim that only Congress can provide President Obama with the latitude to sign an executive order is incorrect. Congress already has provided such latitude in the “stop-loss” statute, which allows the President to suspend any law related to military separations during national security emergencies.

Professor John T. Ackerman, Air Command and Staff College*
Lt. Col. Allen Bishop, USA (ret.), former professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point*
Dr. Kathleen M. Campbell, U.S. Military Academy at West Point*
Lt. Col. Edith A. Disler, USAF (ret.), former professor, U.S. Air Force Academy*
Professor Mark Eitelberg, Naval Postgraduate School*
Professor Barry Fagin, U.S. Air Force Academy*
Professor Craig A. Foster, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Gregory D. Foster, National Defense University*
Professor Elizabeth L. Hillman University of California Hastings College of the Law, former instructor, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Janice H. Laurence, Temple University, and former professor, Industrial College of the Armed Forces*
Professor George R. Mastroianni, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Steven M. Samuels, United States Air Force Academy*

*The views expressed by faculty at US Government Agencies are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of their Service, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Non-military institutional affiliations are listed for identification purposes only, and do not convey the institutions’ positions.

The Palm Center is a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Since 1998, the Center has been a leader in commissioning and disseminating research in the areas of gender, sexuality, and the military. For more information, visit www.palmcenter.org.

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

2010-11-20T08:25:00.001-08:00

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

2010-11-18T20:54:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-18T11:43:00.001-08:00

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.

2010-11-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-13T07:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

CELL PHONES AND GRUB PARTY TO ELECT EQUALITY!

2010-10-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

POTLUCK CELL PHONE PARTY AND VOTER PROTECTION CLASS!

This is it. Our last chance to reach and protect voters at the polls!

MONDAY 01 NOVEMBER 2010

Place: The Arts Factory
107 E Charleston @ Casino Center (upstairs) 89104

Time: 6 – 9pm

What: We’re having a cell phone party and a class to teach people how to protect registered voters rights at the polls on Tuesday. All you need to do is bring your cell phone and charger and a dish!

If you have a laptop, bring it and we’ll hook you up with Call Fire to make calls faster and more efficiently!

We especially need Spanish speakers!

We will have fun while we protect our future here in Nevada!

WE WILL ELECT HARRY REID,DINA TITUS,SHELLEY BERKLEY,RORY REID,JESSICA SFERRAZZA AND ALL OF OTHER DEMS IN 2010!

For more information:

Laura Martin 702-292-1279 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 702-292-1279 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Derek Washington 702-576-4978
Chris Miller 702-569-6744
Sandy Eddy 702-400-3613

I want to take this time to thank every one of the hundreds of people who have come to our ELECT EQUALITY events over the past month. All of your hard work will result in us having the best possible representatives in Carson City, Clark County and Washington, DC..

Derek Washington
Chairman Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada

LETS ELECT EQUALITY!

2010-10-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

HELP ELECT EQUALITY THIS WEEKEND!
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO ELECT EQUALITY!

East Las Vegas Canvass & Call location
501 N. Lamb Blvd, Las Vegas, NV
corner of Lamb & Bonanza

Spanish speakers especially needed!
Call Genevieve Flores with any questions
805-754-1942 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 805-754-1942 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

shifts--
Saturday
10am to 2pm
2pm to 6pm
6pm to 9pm

Sunday
10am to 2pm
2pm to 6pm
6pm to 9pm

Monday
10am to 2pm
2pm to 6pm
6pm to 9pm

Tuesday
9am to 1pm
1pm to 4pm
4pm to 7pm

If you live in Henderson, call Andrew Davey for canvass and phonebanking in your area at 702 -806-1340.

Join us for an Elect Equality walk for Dina Titus and Harry Reid tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM. We'll be meeting at 2758 Woodbine in Henderson (89074, near Pecos & Robindale). You can also phone bank tomorrow at Dina Titus' Henderson office (2925 N Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson 89074) from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Join us for an Elect Equality walk for Dina Titus and Harry Reid on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. We'll be meeting at 2758 Woodbine in Henderson (89074, near Pecos & Robindale). You can also phone bank tomorrow and Sunday at Dina Titus' Henderson office (2925 N Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson 89074) from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

POTLUCK CELL PHONE PARTY TO REELECT HARRY REID,Dina Titus and all of the Stonewall endorsed candidates! Almost 30 came last night, let's double that! 6-9pm at The Arts Factory 107 E Charleston 89104. Bring a dish, your cell phone/charger and a laptop (if you have one). Let's party while we make sure it's Harry not Scary who triumphs on election day!

Questions?
Derek Washington
702-576-4978
derekisademocrat@gmail.com

FISH FRY TODAY WITH HARRY REID & BARBARA LEE!

2010-10-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Early Vote Day Party and Fish Fry with

Senator Harry Reid

Rep. Barbara Lee (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus)

And Special Guests

Friday, October 29, 2010

Noon - 3:00 p.m.

Clark County Government Center, Pyramid Building

500 S. Grand Central Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas, NV

RSVP online at www.harryreid.com/dayparty

VOTE EARLY at the nearby RTC Building

For more information please call 702-631-2224

DAN CHOI: MEDIA BULLY or IT DOESN'T GET BETTER

2010-10-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

I know Dan Choi and I know Harry Reid.

Both are former officers.

Only one is a gentleman.

It's not Dan Choi.

Dan Choi has finally jumped the shark with his completely uncalled for remarks about Harry Reid in the Village Voice and I feel sad for the LGBT activist movement and Dan. He has it wrong. Harry Reid is not a "pussy", Dan Choi is.

I personally introduced Dan to Harry over a year ago at a dinner and we were both shocked when Harry told the two of us that he "and the President were working on getting rid of this foolish policy, DADT, because it makes no sense." Harry admired Dan's medals and they had quite a friendly chat.

Since then, with the country in economic ruin and people losing their homes left and right, Harry and the President have still been working on making sure that DADT repeal is moving forward. But it's not moving fast enough for Dan and his puppet masters who have an axe to grind against the Democratic party. So, Dan pulls cheap stunts such as making Netroots Nation all about him by climbing on the stage to give his West Point ring to Harry.

I will fill Dan and his army of sycophants in the blogosphere in on something. If Harry didn't want Dan to have that moment, his security detail would have taken Dan down like a Predator drone on a car full of insurgents on a Basra back road. Dan came off the stage proud that he had hijacked the day of a room full of people, I was proud that Harry handled this public pout with aplomb and grace.

Like a gentleman.

When I saw the awful things that Dan said about Harry in the Village Voice, I thought to myself, "what an idiot". Then I realized that Dan is no idiot.

He's a bully.

If the light isn't shined on him and Rachel isn't calling regularly, something must be done, and right away.

For Lt. Dan Choi, it doesn't get better.

And it won't because once it does, he floats down the stream with all of the flotsam and jetsam of history. He is grabbing his moment in the media glare and I hope he enjoys it because it's minute 13 as we speak and there's a shark that he just jumped behind him.

HAVE LUNCH & PHONEBANK WITH SENATOR AL FRANKEN!

2010-10-26T12:33:00.001-07:00

You're Invited

To a "Meet and Greet" Phone Bank with

Senator Al Franken

Wednesday, October 27
12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Nevada State Democratic Party - East Headquarters
3100 East Charleston Blvd. at Mojave
Las Vegas, NV

Lunch will be provided! There is no cost to attend.

RSVP required online at:
http://www.harryreid.com/page/s/oct27franken

Don't forget to vote early - click here to find the nearest location: vote.harryreid.com/

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS NATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

2010-10-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS NATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

(Washington, DC) - National Stonewall Democrats PAC announced its latest set of endorsements of pro-equality Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV), Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Rep. Jared Polis (CO) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (WI). Twelve candidates were announced as part of NSD PAC’s ElectEquality program in May (one candidate was ousted in a primary, making the number of ElectEquality candidates eleven). Rep. Barney Frank’s endorsement was announced last week.

“We are thrilled to announce our full slate of endorsed candidates for the midterm elections,” said Michael Mitchell, Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats. “Whether incumbent or challenger, the candidates on this list are all strong, pro-equality Democrats and hail from rural, suburban and urban districts from coast to coast.”

“We are very aware that the only way we are going to achieve full equality through legislation is with a pro-equality majority in Congress with allies, friends and compatriots like those listed here.

“It’s no secret that many of our candidates are in tight races and we encourage our members, supporters and the LGBT and ally community at large to give your time and resources to the people on this list, as well as other pro-equality candidates down the ticket where you live.”

Key: Challenger in italics, EE = ElectEquality Candidate

US House of Representatives

Tammy Baldwin (WI – 2) Chellie Pingree (ME – 1)
Shelley Berkley (NV-1) Jared Polis (CO-2)
Tim Bishop (NY-1) , EE Carol Shea Porter (NH-1) , EE
Barbara Boxer (CA-S) Ed Potosnak (NJ-7) , EE
Lois Capps (CA-23) Steve Pougnet (CA-45) , EE
David Cicilline (RI-1) , EE Mike Quigley (IL-5)
Steve Cohen (TN – 9) Cedric Richmond (LA- 2)
Joseph Crowley (NY-7) Steven Rothman (NJ-9)
Keith Ellison (MN – 5) Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
Barney Frank (MA – 4) John Sarbanes (MD-3)
Rush Holt (NJ-12) , EE Brad Sherman (CA-27)
Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) Pete Stark (CA-13)
Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2) Betty Sutton (OH – 13)
Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) Dina Titus (NV-3) , EE
Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) Paul Tonko (NY-21)
Patrick Murphy (PA-8) , EE Manan Trivedi (PA-6)
Jerry Nadler (NY- 8) Niki Tsongas (MA-5)
Glenn Nye (VA-2) Tim Walz (MN – 1)
Frank Pallone (NJ-6) Henry Waxman (CA-30)
Ed Pastor (AZ-4)

US Senate

Roxanne Conlin (IA – Sen) Paul Hodes (NH – Sen) , EE
Chris Coons (DE – Sen) Kendrick Meek (FL – Sen) , EE
Lee Fisher (OH – Sen) Harry Reid (NV – Sen)
Alexi Giannoulias (IL – Sen), EE Joe Sestak (PA-Sen)
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY – Sen)

We're all from Driftwood.

2010-10-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

It's been said that everybody has a story.

I've got one.

So. Do. You.

We all have a story.

Whether we like it. Or not.

"I'm From Driftwood" is like a traveling show that stops in each town and collects stories on film as it travels along. In each place they take time to listen.

Like a good friend.

"I'm From Driftwood" is coming to UNLV today to hear your story.

And mine.

"I'm From Driftwood" comes to campus at 12:30 - 2:30pm in front of the Lied Library. The folks from Driftwood will be filming their documentary,so, come on down.

And bring your story with you.

QVegas Magazine & Stonewall Democrats invite you to:

"I'm From Driftwood"
UNLV @ 12:30 - 2:30pm Thursday 21 October, 2010
Outside of the Lied Library (The Free Speech Zone)

For more info: http://www.imfromdriftwood.com/storytour/

SING BADLY WHILE HELPING TO ELECT EQUALITY TONITE AT CREWS N!

2010-10-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight Working Families Win will have a fun Early Vote phone banking and S'Karaoke party at Crews'n Bar (see flier below)

We will have TONS more events going on through Election Day. Everyone who is eligible to vote needs to get to the polls, we're making calls and pounding on doors to make sure that happens!

MONDAY - 5-9pm Rafel Rivera Community Center 2800 Stewart Ave
TUESDAY - FRIDAY 5-9pm East Las Vegas Community Center 250 N Easter Avenue

If you don't have unlimited minutes on your cell phone, we'll provide you with a phone and everything else you need to make these crucial, but easy and quick calls. And dinner/lunch is on us!

In light of the recent ads trying to prevent Latinos from voting, we need your help now more than ever to get people to early vote and support working family issues. It's up to us to move this country forward!

Questions?

Laura
702-292-1279

LA LOCA STRIKES AGAIN! ANDALE LOCA! ANDALE!

2010-10-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

Democrats, Republicans, Latino Leaders Unite vs. Hispanic Voter Suppression Efforts; Univision Pulls the Ads; Angle Silent

Inexplicably, Sharron Angle remains silent as the national uproar over her comments to local Hispanic high school group grows louder and louder

LAS VEGAS – Within hours of an out-of-state right-wing Latino front group with ties to the Bush Administration announcing they’d run television ads with the shameful and appalling goal of suppressing the Latino vote in the November 2nd election, local Latino leaders denounced the group and challenged both candidates and media outlets to denounce and refuse to air these un-American ads and their despicable message.

In addition to Sen. Reid, both gubernatorial candidates Rory Reid and Brian Sandoval were quick to denounce the ads and call for them to be pulled from the airwaves for their offensive and abhorrent message to suppress the Hispanic vote right here in Nevada. News outlets are now reporting Univision will not air the group’s offensive, un-American message on its airwaves.

And while bipartisan opposition to this out-of-state, anti-Latino filth was unanimous from the moment the ads were released until the announcement Univision would pull them from the airwaves, we heard nothing but deafening silence from Republican Sharron Angle.

Perhaps that’s because Angle didn’t want to address the national uproar surrounding her pathological assertion to a group of local Hispanic teenagers that her widely-criticized immigration ads aren’t actually about Latinos, but rather they’re about Canada and our northern border. Perhaps it’s because of Angle’s keen interest in suppressing the Latino vote since her extreme anti-Hispanic agenda has been exposed throughout the course of the campaign. Whatever the reason, Sharron Angle’s silence in the face of this serious threat to suppress the voices of Nevadans is completely reprehensible.

“Since the moment that news of these despicable voter suppression tactics were made public, bipartisan Nevada leaders and the Latino community have spoken out against these un-American tactics with one unified voice – except for Republican Sharron Angle, who’s involved in a national media firestorm over anti-Hispanic remarks she refuses to explain,” said Reid campaign spokesman Kelly Steele. “The fact that Sharron Angle refused to speak out against these truly abhorrent tactics should tell all Nevadans, and especially the Hispanic voters she’d prefer be silenced, everything they need to know about why she’s unfit to represent our state in the US Senate.”

When in doubt, do like Sharron, BLAME CANADA

LIES! LIES! DAMN FOOL LIES! OR, DID YOU KNOW THAT SHARRON ANGLE'S NAME IN SPANISH IS MENTIROSA?

2010-10-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Sharron Angle Lies to Hispanic Teens, Then Lies About Lying to Hispanic Teens

LAS VEGAS – Sharron Angle was asked about her inflammatory TV ads by a member of the Hispanic Student Union at Rancho High School in Las Vegas – ads that have been referred to as “Sharron Angle’s ‘Willie Horton’” and widely panned for using incendiary, nefarious-looking photos of Latinos and scurrying across a fence and imposed in front of a map of Mexico.

In response, Angle told the Hispanic teenagers they’d misinterpreted her ads, questioned that the premise the ads were about Latinos (seriously), and said the issue in the ad was security of our northern border with Canada.

Now that she’s being called out by local and national media, her DC handlers have been rushed in to control the damage, issuing a statement suggesting Angle’s statements were completely innocuous:

“Sharron is making the point that this country is a melting pot and you cannot judge people based on stereotypes or the way they look.”

But like Angle’s statement that she’s not sure the Mexican men in her ad are Latino and that the ad is about northern border security with Canada, her campaign’s assertion is a complete and total lie. Angle’s ad is a clearly a fear-mongering, inflammatory attempt to scare Nevadans, and nearly every member of the media is calling her on it:

Ralston: The video is Angle “telling a group of Hispanic children at Rancho High School that images of Latinos in her ad that are clearly Latinos may not be. Indeed, the images in the ad are of Hispanics in Mexico, as The Washington Post and others have pointed out. And it is no mystery what race they are, as she claims. … But then she takes it far -- even for her -- by talking about how the real problem is the northern border!”

Washington Monthly: “Angle's race-baiting ads, some of the ugliest since Jesse Helms, have all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. She shows viewers images of Mexicans and a map of Mexico over on-screen text about "illegal aliens." But she's "not sure that those are Latinos"? Her point relates to Canada? After 20 years following politics closely, I've just never seen anything so pathological. Sharron Angle is either mentally disturbed or she thinks the people of Nevada are morons.”

POLITICO: “The ad in question clearly shows an image of three Hispanics who are identified in the spot as “illegal aliens.” In fact, the picture shown in the ad is the same one used by in an ad from Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). That ad has the words ‘benefits for illegals’ written over the image.”

Washington Independent: “In the ad, a picture of three Latino men appears on screen with the words ‘ILLEGAL ALIENS’ while a voice-over discusses Reid’s support for immigration reform measures. The ad has been called ‘anti-Latino’ and ‘race baiting’ by critics, but Angle said she did not see it that way. ‘I’m not sure that those are Latinos in that commercial,’ she said. ‘What it is, is a fence and there are people coming across that fence. What we know is that our northern border is where the terrorists came through.’”

Washington Post: “A couple of weeks ago, Angle released an ad with sinister overtones showing Latino ‘illegal immigrants’ sneaking through a ‘border fence.’ It even uses a stock photo Republican Senator David Vitter deployed in a similar advertisement. The ad restates a number of debunked claims about Reid's record on immigration, but the most egregious part of the ad is where she contrasts an image of ‘scary-looking’ Latino ‘migrants’ with a group of happy, white college students while saying, ‘Reid wants to give preferred college tuition rates to none other than illegal aliens.’ … She had released a similarly racially tinged ad weeks earlier. But during an appearance before a group of Hispanic children at Rancho High School in Nevada, Angle implausibly claimed she had no idea that the people in the ad were meant to be Hispanic, and claimed the ad was about the ‘northern border.’”

LYNN GOYA AND MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL! EVERYONE'S A WINNER!

2010-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Friend's of Lyn Goya

Please Join:
LYNN GOYA'S Campaign
for
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
and
KARAOKE!
Your first drink is on us!

Hosted by:
Stonewall Democratic Club
Henderson Democratic Club
Sierra Club
Jan Churchill
Peggy Maze Johnson
Scot Rutledge
Deecie Zimmerman

__________________________________________________________
Monday, October 18th
Football starts at 5:30 pm
Karaoke starts at 7:00 pm

Daddy Mac's
2920 North Green Valley Parkway
Henderson, NV 89014-0406
We suggest a contribution of $40, but anything you can spare will
go a long way in helping Lynn get her message out.

Checks can be made out to:
Friends of Lynn Goya
P.O. Box 60102
Boulder City, NV 89006
Tax Id: 27-1457653

To RSVP, please call 702-992-0831 or send an email to:
Campaign@OrganizedKarma.com

For more information about Lynn, please visit:
GoyaForNevada.com

Paid for by Friends of Lynn Goya. Political Contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax
purposes. Contributors may contribute up to $10,000, $5,000 for the Primary Election and $5,000 for the General Election.

FREE FOOD, GRUB, FOOTBALL AND A RIDE TO EARLY VOTING! ALL AT CREWS N!

2010-10-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

TODAY AND EVERY SUNDAY DURING EARLY VOTING FOOTBALL, FREE GRUB AND DRINKS AT CREWS ‘N! 1000 e SAHARA (across from The Commercial Center)

Just by signing up for the latest news on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by text, you can eat, drink and watch Sunday Night Football at the coolest little bar in Las Vegas, CREWS ‘N!

Starts at 5pm and the first twenty people to sign up eat and drink on us!

But Wait! There’s More!

We’ll be providing free rides to early voters with no strings attached! All you have to do is want to get a ride to vote!

See you at CREWS ‘N 1000 e Sahara 89104 (across from The Commercial Center)
5pm until the end of the game.

To be eligible for free food and drinks, you must be over 21 and sign up for DADT text alerts.

To be eligible for a ride to Early Voting, you must be over 21.

EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY!

2010-10-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

OCTOBER 16 (SATURDAY) TO OCTOBER 29 (FRIDAY)
GENERAL ELECTION EARLY VOTING IS
SITES GENERALLY OPEN EVERY DAY FOR ALL 14 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING
VOTING IS EASY at the 84 convenient early voting sites or on Election Day at your polling
place. Any voter registered in Clark County may vote before Election Day at any early voting site.
SITES OPEN 5 - 7 DAYS FOR EARLY VOTING
OCTOBER 16 - 22, SATURDAY - FRIDAY
OCTOBER 23 - 28, SATURDAY - THURSDAY
Trailer in Parking Lot Across from OfficeMax
W.Tropical Pkwy.@ Centennial Pkwy.-Blvd. , Las Vegas
Mon. - Fri. (except Last Fri.): 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. - Sun.: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Last Fri.,Oct. 29: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Centennial Center
East Las Vegas Community Center
Room 139B
250 N. Eastern @ Stewart Ave., Las Vegas
All Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
All Sundays and Fri.,Oct. 29: CLOSED
All Mondays: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tues. - Fri.,Oct. 19 - 22: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Tues - Thurs.,Oct. 26 - 28: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Galleria at Sunset Sat.,Oct. 16, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 18 - 22: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
All Sundays: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat.,Oct. 23, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 25 - 29: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Kohl's Court, 1 Floor st
1300W. Sunset Rd.@ N. Stephanie St., Henderson
Dr. William U. Pearson Community Center
Aerobics Room 1625W.Carey Ave. @ M.L.King Blvd., Las Vegas
Sat. - Sun.: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Mon.- Fri.: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Doolittle Community Center
Room "B" 1950 "J" St. @ Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas
Mon.- Thurs.: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat.: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sun. and Fri.,Oct. 29: CLOSED
Sat. -Wed.,Oct. 16 - 27: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Last Thurs. - Fri.,Oct. 28 - 29: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Outlet Center (Formerly Belz)
Green Food Court
7400 Las Vegas Blvd. South @ E.Warm Springs Rd., Las Vegas
Las Vegas Athletic Club
Trailer by Club Entrance
5200W. Sahara,west of Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas
Sat. - Sun.: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Mon. - Fri. (except Last Fri.): 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Last Fri.,Oct. 29: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat.,Oct. 16, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 18 - 22: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
All Sundays: 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat.,Oct. 23, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 25 - 29: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Boulevard Mall
3528 S.Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas
Between E.Desert Inn Rd. and E.Twain Ave.
JCPenney EAST Court atMall's Back Entrance
Meadows Mall Sat.,Oct. 16, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 18 - 22: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
All Sundays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat.,Oct. 23, and Mon. - Fri.,Oct. 25 - 29: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sears Court, 1 Floor st
4300 Meadows Ln. @ S.Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas
Clark County Government Center,
Regional Transportation Comm. (RTC) Bldg.
RTC Council Chambers, Inside RTC Building
600 S. Grand Central Pkwy.@W.Bonneville Ave., Las Vegas
Sat. - Sun.: CLOSED
Last Fri.,Oct. 29: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mon. - Fri. (except Last Fri.): 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES
DATE/LOCATION ADDRESS/CROSS STREETS TIME
Arroyo Market Square (Trailer) I-215 / Rainbow 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Arroyo Market Square (Trailer) I-215 / Rainbow 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Silverado Ranch / Maryland Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Silverado Ranch / Maryland Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Liborio Market Cheyenne / Las Vegas Blvd. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Craig / Decatur 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Craig / Decatur 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons Charleston / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Craig / Decatur 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Liborio Market Cheyenne / Las Vegas Blvd. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Sunrise Marketpl. (Trailer) Nellis / Stewart 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Sunrise Marketpl. (Trailer) Nellis / Stewart 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons Tropicana / Maryland Pkwy. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons Tropicana / Maryland Pkwy. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Arroyo Market Square (Trailer) I-215 / Rainbow 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
SaharaWest Library 9600W. Sahara @ Grand Canyon 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Sunrise Marketpl. (Trailer) Nellis / Stewart 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Las Palmas Village (Trailer) E.Windmill Ln. / Bermuda 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Paseo Verde Library 280 S.Green Vly.Pkwy.@ Paseo Verde 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Arroyo Market Square (Trailer) I-215 / Rainbow 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Silver Mesa Recreation Ctr. 4025 Allen Ln.@ Alexander 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Sunrise Marketpl. (Trailer) Nellis / Stewart 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Sunrise Library 5400 Harris @ Nellis 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Vons Windmill Pkwy. / Pecos 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
West Flamingo Senior Ctr. 6255W. Flamingo @ Jones 8:30 a.m. - 6: 30 p.m.
Solera Anthem Community Ctr. 2401 Somersworth @ Andromeda 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Smith's - S.HighlandsMktpl. (Trailer) Southern Highlands Pkwy. / Cactus 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
SaharaWest Library 9600W. Sahara @ Grand Canyon 10:00 a.m. -8: 00 p.m.
North Las Vegas City Hall 2200 Civic Center @ Lake Mead Blvd. 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
UNLV Lied Library Harmon, East of Swenson 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Aliante Library 2400W.Deer Springs @ Clayton 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
West Flamingo Senior Ctr. 6255W. Flamingo @ Jones 8:30 a.m. - 6: 30 p.m.
Vons Windmill Pkwy. / Pecos 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Solera Anthem Community Ctr. 2401 Somersworth @ Andromeda 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Siena Town Ctr. (Trailer) Tropicana / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Clark County Library 1401 E. Flamingo @ Maryland Pkwy. 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Aliante Library 2400W.Deer Springs @ Clayton 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Albertsons College / Horizon 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Las Palmas Village (Trailer) E.Windmill Ln. / Bermuda 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons Charleston / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Siena Town Ctr. (Trailer) Tropicana / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Buy Low Market Owens / H St. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Stephanie / Horizon Ridge 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Flamingo / Durango 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons College / Horizon 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Las Palmas Village (Trailer) E.Windmill Ln. / Bermuda 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons Charleston / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Smith's - Siena Town Ctr. (Trailer) Tropicana / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Buy Low Market Owens / H St. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Stephanie / Horizon Ridge 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Flamingo / Durango 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons College / Horizon 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
OCTOBER 16, SATURDAY
OCTOBER 17, SUNDAY
OCTOBER 18, MONDAY
OCTOBER 19, TUESDAY
NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES
OCTOBER 22, FRIDAY
Albertsons Charleston / Town Center 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Trails Village Ctr. (Trailer) Village Ctr.Circle / Trails Ctr. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Spirit Mountain Activity Ctr. 1975 Arie, Laughlin 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
SaharaWest Library 9600W. Sahara @ Grand Canyon 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Silver Mesa Recreation Ctr. 4025 Allen Ln.@ Alexander 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Paseo Verde Library 280 S.Green Vly.Pkwy.@ Paseo Verde 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Alexander Library 1755W.Alexander Rd.@ M. L. King 10:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Winchester Cultural Ctr. 3130 McLeod @ Desert Inn 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Smith's - S.HighlandsMktpl. (Trailer) Southern Highlands Pkwy. / Cactus 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
West Charleston Library 6301W.Charleston @Torrey Pines 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Lowe's Parking Lot (Trailer) 2570 E. Craig @ Losee 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Alexander Library 1755W.Alexander Rd.@ M. L. King 10:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Lake Mead Pkwy. / Boulder Hwy. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Lowe's Parking Lot (Trailer) 2570 E. Craig @ Losee 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Food4Less Lake Mead Blvd. / Nellis 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Lake Mead Pkwy. / Boulder Hwy. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Eastern /Warm Springs 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Charleston / Town Center 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Horizon Ridge / Eastern 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Chinatown Plaza 4215 Spring Mountain @ Arville 11:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Food 4 Less - Renaissance III (Trailer) E. Flamingo / Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Trails Village Ctr. (Trailer) Village Ctr.Circle / Trails Ctr. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
UNLV Lied Library Harmon, East of Swenson 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Cheyenne / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Eastern /Warm Springs 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Lowe's Parking Lot (Trailer) 2570 E. Craig @ Losee 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Food 4 Less Bonanza / Pecos 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Lake Mead Blvd. / Hollywood 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons El Capitan / Farm 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Craig / Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Blue Diamond Rd. / Decatur 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Tropicana / Jones 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Pecos Plaza (Trailer) 3365 E. Tropicana @ Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Horizon Ridge / Eastern 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Lakes Lutheran Church 8200W. Sahara @ S.Cimarron 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Charleston / Bruce 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Cheyenne / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Tropicana / Jones 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Charleston / Bruce 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Food4Less Lake Mead Blvd. / Nellis 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Horizon Ridge / Eastern 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
UNLV Lied Library Harmon, East of Swenson 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Pecos Plaza (Trailer) 3365 E. Tropicana @ Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Whitney Library 5175 E.Tropicana @ Nellis 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Whitney Library 5175 E.Tropicana @ Nellis 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Sunrise Library 5400 Harris @ Nellis 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Searchlight Community Ctr. 200 MichaelWendellWay 10:00 a.m. - 3: 00 p.m.
Smith's - S.HighlandsMktpl. (Trailer) Southern Highlands Pkwy. / Cactus 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Cheyenne / Rampart 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Arroyo Market Square (Trailer) I-215 / Rainbow 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Pecos Plaza (Trailer) 3365 E. Tropicana @ Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
OCTOBER 21, THURSDAY
OCTOBER 20, WEDNESDAY
OCTOBER 23, SATURDAY
NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES
Sun City Anthem Community Ctr. 2450 Hampton @ Anthem Pkwy. 9:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
OCTOBER 26, TUESDAY
OCTOBER 25, MONDAY
OCTOBER 24, SUNDAY
Albertsons Desert Inn / Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Charleston / Town Center 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Chinatown Plaza 4215 Spring Mountain @ Arville 11:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Food 4 Less - Renaissance III (Trailer) E. Flamingo / Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Food 4 Less Bonanza / Pecos 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Lake Mead Blvd. / Hollywood 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons El Capitan / Farm 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Craig / Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Blue Diamond Rd. / Decatur 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Silverado Ranch Plaza (Trailer) 9725 S. Eastern @ Silverado Ranch 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Moapa Valley Community Ctr. 320N.MoapaVly.Blvd.@N.Andersen 8:00 a.m. - 5: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Flamingo / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Boulder City,City Hall 401 California @ Arizona 7:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Sun City Anthem Community Ctr. 2450 Hampton @ Anthem Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Trails Village Ctr. (Trailer) Village Ctr.Circle / Trails Ctr. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann /Drexel 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Desert Inn / Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Desert Vista Community Ctr. 10360 Sun City Blvd.@ThomasW.Ryan 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Sun City Aliante Community Ctr. 7390 Aliante Pkwy.@ Elkhorn 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Silverado Ranch Plaza (Trailer) 9725 S. Eastern @ Silverado Ranch 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Flamingo / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Boulder City,City Hall 401 California @ Arizona 7:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Sun City Anthem Community Ctr. 2450 Hampton @ Anthem Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann /Drexel 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Desert Inn / Pecos 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Desert Vista Community Ctr. 10360 Sun City Blvd.@ThomasW.Ryan 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Sun City Aliante Community Ctr. 7390 Aliante Pkwy.@ Elkhorn 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
City ofMesquite,Deuce 2 Building 150 N.Yucca @W. 1st North St. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Whole Foods Marketplace (Trailer) 7290W. Lake Mead Blvd.@Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Trails Village Ctr. (Trailer) Village Ctr.Circle / Trails Ctr. 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Rainbow Library 3150 N. Buffalo Dr. @ Cheyenne 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Rainbow Library 3150 N. Buffalo Dr. @ Cheyenne 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
NEIGHBORHOOD EARLY VOTING SITES
OCTOBER 27, WEDNESDAY
Silverado Ranch Plaza (Trailer) 9725 S. Eastern @ Silverado Ranch 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Buffalo / Vegas 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann /Drexel 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann / Simmons 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Flamingo / Hualapai 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Sunset / Green Valley Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
City ofMesquite,Deuce 2 Building 150 N.Yucca @W. 1st North St. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Whole Foods Marketplace (Trailer) 7290W. Lake Mead Blvd.@Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Henderson City Hall 240 S.Water @W.Atlantic 7:30 a.m. - 5: 30 p.m.
DesertWillow Community Ctr. 2020W.Horizon Ridge@GreenVly.Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons (Trailer) W. Lone Mountain / Decatur 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
OCTOBER 29, FRIDAY (NEVADA DAY HOLIDAY)
OCTOBER 28, THURSDAY
Desert Breeze Community Ctr. 8275 Spring Mountain @ Durango 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Hollywood Recreation Ctr. 1650 S.Hollywood @ E.Charleston 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons Horizon / Horizon Ridge 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Silverado Ranch Plaza (Trailer) 9725 S. Eastern @ Silverado Ranch 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Nellis / Vegas Valley 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann / Simmons 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Buffalo / Vegas 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Sunset / Green Valley Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Whole Foods Marketplace (Trailer) 7290W. Lake Mead Blvd.@Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Liborio Market Charleston / Lamb 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
DesertWillow Community Ctr. 2020W.Horizon Ridge@GreenVly.Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 6: 00 p.m.
Vons (Trailer) W. Lone Mountain / Decatur 9:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Desert Breeze Community Ctr. 8275 Spring Mountain @ Durango 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Hollywood Recreation Ctr. 1650 S.Hollywood @ E.Charleston 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons Horizon / Horizon Ridge 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Silverado Ranch Plaza (Trailer) 9725 S. Eastern @ Silverado Ranch 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Nellis / Vegas Valley 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Vons - Rhodes Rnch.Town Ctr. (Trailer) Durango /Warm Springs 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Ann / Simmons 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Buffalo / Vegas 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Albertsons Sunset / Green Valley Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Whole Foods Marketplace (Trailer) 7290W. Lake Mead Blvd.@Tenaya 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Liborio Market Charleston / Lamb 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
DesertWillow Community Ctr. 2020W.Horizon Ridge@GreenVly.Pkwy. 8:00 a.m. - 7: 00 p.m.
Vons (Trailer) W. Lone Mountain / Decatur 9:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.
Rainbow Library 3150 N. Buffalo Dr. @ Cheyenne 10:00 a.m. - 8: 00 p.m.

Dina "The Professor Is About To Kick Your Ass!" Titus vs Joe "What Just Happened" Heck Tonight!

2010-10-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

Moi does love a good battle.

Alexis vs Crystal in the pond on Dynasty.

Granny vs Jethro.

Gloria Allred vs Men.

But Moi REALLY loves a good old fashioned beat down.

And that, my little Democrats, is EXACTLY what Dina Titus did to What the(Joe) Heck the other night in Henderson.

Warning: When Titus puts on the spectacles, you 'bout ta get hurt up in here.

Heck must have thought he was back in Iraq as the incoming was hitting him left and right.

The Professor had The Book!

The facts were pouring out in such rapid fire you almost thought Dina was spraying bullets like a G-Man at a Mobster's Ball. All Joe could do was sit there looking like he wished he was out teabaging somewhere.

Anywhere.

Else.

Well.

Tonight is another round and I want front row. I think I'll grab some Red Vines on the way 'cause it's about to pop off up in here!

DINA TITUS vs Who cares?

Temple Beth Sholom

10700 Havenwood Lane

Las Vegas

Be there!

JOHN BONAVENTURA JUST ANSWER YES OR NO!

2010-10-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days you have refused to give a simple answer on whether or not you wrote a homophobic letter when you were an Assemblyman on State Letterhead. In addition, you have refused to answer whether or not you had a sign on your desk that read, "No Rights For Sodomites".

I would appreciate an answer immediately. Yes or No answers only. I have become increasingly exasperated with your tap dancing around the questions as if you were trying to just keep dancing until we "Yahoos" leave you alone.

Furthermore, you have decided that this is somehow the fault of everyone from some imaginary intern to the great unknown homophobic UNR football player (Btw, you should be ashamed of yourself for smearing the University that way). You have tried to say that this couldn't have happened because you always sign both first and last names to your letters. You seem to remember the details of every single thing of the time except whether or not you signed this homophobic letter or had that homophobic and rather childish sign on your desk. If your office was run so haphazardly that interns and college football players were able to issue derogatory letters on your state letterhead, why should I support your run for an office that requires way more management skills than you seem to posses?

I am also putting you on notice that I am a hard core Democrat. I am Chairman of the largest LGBT political organization in this state. In addition I have almost 4,000 "Friends" on Facebook, 2,000 or so followers on Twitter and was recently named one the "Top Ten Bloggers in Las Vegas" by AOLand co-host a progressive radio show with Stonewall Democrats State Caucus President Chris Miller. I say that, not to brag. I am telling you this to explain to you that I will keep asking you this question until I get a Yes or No answer to my questions, to Chris Miller's questions AND to Republican Mark Ciavola's questions. If you can't answer the simple questions we have asked, I will simply encourage everyone I reach everyday to start asking you those very same questions.

I don't know if you're trying to run out the clock until voting begins, but rest assured, I want an answer well before the early voting process begins. I have never voted for a Republican in my life, do not force me to in your case.

Your opponent will be a guest on our show this Saturday, I welcome your participation as well.

I expect an answer soon.

Derek Washington

IT GETS BETTER RALLY IN LAS VEGAS

2010-10-11T01:07:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas took the first steps to become a "Bully Free Zone" with the "It Gets Better" rally Monday 04 October at The Arts Factory in District 18B. QVegas Magazine was instrumental in making the rally a success. Here is just one of the videos produced by QVegas.

Support Dina "Elect Equality" Titus this week!

2010-10-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Dina Titus is on OUR side and is the best candidate to continue representing one of the largest districts in the country. She has been there for Progressives and Nevada. We MUST send her back as our representative in DC.

Support
Dina Titus
As she takes on Senator Heck

Monday, October 11, 2010 at 6:15PM

Ner Tamid Debate
55 North Valley Verde
Henderson, NV 89074

AND

Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 6:30PM

PBS Debate Rally
3050 E. Flamingo Road
Las Vegas, NV 89121

For More Information or to RSVP Contact
702-256-3462 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 702-256-3462 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 702-256-3462

http://titus.house.gov/go/about_dina/index.shtml

2010-10-04T23:05:00.001-07:00

IS SHARRON ANGLE'S WORLD ONE YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?

2010-09-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

Imagine, if you will, a world with Sharron Angle as the US Senator representing Nevada.

That world would be one where Gays & Lesbians would not be allowed to provide children with a happy and loving home. She would rather please her hate filled financial puppet masters and deny children the one thing all kids crave, a loving family.

If you lost your job and had trouble finding another one to put food on your table or to have gas for your car to look for a job, Sharron Angle would consider you, “lazy”. As far as she’s concerned, you should be at the whims of fate with no help at all from your hard earned Unemployment Benefits even though you’ve done your duty and paid into the system your entire working life. How many people do you know who have lost their lives during the Bush Recession? Are they just a bunch of lazy bums? To Sharron Angle, they are.

Forget about ever retiring. If social extremist Sharron Angle has her way, your Social Security will go directly to Wall St to the bankers who gambled with our money and got us into this mess in the first place.

Is that the future you want to be your reality?

I don’t.

That’s why we HAVE TO ELECT HARRY REID so he can go back to DC and make sure the LGBT community is represented by someone who knows and understands what is not only best for us as a community, but for the United States of America as a country and an ideal.

There's only 12 hours left to cast your vote for the candidate you'd like the Forward Together PAC to support next.

That candidate is SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, HARRY REID.

Click here to cast your vote FOR HARRY REID, before midnight tonight.

http://action.forwardtogetherpac.com/o/5614/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=419&key=138138

Thanks so much for your help. Together, we can make a difference in this year's elections.

It takes under a minute to help keep Nevada and our country safe from the extremist agenda of Sharron Angle.

VOTE HARRY REID!

A PRIMER ON WHAT HAPPENED TODAY IN DC REGARDING DADT

2010-09-21T12:10:00.000-07:00

DOD and Repealing DADT

-This has nothing to do with amendments. Today's vote was a vote to begin debate on the bill, which includes the amendment process.

-By preventing us from getting on the bill Republicans are blocking funding and a pay raise for our troops and their ability to introduce their own amendments.

-Republicans aren’t just voting no on the DOD bill, they are literally refusing to even allow us to discuss the bill.

-Had Republicans allowed us to get on the bill votes on amendments would have started on Thursday.

-Repealing DADT was already written into the DOD bill because aside from being the right thing to do, it strengthens our military. Even the Pentagon supports repeal.

-We are closer than ever before to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and that’s because of Harry Reid.

-Reid is the one who put a repeal of DADT into the DOD bill, Reid is the one who scheduled a vote, and Reid is the one leading the effort to get to 60 votes.

-If passage of this bill is delayed, it’s because of Republican obstructionism, plain and simple.

-When it’s all said and done however, this bill will pass, and DADT will be repealed this Congress.

TELL YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT CARL LEVIN & HARRY REID ON REPEALING DADT NOW!

2010-09-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR FACEBOOK NETWORKS NATIONWIDE NOW!

Also, text DADT to 42779 for the latest updates on Senator Reid's fight to get it passed.

Call the Senate switchboard now at 202-224-3121and ask to speak with your Senator.

Example Script for Your Call:

Hello, my name is __________ and I'm calling from __________ (city, state).

I know the a vote on the Defense bill could come as early as Tuesday. I'm calling to ask the Senator to stand with Sen. Reid and Sen. Carl Levin in opposing any filibuster or amendment to strike a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from the Defense bill. This discrimination is wrong and I believe that it is critical that they vote and finish the Defense bill before they leave for the election recess..

Will the Senator stand with Sen. Reid and Sen. Levin in opposing any attempt to strike a repeal of DADT from the Defense bill?

Thank you,

Derek Washington
Chairman of Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada

JOBS NOW! With Dick Gephardt! RALLY THIS SUNDAY!

2010-09-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Rally!

This election is about one thing.Good Jobs Now!Let your voices be heard. Some candidates don’t think it’s their job to help create jobs. It’s time for us to fight back.Join AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt and the candidates who WILL create jobs in Nevada.

What: A good old fashioned JOBS NOW RALLY!

When: Sunday September 12th at 6:00 PM

Where: Clark County Government Center Amphitheater500 S Grand Central Parkway

Refreshments provided.

Sponsored by NV State AFL-CIO andIUPAT District Council 15

COMING UP AT STONEWALL OF SOUTHERN NEVADA & THE SAUSAGE FACTORY!

2010-09-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

HI All,

We at Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada are proud to announce that our September meeting will take place this Monday from 630-8pm at The Arts Factory 107 E Charleston 89104 @ Casino Center (upstairs). Our very special guest will be Democratic Lt. Governor Candidate Jessica Sferrazza! Please let your friends and networks know about the event so that they may come and meet Jessica and ask her your questions about her positions as she runs for the second highest office in the state.

We will also be introducing you to Daniel Leskow who is working with "LGBT for Harry Reid". He'll be giving you information on how you can help Harry Reid get reelected.

And our new "ELECT EQUALITY" staffer Genevieve Flores will be on hand to talk about what Stonewall can do to help Dina Titus win her race again.

Also on our agenda is an update on the new David Parks Library that Stonewall is working on with the Clark County Democratic party. If you're free this weekend, come on down and pick up a paint brush at the Gay & Lesbian Center 953 E Sahara to help us finish the library in time for next Wednesday's unveiling. We'll have volunteers helping 9am - 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

C'mon down for an evening with friends!

And don't forget, Saturday means it's time for The Sausage Factory!

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

Join your hosts Derek Washington, Chris Miller and Laura Martin for a show that will make you think, laugh and just maybe answer the question..."What's actually in that sausage?"

Saturday, September 11, 2010 10am to 1pm Pacific Time www.vegasallnetradio.com

Mike Rogers. Blogger, Activist and star of the Documentary "Outrage" www.blog.blogactive.com

Jon Ralston. Nevada's top political reporter, writer for the Las Vegas Sun, www.ralstonflash.com and Host of Face to Face

Progressive Political Blogger Desert Beacon www.desertbeacon.blogspot.com

Wayne Besen From Truth Wins Out www.truthwinsout.org

Brad Listi, Founding Editor of The Nervous Breakdown and Author of "Attention Deficit Disorder www.thenervousbreakdown.com

Ari Ezra Waldman our "Legal Eagle" to tell us the latest on DADT.

Don't forget our regulars... J. Webb with Sports / Ask a Tranny / Twitter Trenz

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY SATURDAY 28 AUGUST 2010

2010-08-27T17:04:00.001-07:00

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY

This week is major with an in depth look at Politics, Law, Pop Culture and Race around the country. Of course, we'll also have Twitter Trendz & Sports!

Join your hosts Chris Miller, Laura Martin & Derek Washington for a show that will make you think and laugh!
Saturday 27 August 2010 10am -1pm www.vegasallnet.radio.com

10:10 Tommy Christopher – White House correspondent
10:30 Congresswoman Titus of Nevada

11:00 Christopher Geidner - aka “The Law Dork”
11:20 Jarrett Barrios - President of GLAAD
11:40 Ari Ezra Waldman. - Legal expert will discuss “Stop! Or my HIV will shoot you!”

12:05 Elon James - This Week In Blackness
12:23 Jwebb - With The Weekly Sports Wrap Up
12:35 J.Son - From Naked Boy News to tell us about his contest to become the next “Gay Travel Guru”
12:45 Lane Hudson - On The DC Mayoral Race

THIS WEEK ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY 21 August @ 10am (pst)

2010-08-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

We love our "Journos" and this week we've got two great ones along with some great activists and bloggers!

10:23 Amanda Marcotte author of It's a Jungle Out There: The Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments with her take on Sharron Angle and what's going on inside the Beltway as she laid it out in SLATE Magazine this week http://www.slate.com/id/2264348/ .

10:44 Ask a Tranny with Jane Heenan

11:00 Molly Ball the Las Vegas journalist with National reach for an update on the all local news is national beat.

11:21 Target “Bigot Special” Jesse and Katka two young activists who led a brilliant takeover of a Target store's airspace. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1inmoke76E

11:41 Elon James will fill us in on “This Week In Blackness”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBmGW8nflIQ

12:00 Jon Lindquist to discuss Nevada Assoc Broadcasters

12:14 JD Jensen is not only the reigning Mr. NGRA, he's also one of those “Naked Boys Singing” at The Onyx Theater http://www.onyxtheatre.com/

12:29 J Webb tries every week to teach Derek about sports ,but, somehow ends up just giving Derek hot guys to Google, but, he's back!

12:41 Frankie and Sheri show cast members will be in the studio to tell us about the latest Old Skool Vegas show in town. A show based on this little number :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHkuobFexxg

Of Course Twitter Trenz and News of the Day

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 2010

2010-08-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY 14 AUGUST 2010

This week we're talking about our favorite lunatic, Sharron Angle! Join us as we enter the wild & crazy world of the woman who personifies, WTF.

Also on the show today we'll be covering everything from Transgender Bible stories to the latest Prop 8 news with an expert on the case. Are Lesbians funny? We'll find out today with one of America's top Lesbian comics. Queer Rising is in the house to tell us about their latest action against bigots and then we roll into sports, Ask a Tranny and the latest on Nevada's natural beauty and the threats we face preserving it.

All today, on The Sausage Factory!

12:20 Christine Ballantini Talking Points Memo

12:40 Peterson Toscano

11 am Ari Ezra Waldman

11:23 Hans Johnson

11:43 Sergio Llanas

12:10 Chantelle Carrere

12:25 J Webb Sports

12:36 Ask a Tranny Jane Heenan

12:47 Jill De Stefano

Twitter Trenz w/Laura

www.vegasallnetradio.net

STONEWALL KICKS OFF "ELECT EQUALITY" WITH CONGRESSWOMAN DINA TITUS!

2010-08-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

The Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada kept its tradition of throwing great parties with purpose this weekend as it kicked off “ELECT EQUALITY” with our very own Congresswoman Dina Titus who is one of the 12 winners of Stonewall's national “Elect Equality” contest.

With over 100 in attendance and DJ AXIS providing music, the home of Clark County Democratic Party Chairwoman Roberta Lange and her husband Candidate for Regent Ken Lange was packed to the rafters with enthusiastic pro-Equality Democrats! After being introduced by openly Gay Judicial candidate and Stonewall member Kristine Kuzemka we were treated to a great speech from Congresswoman Titus reaffirming her commitment to Equality and Diversity!

We also proudly announced the joint effort of Stonewall and the Clark County Democratic Party to renovate the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada's library in honor of State Senator David Parks. The Senator is the openly Gay representative who shepherded our Domestic Partnership bill into law over the veto of the Republican Governor. The Senator David Parks Library is a project that will honor President Obama's request that Americans go out into their communities and perform services that affect everyone in a positive way. A grand opening ceremony honoring the Senator will be held on September 15 2010.

“Elect Equality” has already begun with a survey of the registered Domestic Partners in Nevada to gauge what they are looking for in pro-Equality candidates and get them ready to vote and reach out to their friends to do the same. The next steps will be organizing the LGBT community throughout the state and educating them on how important each and everyone of our votes will be in the 2010 election. After that it's Get Out The Vote and on to victory!

Here's a few pictures from the event taken by a dedicated Democratic activist, Marla Turner.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2077008&id=1157866585&ref=mf

http://dinatitus.com/

http://web.me.com/roynlong/kristinekuzemka/Welcome.html

TODAY ON THE SAUSAGE FACTORY!

2010-08-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday 10am – 1pm www.vegasallnetradio.com

Legendary Activist, ACT UP's Ann Northrop!

Award Winning Blogger Pam Spauding!

Yusef Robb of The American foundation for Equal Rights

Naked Boy News own J.Son

From VH1 we've got “You're Cut Off” star Leanne to tell us what it's like to go from Fab to Drab!

“Ask A Tranny!” with Jane Heenan

Jwebb with sports!

Gina Gresing of Nevada Voters 4 Animals to give us an update on our Wild Horses in Nevada.

Twitter Trendz with Laura Martin

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY PREMIERES! ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW LIFE IS MADE?

2010-06-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

THE SAUSAGE FACTORY PREMIERES!

SATURDAY 12 JUNE 2010 10AM – 1PM (Pacific Standard Time)

www.vegasallnetradio.com

Chris Miller and Derek Washington take you backstage to see how things are really done in the worlds of Entertainment, Activism, Las Vegas & Politics.

OUR GUESTS

Lisa Kove, Executive Director of DOD FED GLOBE & Evelyn Thomas will tell us about the unspoken truths about how DADT affects women and minorities and ministering to families who have been affected by the policy.

The good vegans at the hippest Vegan Ice Cream parlor around, Atomic 7 will tell us how they make healthy oh so good!

The Gay Liberation Network’s Andy Thayer to tell us about his experience at Moscow Pride and why he feels Gays should be disgusted with both political parties in the US.

Local Las Vegas activists Maggie McLetchie of the ACLU and Equality Nevada leader Jane Heenan tell us how a Statewide coalition of LGBT leaders got a historic event in Nevada Transgender rights accomplished.

Gioia Bruno is in the house and ready to drop her new single “BOY CRAZY”! Gioia is a member of legendary girl group EXPOSE, so, she’s got lots of dish about life at the top of the charts!

Jim Strzalkowski of Media Giants and top producer Scott Anderson will give us their take on the rapidly changing music business in the age of downloads and give us the skinny on their new promotional project on Kickstarter.com.

The next first lady of Nevada, Cindy Reid gives us life on the campaign trail as Chris Miller introduces us to “The Other Half”.

The man who knows more about Las Vegas than any hipster within 50 miles of Fremont St, Paco Alvarez tells us what’s Off The Strip and Worth The Trip.

Debbie Hall gives us the scoop on where you can go for a meal with an interesting twist.

Jwebb with the World Cup updates and finally, Light Skin Consulting’s Laura__Martin goes over this weeks election results with Derek & Chris.

All on The Sausage Factory. Are you sure you want to know how life is made?

AT LONG LAST SIR, HAVE YOU NO DECENCY? OR, REALLY STEVE, REALLY?

2010-05-11T15:49:00.000-07:00

This piece of heinous dumbfuckery just came through:

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COSTING TAXPAYERS EVEN AFTER DEATH
Candidate Seeks New Legislation to Change Eligibility For Posthumous Rights

Las Vegas, NV – May 7, 2010 – “We need a state law that prevents illegal immigrants from inheriting property from other illegal immigrants,” said Steve Sanson, a Republican candidate running for Clark County Public Administrator. The Office that Sanson is seeking does not currently check the legal status of the deceased, and it grants illegal immigrants full posthumous rights as American citizens. Sanson says once elected, he will make the Office run more efficiently and save taxpayers money, provided he can get state lawmakers to pass legislation addressing illegal immigrants and burial rights.

Sanson is proposing a law that would require the Public Administrator’s office to check the legal status of the deceased and change the eligibility guidelines for county-funded burial, cremation and funeral expenses. The average county-funded burial costs about $1200. The law would also allow the County to seize all assets belonging to deceased illegal immigrants and liquidate the assets in auction. On average, the Office also pays $55 per hour for twelve hours of services to clean up the property of the deceased.
considerably higher, since it is unlikely that very many illegal immigrants have trusts or living wills. Just looking at the illegal immigrant population here, the burden on the County to pay for the deceased must be significant, ” he said.

WHAT A DICK.

I can certainly understand someone feeding at the bottom of the barrel to win in the Republican Party, it's what they do. However, this is just plain idiocy.

Not to mention racist.

BUT.

Sanson is one of those Negroes who will tell you he can't be racist because he's Black and bangs Latinas. NOOOO, you can't be a racist with that under your belt.

Ok, Steve-O , let's say you're not a racist. Let's just say you're stupid and unqualified for the job you seek?

You would not be able to do this unless you had the backing of your bosses. And even then, your bosses would have to get the State Attorney General to sign off on this lawsuit bait.

Let's say that happened.

The millions in dollars in legal fees to defend this loser of a case would end up costing more than you ever could have grave digged off the backs of dead people.

Yeah, that's cost effective.

Jerk.

PROGRESSIVES! MEET UP TOMORROW FOR AIDS WALK 2010!

2010-04-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

THIS YEAR'S AIDS WALK WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A FAMILY PICNIC ($7 INCLUDES FOOD AND A FESTIVAL FOR THE KIDDIES).

MEET AT MUNDO RESTAURANT PATIO @ THE WORLD MARKET CENTER 455 GRAND CENTRAL PKWY (DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE PREMIUM OUTLET MALL)

830AM WALK BEGINS WITH THE FESTIVAL RIGHT AFTER THE WALK IS DONE.

WEAR YOUR GROUP'S T-SHIRTS ,OR, WEAR ONE WE SUPPLY TO SUPPORT THE BEST SENATOR IN THE COUNTRY, HARRY REID!

C'MON DOWN AND HAVE FUN WHILE RAISING MONEY FOR A GREAT CHARITY!

FOR MORE INFO CALL OR TEXT DEREK WASHINGTON @ 702 576 4978

LAMBDA LUNCHEON TOMORROW!

2010-04-13T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

Come join LAMBDA tomorrow for lunch and networking!

Stonewall will have a table to let the community know more about us. Hope you can make it!

Lambda Business & Professional Association

The LGBT Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada

April Speaker

Michael Ginsburg of PLAN

Michael Ginsburg is a community organizer with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN), working primarily in the areas of health care and LGBTQ equity.

A fierce proponent of social and economic justice issues, Michael has recently taken up the cause of eliminating unfair, antebellum Constitutional protections against taxation for the Nevada mining industry.

Michael, a native of New Jersey, has lived in Nevada since 1976 where he attended local schools and graduated from UNLV with his Masters of Science studying genetics. He lives in Henderson with his partner of 18 years, Tod.

Progressive Organization Showcase

A number of our Lambda progressive organization members and other
progressive organizations will also be represented to talk with you about their
organizations and progressive issues both before and after lunch.

Community Networking Luncheon - Open To The Public (Details Below)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 ~ 11:30 a.m.

No Reservation or RSVP Is Required

Meet and network with fellow Lambda members and our visitors.

Lambda Business & Professional Association has expanded its monthly luncheon to include all members of the community. Everyone is invited and welcome to participate. Our lunches are now an opportunity for the whole community to come together and mix and mingle with business and community leaders. The focus of our new lunches will be on community issues and involvement. Help us make our expanded lunches for all of 2010 a success by joining us for lunch and inviting a few friends or colleagues.

There is an easy link at the bottom of this page to forward this email. Help us make our monthly community lunches a success and forward this email today!

Date and Time

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
11:30am - 12:45pm

Cost

$15.00 - Cash, Check, Credit or Debit Card (payable at the door)
Includes: Brief meeting, speaker, lunch, beverage, dessert, tax, tip

Location

Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant
953 E. Sahara Ave.
(Commercial Center West Side - Across Parking Lot - Far Side From the Center)

Note To All Lambda Members

Lambda Members are encouraged to bring business cards and marketing materials to include in the take home bags. Only current Lambda members can add marketing materials to the take home bags. Membership has its privileges. Please arrive early to add your information to the bags. Board members will be at the resturant by 10:30 a.m. to assist.

Not a Lambda member yet? Now is the time to become a Lambda member. Membership has it's benefits.

Questions - Additional Information

If you have questions or need additional informatin, please e-mail Paul Ershler
at paul@lambdalv.org or call him at 702-893-2088.

HENDERSON DEMS HOST LT GOVERNOR DEBATE TONIGHT!!!

2010-04-07T14:15:00.001-07:00

WHOM OF THE FINAL FOUR IS YOUR CHOICE

FOR LT. GOVERNOR OF NEVADA?

Find out who is the likely winner

By attending

The First Debate

On Wednesday April 7, 2010 at 7:00 PM

At the Painter’s Union Hall

1701 Ramrod St. , Henderson, NV 89014
Choose the winner from those listed
in the attachment enclosed
And find out if your choice agrees with those attending

See You There. It is free for all

Bring your friends & take part
in deciding the future of Nevada

The one event not to be missed.

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STRAW POLL RESULTS

2010-04-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

STRAW POLL RESULTS: STONEWALL DEMOCRATS RELEASE RESULTS OF 2ND STRAW POLL ELECTION

Contact:
Laura Martin
Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada
Communications Director
laurakmmartin@gmail.com
702-292-1279

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Las Vegas, NV 04/06/10: Nearly 70 people packed an upstairs gallery of Downtown Las Vegas’ Arts Factory for Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada’s April membership meeting. Two very special guests, Robin McGehee and Erin Neff inspired the crowd to fight back against bullying, harness the same type of energy the Tea Party and other seditious organizations have and use it for good and continue to call out the bias and lies printed daily in the conservative Las Vegas Review Journal. A new board was elected (results below) and we conducted our 2nd Straw Poll Election for the 2010 midterms

Candidates who do not have a primary opponent were not polled. If a candidate’s name is not listed on the results, it is because they received 0% or no votes.

In no way should these results be interpreted as an endorsement. The state Stonewall board is conducting a candidate interview process which will results in the endorsement of Democratic candidates. Southern Nevada members are free to organize and vote for any candidate of their choosing. These results serve as more of a guide for both candidates and members.

US Senate
Harry Reid 100%

US Congress CD02
46% None of the above
15% Kenneth McKenna
15% Nancy Price
15% Other
6% Denis “Sam” Denhe

US Congress CD03
97% Dina Titus
3% Other

Nevada Governor
100% Rory Reid

Nevada Lt. Governor
73% Paul Murad
15% Jessica Sferrazza
6% Robert Randazzo
6% None

Nevada Senate 7-B
55% Mark Menendo
21% Kathy McCalin
18% None
6% Other

Nevada Senate 8
Mark Brandon 52%
Tammy Peterson 33%
Republican challenger 12%
Other 3%

Nevada Senate 9
58% Benny Yerushalmi
21% None of the above
15% Steven Saxe
6% Other

Nevada Assembly 4
76% Gary Fisher
21% None
3% Other

Nevada Assembly 6
45% Harvey Mumford
40% None
15% Other

Nevada Assembly 7
73% Carolyn Essex
15% Dina Neal
9% None
3% Other

Nevada Assembly 8
58% Jason Frierson
18% None
12% Jesse Cantero
9% Other
3% Kevin Child

Nevada Assembly 11
Olivia Diaz 73%
None 24%
Other 3%

Nevada Assembly 13
64% Lou DiSalvio
21% None
9% Brian Boothe
6% Other

Nevada Assembly 14
48% Maggie Carlton
30% None
13% Karen Hayes King
9% Other

Nevada Assembly 15
37% Chernia Klevin
27% Lou Toomin
18% Elliott Anderson
15% None
3% Other

Nevada Assembly 18
58% Venicia Considine
21% Richard Carillo
18% None
3% Lou West Enwright

Nevada Assembly 19
33% None
28% Steven Brooks
18% Meghan Smith
9% Brandon Casutt
9% Scott Hafen
3% Piange B Jackson

Nevada Assembly 22
58% None
15% Randy Spoor
15% Other
9% Kevin Donavan
3% Zachary S. Campbell

Nevada Assembly 42
48% Irene Bustamente Adams
25% Sam Christos
21% None
3% Kyle Greenwood
3% Other

Nevada State Board of Education
64% Jose Solorio
24% None
6% Annie Yvette Wilson
6% Other

Nevada State University Regent 3
88% Ken Lange
9% None
3% Other

Nevada State University Regent 7
55% None
21% Lucille I Thaler
15% Other
9% Bob Hasegawa

Nevada State University Regent 12
70% Dwayne Chestnut
15% None
12% Mark Newburn
3% Other

Clark County Commission G
67% David Parks
33% Greg Esposito

District Court Department 26
75% Gloria Sturman
9% Other
9% None
6% Bruce L Gale

District Court Department 28
82% Ron Israel
9% None
6% John Hall Howard Jr
3% Other

District Court Department 30
52% Jerry Weise
27% Patricia “Trish” Palm
12% None
6% Michael Davidson
3% Other

District Court Department 31
64% Philip Dabney
15% Joanna Kishner
12% Joshua Kunis
6% Other
3% None

District Court Department 32
61% Rob Bare
27% None
6% Ellen Stoebling
6% Other

District Court Department S
85% Vincent Ochoa
6% Ethan Kotler
3% Greta Muirhead
3% Other
3% None

District Court Department T
58% Gayle Nathan
30% Carl F Piazza
6% None
3% Terrance Marren
3% Other

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada election results:
Chair: Derek Washington
Vice Chair: Sandra Eddy
Treasurer: Christopher Miller
Secretary: Andrew Davey

###
Stonewall is America's only grassroots Democratic LGBT organization. We focus on creating change in three ways: educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to our community. For more info: http://sdcsn.blogspot.com/

DEREK WASHINGTON FOR CHAIRMAN OF THE STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

2010-03-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

For the last few months I have had the honor of serving as Chairman of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada. In that time our club membership has doubled as has our bank account. We have also moved into the forefront of Democratic clubs in the State of Nevada.

This being an election year, SDSN is poised to be an important player in the 2010 election cycle. I hope you will re-elect me to lead us during this exciting period. As you may know, I have endeavored from the start of my current term to make SDSN the most diverse LGBT organization in the state. I feel we have achieved that through my expanding the board to include those who are traditionally under served in our community including women, people of color, the disabled and the Transgender community. I have also made it a point to bring straight allies on to the board and formed strategic coalitions with straight and LGBT non partisan political and social groups to further our goal of achieving full equality for all.

Nationally, SDSN is becoming known for taking the lead with the use of new techniques such as "Rapid Response" and flexing the LGBT community's political muscle through the use of Straw Polls and PR releases. In the past two months alone we have been mentioned in several local and statewide media outlets. In the LGBT activist community we are now looked to as a model of LGBT activism working within the system.

I would like to continue chairing SDSN for two reasons.

One, my work is not yet done.

I am a proud Democrat.

Thank you and I hope that you will see fit to re-elect me as Chairman of the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada.

GIVE ME AN OLD FASHIONED STUNT ANYDAY!

2010-03-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, a group of people I am proud to call fellow activists and friends, led some pretty eye catching actions in DC. Dan Choi and Robin McGeHee both ended up getting arrested to further shine a light on the inequalities of being LGBT in America.

Many in the LGBT community dismissed these actions as mere "stunts". Further, they asked for "evidence" that these "stunts" actually had any affect whatsoever on the national zeitgeist. Then, they had the audacity to question whether or not the National Equality March had any lasting affect. All of this was said in order to say that the money sucking monster known as "Gay Inc" is somehow better suited to deliver us from the current shackles we wear as second class citizens.

I say if we depended on "Gay Inc" as we have up to now, we can just sit back and wait another 30 years until we MAYBE will be equal.

Some thoughts.

How many of you have ever heard of the Salt Tax which led (many years later) to India being free of the chains of colonialism? At the time, many British Imperialists dismissed Ghandhi's very public "stunt" of going to the salt flats and picking up salt he was forbidden to touch. It led to a never ending round of "stunts" until India was free.

Did you know that Rosa Parks didn't just happen to refuse to get up for a white man one afternoon? She had been trained at The Highlander Center. She knew how to pull a "stunt".

When MLK got started, the establishment Negroes who got invited to the White House under Mrs. Roosevelt told him to quiet down and let them handle it. They didn't want no "stunts" complicating the relationship they had already built up and Negroes just needed to wait until the time was right for colored folks to get their rights.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a "stunt".

Walking across that bridge in Selma was a "stunt"

Priests immolating themselves to protest the war in Vietnam and young men burning their draft cards were all "stunts".

Remember the picture of the long hairs putting daisies into the barrels of rifles during the war?

A "stunt".

I firmly believe in "stunts".

As far as providing "evidence" of success goes, well, the March put thousands of activists in touch with one another all across the country. Everyday my inbox is full of actions going on from New Mexico to Maine and offers from across the country to help. Is it always about DADT or ENDA? No. In the last two days a massive outpouring of disgust with a sportscasters homophobic comments got him to issue a an apology. In MN a Black minister is being boycotted at a gospel convention because he is openly Gay. We are working on making sure that is brought to everyone's attention. In Tupelo MS, a furniture company is under constant bombardment from activists and I'd be willing to bet that they won't be holding a segregated prom to keep a young lesbian out.

Now, let's talk about what Gay Inc has done in 30 YEARS and Lord knows how many millions of the dollars they have sucked out of local LGBT communities. Please, evidence. As far as I know, hate crimes legislation. That's great, but, for a dollar to effect ratio plus time spent, it sorta sucks.

Big time.

Give me "stunts" that cost some time on the cell phone and laptop that can affect change in days vs whatever the fuck Gay Inc does anyday.

Read more: http://www.queerty.com/the-grassroots-showdown-against-hrc-is-just-beginning-robin-mcgehee-is-launching-a-war-20100321/comment-page-2/#comment-283990#ixzz0ix749uBi

Robin McGeHee photo:Queerty.com

RORY REID VISITS STONEWALL by Laura Martin (reprinted from Stonewall Democrats)

2010-03-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

Rory Reid address the Southern Nevada Stonewall Democrats
Press Release - March 4th, 2010

"I am here to recruit you."

Those words spoken by Clark County Commission Rory Reid were familiar to the crowd of one hundred, packed into the Gay and Lesbian Center of Las Vegas for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada meeting. A cynic would accuse the Nevada gubernatorial candidate of egregious pandering. But for anyone following Rory's campaign, they'd know he has used the late Harvey Milk's words for months; in front of crowds of varying sexuality, race, age, education and social status, in all corners of the state of Nevada. He does this not to pander, or to be provocative. As Rory said during Stonewall Dems' meeting, he understands that like Harvey, and more recently President Obama, he can't just win this election, he must build a movement.

Nevada's current governor, Jim Gibbons (who is running for reelection against Rory), made his Republican pontifications over small government and low taxes a reality. In doing so, he's nearly choked the life out of the state. We are experiencing a deep depression and instead of making bold decisions to increase revenue for the state, he's cut vital services, state employees salaries (not his own of course) and even tried to eliminate the Nevada Equal Rights Commission (NERC), the agency that oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It’s the only agency in the state that resolves LGBTQ-related discrimination, and the only agency that enforces, SB207, a bill to end discrimination against transgendered persons in Nevada. This is not the first time Governor Gibbons has tried to trample on LGBTQ rights, he also vetoed SB 286, the bill allowing Domestic Partnerships in NV; a veto that was, thankfully, overridden.

Which brings me back to Rory. While he admits he does not know every detail to SB207, he strongly supports the rights of transgendered persons and feels they should have the same rights and legal avenues as everyone else if they are discriminated against. And he was appalled at the governor’s attack on NERC. Stonewall members reacted strongly to his suggestion that a study be conducted before Clark County employees are given Domestic Partnership rights. Rory insisted that he is willing to meet with and talk to anyone to provide him with more insight and understanding on the subject. His bottom line: as governor of Nevada, everyone is welcome, everyone is equal, and he will work hard to make it that way, but he needs our help.

Equality Democrats like Rory Reid need us. He needs us not to just vote for him, but to engage him, our peers, our neighbors and our friends. Rory Reid has a plan to pull this state out of this depression. Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada have been attending and hosting dozens of events each month, working to keep our majorities in all houses in all levels of government, but most importantly, to remove anti-LGBTQ bigot, Jim Gibbons from the governor’s mansion in Carson City.

We have come closer than ever before to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, making marriage legal for everyone and getting rid of the abhorrent Defense of Marriage Act. Our hard work can not be undone by our own midterm election apathy. Rory is here to recruit you, and so am I. Please help me, and the Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada elect Rory Reid the next governor of Nevada www.RoryReid.com

By Laura Martin

Communications Director

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

http://sdcsn.blogspot.com/

* Email this page

DON'T LET HIMBO "AMERICA'S WORST GOVERNOR" GIBBONS TAKE YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU!

2010-02-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

I know what you're thinking.

Really.

I swear.

You're thinking that Nevada's adulterous dolt of a Governor, Jim "Hi, I'm, hiccup, the Governor. Need a walk to your car?" Gibbons couldn't go any lower.

Actually, no one would think that.

No.

One.

After doing all he can to make sure that our educational system makes the deep south look like Harvard.

And Yale.

Combined.

Himbo has decided that in addition to that pesky learnin', you also can do without your civil rights.

How's that back of the bus thingy going for you?

You're about to find out.

Soon.

UNLESS.

You demand your representatives stop Zirconia Jim from decimating yet another feature of our state, Civil Rights.

Check out the following and get on your "Internets" and demand that your rep stop ole frisky pants in his tracks.

Now.

One of many things on the chopping block at this week's special session is NERC, Nevada's Equal Rights Commission. Governor Gibbons has proposed that this agency - responsible for enforcement of Nevada's civil rights and anti-discrimination laws be eliminated entirely. This proposal is not acceptable. It would have dire consequences for civil rights across the board, especially for LGBT rights.

* Eliminating NERC would make the passage of SB207, the bill that provided protection against discrimination in places of public accommodation based on sexual orientation, meaningless. SB207 provided that NERC had authority to investigate and pursue these complaints - without NERC, there is no enforcement mechanism and no relief for victims of anti-gay discrimination.
* It would also be meaningless to try to pass the new state protections for Transgender people and women we'd all like to see, because there would be no state agency to enforce them. LGBT rights are not enshrined in federal law, so the parallel federal agency, the EEOC, cannot enforce employment and public accommodation protections.
* This is not just a severe danger for LGBT rights: NERC extends important resources that the EEOC is simply too overburdened to grant to Nevadans who have claims that include sex discrimination in employment, or racial discrimination in places of public accommodation. For example, the EEOC provides mediation services and factual investigation. In terms of mediation in particular, this is a critical informal method of resolving employment and public accommodation discrimination claims - frequently without going to state court. The elimination of NERC would undoubtedly lead to more filings in state court - which of course should be weighed in any serious cost savings analysis.

The ACLU believes that NERC serves a truly important place in our state, as an expression of our state's public policy against discrimination in employment and places of public acommodation. Getting NERC into place was the result of years of civil rights advocacy; we can't let things move backwards.

NERC sends the message to Nevadans -- and visitors to Nevada -- that this is a state that values all its citizens and vistors. Please join with us in calling on legislators to resist attempts to balance the budget at the expense of our civil rights. Call or email your legislators now!

Here is contact information for some of the Nevada Legislature's leaders:

Steven Horsford, Senate Majority Leader: shorsford@sen.state.nv.us
Bill Raggio, Senate Minority Leader: wraggio@sen.state.nv.us
Barbara Buckley, Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly: barbara@barbarabuckley.com
John Oceguera, Assembly Majority Floor Leader: joceguera@asm.state.nv.us
Heidi Gansert, Assembly Minority Leader: hgansert@asm.state.nv.us

And here's a link that you can use to figure out who your legisltors are: http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm

An Open Letter Of Thanks to Members of Stonewall 2.0 (Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada)

2010-02-08T01:06:00.000-08:00

Dear Fellow Members of the new Stonewall 2.0,

I wanted to take a moment and thank you all for helping to make Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada a rising star in the Nevada political theater. Together over the last few months, since I have been fortunate enough to have been at first Vice Chair and then Chairman, we have added new members at an amazing rate and managed to almost (if not) double our club's bank account.

More importantly than numbers, we have become a family. One of the things about being a Gay man is that I am quite well aware that we in the LGBT community often can't take for granted that our natural families will welcome us as who we are. Often times, we must go out into the world and find people who share our interests, our highs and our lows. People we can count on in times of need who don't judge us because of who we are. Rather than find that sad, I feel that all of us in Stonewall have chosen to be with people that we want to be around. We actually got to choose our “family”. I have to say that I am more than happy that in addition to my own loving natural family, I have managed to find a second family that I truly am happy being a part of.

Stonewall is a home for any and all progressive Democrats regardless of gender, race, faith or sexual orientation or identification. I have made a very strong effort to ensure that the Stonewall board is the most diverse political board in Nevada and I feel I am well on my way to achieving the goals that I have set as a personal challenge in that regard. I am proud of us for all pulling together for the good of our party and our club and proving that diversity can be achieved with a concerted effort.

I hope you will all continue to think of Stonewall as not only your home, but, also as an incubator for fresh ideas and ways of getting the progressive message out as we head into what promises to be a make or break election. We must take back America from those who hate what our country stands for. We must continue to help our candidates, such as Senator Harry Reid, for without great men and women like him, we are (insert Dina Titus Quote here).

Our next meeting will be a laboratory of new ideas and exercises to, hopefully, help improve our preferred candidates performance in front of the media. I am sure we will make some more waves like our Stonewall Straw Poll did this past month. Our profile is on an upward trajectory and therefore so is the political profile and power of the LGBT and Progressive groups working towards victory in 2010. We will be a force from now on, there is no holding us back.

I hope you are all having a good time and I welcome any questions you may have or suggestions to improve Stonewall 2.0. I also would like you all to take time at our next meeting to meet and speak to all of our greatly expanded board after they take a bow for all of the hard work they are doing behind the scenes.

Thank you so much for having me as your Chairman,

Derek Washington

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STRAW POLL RESULTS

2010-02-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laura Martin

Director of Communications

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

702-292-1279

laurakmmartin@gmail.com

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA HOLD FIRST DEMOCRATIC STRAW POLL OF 2010

Monday February 1st, the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada held an informal straw poll during its general membership meeting in Las Vegas, at the Satay Malaysian Grille.

While this is the first straw poll of the 2010 midterm elections, it will not be the last. Several other Democratic clubs have planned their own straw polls for their membership meetings.

The straw poll was conducted by secret ballot. Ballots were counted by two Stonewall board members, and the count was observed by a member of the Clark County Democratic Party executive board.

RESULTS:

US Senate: Harry Reid 96.2% uncommitted 3.8%

Congressional District 1: Shelley Berkley 100%

Congressional District 2: Dean Heller 7.6% Democratic challenger 77% uncommitted 15.4%

Congressional District 3: Dina Titus 92% uncommitted 8%

Governor: Rory Reid 96.2% uncommitted 3.8%

Lt. Governor: Paul Murad 73.1% Robert Randazzo 7.9% uncommitted 19%

Commission District G: Greg Espisito 46% David Parks 42% uncommitted 12%

If a candidate is not listed, it is because they received 0% or no votes. In no way are these results to be construed as officially sanctioned or as an endorsement of any one candidate.

The straw poll is just one of the many ways Stonewall will engage its members and candidates as we move closer to primary and general elections this year. Stonewall continues to foster change by "educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to our community." *

###

If you'd like more information about our straw poll and the results, please contact Laura Martin 702-292-1279 or email laurakmmartin@gmail.com

*http://www.stonewalldemocrats.org/about/who

I LOOKED UP CARPETBAGGER AND HAROLD FORD JR'S FACE POPPED UP.

2010-02-02T08:41:00.000-08:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Harold Ford Jr.

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Economy

STOP THE REVOLUTION, I WANNA GET ON!

2010-01-26T15:51:00.000-08:00

A year ago if you had asked me where I would be at this very moment I would have looked at you and said, "Huh?"

I've spent the last five days with over 40 LGBT activists from around the country on a mountaintop in someplace called Tennessee.

Hint: Limit your time with activists to four days.

I'm jes sayin'.

It's like not swimming for a couple of hours after eating. It's just safer for everyone.

We have spent the past few days talking.

I've actually learned a new rather strange language called "P.C".
It seems you actually have to care about another persons' feelings when you speak.

Sorry.

I was laughing.

Heartily.

But.

I digress.

You also must make sure that you use the correct verbiage when describing "Bitches" and "Whores".

"Bitches" evidently don't exist outside of kennels.

Tell that to Joan Collins who has built a career away from the kennel.

"Whores" are "Sex Workers".

No.

Really.

I swear.

Examples:

Wrong way
"I told that whore to get over here with my gas money, now!" Said the Congressman.

Correct way:
"I respectfully request that you, non gender specific, Sex Worker join me at my side with sufficient funds to fill the gas tank on my Escalade", said the Congressman.

Get it?

Of course you do.

Where was I?

Oh.

Yeah.

I've been to the mountaintop.

I have been surrounded with some of the most brilliant people I have ever had the pleasure of spending time with.

On a mountaintop.

We have had workshops on how to organize and strategize and pyschedelicize our movement to attain full equally as citizens of the United States.

We have talked (Lord knows) ourselves until we are Blue in the face (which is not an attractive color on me at this time of the year. I look like Latoya Jackson ordering a Jumbo Jack at a drive thru at 3:00 am. But. I digress.). We have fought like brothers and sisters. We have learned so much about each other that I could write a book on everyone here.

Hmmm.

I also have learned that on occasion, rare, but, on, I might be a teensy bit difficult to deal with.

Imagine.

I know.

You can't.

Oh!

Wait!

Last night we got word that our little camp of linguists was being touted on the Blogs as a "Rich Gays cigar and Champagne Secret Meeting!"

I'm pissed.

Not because they were so off base with what they said about us.

But.

Because they were so off base`with what they said about us.

I drank generic Vodka!

That I poured myself!

Zut Alors!

That's French for, "Uh, is there a VIP section up in this Bitch?"

Oops.

I said "Bitch".

Outside of a kennel.

Ouch.

Where was I?

Oh.

Yeah.

Witch Mountain.

Look nosy Bloggy peeps, I would be the first to tell you if we were reinventing the wheel up here in a place so cold my cojones went into hibernation.

We're not.

What we are doing is taking the Bull by the horns and doing something to make our world, our country, a better place for all of us.

If anyone has an issue with that because they didn't get an invite to an all expenses paid trip to a historic place (did I mention that THE ROSA PARKS used ta kick it up in here? Did I? Well. She did.) to actually do something other than moan about what hasn't been done, well, I don't know what to tell you.

Actually I do, but, that kind of language should only be used in a kennel.

An amazing woman, Robin McGehee and a really smart and somewhat hot, young man, Kip Williams, invited me to come and I am honored to have attended this amazing retreat. I got to learn from Dan Matthews of PETA (by the way, let a resident of a kennel throw blood on my ratfur coat. I'm jes sayin'.) and I got to meet the legendary Anne Northrup who has looked after me and told me to shut up in the nicest possible manner.

The others are a blend of something you NEVER see in leadership positions in the major "DONATE NOW" Gay inc organizations.

I won't name them.

You probably don't know them anyway.

You should.

You will.

But. Some descriptions.

We got us some:

Angry,beautiful,poetic and smart Black lesbians who are damn proud of all of the proceeding.

Seniors who think like 25 year olds.

Law enforcement folk.

Gentlewomen.

Gentlemen. Me.

Black Men! Yeah, tell me how often we're included in Gay Inc discussions? Can you say "Prop 8"? Of course you can't. Unless it's followed by "It was the Black Men. DONATE NOW".

White guys! No waiting, we got several, step right up!

Youth of color and those lacking in melanin. All brilliant.

And here is the kicker! We got us some Transgender folk! And we actually see them as people, not just another, "DONATE NOW", push button, make money drop out. How very modern of us.

Try it.

We've got insiders and outsiders.

Tops and bottoms.

Pajamas. That is. What were you thinking?

Perv.

Here's the kicker.

It's my last night here and the elitist camp full of Champagne and Cigars is abuzz.

Uh.

Buzz.

It seems that President Obama (the Black Guy)is maybe just maybe going to make a major announcement about the absurd "Don't ask Don't Tell" policy that throws perfectly good heroes out of the Armed Forces because they are Gay.

SIDEBAR: Aren't we in a war? You know, the Bush war? Why then are we throwing away war heroes like Lt. Dan Choi who is fluent in Arabic and is decorated?

Not like a tree. Like a Hero.

The government has spent millions of dollars training folks like Dan and then because some bigot is afraid that some dude (or `dudette) is going to look at him or her in the shower, we throw taxpayer dollars down the drain by getting rid of them when all they want to do is serve the country that they love?

Is that the magic "Fiscal Responsibility" I've heard so much about from the nattering nabobs of negativity on the right screech about, oh so very often?

Well, we don't know what will happen, but, if this stupid policy is done away with, I want to personally thank my Senator, Harry Reid, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate for leading the way.

Okay, what had happened was, I invited Lt. Dan Choi out to Moiself's sunny little burgh of Las Vegas to drum up support for The National Equality March. My good riend and sometime mentor, Gwen Migita of Harrahs corporation facilitated Dan and I getting backstage at a fancy dress ball to actually have a few private moments with Senator Reid. Upon seeing Dans' chestful of gleaming medals and ribbons, the Senator said that he wanted to get rid of the DADT policy and that the President and he were working on it. Since Harry Reid has personally promised me a couple of things and had always kept his word, (including promising to endorse the National Equality March , which he did.)I knew that soon, DADT would end.

I'm hoping tomorrow.

Tomorrow is The President's State of The Union address and our little exclusive and elitist mountaintop is abuzz because we know that without a "DONATE NOW" button, we, the grassroots, were able to push history forward just a touch. We, the real grassroots, were able to do what Americans are supposed to be able to do.

We met with one of the most powerful men in the country and he told us he supported us and to just keep up our fight and to get in the streets and march until we had our rights. He also told us he would do all that he could to help.

If DADT ends soon, I want you to remember a few things.

Without Robin McGehee and Kip Williams and Dan Choi and a woman named Laura Martin (who arranged a major meeting in D.C. with Senator Reid)and all the grassroots activists who came to Washington D.C. (thank you David Mixner!)on a gorgeous Fall day, we would be a lot further back from our goals of full equality for ALL U.S. citizens.

And.

We did it without fancy dinners and parties where people didn't wear shirts (what's up with that? Put your damn shirts back on, I'm not trying to ruin cashmere with your sweat!. I digress.)OR a huge "DONATE NOW BUT WAIT A FEW MORE YEARS FOR ANYTHING TO HAPPEN CAUSE WE HAVE NEEDS AT OUR GAY INC.HQ" button affixed to our butts.

And you know what?

We're still doing it from our mountaintop aerie with free flowing lemonade and coffee!

We're doing it at the LOCAL LGBT center near you.

We're doing it at high schools and park benches and in the middle of the night in places GAY Inc. won't go.

My point?

We , the grassroots activists are doing it.

Are you Gay Inc.?

Get up stand up! Stand up for your rights!

And remember a man named Harry Reid and when people tell you he doesn't know or care about you or your community, you tell them, yes he does.

And you tell 'em, I said so.

Photo Credit: Chris "Causing a Ruckus" Miller

YOU WANNA PLAY PUNKS? LET'S DO THIS.

2010-01-13T02:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that the media losers have decided to do a bunch of instant "polls" in regards to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The RepubliBan have jumped all over these like John Ensign on another man's wife.

Well, if you're feeling like pushing a few keys, here's some polls that you can go to and vote up a little support for the only Senator from Nevada who you don't have to worry about an ethics investigation with, Harry Reid.

Help show your support for Senator Reid by voting in some of these online polls!

KVVU Poll - Las Vegas
http://www.fox5vegas.com/surveypopup/22203589/detail.html?p=

KRNV Poll - Reno
http://www.mynews4.com/poll.php?id=8559&cont=%2Findex.php

Las Vegas City Life Blog
http://slashpolitics.lvcitylife.com/

KDWN Poll
http://www.kdwn.com/index.php?page=94#pollanchor

KOH Poll
http://www.kkoh.com/#survey

THE HARRY REID THAT I KNOW by A LIGHT SKINNED NEGRO WITHOUT A NEGRO DIALECT

2010-01-11T00:51:00.000-08:00

Much has been made by the party of no lately about a simple sentence that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in regards to then Senator Obama before the 2008 elections.

The haters on the right and their lapdog hacks in the media are making much ado about nothing in regards to the Senators' statement before the 2009 elections that, "Obama could succeed as a black candidate partly because of his "light-skinned" appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

And?

I'm sorry, I seem to be missing what he said that was either offensive ,or, wrong?

I myself have gotten pretty far in my life partly because of my "light-skinned" appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

So have millions of other Black folk.

Anyone who tells you any different is lying.

Or in serious denial about the reality of race in America.

Let's be honest here, light skin, "talking white" and "good hair" go a long way round these parts.

Really.

I swear.

Lots of people and organizations that have never dealt with Black folks have seen fit to work with me in no small part because of my appearance and mannerisms.

Actually, most people of ALL colors get ahead in life because of their appearance and mannerisms.

No?

Yes.

Well, never a group to let common sense get in the way of a good story to take the light off of their own lack of ideas and the fact that they hate America and what it has become, the thugs on the right are raising Cain as if they actually could care less about Black folks, or racial sensitivity.

The rethugs have now trotted out their "Spook By The Door", Michael "I'm an embarrassment to every Black person in America" Steele to admonish Senator Reid for telling the truth.

Steele is everywhere these days shaming his mother , father and every Negro who ever fought to get us all the rights that he has gladly sold his "soul" for. He bleats across the airwaves about how Reid's statements are somehow the same as Trent Lott praising Racist, KKK segregationist Strom Thurmond who never met a lynching he wouldn't have a picnic by.

Not.

Get this.

I have met both Michael "I should be ashamed of myself" Steele and Senator Reid.

One lied to me.

One made a promise and kept his word to me.

One is a what my deceased father would have called an "Uncle Tom".

The other is a man whom I have heard praised by the old guard of Black Nevada on so many occasions that I can't count them all.

One told me that the Republican party would stop it's unrelenting laser focus on destroying the lives of LGBT Americans. In fact, he said, "don't worry Derek, a change is gonna come."

How's that going?

I'm just sayin'.

The other one I have heard about from the Negroes of West Las Vegas (Yup, I said Negro. What?)many times about how when it was extremely unfashionable, Senator Reid marched with and canvassed for Negro candidates.

Sidebar: I'm going to let you all in on a little secret that we Black folk know.

NO Black / Negro has EVER referred to himself or another Black / Negro as "African American" unless there was white people or a check around.

That's something we say around you all to make you feel better or to get a job where someone wants to prove how "diverse" their organization is.

Go ahead, ask your Negro friends.

Go ahead.

I'll wait.

Yup.

Just as I thought.

But.

I digress.

On more than one occasion, Senator Reid has put himself out on a limb for me and my causes and in EVERY single instance, he has kept his word.

He has never cared that I am of color or Gay.

Senator Reid is a man of honor and character.

Michael Steele, at long last Sir, have you know shame?

More importantly, why don't you have any honor or character?

Oh.

I forgot.

You're just another "Spook By The Door".

Shame on you.

THE MORAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CASE FOR A RIGHT TO GAY MARRIAGE (by Robert A Levy reprinted from the NY Daily News)

2010-01-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

I have said it a million times, I could care less about Gay marriage.

Really.

I swear.

Anybody crazy enough to want to get on the psycho train with me should probably not be allowed to get married, Gay or Straight.

I'm jes sayin'.

I do, however, take major umbrage with the denial of basic constitutional rights by way of this unholy ban on Gay marriages.

Btw, if marriage is so sacred, why are there three (!) drive thru wedding chapels within four blocks of me?

"I'll have that supersized with an extra order of tears. No, not the fake ones, this is a sanctified affair."

And why can Britney Spears do it and change it out as often as she wears panties?

Oh.

Wait.

Not a good analogy.

But.

You know what I mean.

Well, I came across a rather concise article written by Roberta Levy for the New York Daily News and since it pretty much nails the idiocy of the anti-Gay marriage wing nuts, I decided to just steal, uh, reprint it in it's entirety.

Herewith:

The moral and constitutional case for a right to gay marriage

BY Robert A. Levy

Thursday, January 7th 2010, 4:00 AM
Following bitter defeats in California, Maine, and New York, the gay and lesbian community has a New Year's victory to celebrate. New Hampshire joins four other states - Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts and Vermont - in legalizing gay marriage. And the nation's capital is also onboard. Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty put it this way: "Marriage inequality is a civil rights, political, social, moral and religious issue."

He covered all the bases, except one: It's a constitutional issue as well.

Thomas Jefferson set the stage in the Declaration of Independence: "[T]o secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men." The primary purpose of government is to safeguard individual rights and prevent some persons from harming others. Heterosexuals should not be treated preferentially when the state carries out that role. And no one is harmed by the union of two consenting gay people.

For most of Western history, marriage was a matter of private contract between the betrothed parties and perhaps their families. Following that tradition, marriage today should be a private arrangement, requiring minimal or no state intervention. Some religious or secular institutions would recognize gay marriages; others would not; still others would call them domestic partnerships or assign another label. Join whichever group you wish. The rights and responsibilities of partners would be governed by personally tailored contracts - consensual bargains like those that control most other interactions in a free society.

Regrettably, government has interceded, enacting more than 1,000 federal laws dealing mostly with taxes or transfer payments, and an untold number of state laws dealing with such questions as child custody, inheritance and property rights. Whenever government imposes obligations or dispenses benefits, it may not "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." That provision is explicit in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, applicable to the states, and implicit in the Fifth Amendment, applicable to the federal government.

Of course, government discriminates among its citizens all the time. By the 1920s, 38 states prohibited whites from marrying blacks and certain Asians. Until 1954, all states were allowed to operate segregated schools. Thankfully, the Supreme Court invalidated both interracial marital restrictions and school segregation. The court applied the plain text of the Equal Protection Clause despite contrary practices by the states for many years even after the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868.

To pass constitutional muster, racial discrimination had to survive "strict scrutiny" by the courts. Government had to demonstrate a compelling need for its regulations, show they would be effective and narrowly craft the rules so they didn't sweep more broadly than necessary. That same regime should apply when government discriminates based on gender preference.

No compelling reason has been proffered for sanctioning heterosexual but not homosexual marriages. Nor is a ban on gay marriage a close fit for attaining the goals cited by proponents of such bans. If the goal, for example, is to strengthen the institution of marriage, a more effective step might be to bar no-fault divorce and premarital cohabitation. If the goal is to ensure procreation, then infertile and aged couples should be precluded from marriage.

Instead, most states have implemented an irrational and unjust system that provides significant benefits to just-married heterosexuals while denying benefits to a male or female couple who have enjoyed a loving, committed, faithful and mutually reinforcing relationship over several decades. That's not the way it has to be. Government benefits triggered by marriage could just as easily be triggered by other objective criteria, leaving the definition of marriage in the hands of private institutions.

For instance, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee recently voted to extend employee benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. The qualifying criterion, which could also apply to heterosexual couples, is an affidavit identifying the domestic partner and certifying that the partnership is intended to be exclusive and permanent, within a common residence, with shared responsibilities.

Similarly, some states dispense benefits to qualifying gay couples joined in predefined civil unions. Even private-sector employers are increasingly offering same-sex "marital" benefits. According to the federal Office of Personnel Management, nearly 60% of Fortune 500 companies confer employment benefits on domestic partners.

Yet our politicians, unwilling to privatize marriage, seem congenitally unable to extricate themselves from our most intimate relationships. One would hope, in the coming months and years, that more enlightened federal and state legislators will have the courage and decency to resist morally abhorrent and constitutionally suspect restrictions based on sexual orientation. Gay couples are entitled to the same legal rights and the same respect and dignity accorded to all Americans.

Robert A. Levy is chairman of the Cato Institute.

SAY NO TO HAROLD "HOMOPHOBIC CARPETBAGGING" FORD FOR NEW YORK SENATOR

2010-01-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

BLACK OR GAY? WHICH AM I AND WHEN?

Recently, much has been made of Harold Ford XIV (or whatever) eyeing the New York senate seat of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a fellow Democrat.

While I am usually supportive of young Black men who are making their way in politics in my chosen party, I have to call out Mr. Ford for what he is; a carpetbagging, homophobe who comes from a corrupt Southern political dynasty and feels that equality is not something that should be extended to homosexual Americans.

The Ford family of Tennessee has for years reigned as the cafe au lait definition of decrepit old school Southern politics. Ever so often they pop a new legacy out and unleash that spawn upon their constituents with the regularity of a Black widow devouring it's trusting mate. They are not above using the “race card” in their Machiavellian maneuvers either. Though able to pass the “paper bag” test with flying colors, the Ford's will cry racism to the highest heavens when they are denied anything they deem their right as Southern Negro Poverty Pimps.

Now, Harold the younger has decided (along with his new Wall St cronies) to aim for the seat of Kirsten Gillibrand who made the fatal mistake of not stepping aside when party elders had decided to give what became her seat to dilettante Caroline Kennedy as a sort of “knighthood” for her family's service to the Democratic Party. From the day she was appointed by Governor David Patterson, she has had a big target painted on her political back.

In a decidedly cynical move, the powers that be are now backing a Southerner with less than four years in New York (and that has been spent on Wall St.. Remember Wall St? Yeah, that's why you're reading this from your foreclosed home.). Why, you may ask?

Duh.

He's a Negro.

Plain and simple.

Worse part is that Ford knows this ,and yet, his ambitions (petite bourgeois that they are) allow him to be used in this way in order to get what he wants. His backers know that Blacks want a Black face in the Senate and will probably vote for him in all of his high Yella splendor regardless of the fact that neither he nor his family could care less about them.

Now, my dilemma.

Personally, I am often confronted with the question of what I am.

Black?

Gay?

I am both.

24/7.

However, as a Black man, I have certain rights that are protected by the laws of this great nation. They can not be taken away.

As a Gay man, I am less of a citizen than an illegal alien from anywhere in this world.

I can not get married to another man.

I can be fired in Nevada because I'm Gay regardless of my job performance

I can not serve in the military.

I can not adopt in most states even if a child has been with me since birth.

The list goes on.

I am a Democrat because that “other” party has stated clearly that they don't want my kind (Black or Gay) under their “big tent.”

Fine. I don't go where I'm not welcome.

Mr. Ford has continuously voted against every piece of pro-equality legislation that would give me the full rights that I would enjoy if I denied who I am and just “played straight'.

I won't.

Now, will I sit idly by while MY party anoints someone who feels that I don't deserve the very same rights that his carpetbagging ass has as a matter of course?

No.

MY party needs to understand that the days of LGBT Americans just sitting back ad taking and indignity thrown at us because we have no other choices politically, are over.

Done.

We LGBT Democrats are no longer going to sit idly by while homophobes are promoted to the top while we sit outside and beg through the windows for any equality scraps we are given.

Nope.

No more.

For those of you considering promoting this homophobe Ford to the big time, I suggest you reconsider. While I am a loyal Democrat and a Black man, I am a GAY LOYAL DEMOCRAT AND BLACK MAN and will not just take one more insult.

I don't care if it seems disloyal.

No more.

I urge everyone who cares about equality to reject, to put a stop to, to disavow Harold “homophobe” Ford and his ego driven bid to become a New York Senator.

Sometimes, you just have to do the right thing regardless of what your “friends” think.

REID LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL BRINGING NEARLY $100 MILLION TO NEVADA

2009-12-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that it bothers me when the Republiban talks about how Nevada would be better off without Harry Reid.

Why?

You may ask?

Well. Duh.

Before Harry Reid, Nevada wasn't even on the radar screen of the pointy heads in D.C.. As far as they were concerned, we were that place they flew over on their way to L.A. to beg for moola.

Harry changed all that.

With the election of President Obama (which Harry plaid a HUGE role in), and it's moving up to the front of the pack in the primary system (wonder who had a hand in that?), Nevada finally is recognized as a power player. EVERYONE knows who Harry Reid is and where he comes from.

NEVADA!

Now.

Please explain to me why we would want to replace one of the most powerful men in the world with Snow White or her mental dwarfs?

I hate to be mean, but. a football coaches son? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but, that's his main qualification.

Really.

I swear.

Hut One!

Hut two!

With this bill, what am I supposed to do?

Please.

Occasionally, a Republiban will say, "what has Reid ever done for Nevada!?"

Idiot.

Well, this little list just came across my desk and while it doesn't probably register with those who get their info from Glenn "I don't believe any of this, I'm just making money" Beck, I think this partial list of what The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has done for Nevada more than gives good reason why we should make sure he is reelected.

What do you think?

Eh?

Funding for projects will help put Nevadans back to work
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today secured nearly $100 million for projects in the Silver State that will create jobs and put Nevadans back to work. Reid, the Majority Leader of the Senate, secured these funds in the Transportation Omnibus Appropriations Act, which passed the Senate today. This bill is a combination of the following appropriations bills: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Commerce, Justice and Science; Financial Services; Military Construction; Labor, Health and Human Services; and Foreign Operations.

“This is an important bill for Nevada because it delivers much-needed funding to the state for projects that will strengthen our communities and create jobs,” Reid said. Every bill that is passed, every project that is funded and every job that is created helps Nevada take another step forward on the road of economic recovery.”

From funding for law enforcement equipment and military personnel to public health initiatives, this bill makes strong investments in Nevada communities. Senator Reid has views appropriations as a way to supplement state and local funding and bring home Nevadan’s hard earned tax dollars for deserving projects that create jobs, provide services, and improve the quality of life for all Nevadans.

Senator Reid delivered funds to nearly every area of the state – from Boulder City and Las Vegas to West Wendover, Reno, and Elko. The list of projects receiving funding in Nevada is included below.

Military Construction: $54,897,000

Project: NV Air National Guard Fire Station Replacement
Requestor: Air National Guard
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $10,800,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a new Fire Station at the base located at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The existing fire station, built in 1955, provides only 25% of the total authorized space of 17,575 square feet. This is already requested by the Department of Defense in the 2014 Future Year’s Defense Plan.

Project: Warrior Physical Training Facility
Requestor: Navy
Location: Fallon, NV
Amount: $10,670,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a combined gymnasium/fitness center facility consisting of 23,713 square feet. The facility includes an indoor fitness area; basketball/volleyball court; aerobics area; two racquetball courts; locker rooms; multipurpose activity room; combative/martial arts room, and administrative offices. This is already requested by the Department of Defense in the 2014 Future Year’s Defense Plan.

Project: NV National Guard Add/Alt for Clark County Armory
Requestor: Army National Guard
Location: Clark County, NV
Amount: $2,000,000
Description: This request funds the creation of new unit administration areas for Add/Alt of the Clark County Armory. The transformation of the 221st Cavalry into an ARS (Armored Reconnaissance Squadron) has increased the requirements of storage and administration space due to increased equipment and personnel.

Project: NV National Guard Renewable Energy Sustainable Projects
Requestor: Army National Guard
Location: NV National Guard, NV
Amount: $2,000,000
Description: This request funds the design and construction of renewable energy projects. Nevada Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Management Officer is planning wind, solar, and geothermal projects at six facilities and training sites by calendar end of 2010.

Project: North Las Vegas Readiness Center
Requestor: Nevada Army National Guard
Location: North Las Vegas
Amount: $26,000,000
Description: With the Guard experiencing rapid growth from several overseas mobilizations, many existing readiness centers are reaching capacity. The facility will serve the peace time missions of the assigned units and improve the units’ readiness posture. The Readiness Center will provide administrative, training, supply, classrooms and storage areas required to ensure units are prepared for mobilizations.

Project: Creech Air Force Base UAS AT/FP Security Upgrades
Requestor: United States Air Force
Location: Creech AFB
Amount: $2,700,000
Description: Unmanned Aircraft Systems are playing an invaluable role on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan. The project will provide for improved anti-terrorism and force protection security measures for the headquarters for Predator and Reaper operations worldwide. Protecting UAS assets is a top priority to ensure support for our security efforts abroad.

Project: Las Vegas Civil Support Team Ready Building
Requestor: Nevada Army National Guard
Location: Las Vegas
Amount: $727,000
Description: The project will provide funding for the planning and design of the Ready Building. When completed, it will provide immediate response capability to support the State of Nevada first responders in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack. The facility will support 24 full time personnel and is critical to the greater Las Vegas area’s preparation for a possible terrorist attack.

Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development: $20,233,300

Project: Approach Surveillance Radar
Requestor: Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $263,000
Description: The Reno-Tahoe International Airport and five other airports in the region are all served by an existing ASR-8 that has been in place for 16 years and is two generations old in terms of technology. Funding would provide for an updated ASR-11 that will provide the most technologically advanced radar capabilities.

Project: Starr Road Interchange
Requestor: City of Henderson
Location: Henderson, NV
Amount: $2,922,000
Description: Constructing an interchange at I-15 and Starr Road will improve access to a growing part of Henderson and relieve congestion on Eastern Avenue and other approaches to McCarran International Airport. Funding will be used for construction, and will supplement the $1,187,500 Senator Reid secured for this project in FY2009.

Project: Meadowood Interchange
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Meadowood Interchange is in one of the primary commercial retail districts in the Reno/Sparks Metropolitan area. Construction of a split diamond interchange will more effectively distribute traffic on surface arterial streets, and reduce overall levels of traffic congestion. Senator Reid secured $1,254,000 for this project last year. Funding will supplement more than $27 million in ARRA stimulus funding that local officials have decided to invest in the interchange.

Project: US 50 Stateline Realignment
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Lake Tahoe basin is an area of regional and national significance, but congestion around the Nevada casinos reduces mobility in the area. Funding would pay to provide operational improvements and pedestrian and transit improvements in the heavily congested Stateline corridor.

Project: I-15 Corridor of the Future
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $974,000
Description: Because the US Department of Transportation designed I-15 as a "Corridor of the Future," this interstate is eligible to participate in new federal programs to reduce congestion. Federal funding would supplement these efforts. More than 9 million people drive from Southern California to Las Vegas on I-15, and making road improvements protects the main routes for tourists to enter Las Vegas.

Project: Expanding SR-160 Las Vegas to Pahrump
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $2,217,500
Description: This roadway is the major connection between the growing bedroom community of Pahrump and the metropolitan core of Las Vegas, NV. Unfortunately, this two-lane road is one of the most deadly in the state. Funding would pay for increased widening that would reduce congestion and improve safety. Senators Reid and Ensign secured $2,612,500 for this project last year.

Project: Boulder City Bypass
Requestor: City of Boulder City
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $981,000
Description: According to published estimates, an additional 2000-2500 trucks will drive through Boulder City once the new Hoover Dam bridge is completed in 2010. A 17 mile bypass road will alleviate congestion and remove truck traffic from downtown Boulder City.

Project: Southern Nevada Beltway Interchanges
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $3,302,250
Description: Federal funding will supplement a 20 percent state match to construct additional interchanges to improve mobility on the Clark County Beltway. The Clark County Beltway is one of the busiest roads in Nevada, and funding will expand capacity. Last year, Senator Reid and Senator Ensign secured $2,850,000 for this project.

Project: Carson City Freeway Phase II
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $779,200
Description: The project will improve capacity by adding 3 miles of controlled access freeway from Fairview Drive to the southern connection at the existing US 50 West - Tahoe Juncture / Carson Street intersection. Expanding the freeway will relieve traffic congestion in addition to offering flood control protection. It is estimated that this project will create 150 jobs locally.

Project: Washoe County Bus and Bus Facility
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $615,250
Description: This project involves the construction of satellite transfer centers and additional Park and Ride facilities to expand the ridership of the RTC bus system. Additional funds will replace aging buses in the fleet with cleaner fuel technologies.

Project: ACE Boulder Highway Rapid Transit Project
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $750,000
Description: This transit project will be comprised of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system operating along a 17-mile corridor with exclusive transit lanes, vehicles, stations, and related infrastructure. The specific segment would travel Boulder Highway from the Central City Intermodal Transportation Terminal to Horizon Drive in Henderson, Nevada.

Project: Nevada Pacific Parkway
Requestor: City of Fernley
Location: Fernley, NV
Amount: $535,700
Description: Funding will pay for the construction of an additional four lane roadway connecting I-80 Exit 50 Interchange to US50A at Nevada Pacific Parkway in the eastern portion of Fernley. The expansion will be necessary for future growth in the Fernley region.

Project: Bonneville-Clark Couplet
Requestor: The City of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $487,000
Description: This project will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion by converting Bonneville Ave. and Clark Ave. roadways to an east/west one-way couplet system between Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. This project is part of the City's master plans for land use and will make the corridor more pedestrian-friendly. It will create 71 jobs locally.

Project: US-395 from Moana to Stead
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $681,800
Description: This project would widen the Northbound lanes on US-395 and relieve heavy peak hour congestion and related crashes. Widening would substantially reduce Northbound travel time in peak hour from Moana to I-80 saving time for thousands of Nevadans each day. This project is estimated to create 150 jobs locally.

Project: Pyramid Highway Corridor
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,084,400
Description: Pyramid Highway (SR-445) is one of the most congested corridors in Northern Nevada, particularly at the intersection of SR-445 and McCarran Blvd. Funding would pay for environmental studies and project development improvements to increase capacity and reduce congestion within the corridor.

Project: Freeways and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST)
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $681,800
Description: To help facilitate traffic movement and relieve congestion on the Clark County Beltway, NDOT plans to install a fiber-optic cable vehicle detection system with video monitoring cameras, ramp meters and dynamic message signs.

Project: Silver Sky at Deer Springs Affordable Senior Assisted Living
Requester: Nevada HAND
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $681,800
Summary: Nevada HAND plans to build an affordable senior assisted living center with a focus on serving low-income seniors. This facility will allow low-income seniors who can no longer live independently to maintain their dignity at home, and avoid costly and premature nursing home placement.

Project: Foreclosure Prevention and Intervention Partnership Program
Requester: City of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Summary: The City of Las Vegas will continue their housing outreach and foreclosure prevention education efforts. The City will offer mortgage modification assistance to homeowners in addition to helping transition families who can no longer afford their mortgage into affordable rental housing.

Project: Stabilizing Nevada Neighborhoods
Requester: Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $487,000
Summary: Hundreds of foreclosed homes throughout Southern Nevada sit empty and blight neighborhoods. Consumer Credit Counseling Service plans to turn many of these foreclosed properties into long-term affordable rental properties that will be sold to low and moderate income families.

Project: Storey County Youth and Community Resource Center
Requester: Community Chest of Storey County
Location: Virginia City, NV
Amount: $194,800
Summary: Storey County currently does not have a community center, childcare center, youth program facilities, or public gathering sites. With the support of the local government, Community Chest and other volunteer organizations have been working for 13 years to design and construct a community resource center. Local residents will supplement any federal support with additional donations and grants.

Project: Silver Stage Youth Community Center
Requester: Silver Stage Youth Organization
Location: Stagecoach, NV
Amount: $194,800
Summary: Like many rural counties, Silver Springs does not have a community center or public meeting space. Community residents have been working for several years to design a center, and have completed a feasibility study for a mixed-use community center. Federal, state and local funding will be used to construct the center.

Project: Acquisition of Equipment and Vehicles
Requestor: Three Square Food Bank
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: With the economic downturn, Three Square is working to close Southern Nevada’s hunger gap by bringing all available food and financial resources into their regional food bank. Additions to their vehicle fleet will allow the agency to expand their food assistance to people in need in the Las Vegas Valley.

Labor-HHS: $13,095,000

Project: Youth Internet Safety Education Project
Requestor: Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $175,000
Description: Federal funds would be used to allow the Boys & Girls Clubs of Truckee-Meadows to implement Internet safety programs in schools serving students in grades 6 through 9 in order to protect children from online dangers including child predators.

Project: Charter School Development Foundation Early Childhood Education Center
Requestor: Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $400,000
Description: Early-childhood education has long been a federal priority because studies show that a child's success ultimately depends on what happens in their early years. In partnership with the United Way, the Agassi Academy plans to expand their comprehensive early childhood education services to more families in Southern Nevada. Funds will be used to develop an early childhood education program that would include family access to health care and immunizations and parent education.

Project: School for the Highly Gifted
Requestor: Clark County School District
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: The Clark County School District, home to nearly three-quarters of the students in Nevada, will, in partnership with the Nevada System of Higher Education, create an academy for the highly gifted in grades 9-12. Nearly 200 students in the district have been identified as highly-gifted. Recognizing that gifted children learn differently, this project will be committed to providing an academically appropriate learning environment that is challenging and meaningful.

Project: Support for English-Language Learners
Requestor: Clark County School District
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: Roughly 20 percent of the students in the Clark County School District are English-language learners. The district's ELL program provides professional development training for administrators and teachers to help improve instruction for English-language learners. Funding will use used to provide additional specialists for up to 50 schools with a high population of ELL students.

Project: Career and Technical Education Equipment
Requestor: Lyon County School District
Location: Yerington, Nevada
Amount: $350,000
Description: Because of the rural nature of the Lyon County School District, distance learning is an important educational component for both students and teachers. This distance learning technology will allow the district to offer educational programming at a greater number of schools and improve education in rural Nevada.

Project: Middle School Science Lab and Curriculum
Requestor: Nye County School District
Location: Pahrump, Nevada
Amount: $425,000
Description: Nye County is the largest, rural school district in Nevada, covering over 18,000 square miles. Funding will be used to purchase interactive science curriculum and equipment for several rural middle schools in the district. This funding would enhance the curriculum for several thousand middle school students.

Project: Nevada Rural Literacy Program
Requestor: Save the Children
Location: Washoe and Elko County, Nevada
Amount: $250,000
Description: Save the Children operates a highly-effective afterschool rural literacy program in five rural schools in Washoe and Elko counties. These programs provide supplemental educational services with a proven track record of improving children's reading skills. Federal funding will be used for curriculum and assessment materials, technological equipment, and ongoing training and technical assistance.

Project: New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program
Requestor: Washoe County School District
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $500,000
Description: The district's Induction and Mentoring Program provides mentors to guide and support the work of novice teachers by observing them in the classroom, offering feedback, assisting with lesson plans, and demonstrating effective teaching methods. Mentors meet with new teachers at least once a week. Federal funding will be used to expand this effective program.

Project: K-12 Instructional Coaches
Requestor: Washoe County School District
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $500,000
Description: The district, Nevada's second largest, will use these funds for instructional coaches for K-12 teachers. These coaches will serve as on-site professional developers who will collaborate with teachers to help them use proven practices and strategies to align teaching with district and state standards and improve student achievement.

Project: Online Degree Program
Requestor: Truckee Meadows Community College
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: TMCC has established a highly successful distance learning program with eleven online degrees, more than 300 courses, and serving more than 6,500 students. To build on this success, TMCC will use these funds to establish a new fast-track online degree program targeting nontraditional (ages 25-62) students. Many of these students have previously attended college and earned credits and, for a variety of reasons, have dropped out and never returned. Others opted to go straight into the workforce after high school and now realize the value of earning a college degree.

Project: RSVP Home Companion Senior Respite Care Program
Requestor: Washoe County Senior Services
Location: Carson City, Nevada
Amount: $195,000
Description: The RSVP Home Companion Senior Respite Care Program addresses a critical need in the community -- that of free or affordable, non-medical in-home respite care for those suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's, and a host of other ailments and disorders. The senior population in Nevada is among the fastest growing in the nation, so the number of caregivers and the demand for this program continues to increase. This community service program supports caregivers, and in turn, helps to prevent the institutionalization of their loved ones.

Project: Cancer Education, Outreach and Support Services for Nevadans
Requestor: Nevada Cancer Institute
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: Cancer is a leading cause of death in Nevada. Nevadans with cancer and their caregivers face a number of geographic and other challenges accessing care and other cancer-related resources, including education and prevention. The Nevada Cancer Institute, which has been recognized by the state Legislature as the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada, supports education and outreach services, including cancer navigation, to Nevadans. These funds would allow the Nevada Cancer Institute to expand these efforts to meet needs across the state of Nevada including rural frontier communities, Indian reservations and urban areas.

Project: University of Nevada School of Medicine- Nevada Diabetes Center
Requestor: University of Nevada, Reno
Location Reno, Nevada
Amount: $800,000
Description: In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes in Nevada has increased by 32 percent. This is a significant health problem for Nevadans, as diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, non-traumatic amputation and blindness. The Las Vegas area has a population of diabetes patients with complications that is more than 20 percent higher than the national average. A University of Nevada Diabetes Center will create a regional center of excellence where patients with uncontrolled diabetes can receive state-of-the-art management directed by a team of appropriately trained specialists. It will reduce diabetes related complication rates, helping to control costs associated with diabetes management and to improve quality of life for patients living with diabetes.

Project: Boulder City Hospital Construction
Requestor: Boulder City Hospital
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Boulder City Hospital serves as a community safety net for Boulder city and the surrounding rural areas. With the anticipated opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass, increased commuter, business and tourist traffic is expected to move in and around Boulder City. These funds will support construction that will expand the hospital's preparedness for handling this community's emergency medical cases.

Project: West Wendover Medical Clinic Equipment
Requestor: City of West Wendover
Location: West Wendover, Nevada
Amount: $310,000
Description: These funds would allow the City of West Wendover to purchase new equipment, including a digital x-ray machine for the West Wendover Medical Clinic. The new machine would replace old technology which uses x-ray film that must be sent out to radiology for review which results in a ten day waiting period. The new machine will increase efficiency and patient care through the use of digital x-rays which allow for more timely review by radiology and the diagnosis by attending physicians in this rural community.

Project: Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Requestor: Lou Ruvo Brain Institute
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $1,300,000
Description: The Lou Ruvo Institute recently announced a new partnership with the world renowned Cleveland Clinic. These funds will support the purchase of equipment to help support the Institute's goal of becoming a national resource for the most current research and scientific information for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as focusing on prevention, early detection, and education.

Project: Helping Kids Clinic: Health Access without Walls
Requestor: Helping Kids Clinic
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $200,000
Description: The Helping Kids Clinic provides free health care and immunizations to children without insurance or financial resources. This organization eliminates access barriers by working in a number of different environments in southern Nevada where children are at-risk. These funds would allow the Helping Kids Clinic to secure needed medical supplies and equipment and hire first-language Spanish translators. This would enable the clinic to expand its mission and provide health care and immunizations to a larger number of at-risk children in Southern Nevada.

Project: Nevada State College Nursing Program
Requestor: Nevada State College
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Amount: $900,000
Description: Nevada faces a tremendous nursing shortfall. If left unaddressed, the quality and availability of care could suffer. Nevada State College is developing a program that aims to increase expertise of new nurses while decreasing burnout of under-prepared nurses. Funding would help develop the educational program and purchase research equipment for the nursing program.

Project: Nursing Retention Support Program
Requestor: Renown Health
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $390,000
Description: Studies show that nurses beginning their careers in the acute hospital setting often leave their first job, and sometimes the nursing profession entirely, during their first six to twelve months on the job. This situation has only exacerbated the nursing shortage in Nevada. These funds would support a formalized nursing retention and support program for nurses' first six months to a year on the job. This program would help to improve nursing retention and the quality of patient care in Nevada.

Project: Touro University Gerontology Center
Requestor: Touro University, Nevada
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Amount: $750,000
Description: Nevada has one of the fastest growing senior populations in the country but has few gerontologists and geriatricians. These funds would support the construction of a gerontology center that would conduct research into the aging process, educate health professionals in geriatric issues, and provide health care services to older adults. The Gerontology Center will provide medical and preventive health services to Nevada's older adult population, along with education for seniors and their families about nutrition, exercise and long-term health. The Center will also train and educate doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals on the multi-disciplinary aspects of gerontology and geriatrics.

Project: University Women's Care and Birth Center
Requestor: University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
Location Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $1,500,000
Description: The University Women's Care and Birth Center will help to address the current crisis of access to women's health and maternal-child care in Clark County. Specifically, the requested funds would support the renovation of a space that would house services for women's healthcare and maternal-child care (birthing center) at the University Medical Center in a separate freestanding facility. This would allow for the consolidation of women's health and maternal-child care services and with family resource services in a freestanding facility owned by UMC to be operated in collaboration with professional medical providers.

Project: The Center for Molecular Medicine
Requestor: The University of Nevada School of Medicine
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $750,000
Description: Chronic neuro-immune diseases have been steadily on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, resulting in serious disability and enormous financial burdens to families, communities and to our health care system. These funds would support construction and the purchase of equipment so the Center for Molecular Medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine may pursue its goal of facilitating the immediate transfer of new knowledge to effective patient treatment and physician education, through the combined efforts of researchers, clinicians and educators at the University.

Commerce-Justice-Science: $8,525,000

Project: Heavy Duty Command Post and Patrol Safety System
Requestor: The Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: As the largest law enforcement agency in Northern Nevada, the Washoe County Sheriff's office must patrol many rural areas of the state. Unfortunately, their patrol cruisers lack standard equipment such as In-Car Video Systems or a centralized Mobile Command Trailer. These technology upgrades will allow our law enforcement officers to better respond to threats and gather evidence.

Project: Justice Information Sharing Program
Requestor: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: Nearly every law enforcement agency in the greater Las Vegas Valley uses the Shared Computer Operations for Protection and Enforcement (SCOPE) database. Unfortunately the current database is more than 40 years old and can no longer meet the requirements of a modern 21st century law enforcement operation. Federal funds would be used in conjunction with local funds to upgrade this project.

Project: Law Enforcement Technology
Requestor: The City of Henderson
Location: Henderson, NV
Amount: $600,000
Description: The City of Henderson is establishing a joint public safety training facility with the City of Boulder City. The training facility will host firearm training and certification courses at their shooting range and in their classrooms. The City has committed more than $1 million in local funding to this effort, and federal funds would help purchase equipment for the law enforcement facility.

Project: Tactical SWAT Vehicle
Requestor: City of North Las Vegas
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: The North Las Vegas SWAT Team deploys a team of tactical medical personnel that are specially trained in life-saving techniques. Unfortunately, the medics and SWAT personnel are currently riding in an outdated SWAT vehicle that lacks several essential capabilities, including a lack of secure storage for mission-critical life saving gear. Funds would be used to equip a new Tactical Vehicle for use by the tactical medics and the SWAT Team.

Project: Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility
Requestor: The City of Boulder City
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $250,000
Description: Boulder City has partnered with the City of Henderson to equip a law enforcement training facility that will be jointly used by law enforcement agencies throughout Southern Nevada. Boulder City has donated 240 acres to the project, but they lack the funds to purchase equipment for a proposed gun range and other training facilities. Funds would provide equipment for the Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility.

Project: Security Upgrades at the Pahrump Government Building
Requestor: Nye County
Location: Pahrump, NV
Amount: $175,000
Description: Funds would be used to install additional metal detectors and cameras to secure the building from threats. After the court violence in Reno several years ago, securing our judicial buildings remains an important priority that the federal government can help address.

Project: Justice Education Efforts
Requestor: National Judicial College
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $500,000
Description: The National Judicial College in Reno educates more than 3,000 judges annually from all 50 states. The NJC is vital resource for Nevada and the country as a whole. Funds will be used to continue the development or improvement of existing curriculum to be used by NJC or the states in the training of judges. (Reid, Ensign)

Project: Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Project
Requestor: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $600,000
Description: For over twenty years, the Technical Assistance to the Juvenile Court Project has provided the best available information and assistance to juvenile courts, probation, and justice professionals nationally. This information is particularly crucial to the over 3,000 juvenile court jurisdictions nationally that, typically, do not have research and development departments.

Project: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Requestor: Chabad of Southern Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $250,000
Description: Recovering addicts and certified drug counselors will visit local area schools to discuss the dangers of substance abuse with youth. With one of the highest drop-out rates in the nation and possible links to substance abuse, Southern Nevada needs qualified drug education efforts.

Project: Immigrant Resource Project
Requestor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $350,000
Description: With one of the highest immigrant growth rates in the nation, Nevada deals with many legal issues related to immigration. Nevada's communities struggle with the complexity of our immigration system. This funding would assist UNLV's Boyd School of Law in providing information concerning America's immigration laws.

Project: Community-based Re-Entry Program For Ex-Offenders
Requestor: The Ridge House
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: For more than 27 years, the Ridge House has been providing rehabilitation services to inmates and ex-offenders. Funds would be used to reintegrate more than 200 individuals who are leaving incarceration to productive, tax paying members of society.

Project: CARE Law Program
Requestor: Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $75,000
Description: RSVP's CARE Law program provides pro-bono legal assistance for low-income and homebound seniors throughout Nevada's 15 rural counties. Attorneys make house-call legal services to seniors in order to provide them with a variety of services including wills, guardianships, and assistance with estate and probate issues.

Project: Safe House Project
Requestor: Protecting Sexually Exploited Children – Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $125,000
Description: Since Las Vegas law enforcement began tracking arrest numbers in 1994, 150-200 children have been arrested annually for prostitution. Unfortunately, many untreated children are returning immediately to their commercial sexual exploitation upon release. Funding would provide for the planning and development of the Safe House to treat and care for sexually exploited children.

Project: Gravity Insensitive Climate Control Research and Design
Requestor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $750,000
Description: Equipment and facilities destined for use at a proposed NASA lunar base or in low-earth orbit (LEO) require heat dissipation for safe and reliable operation of equipment and the life support of astronauts. This funding will help develop and manufacture a prototype system that NASA can test and utilize in zero-gravity environments.

Project: Child Assault Prevention Education Program
Requestor: The Rape Crisis Center
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $125,000
Description: With more than 35 years of experience in Southern Nevada, the Rape Crisis Center's outreach and education programs have been very successful. The Center has partnered with the Clark County School District to educate children about ways to prevent and identify sexual assault.

Project: Model Courts Program
Requestor: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,875,000
Description: Through judicial education, strategic planning, evaluation and technical assistance, this project has resulted in reducing the time in the system for children in foster care and the numbers of children in care in jurisdictions across the country, and has improved the quality of care children receive while under the court's jurisdiction. This project has been federally funded since 1992 and has a national scope.

Project: Parole and Probation Technology Advancement/Improvement
Requester: Nevada Department of Public Safety
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $150,000
Description: Tracking sex offenders is an important priority to keep our communities safe. This funding will provide technical upgrades to the State’s hardware and software databases that are currently used for tracking and monitoring sex offenders.

Project: Information Sharing and Analysis Tools
Requester: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $300,000
Description: LVMPD currently does not have the ability to incorporate external data into their databases. Funding will pay for a technology enhancement to allow LVMPD officers to access real-time data from law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada and the nation.

Financial Services - $704,575

Project: Hispanic Leadership Nevada Program
Requestor: Latin Chamber of Commerce
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $234,858
Description: The Latin Chamber of Commerce will conduct a comprehensive 8-month program that is dedicated to developing community leaders who are adapted to serve the Hispanic community's needs effectively. Hispanic Leadership Nevada will provide participants with an intensive experience that prepares participants to become leaders by interacting with leaders across various sectors of the community.

Project: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development
Requestor: Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET)
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $234,858
Description: NCET helps Nevadans start and grow businesses and to connect them to the resources they need to succeed. Since its inception, NCET has worked with state and local development officials to attract small businesses and high tech industry to Nevada. Funding would connect entrepreneurs with resources necessary for growth and success through workshops and technology education events. Funding would also continue programs to engage Nevada college students in entrepreneurial activities.

Project: Hispanic Business Development Initiative
Requestor: Nevada Small Business Development Center
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $234,859
Description: The NSBDC is working to establish the Imagine 2012: Hispanic Development Initiative which is designed to enhance Hispanic entrepreneurial activities and provide stronger educational opportunities in Nevada. The Initiative will offer five annual training courses and other business related programming to encourage the growth of Hispanic businesses with a focus on Northern and rural Nevada.

Grand Total: $97,454,875

SCHADENFREUDE: IT'S A BLACK THING, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND

2009-12-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

schadenfreude: /ˈʃɑdnˌfrɔɪdə/ Pronunciation: [shahd-n-froi-duh]

"Satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune."

Let's get something straight.

Right here.

Right now.

Black people haven't liked O.J. since he beat up and left his 1st Black wife, Marguerite.

Then, he went and bought that white girl.

The reason that Black people stood by O.J. during "The Trial Of The Century", is that White men took such obvious glee in the uppity Negro getting his. They hated that he was rich, good looking and had a beautiful Blonde wife.

What is it with straight guys and Blonde's? That shit is weird.

The fact that O.J. had enough money to do what white men have always done, get away with murder, just put gravy on the grits for us. After all, everybody knows that Robert Blake killed his wife. But, where's the outrage? Furthermore, why is he not hounded to this day and used as an example of why you can't trust white people on a jury to convict one of their own?

We didn't even think O.J. was Black until white guys told us he was.

Neither did O.J.

Really.

I swear.

One more thing about that whole case. We knew O.J. killed that girl.

We just "understood".

Would you really expect , say, an Italian macho guy to be able to handle his ex wife letting her young boyfriend drive around his town in the Ferrari that he was paying for and banging his ex in the house he paid for while his kids were in the next bedroom, without losing it?

O.J.'s problem was that he was too cheap to do it in the same way that Italian guy would've handled his "bidness".

O.J.'s arrogant ass did the job himself.

Stupid.

But.

We "understood".

You do too.

Whether you admit it or not.

Now we have our little "Cablinasian" friend Tiger Woods.

Tee.

Hee.

I hate it when you ask a Black person with light skin "what are you?" and they say some bullshit like, "I'm Creole".

Bitch, the last Creoles were in 1864.

Or, when they say, "my family is part Cherokee and...".

Ok Tonto, let me explain something to you. Y'all aint been Cherokee since The Trail of Tears.

And that was one Indian Chicks' unwanted baby that somehow begat whatever begat that begat yo ass.

You are BLACK.

Ask your Blonde girlfriends' father what you are.

Ask your boyfriend Chad in West Hollywood friends what you are.

Better yet, ask them when you're not in the room what you are.

I bet it aint "Creole" or "part Cherokee and..".

I bet.

Tiger Woods seems to have been programmed from childhood to be physically incapable of saying that he is , in fact, a Negro.

It's like the only time he chokes. He has said he marks "other" or "Asian" when he fills out forms that ask for race.

When Tiger married Helga, Queen of The Aryan Higlands, we Blacks were none too pleased. Tiger didn't just marry a white girl. No, Tiger married a white, Ice Blonde Nordic, Nanny/Swim Suit Model!

SIDEBAR: I find it rather funny that Tigers' rich golfing buddy introduced his "nanny" to Tiger. I can't imagine his wife was all that pleased with her walking around the house all day hanging out of her Juicy Couture. I bet the wife was like, "...anywhere! Anybody! Just get her out of here!" WHO THE HELL HIRES AN ICE BLONDE, NORDIC, NANNY/SWIMSUIT MODEL and expects their wife to be cool with it? Is that a straight dumbass thing?

But.

I digress.

Yeah, well Tiger "Cablinasian " Woods, I wonder what that Blonde pissed off Viking Broad you married called you as she beat down your ass for being a slut of legendary proportions.

I don't know Laplandese or whatever the fuck that Nordic Valkyrie called him when she was upside his head with a nine iron, but, I bet it wasn't, "YOU DIRTY MUTHA..FUC..N' ASIAN!".

I bet.

We all know that she didn't refer to his "TRIFLIN' TRICK ASS CHEROKEE AND....BITCH!" self.

Either.

Face it Tiger. You Black.

I'm sure she let you know it.

So. It's rather ironic that the one woman that we Black folk weren't exactly happy about marrying our "Great White Hope", turned out to be the one woman who actually did the one thing we Black folk always wanted to do.

Beat Tigers' ass for lying about who he was.

And just like with O.J.

We "understood"

And that my little friends, is Schadenfraude.

Now.

You understand.

PLAN ON IT! BRING SOME MONEY HOME FOR GOOD!

2009-12-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in my quest to change the world, I get so frustrated at all the different progressive organizations that really just seem to be places for "Donate Now" buttons to have a home on the "internets".

In fact, if I get one more request from another DC based organization asking me for my measly cash, you might just see me on the 6pm news:

"This is Veronica Maria Candi Marie Shawntelle Jackson Chong Cardenal for the Eyewitness on The Street Eye In The Sky Action News Team in a rather shady, yet , will be hip in 5 years, neighborhood, downtown. A chubby ,but, fabulously dressed Negro seems to be standing on a 2nd floor ledge threatening to throw a laptop at Metro officers. The 28 year old political activist (hey, it's my blog, I'll be whatever age I damn well please.) says he can't take one more email from progressive rights organizations asking him to 'DONATE NOW'"

Really.

I swear.

Well, The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, or PLAN, has a novel way of raising funds to do good progressive work all on CHASE Banks dime. It seems that CHASE is holding a contest on Face Book that will actually let people decide who should receive grants ranging from $25,000 to over a million Dollarroonies.

I shall explain.

Of course.

PLAN is a coalition of about 30 groups dedicated to social, economic and environmental justice in the Silver State.

PLAN uses research, public education, leadership development and grassroots organizing to build power and create more humane solutions to Nevada’s problems

Moiself keeps up to date on all the very latest news and reports on the social, political and environmental issues facing the state by checking in at the PLAN website or watching vids at YouTube.

You will to.

Of course.

Oh yes, back to the money.

It's tres simple.

That's French for even you can do this.

Simply copy and paste : apps.facebook.com into your browser and within a few short clicks, you will have voted for PLAN. Hopefully you will have told your friends to do the same and PLAN will have a little something extra to do good work with right here LOCALLY.

BUT!

And this is VERY IMPORTANT!

You MUST vote no later than Friday 11 December 2009!

One more time.

YOU MUST VOTE BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 11 2009!

And your little friends too.

CHECK OUT THE PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA:

www.planevada.org

OR

www.youtube.com/user/planevada

And of course PLAN is on Facebook.

Isn't everyone?

THE LATEST

2009-11-19T15:55:00.000-08:00

Here' some of the latest out there on the "Internets":

Chas Bono is making the rounds http://www.queerty.com/chaz-bono-says-yes-to-being-the-face-of-transgender-america-20091119/

Seems that the haters in the Lone Star State have a bit of a kerfuffle on their hands. Turns out that in the rush to "protect" so called "traditional marriage" they may just have written themselves right into living in sin right at home.http://www.star-telegram.com/189/story/1770445.html?storylink=omni_popular Tee. Hee. Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state.

And the finger pointing has begun about the slew of LGBT publications that just bit the dust http://www.queerty.com/window-medias-demise-can-be-blamed-on-its-leaders-not-the-marketplace-20091119/ Seems that a whole bunch of $$ just went right down the El Draino.

Over in Turkey Bottom, Legend David Mixner is talking up the need for a little bit of a ruckus. Mixner, you may know, was the impetus for the National Equality March (stolen post march by The Ego). Seems that Mr. Mixner has another great idea left in him http://www.davidmixner.com/2009/11/is-it-time-for-civil-disobedience-part-two.html#more I'll follow his lead pretty much anywhere, take a look.

Beyonce and Lady Ga Ga have teamed to share a wind machine and at least a dozen stylist on their Co-Lab "VIDEO PHONE", and yes, it's FIERCE!

Come out! Come out! Where ever you are! This is GOOD! If you're a Priest practicing the "Wide Stance Bop" you better hope these guys don't get ahold of your bidness! http://pamshouseblend.com/diary/14141/dc-churchoutingorg-site-takes-on-hypocrisy-in-catholic-church More, tee hee.

STATE TREASURER TO SPEAK AT TONIGHTS CLARK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS MEETING

2009-11-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

Gentle Reminder

November CCDBC Member Meeting
Monday, November 16th
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
NLV Library
1755 W. Alexander Rd. (at MLK Blvd.)

Guest Speaker - State Treasurer Kate Marshall
Labor Union 872 Representative - Weatherization Program
NEW! Healthcare House Bill Passage Celebration
Enjoy a slice of cake for good luck in the Senate and celebration of the hard work to pass in the House.

HealthCare for America Now has sent us 100 yard signs as a community partner and will be available for you to pick up at the meeting in hopes you'll continue the good fight.

NOTE: Don't forget to pick up your Kwanzaa tickets. A raffle will be available to win a free ticket at the conclusion of our meeting.

CAN SOMEONE UP IN THIS BITCH GROW A SET AND PUT SOME HAIR ON 'EM?

2009-11-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

Can someone please explain to me when the memo went out to the Democratic Party faithful that we were now the "Pussy Party"?

I must have missed it.

My friends didn't get it either.

Now, since we are all progressives who worked our asses off during the last election cycle and continue to be the ones doing the phonebanking and writing the letters of support about healthcare, I would assume we would have been included in on a little thing like our nuts being grabbed right out of the sack.

No?

I would like to know how it is that we spent an entire summer being held hostage to the "Circus From Crazytown" on Healthcare when WE won the effin' election?

We DID win the election, right? Sorta with a majority in both houses of Congress.

Really.

I swear.

So, WTF?

And who EXACTLY are these "Blue Dog" Democrats and why haven't we taken them out to the woodshed and waterboarded some sense into them? I mean, don't we pay their bills? Listen, they all have a perfectly good Healthcare plan and I'm a little perplexed as to what their damage is on the rest of us getting insurance that is still light years away from the goodies they get.

I say we take 'em down.

Now.

If their is one thing that we can learn from the Republiban, it's their tactics of getting what they want. I would like for someone to explain to the DNC that the days of bringing Marigolds and Unicorn farts to a fight are over when your opponent has a switchblade hidden in their bouffant.

Let's fight like Black girls at a club. Take off the earrings and pop off the Lee Press Ons and "let's do this"!

Let's also weed out the Pussies.

If you can't stand up and do the job you were elected for then it is probably time for you to get your coat and go home. I say we start letting those who don't pass the huevos test know that we will start looking for primary challengers who will carry the water all the way back from the well. No more stopping off at every crazytown stop on the way back home leaving nothing in the damn bucket when you get to the ones who sent you out in the first damn place.

Or, to put it another way, leave with the one who brung you.

Bitch.

And what the Hell happened in Maine?

Was that just the height of the Pussification of the Democratic Party or what?

A bunch of right wingers come in and attack the base of the Democratic (the 'mo's) and the DNC has the utter temerity to say, "we don't involve ourselves in local ballot issues." AND THEN they turned around and send some dumbass letter to the voters in Maine asking them to phonebank for a corrupt loser and an inept campaigner!

Bitch, please.

Tim Kaine, kiss my grits!

What exactly do the brains at the DNC (and Organizing for America, for that matter) think is the right wings main method of attacking LGBT folks?

Could it be , oh I don't know, maybe , let's see, um, BALLOT MEASURES YOU FUCKING IDIOTS?

Sorry, that wasn't very ladylike.

Whatever.

Listen and listen good. I would like to put the leaders of the DNC on short notice about a little something. There's a storm a comin' and it aint gonna be pretty. If the DNC thinks that it can get away with not only not supporting the LGBT community when it is attacked, but, also ignoring EVERY SINGLE initiative we have put forth (oh, yeah we got some crumbs a few weeks ago. My bad.) then they have a really bad few months ahead of them. The DNC didn't even bother to send a condolence card to the people of Maine who got politically raped by the right wingers.

Not even so much as a, "here's a Kleenex, wipe yourself up."

This kind of behavior will have to come to an end and soon.

Just like my people (the Negroes), we LGBT MF's need to let the DNC know that we will NOT be taken for granted from this point forward. EVERY single politician that comes to us lookin' all sad with their hands out is going to have to answer Miss Jacksons' (if you're nasty) question: What have you done for me lately?

If you have some time today, contact Tim Kaine and tell him what you think about his lack of concern for your issues and community. And don't sugarcoat it, talk cash.

Office of the Governor
Patrick Henry Building, 3rd Floor
1111 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351

MY FRIEND, LT. DAN CHOI, AN AMERICAN HERO

2009-11-11T11:42:00.000-08:00

I have a friend.

A kindred spirit.

A brother in arms.

He speaks fluent Arabic.

He loves his country, my country, The United States of America.

He may love his country, my country, even more than I do. He volunteered to join the Armed Forces and put himself in harms way in Iraq because he felt it was his duty to defend his country.

This was after an exemplary career at West Point.

He was in a unit that was violently attacked on his first day in Iraq.

He kept moving forward with his eye on protecting our country and yours and my freedom. He moved forward and up in the ranks.

My friend, Lt. Dan Choi is a very honorable and honest man.

His honesty became his undoing.

You see, my friend, Lt. Dan Choi, doesn't believe in lying. It's not the thing an honorable man does. Especially not one who has pledged to honor his country and his commitment to the United States Armed Forces.

So, Lt. Dan Choi, my friend, told the truth.

He is Gay.

I won't bog YOU down in the details of what his life has been like since the moment that he stood up and said he would no longer lie about who he is, you can google his name for that drama. I will, however, say that he did a thing so right and so brave that I don't know if I could have done the same.

Could you?

Lt. Dan Choi is no longer in the Armed Forces due to the policy of "Don't Ask Don't Tell".

An Arabic linguist and true American Hero, an honorable man who won't lie, is not a member of the Armed Forces of the United States of American because he told the truth.

Isn't the truth what EVERY child is told to tell from the time they figure out how to lie?

Why should my friend, Lt. Dan Choi have to lie to serve his country?

I went to the Veterans Day parade today.

I was so proud of how many youth were there all spiffy in their fancy uniforms. The bands were playing and they all were smiling and laughing. I wondered if they understood that they were committing themselves to a career of telling the truth.

I also wondered how many of them would grow up to be liars in order to continue forward in their chosen career.

I have to say something to the folks who don't believe that Gays should be allowed to serve in the Military.

My friend, Lt. Dan Choi, is an Arabic linguist.

Ponder this:

You can waterboard a terrorist all you want.

But.

You can't make him speak English.

Happy Veterans Day.

Please send Senator Harry Reid a letter asking him to lead the way on ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Learn more about "DADT" at the following links:

http://knightsout.org/

http://www.ltdanchoi.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_ask,_don%27t_tell

http://www.freep.com/article/20091111/NEWS15/911110324/1001/news/Doctors-Repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/dont_ask_dont_tell.html

http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/Don%27t_ask%2C_don%27t_tell?qpvt=dont+ask+dont+tell&src=abop&q=dont+ask+dont+tell&fwd=1

“The Sensei” Delivers a Wake-Up Punch Against Hate

2009-11-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

By Jay Fermin,
Fil-Am Director Diana Lee Inosanto had a very important message that need to be expressed strongly in today’s postmodern world when we caught up with her. She was at the red-carpet opening of the 24th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival that ran May 1-8, 2008 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA). The message has faced a lot of challenges and took two years to complete. D. Lee Inosanto, daughter of martial artist Dan Inosanto (taking the namesake of her honorary uncle, the legendary Bruce Lee) is herself a martial arts practitioner together with her husband.The message was her directorial debut film “The Sensei” which premiered at the Film fest and what Education Director (Matthew Shepard Foundation) Thomas Howard Jr. has labeled, A film that will change hearts and minds and save lives. D.Lee Inosanto confides that she was compelled to make the film years ago after the senseless murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming in 1998. Matthew was tied to a split-rail fence where he was beaten and left to die in the cold of the night. Almost 18 hours later, he was found by a cyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. D.Lee’s message about hate-crime, tolerance and diversity found further relevance today with the recent murder of 15 year-old Lawrence King who was shot in Oxnard, California because he was gay.

The movie is totally different‚ from Bruce Lee’s movies which I grew up with where evil is always defeated. It jabs harder than “Karate Kid” as the plot weaves its way from a lonely gay teen named McClain being bullied and delivers kick and punches to the social and sociological structures that struggle to stereotype human conduct and areÃ‚ relentless in punishing those that stray from the pre-conceived mold of society.

Set in a small conservative town in Colorado during the HIV-Aids panic of the late 1980’s, young McClain Evans (Michael O’Laskey) is a gay teen who was constantly harassed and bullied. Karen Nakano-O’Neil (played by D. Lee Inosanto) was denied the highly respected “Black Belt” from the family’s successful martial arts business because she was a woman. After 5 years of absence, she returns home after the death of her fiance, boxer Mark Corey (Louis Mandylor) to make amends with her Asian-American family, who‚ are also very involved in the local church. When three teens badly beat up McClain sending him near death to the hospital, McClain’s mom secretly asked Karen to train McClain at night so he can defend himself.

“The Sensei” movie is not as comfortable to watch as other martial arts film. And it never pretends to be. The movie examines the intricate and complicated preconceptions that result in prejudices that allow hatred towards others. The plot hinges on Karen’s uncle, a Sensei in martial arts Ã¢â‚¬â€œ a teacher who refuses to bestow the deserved Black Belt to Karen because she is a woman.

However, the discipline of being a sensei requires traits not only of skills in martial arts but of fairness, leadership, honor, and the ability to do the best for others. One of the pivotal moments was when Karen with her Christian background in the depths of hate and darkness went to see a Buddhist priest who reminded her that all of us are teachers and students, always teaching as well as learning. All of us can be sensei.

D.Lee Inosanto who directed, co-produced (together with producers Tarik Heitmann & Ron Balicki), and starred in “The Sensei” brilliantly brings a very difficult message on the wide screen thru the venue of martial arts. Having been endorsed by civil rights groups like the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the current Hate Crimes Bill lead by Senators Ted Kennedy and Gordon Smith, and having been contacted by Human Rights Campaign, Simon Wiesenthal Center: Museum of Tolerance, and Rainbow Alley, indeed “The Sensei” has awakened Hollywood and the world to The Right to Protect Yourself from Hatred.

Cinematographer Mark Ruthledge has brought the flashback to 1980 and the high paced fight scenes its proper setting, while keeping the intensity of the complex human interaction as close shot as possible lending a personal empathy to the characters; I could hear a number of muffled tears from the audience during premiere night. Brilliantly told, the story of “The Sensei” touched more hearts towards the end when the most common hatred of all was uncovered self hatred – which usually lead to other forms of hatred to others.

I am proud of D.Lee Inosanto’s work of heart: “The Sensei” and do highly recommend viewers to watch the film. For all of its 95 minutes running time, and its fast paced scene development and dramatic flashbacks, it will surely touch and change not only your mind but most importantly your heart.

reprinted from an original article by Jay Fermin

Diana Lee Inosanto will be a guest on this weeks' "Miller & Washington" 8-10pm Wednesday November 11 2009 www.vegasallnetradio.com

http://blog.thesenseimovie.com/

"MILLER & WASHINGTON" WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2009

2009-11-10T13:22:00.000-08:00

On this weeks "Miller & Washington":

Legendary author, playwright & gender theorist, Kate Bornstein.

Co-Chair of the National Equality March, Kip Williams.

From the National Stonewall Democrats, Jenna Lowenstein

Out Hip Hop Records, Camilo Arenivar

And the Queen of The Las Vegas Strip, Debbie Hall with all of the latest goings on in the city that never sleeps!

8-10pm (pst) www.vegasallnetradio.com