Apr 26
2007
Punted| Category: DADT, Don't Ask, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Don't Tell, Pam's House Blend, Threats |
A press Release today from SLDN says that the Pentagon’s ‘TALON’ (Threat and Local Observation Notices) program that tracked student groups including LGBT activists and labled them a credible threat has been discontinued. This program was discovered back in December 2006 by NBC and was reported by Pam Spaulding and John Arivosis. Below is the press release from SLDN
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced plans to discontinue its controversial Threat and Local Observation Notices (TALON) surveillance program, launched in 2003 track and monitor domestic terror threats. The program came under intense scrutiny after news reports revealed officials were collecting data on demonstrators and protestors, including those within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In February 2006, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) filed a federal lawsuit seeking information related to surveillance of LGBT activists and student groups. Documentation released in April 2006 found extensive monitoring of students opposed to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law at New York University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at Santa Cruz.
“The Pentagon’s surveillance program undermined the constitution and eroded Americans’ privacy rights,” said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for SLDN. “The freedom to dissent and the right to voice that dissent are fundamental bedrocks of American democracy. Rather than wasting time and money peeping through keyholes, the government should strengthen our country’s defense by lifting the ban on open service and welcoming every qualified American to our armed forces.”
In December 2005, Lisa Myers and NBC News reported that Pentagon investigators had records pertaining to protests at campuses across the country, including those organized to protest “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Among the demonstrations listed was a protest at New York University, coordinated with the law school’s LGBT advocacy group, OUTlaw, which was classified as “possibly violent” by the Pentagon. A UC-Santa Cruz “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” demonstration, which included a kiss-in, was also labeled as a “credible threat” of terrorism.
James R. Clapper, Jr., undersecretary of defense for intelligence, told reporters on Tuesday that he is moving to end the program. The Pentagon, Clapper said, “must lay to rest the distrust and concern about the department’s commitment to civil rights.” Clapper acknowledged problems with the TALON program, noting that, “The history of the intelligence community is replete with instances of abuse of civil liberties – well intended, but abuse nonetheless.” He said it is “important that the proper balance be struck between the counterintelligence mission, on one hang, and the protection of civil liberties, on the other.”
The real winners of this, are LGBT citizens who belong to organizations like the ones described above who a) appreciate the freedoms guaranteed to every citizen to peaceably assemble and express their grievances, b) don’t want their privacy violated and c) may want to join the armed services sometime in the near future to serve their country. However, it’s doubtful that any of those students would join until the ban on LGBT citizens is lifted.
Apr 12
2007
Punted| Category: Debate, Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Hate Speech, Lies, Threats, Video, Violence |
A big hand to Jeremy at Good As You for the hat tip on this one.
Old Lou-ser Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition created a really interesting video in which he makes the standard set of lies about the pending hate crimes legislation in Congress. Specifically, H.R. 1592, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. But then he throws an easily fact checkable lie out there to further bait his audience into frantically calling their Reps and Senators to squash this bill Immediately.
Surf on over to Jeremy’s Pad to view the video for yourselves. Careful, it’s a doozy!
After the fold read the letter I sent to Lou. I’ll be sure to post a response should I get one! (more…)
Feb 09
2007
Punted| Category: Americans for "Truth", CWA, Lies, Pam's House Blend, Peter LaBarbera, Rules, Threats, Violence |
Recently a commenter on Pam’s House Blend went out of bounds of the Blend community rules by posting private information and making threatening comments in the comments section of a blog posting that briefly discussed a story that was broken by Dr. Kevin Kaatz, a blogger on this site. The commenter, ”Barry G. Wick,” has been kicked off of the blog and his comments deleted permanently as a result.
Consequently this was picked up immediately by Concerned Women for America and Peter Labarbera who politicized this event by first posting a press release about it blaming Pam Spaulding for Mr. “Wick’s” comments.
In what was, at the very least, an apparent attempt to intimidate and frighten LaBarbera, who is married with children, “House Blend” published his home address in a January 13, 2007, thread titled, “Saturday this and that.” Shortly thereafter, someone identified as “Barry G. Wick” posted the following comments: “It’s across from a park in an area with cul de sacs. I’d bet it’s a residence … and across from a park. Snipers take note.”
“Wick” later seemed to suggest that shooting LaBarbera would amount to an act of self-defense: “Self-defense for gay folks isn’t PC, is it? No, we have to be sure that we’re victims all the time. … When we start standing up for ourselves, we lose all the status of an under class. I refuse to be part of an underclass. I’m equal. And I’m gonna use any language, even outrageous language, to get my point across. … I’m a citizen … equal, proud, and willing to defend my way of life with my life. …”
Later in the same thread “Wick” made his true intent clear: “If I were Azerbaijani and living in Russia right now, I’d want to advocate violence against skinheads … [LaBarbera] and others like him ought to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what future awaits them from a cadre of selected defenders willing to give up everything in order to protect the lives of gay and lesbian citizens. The greatest thing ever to happen to the [Martin Luther King] movement was the Black Panthers. Americans were shocked by an open display of firearms and Black Pride … Pushing back verbally … or with selected action isn’t dishonorable, it’s necessary.” (emphasis Peter Labarbera’s)
Needless to say that threats of violence, whether serious or joking, are COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE and will get you banned from this and many other sites. It’s hard to monitor comments at all times and Pam has said as much on her blog and in her emails to Peter Labarbera.
Being on the recieving end of threats of violence as a lot of us have been is never fun. It however is not a ball we here at Tiny Queer Footballs will ever toss back to either side of this debate.
It is also important to note that Concerned Women for America, have contacted Pam’s employer due to the private information that Peter Labarbera has posted on his website. Peter should condemn such actions as IT WAS NOT Pam who posted the comments. Concerned Women for America should be ashamed of themselves for politicizing this event and offering no correction as Peter LaBarbera clearly has.
On a side note that still needs some mentioning. Mr “Wick” has faxed a personal letter of apology to Concerned Women of America and Peter LaBarbera.
Feb 02
2007
Punted| Category: Fundies, Good-As-You, Hate Crime Laws, Threats, Violence |
Our fellow football, Jeremy Hooper, of Good As You (and this writer’s inspiration to blog), was typographically accosted in his comment section by a not-so-anonymous or bright reader.
In recognition of the great work that Jeremy does in the gay community to point out and respond to gay-centric news and anti-gay rhetoric with humor and fact he has been featured on “In The Life” which is airing on PBS throughout the month of February.
But this attack on Jeremy (typed on his blog) is 1) grammatically incorrect and 2) threatening the very safety and life of the blogger if Jeremy does something “gay” in front of him or his children.
You CAN’T just expect everyone to be okay with you, and your life. Your (sic) a fag, and that fine (sic), but keep it to yourself. Trust me, if I ever walk by you on the street with my kids and I see you kissing or holding hands with some dude, I’ll brake (sic) every bone in your gay little body. Keep your shit behind closed doors, so children can’t see you.
Jeremy, in his ever-so-witty way and not one to respond with dripping bile had this to say in response.
My bones are accelerating an exorbitantly high rate of speed? I mean, sure, holding hands with my partner really revs my engines, but I didn’t realize that put my bones in a place where they need “braking.”
But as I was mulling over how, exactly, one goes about putting the brakes on my femur and clavicle, I remembered something: This respondent had left his email address along with his comments. Then I remembered: Hey, I know how to Google! So wanting to learn more about this brake expert in case my car ever needs a tune up, I inserted his email, beefman500@hotmail.com, into the search engine to see what I could find.
Yes, the commenter trying to be anonymous with “StraightGuy” left his real email address. Jeremy being the smart sleuth he is found out that beefman500 is really Nick Peronace of Enterprise Steaks.
Please contact the beefman, but take the high road and don’t resort to his level of attack. Show him what true compassion really is. And let others know not to buy steaks from him. After all, bad PR is bad PR. Maybe a pinch in the wallet will make him re-think his violent and intolerent ways.
Further coverage on Joe.My.God, Pam Spaulding, Queerty.
**Update: Beefman500 has quite an Internet paper trail and could he be bi-sexual? (see last entry) Other’s dislike him as well. (Google-Cached)
