Archive for September 2011
PREVIEW: OutQ News Reports: ‘The President’s Equality Address’
President Obama addresses the 2009 HRC Annual Dinner. Video still courtesy HRC.
Morning anchor Xorje Olivares will report live from the Washington Convention Center for immediate reactions to the president’s speech and will be live-tweeting during the event. Meanwhile, OutQ News Director Tim Curran will be at SiriusXM’s headquarters in New York talking to progressive LGBT bloggers Pam Spaulding of Pam’s House Blend and Joe Jervis of JoeMyGod. Together they will offer an analysis of the president’s remarks, with an opportunity for you to call in and share your thoughts on his address as well.
Gay rights advocates are hoping President Obama will finally come out in full support of marriage equality–he has only said that his views are still ‘evolving.’ They would also like him to mention the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA.
It’s almost certain that the president will address the repeal of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, which became official on September 20th. He may also make note of the recent suicide death of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, especially after pop icon Lady Gaga brought the issue of anti-gay bullying to his attention during a fundraising event last weekend.
OutQ News Reports: ‘The President’s Equality Address’ will begin at 7pm ET, shortly before the president is scheduled to speak. We invite you to participate in the conversation by calling us at 866-305-6887 or replying to us at @outqnews and @outq.
Anti-LGBT Housing Discrimination Bill Introduced in Congress
Congressional leaders have introduced federal legislation that would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in housing.
IA Gay Rights Group Fears for Marriage Equality in Special Election
Gay rights advocates in Iowa are calling this November’s special election to fill a vacant seat in the nearly-deadlocked state Senate a “do-or-die moment.”
Four HIV Groups Get Obamacare Funding as Health Centers
The Obama administration has awarded more than $300,000 in federal funds to four HIV/AIDS service organizations looking to become “community health centers.”
Groups: DADT Repeal Doesn’t Affect Transgender Troops
Even though the law banning openly-gay military service will OFFICIALLY be lifted Tuesday, LGBT rights advocates are reminding TRANSGENDER troops that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ repeal does NOT apply to them.
NCAA Clarifies Place for Trans College Athletes
The governing body for American collegiate sports has approved a new policy that clarifies athletic opportunities for transgender students based on their gender identity.
9/11 SPECIAL EXTRAS: Father Mychal Judge
Father Mychal Judge left a lasting impression upon the thousands of New York City residents he touched over the course of his life, and I was blessed to speak to three of those people: Tom Ryan, New York City’s first openly-gay firefighter and Father Mike’s colleague; Brendan Fay, a prominent gay activist and Mychal’s close friend; and Larry Kirwan, lead singer of the Celtic rock band Black 47, which Mychal saw in concert weekly.
The following are excerpts from my conversations with these men. Please note that there are no internal edits on these cuts.
- Firefighters’ impressions of Father Mike: Tom Ryan recalls what his fellow New York City firefighters said about their chaplain before and after his death.
- A ‘first’ for Mychal: Brendan remembers getting a phone call from Mychal a year before his death, in which he told the gay activist about something he had never done before in his life.
- Discovering the true Mychal: Though he mostly remembers Mychal as a Black 47 fan, Larry says he soon realized just how special the FDNY chaplain really was.
- A good-looking man: Brendan and Larry both remember the 68-year-old as being one handsome Irishman
- Mychal’s relationship with New Yorkers: Despite taking a vow of poverty, Father Mychal Judge shared his spiritual wealth with each of his neighbors.
- Learning about Mychal’s death: Tom talks about walking around the devastation just minutes after the attack and then receiving word that his chaplain was among that day’s victims. Larry Kirwan also remembers not being surprised whatsoever that Mychal Judge was at Ground Zero, noting that Father Mike was entirely committed to his men.
- Famous last photo of Mychal Judge: Larry reflects on the final photo taken of Father Mike–viewed by many as a modern-day Pietà–as he was removed from the rubble shortly after his death.
- Anti-gay attack by evangelicals: Tom relives the day of Father Mike’s funeral, which began with an attack on the LGBT community by evangelical leaders Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.
- If Mychal were still here: Though they never had the chance to talk about their sexuality together, Tom says he might have spoken openly with Father Mike if he were still alive.
- Ongoing memories of Father Mike: Larry says although his group Black 47 doesn’t play the song ‘Mychal’ that often, he admits it’s magical and therapeutic each and every time it does.
9/11 SPECIAL EXTRAS: United Flight 93
In today’s bonus cuts, Mark Bingham’s mom, Alice Hoagland, talks about the hijacking of United Flight 93 and the aftermath.
Please note that there are no internal edits in these clips, and (unlike the segment we aired Sunday) the audio mix here is very rough.
- Mark’s call from United 93: In this extended and unedited clip, Alice describes the airphone call she received from Mark shortly after United 93 had been hijacked.
- The implications of taking the plane: After the airphone call was disconnected, Alice called Mark’s cell phone. She left a message on his voicemail (which he never heard) telling Mark his plane was one of several being used as weapons against high profile targets, and suggesting that he form an effort to take the plane back from the hijackers–exactly what happened in the end.
- Suggestions Alice would have made: With the benefit of hindsight, Alice, a former flight attendant, lists all the suggestions she could have made that might have helped in taking over United 93–if only her cell phone calls to him had gone through.
- The months after Mark’s death: Alice describes her life, and her grief, on September 11th and the months that followed.
We’ll have more clips from our 9/11 special soon.
