CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE SENATE VOTE ON THE REPEAL OF "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL"

Congressman Barney Frank today released the following statement regarding the Senate vote to end debate on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  The bipartisan vote of 63-33 indicates that legislation is almost certain to pass the Senate.

"The Senate vote today is one of the most important steps in the history of efforts to make our constitution fully applicable to all Americans."

"I want not just to congratulate but to thank President Obama, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senator Levin, Senator Lieberman, Speaker Pelosi, House Majority Leader Hoyer, and Representative Patrick Murphy for their dedicated, diligent and effective work to bring us to this point."

"I do ask that for one thing:  now that we are about to make the decision to let patriotic Americans volunteer to fight for our country, despite any prejudices that may exist against them, it is important that the media and others pay particular attention to the predictions that have been made by some that this will lead to the destabilization of our military.  Those who have continually predicted disorder when we act against discrimination have been uniformly wrong and are too rarely held to account for that."

Congress Passes Tax Relief Ensuring Economic Opportunity for Americans

(Washington, DC) - The United States House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing a two-year extension of tax relief enacted under President George W. Bush.  The tax package avoids massive across-the-board rate increases, while enacting cutting payroll taxes, lowering the death tax, and providing small business owners with continued relief through a period of tepid economic recovery.

"Log Cabin Republicans praise passage of this important tax relief package as a response to the clear message sent by voters in November," said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director.  "Keeping taxes low, encouraging businesses to invest in new equipment, and providing payroll tax relief are real answers to an economy that continues to struggle.  Log Cabin Republicans particularly appreciate that while the discriminatory death tax returns, the damage will be limited under this agreement.  We look forward to working with the new Congress to pass further pro-economic growth policies beneficial to all Americans."

Daniel Radcliffe Supports The Trevor Project via SocialVibe

Video Message from Radcliffe Encourages Fans to Visit SocialVibe.com to Generate Free Donations for The Trevor Project’s Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Trevor Project and Daniel Radcliffe have teamed up with SocialVibe to support The Trevor Project’s life-saving services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. Radcliffe has recorded a video message showing people how they can visit socialvibe.com/thetrevorproject to directly support The Trevor Project’s crisis and suicide prevention lifeline. The video is now available for viewing and sharing via YouTube.

“We all have the power to help LGBTQ youth know they are not alone”

In the message, Radcliffe encourages people to take a minute out of their day to visit The Trevor Project’s dedicated page on SocialVibe and complete short brand activities that allow them donate to The Trevor Project without ever having to open their wallets. The goal of the campaign is to raise enough money via SocialVibe to fund 5,000 calls to The Trevor Lifeline, the only nationwide around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQ youth.

“We all have the power to help LGBTQ youth know they are not alone,” said Daniel Radcliffe. “The Trevor Project helps save lives every day, and anyone can support the cause for free simply by visiting SocialVibe.com.”

“Finding innovative ways to reach people in the social networking sphere is paramount to the life-saving work of The Trevor Project. Whether it is through online crisis intervention programs like TrevorChat, or harnessing social media through fundraising partners like SocialVibe, we strive to continually enhance our online engagement with individuals,” said Executive Director, Charles Robbins. “Daniel Radcliffe understands the important role that social media plays in the lives of young people, and we are grateful for his support in this project with SocialVibe.”

SocialVibe is the easiest way for people to donate to the causes they care about without having to spend any money. The cause-marketing platform harnesses the power of social media and enables users to support the charities they are passionate about simply by engaging with brand activities online. Anyone with access to the Internet can donate to the Trevor Project by going to socialvibe.com/thetrevorproject and engaging with short brand activities that take less than a minute to complete. Each activity directly raises money for the Trevor Project, and sharing SocialVibe activities on Facebook and Twitter can help raise even more money for the cause.

“Our campaign for The Trevor Project’s lifeline service is a perfect example of how social media can bring about social change,” said Jay Samit, CEO of SVnetwork & SocialVibe. “Our last campaign funded over 2,000 conversations for The Trevor Project’s free instant messaging service, TrevorChat, and we look forward to seeing great results with this campaign.”

GLAAD URGES MEDIA TO SPOTLIGHT IMPACT OF "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" ON SERVICE MEMBERS

New York, NY, December 9, 2010 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, expressed disappointment today after the U.S. Senate blocked legislation that would have repealed the military's policy of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' "The Senate's inaction on the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not only disappointing, it undermines our national security and continues the unfair practice of discharging critical and skilled service members," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Today the media needs to amplify the voices of those patriotic and dedicated personnel being unfairly discharged simply because of who they are as well as the overwhelming support from the public and high-ranking military official to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'" A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/25/cnn-poll-nearly-8-in-10-favor-gays-in-the-military/) released earlier this year indicates that 78 percent of the public supports allowing openly gay and lesbian people to serve in the military. GLAAD's National News team has been working along-side other advocacy organizations for years to share the stories of gay and lesbian service members and has media-ready service members ready to speak on this issue.

Senator Reid Fails to Negotiate in Good Faith, Kills 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal

(Washington, DC) - Log Cabin Republicans are deeply disappointed by the Senate Majority Leader's choice to invoke cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act without coming to an agreement on the amendment process, effectively locking Republicans out of the debate.

"There is no other way to describe it - today Senator Reid torpedoed repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director.  "Despite heroic efforts by Senator Susan Collins to craft a fair and reasonable process for debating one of the most important bills addressed by Congress every year, Senator Reid chose to turn his back on days of negotiation in favor of blaming Republicans for his failures.  Today could have been a day of celebration for all Americans who support our servicemembers to serve both honorably and honestly.  Instead, brave men and women will continue to serve under a failed and unconstitutional policy that has been firmly rejected by the American people, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Log Cabin Republicans are angered and disappointed, but we are fully committed to continuing the fight against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' by whatever means necessary.  We are tremendously grateful to Senator Collins for her efforts, and look forward to the day when together we will see this statute erased.

"In a statement on the floor in which she passionately described her support for repeal and efforts at negotiating with the Majority Leader, Senator Collins noted on the floor that she believed that the Senate was on a path to success, and that she, along with Senator Joe Lieberman were working in good faith on a compromise which would have ended 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and the Majority Leader's response was to guarantee failure instead of meeting in the middle."

Log Cabin Republicans have maintained a three-front strategy against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' lobbying for repeal in Congress, consulting with the Department of Defense, and filing suit in federal court.  The case went to trial in July of 2010, and Judge Virginia Phillips ruled on September 9, 2010 that the policy violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution.

HRC Remembers the Life and Advocacy of Elizabeth Edwards

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today honored the life and work of Elizabeth Edwards, and expressed sincere sadness on the news of her recent passing. At a time when few leaders were speaking out for marriage equality, Edwards was vocal and visible in her support of same-sex marriage and full equality for all Americans.

“Elizabeth boldly stood behind her outspoken support of LGBT people,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Our community has lost a dear friend and ally, and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

Edward’s commitment to the LGBT community is perhaps best honored in her own words; at an HRC event in 2007, she spoke about the challenges facing the community. “We cannot call ourselves a country of compassion or decency, a country of equality, while at the same time, treating a vital segment among us as unworthy of equal treatment.”

Log Cabin Republicans Blast HRC About Milk's Camera Shop

Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco and ‘Milk’ Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black React to HRC’s Plan to Turn Harvey Milk’s Camera Shop into a Gift Shop

SAN FRANCISCO – December 8, 2010 – The Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco, the leading group for LGBT Republicans in the Bay Area, released the following statement in regards to the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) plan to convert the space that was formerly assassinated San Francisco Supervisor and leading gay rights advocate Harvey Milk’s camera shop on Castro Street into a gift shop selling HRC branded items.

“HRC has proven time and again that its main goal is not to advance rights for LGBT Americans but to raise funds amongst the LGBT community for Democratic candidates,” stated LCRSF president Dan Brown.  “Harvey Milk supported both Republican and Democratic candidates throughout his life, and continually sought to reach consensus on both sides of the aisle for the benefit of us all. He tried to get everyone involved in fighting for their rights, whether by volunteering, lobbying, protesting, running for office, talking to friends, coworkers and family, and yes, even fundraising. If HRC, as the largest LGBT rights organization by funding, took a page from Harvey’s book rather than relying on empty promises from elected officials that rarely materialize, then we would be much closer to full equality than we currently are.”

Oscar-winning screenwriter of ‘Milk’ and LGBT rights campaigner Dustin Lance Black also commented: “Harvey Milk spent the last years of his life fighting not only for rights for gays and lesbians across the nation, but also against the idea that the only way to achieve those rights is to lobby the government and financially support so-called ‘straight allies’. Harvey believed the best way to secure our rights was through grassroots action, coalition building and the election of LGBT people to office at all levels of government. He encouraged people to come out of the closet and be vocal about who they were and why they deserved full equality, not partial equality or crumbs. For the HRC leadership, which still advocates a piecemeal, wait-and-see approach to try and co-opt and profit from Harvey’s legacy is an outrage.”

Although not a member of Log Cabin, Dustin Lance Black teamed with the organization's Republicans Against 8 campaign in 2008 to produce an award-winning video campaign putting the face on gay and lesbian Californians.

Pink Banana Media Launches LGBTNewMedia.com

Matt Skallerud and Pink Banana Media are proud to introduce a new, free
service to the LGBT New Media world... LGBTNewMedia.com.

Designed as a hub for LGBT New Media Professionals in all walks of life,
including bloggers, online and social media marketers, researchers and more,
the site allows its members the opportunity to both network with other
members, as well as network and share what they're up to with the rest of
the world interested in LGBT New Media topics and trends.  Using technology
already integrated and tested in sites such as IGLTA.org and
CaliforniaGayChamber.com, LGBTNewMedia.com allows members to share their
blogs, Twitter status updates, Flickr photos, YouTube videos, Delicious
bookmarks, Digg articles and more with other members and the online
community following these LGBT marketing trends.  Members can also develop
out a comprehensive profile which allows online viewers the opportunity to
quickly and easily learn more about the member on Facebook, LinkedIn and
even the new FourSquare.

While the goal for LGBTNewMedia.com is to be one of the top sites where LGBT
New Media Professionals can share their social media activities with each
other and the rest of the world, the approach is such that everyone benefits
equally and has a vested interest in ensuring that this site is kept
up-to-date and maintains state-of-the-art social media technology in order
to best get the word out for LGBTNewMedia.com members and their fans!