HRC Blog

Earlier this week, just days after terminating a decades-long membership in the respected civil rights coalition the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the U.S. Conference of [Roman] Catholic Bishops made public a letter to Capitol Hill opposing, for the first time, basic workplace protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. In 2007, the last time Congress considered the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), the Conference remained neutral on the bill as a whole, but sent a letter to the House Education and Labor Committee specifically praising the bill’s religious exemption as “an indispensable protection for the free exercise rights of religious organizations.” This week, they abandoned that position, characterizing the religious exemption as insufficient and arguing that the bill serves only to “legally affirm and specially protect” sexual conduct outside of marriage and threatens their traditional understanding of marriage.

The last couple of days in Indiana have been busy for the organizers, veterans and volunteers! We have filled up Senator Evan Bayh’s voicemail box in DC twice now. We are working on his Indianapolis office with great efforts. Last week we had a letter writing party in Lafayette. An exciting group showed up, writing letters to Representative Buyer and Senator Bayh. While the letter writing party was in full swing, Scott Spychala, Indiana Veterans Outreach Coordinator and I headed out to the streets for a little stop & dial time.

This week has been a very exciting week for DADT repeal here in the Sunshine State. Floridians successfully secured Senator Nelson’s support, whose vote on the Senate Armed Services Committee was crucial in order to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this week. Dan McLaughlin, a Nelson spokesman, confirmed the Senator's position this past Monday. HRC volunteers were working around the clock over the last several months from the Panhandle down to the Keys.

Yesterday morning a friend still on active duty called me to ask what I thought about today’s votes. “We got it, man,” I responded. He didn’t believe me. Frankly, I don’t quite believe it myself. But here we are, and for some reason cynicism can’t overcome this moment.

Dear Dave, This is in memory of an anniversary – the anniversary of October 27th, 1943, when I first heard you singing in North Africa. That song brings memories of the happiest times I’ve ever known. Memories of a GI show troop – curtains made from barrage balloons – spotlights made from cocoa cans – rehearsals that ran late into the evenings – and a handsome boy with a wonderful tenor voice. Opening night at a theatre in Canastel – perhaps a bit too much muscatel, and someone who understood. Exciting days playing in the beautiful and stately Municipal Opera House in Oran – a misunderstanding – an understanding in the wings just before opening chorus.