Dan Choi Reports From Amsterdam

Dan Choi spent the weekend hootin' it up with the Amsterdam gays for their Pride celebration, being included in their "parade"-- a flotilla of gaylicious Pride floats chuggin' down the canals of the Netherlands' largest city.

Dan never misses an opportunity to dress up.

"This weekend, in front of half a million Dutch families and revelers, the Amsterdam Gay Pride parade showcased a truly historic statement: 85 gay (including 2 transgender) servicemembers in full dress uniform with Dutch Defense Ministry officials in the first ever sanctioned military gay pride contingent. Three active duty gay generals were with us on the uber-gay float. We were literally floating, too: the canals that line the city of Amsterdam, built in the 17th century, were our parade route. Lots of saluting, lots of cheering, lots of dancing… lots of 'IN THE NAVY' blasted over and over and over again. (Did you know the song was originally owned by US Navy Recruiting? …hat-tip: Michael Bedwell)

"British Lieutenant Commander Mandy MacBain, Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer for the Royal Naval Service joined me in officially opening 'Canal Pride 2011' with an appropriate theme: 'All Together Now.' In spirit of cooperation we held the scissors together while cutting the pink boa held by leaders of PRO-GAY, the group organizing the parade. Her partner Joanna joined us on the boat, and the three of us comprised the foreign contingent. They set up flags for us near the back of the boat but by the time the parade kicked off, the soldiers pushed us to the front, to stand with their generals. This was quite an unexpected honor."

Dan also celebrated our President's birthday with a cake baked by the Democrats Abroad:

Let him eat cake.

Jane from FireDogLake has his whole account of the trip, click on over.  Dan even got flipped off by an anti-war Niederlander!  What luck.  I would have gone (the Dutch Ambassador was just screaming for my attendance) but I was clearly far too busy playing Battlestar Galactica Online to be in his boat thingy.  Whatevs!  

Pride Roundup, Plus: Did NYPD Fake Complaints Against Eagle?

Pride weekend, while jubilant in New York City, appears to have had a rash of tragic and discouraging incidents taking place across the country.

San Francisco's Pride was marred by a shooting on nearby Market St, resulting in five people wounded.  50 floats had their tires slashed before Chicago's Pride Parade (which carried on after last-minute tire replacements).  A tragic traffic accident occurred at Anchorage's Pride Parade, with the Grand Marshal's own vehicle running over and killing a bystander.  Lastly, the NYPD performed a raid at the New York Eagle, resulting in 6 different violations leveled against the Manhattan gay bar.

While none of these incidents proved enough to completely dampen spirits at individual events, this last piece of news has prompted investigations and questions on the part of the gay media: was the NYPD targeting the Eagle unfairly due to the passage of marriage equality in the Empire State?

Unicorn Booty and Vanishing New York did some sleuthing and they found something disturbing: even though the authorities allege there had been 311 complaints against the establishment, the 311 complaint map published by the city shows not a single allegation of improper behavior on behalf of the bar over the past year.

The Eagle is marked in red.  If there had been complaints, they would have been marked with a yellow circle.

Vanishing New York posits that the raid had nothing to do with Pride, but instead with changing attitudes under Mayor Bloomberg about what businesses are appropriate to run in the area:

"What’s really going on? Was the Eagle raided because it was Pride Weekend? Or because gay marriage just passed in New York?No. It was raided because the city wants to shut it down–because this block is changing fast and the Eagle boys are not what the Bloombergians want here.

"Not only has the extended High Line just opened on this block, butAvalonBay is building their massive Avalon West Chelsea directly across the street from the Eagle, taking 60,000 square feet of space to put in a 700-unit residential development with 'provisions for restaurants' and a 'parking garage for over 140 cars located in the building.' To do so, they have already bulldozed a cluster of industrial businesses long located here.

"What many of those south-facing windows look out on is the roof deck of the Eagle, where men in leather chaps and harnesses cavort. 'Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the High Line,' says Avalon’s ad copy. I don’t think this is what they mean. Do the High Line huggers really want their view to include sweaty, furry leathermen?

"The timing of this raid has nothing to do with Pride or gay marriage, and everything to do with the High Line’s recent arrival on 28th Street and every glittering thing it brings in its wake. Mark my words, the Pride Weekend raid on the Eagle is Phase One of the city’s plan to push this historic bar out of its home and put the kibosh on the Folsom Street East fair in the process."

It's going to be interesting to see how this story unfolds in coming weeks-- is there a war against "naughtier" gay businesses going on in Manhattan?  

No Pride Flag On Space Needle This Year

Last year was the first year that the Space Needle (which is privately owned) flew a Pride Flag in support of LGBTs during June.  Looks like it might actually be the last, as well.

Via the Slog:

"I just found out the Space Needle has not committed to raising the Pride flag again this year for Pride weekend. Josh Castle started this petition on Change.org to gently remind them how important that gesture was to the community last year.

"I just signed the petition "Space Needle: Please Raise the Pride Flag for Seattle Pride Weekend" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name. Our goal is to reach 1,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here."

It's a disappointment.  I really enjoyed looking out my window and seeing shit all gayed up in Seattle last year.  

AFA Pissed Off That Richmond Bank Likes The Gays

Trust a conservative to get pissed off when mixing one of their favorite things with the gays: money!

The Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, a private financial institution, decided to honor LGBT Pride month by flying a gay pride flag right underneath the American flag on its pole.  This sticks in the craw of some of its neighbors, unfortunately, to include the anti-gay group The Family Foundation.

*smirk*

The Family Foundation has an excellent view of the flag from their office windows, and boy are they pissed!

"Though The Family Foundation's new office in Richmond has a beautiful view of the state capitol and the flags, the rainbow flag fluttering from the flagpole outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond is also in view. Foundation president Victoria Cobb does not expect it to fly away any time soon.

"'Our expectation is it'll be flying all month,' she predicts. 'We think the Federal Reserve ought to be focused on the economy rather than focusing on special rights.'"

What, because there's an Economy Pride month?  So they should be flying the flag... uh, of our economy?  

"Meanwhile, the Mississippi-based American Family Association has received a complaint from a Federal Reserve employee who objects to the flag and what it represents. In reference to the 'gay pride' flag flying just below the American flag, the employee wrote in an email: 'For the past five or six years, the homosexual agenda has been pushed down our throats. [The bank president and vice president] have initiated this agenda. This offends me as a Christian.'"

Well, the bank clearly doesn't give a shit.  They pretty much told detractors of the flag to eff off, and Victoria Cobb is quite correct in her prediction: they plan to fly the flag all month long.  

[OneNewsNow] (Only click if you can stand being exposed to Christian propaganda).  

Obama Issues Lackluster Gay Pride Proclamation

Barry O released his annual gay pride proclamation, but this year he omitted any reference to official recognition of gay relationships.

"The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."


Essentially?  "Blah blah, we rock this shit, blah blah, no, I don't want to talk about that."

[MetroWeekly]

State Department Reacts To Choi's Arrest

Titled "Concern About Freedom of Assembly In Russia," the US State Department has issued a statement in support of the movement to hold Pride in Moscow.

"We note with concern that in Moscow on Saturday, May 28, a peaceable demonstration of Russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians, joined by international supporters, was forcefully disrupted by counter-protesters, and that Russian security forces then detained people from both groups, including American citizens. Some protestors were seriously injured according to media reports.

"Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right all members of the OSCE committed to, including in the Moscow declaration and as recently as the Astana summit. As nationwide legislative elections approach, constraints on the ability of Russian citizens peacefully to gather and express their views will be closely watched in evaluating the integrity of the electoral process.  We call on Russian authorities to work with municipal officials to find better ways to safeguard these fundamental freedoms."

Lacking?  Anything from Hillary Clinton.  Also, Dan reminds us, through Pam Spaulding, about the second half of LGBT:

John Aravosis from Americablog had a few more things to say, one point being that the statement neatly avoids the accusations of collusion between security forces and Neo-nazi elements present at the protest.  Click on over for his analysis.

France also released a statement:


"VIOLENCE AT THE GAY PRIDE PROTEST IN MOSCOW (May 28)

"With regards to the violence that took place May 28 at Gay Pride in Moscow, France reaffirms its commitment to freedom of expression for all and the right to peacefully demonstrate in safety.

"We remind all that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in its decision of 21 October 2010 that the ban on this year's Moscow Gay Pride is contrary to Article 11 of the European Convention on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"France reiterates its condemnation of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity, regardless of the country where they are committed."

Dan Choi Arrested In Moscow

Dan Choi participated in a banned Pride rally on Saturday in Moscow.  Pam from Pam's House Blend captured Choi's Tweet feed related to the event:

15 Russian activists and 3 internationals were arrested in the demonstration after an unknown number of anti-gay "fascist" attackers started a fray.  Andy Thayer says:

Video of the chaotic scene.

"By our count, 18 pro-lgbt demonstrators were arrested today (15 Russians and 3 internationals), as were an unknown number of fascists who tried to attack us.  A fascist tried to slug me in the face, but missed.  One of our Russian friends was injured and taken to the hospital, but not in serious condition.  We were very worried that the police would simply allow the fascists to beat us to a pulp.  That this did not happen is a victory, of sorts.

"The pro-gay European Court of Human Rights decision is now revealed as a piece of toilet paper, soiled.  The European Court and the Russian gov't look very bad, and President Obama and Sec't of State Clinton look like hypocrites for failing to say anything about the events today.  Before the demo, our Russian friends were told by the U.S. embassy that they would simply "monitor the situation."  Lot of help that was.

"Russian LGBTs unfortunately still have a lot of work ahead of them.  The Russian gov't continues to thumb its nose at world opinion, as does the U.S. gov't in this and many other matters."


The three internationals were Choi, Louis-George Tin and Peter Tatchell, all of whom were released immediately without a fine.  The Russian activists had to stay overnight.  The Advocate reports that the treatment of the foreign activists was much better, as they were even allowed to keep their cell phones in their holding cells.  

UK Gay News liveblogged the event, found at the link below.

[UK Gay News]

Video: Dan Choi, Speaking In Support Of Russian LGBT Rights

An excerpt:

"I am here in Russia, solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are fighting for the basic right to express their identity. Here, it's on such a basic fundamental level of living a life of truth and integrity. I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. This is a different kind of battlefield than all the battlefields I've seen."

Dan is in Russia for the weekend in order to demonstrate in solidarity with Muscovite LGBT activists in their banned Gay Pride celebration.  More details as it develops.


Watch:

Dan Choi: Making Trouble In Moscow

Every year, gay Muscovites attempt to hold a Gay Pride event and every year the city bans the event from taking place, once memorably referring to Pride as "Satanic."  This year is no different, however, American gay rights activist Dan Choi has flown to Russia in order to show support for Russian activists combating homophobia in Moscow.

Along with Russian activist Nikolay Alexeyev, French Louis-George Tim (who created the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia) and British activist Peter Tatchell, Dan reports via Pam Spaulding:

"Dan reports that he, along with about 20 activists from the U.S. and Europe attended Russia's version of Meet the Press. Russian LGBT rights activist, lawyer and journalist Nikolay Alexeyev debated their version of Maggie Gallagher, and the opposition (anti-gay) side was stacked with government officials and a 'sexologist' demonizing LGBTs.

"According to Dan, the first two segments were very contentious; at the end of the second segment it became so heated that Alexeyev stormed off of the set -- actually damaging part of the set -- and refused to come back for the third segment.

"Instead, Alexeyev and all of the pro-LGBT attendees left the set and audience. This program aired live, so I'm sure clips will surface. Dan will have a report later; they are also planning direct action in protest of the cancellation of Pride by homophobic officials and it's likely there will be arrests."

Good job to Dan and Co. on supporting gay rights in Russia.  Good luck this weekend with Pride celebrations.