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National Hate 200,000 March on Washington Grassroots, Netroots, Stonewall 2.0 Crimes Act Activists Demand Equality, Formalize Passed Split With Activist Establishment
Paula Poundstone to perform at the Englert in Iowa City, Nov. 14. Interview, page 11.
Philanthropist may have embezzled the funds she donated to local causes Phyllis Stevens was arrested in Las Vegas on September 25, 2009 on charges of committing wire fraud, money laundering, computer fraud, embezzlement of nearly $6 million, and aggravated identity theft while employed at Aviva USA. She was indicted by grand jury on October 21 and pleaded innocent to all charges on October 23. In addition to purchasing two Des Moines homes with allegedly embezzled money, Phyllis Stevens and her wife Marla Stevens also contributed large amounts to numerous local progressive causes and elections. Marla Stevens is included in a civil case filed by Aviva USA, as benefitting from “the conversion of funds.”
Iowa News Page 3
On Thursday, October 22, 2009, the US Senate approved the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act by a vote of 68-29. President Obama has stated his support of the bill and is expected to sign it promptly. (President George W. Bush was against the bill and had intended to veto it if it was presented to him.) The bill expands existing federal hate crimes law, which was passed forty years ago and included crimes motivated by the victim’s race, skin color, religion, or national origin, The expanded law will include crimes motivated by the victim’s perceived or actual gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Opposition from social conservatives and religious groups
The bill passed despite opposition from social conservatives and religious groups (the latter of which are already included in the list of those protected by hate crime law), claiming that the bill would criminalize the mere expression of religious objections to homosexual behavior. These objections were presented despite the clear protections provided by the First Amendment—note that white supremacists are still allowed to give speeches, for example—and despite the following provision in the Matthew Shepard Act: “Nothing in this Act … shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the free speech or free exercise clauses of, the First Amendment to the Constitution.” Furthermore, as noted by Wikipedia, the U.S. Supreme Court “unanimously found that penalty-enhancement hate crime statutes do not conflict with free speech rights because they do not punish an individual for exercising freedom of expression; rather, they allow courts to consider motive when sentencing a criminal for conduct which is not protected by the First Amendment. (However, freedom of religion and expression of one’s beliefs are. … )”
US News Page 5
by Rex Wockner WASHINGTON -- The Stonewall 2.0 generation descended on the nation’s capital Oct. 11 to demand “equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.” National Equality March lead organizer Cleve Jones estimated the turnout at 200,000 to 250,000. Towleroad.com’s Andy Towle said police gave him the same figure. Mainstream media reports pegged the turnout at “tens of thousands.” But, as Towle noted, “There were 10 times as many people still on Pennsylvania Avenue when the area in front of the stage had filled,” an assertion that is backed up by video Towle posted on his site. The 2.3-mile march ended at the Capitol with hours of speeches, including by popmusic sensation Lady Gaga. “I have seen and witnessed so many things over the past two years and I can say with such certainty that this is the single most important moment of my career,” Gaga said. “The younger generation, my generation, we are the ones coming up in the world, and we must continue to push this movement forward and close the gap. We must demand full equality for all. They say that this country is free and they say that this country is equal, but it is not equal if it’s (only) sometimes (equal).” “Obama, I know that you’re listening. ARE YOU LISTENING?! We will continue to push you and your administration to bring your words of promise to a reality. We need change now. We demand action now.”
World News Page 6
Extreme Right Watch Page 8
The night before the march, President Barack Obama addressed 3,000 people at the Human Rights Campaign’s national dinner. He promised to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but gave no timeline for doing so. “I’m working with the Pentagon, its leadership and the members of the House and the Senate on ending this policy,” he said. “I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. That’s my commitment to you.” The gay blogosphere reacted very negatively, complaining that the speech added little or nothing to what Obama had said on gay issues during the presidential campaign. But the speech was nonetheless remarkable for its comprehensive embrace of the gay activist agenda and its sometimes moving rhetoric, the likes of which has never been uttered by a U.S. president. “While progress may be taking longer than you’d like as a result of all that we face -- and that’s the truth -- do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach,” the president said. “My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians, whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.” But many activists wanted more. They wanted Obama to speak against the Nov. 3
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Entertainment Page 11