Obama: Reform the Police Now

Former President Obama issued a statement today on the Daunte Wright killing by police in Minneapolis:

Our hearts are heavy over yet another shooting of a Black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of police. It’s important to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but this is also a reminder of just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country.

The fact that this could happen even as the city of Minneapolis is going through the trial of Derek Chauvin and reliving the heart-wrenching murder of George Floyd indicates not just how important it is to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but also just how badly we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country.

Michelle and I grieve alongside the Wright family for their loss. We empathize with the pain that Black mothers, fathers, and children are feeling after yet another senseless tragedy. And we will continue to work with all fair-minded Americans to confront historical inequities and bring about nationwide changes that are so long overdue.

If you want to help, you can learn about the issues, connect with local and national organizations, find resources on trauma and mental health, and take action here:  www.obama.org/anguish-and-action

ABC News reported last night with newly released bodycam footage of the shooting:

   

What I Say: Much as I deplore yet another killing, the situation is not as simple as the headlines make it sound. It was not merely a traffic stop - Daunte had an outstanding warrant for a gun violation and had failed to appear in court. The police have a right and a duty to make an arrest in that situation. His second mistake was jumping back behind the wheel of his car while being handcuffed - at that point he is a danger to the public. So it seems clear to me that he bears some of the responsibility for what happened. This does not, of course, justify his killing. 

I have no background in law enforcement but it seems to me there must be a better way to take someone into custody. And firing a gun instead of a taser is a rookie mistake, not what is expected of a 26-year police veteran. So the police also were at fault for failing to handle the arrest peacefully - that's their job, and they are supposed to be professionals. 

And I blogged last year on the horrendous police training that makes automatic killers out of them. 

After 9/11, the federal government under George W. Bush effectively militarized the police all over this country.  Today, if we are not to live under a police state, law enforcement must be re-imagined and effectively reformed immediately. No more senseless killings! 

There's also this report from ABC News last night on the case of U.S. Army Lt. Caron Nazario that in my view is an even more egregious example of outrageously, horrifically bad policing over a mere traffic stop, though it did not result in a killing:

 

There are good people in law enforcement, a very necessary function of government - but these killer cops have got to be stopped. Along with a lot of other unconscionable things going on in this country. How, I don't know, but there must be a way.

 -----

Can We All Just Get Along?

Apparently not.  All of this sickens and disgusts me more than I can say.  God help us all.


July 5:  Shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge


July 6:  Shooting of Philando Castile in Minneapolis


July 7:  President Obama on the Fatal Shootings of Sterling and Castile


Later that same day:  WFAA (Dallas):  Four Officers Dead after Attack at Dallas Protest

The front page of Friday's Dallas Morning News following Thursday's shootings downtown. pic.twitter.com/ExIlxEMA9V

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) July 8, 2016

July 8: President Obama on the Attacks on Law Enforcement in Dallas

Two Tales of Two Dads

A couple of charming videos of gay dads and their kids. Which would get all concerned life in the slammer in Uganda, stoned to death in Nigeria, kicked in the head in Russia, and fired in Phoenix.

(Caution: may cause assorted hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions in your place of viewing. Fireproof clothing advised. Watch at your own risk. The Blue Truck is not responsible for any damages.)

First, Mark and Tim in North Carolina from Freedom to Marry and the Campaign for Southern Equality:




And in Paul and James in Minnesota from The UpTake:

Marriages Begin in Minnesota and Rhode Island

This brings the total of marriage-equality states to 13, plus the District of Columbia and five Indian tribes; thirty percent of Americans now have the freedom to the freedom to marry a same-sex partner. Seven other states have full civil unions or limited domestic partnerships.

Also this week, Gullup released its latest polling results, which show that 52% of Americans would vote for a federal law legalizing same-sex marriages across the country, while 43% would vote against it. The landmark Supreme Court rulings in June had no discernible effect on public attitudes as measured by this poll. Here's the breakdown by various groups:

Click to enlarge.

And here's a trendline showing the increase of support over time for same-sex marriage:

Click to enlarge.

Two Gay Weddings: 1971 and 2013

Oh my, what changes have happened in your Head Trucker's lifetime. A few weeks ago, I posted a clip of an interview with Jack Baker and Michael McConnell of Minneapolis, who after being married in that state - under false pretenses, it must be said - took their case all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court, and lost. 

Now a clip has surfaced of their actual wedding, and the kiss they sealed it with - totally shocking to straight America by the standards of the time. WCCO in Minneapolis reports:




The narrator says the couple doesn't plan to get married after Minnesota joins the ranks of same-sex marriage states on August 1, because "they already are" married. But I hope they think twice about that complacent attitude: the courts already ruled their marriage invalid - and when only one is left, he will have a hard time collecting social security and other benefits on his husband if their marriage isn't all sewed up, nice and proper.

But now compare the tiny, rather closeted affair that was with the wedding of Dwayne Beebe and Jonathan Franqui in Pensacola, Florida, on March 30 of this year: presided over by a U. S. Navy chaplain, no less, and held in the community center complex of the historic district there, complete with a jazz band march down the street from the church to the reception.


Jonathan & Dwayne | A story about love. from Celia Hilton on Vimeo.


Your Head Trucker marvels at how they found so many chunky chicks to play bridesmaids in bedsheets strapless minidresses, but he does like the rainbow color theme. All in a all, a very joyous and very public celebration of two men's commitment, unthinkable in 1971 - but what a wonderful development, we need many more like this, all over the country.

The couple were legally married in Maryland on January 1, but waited to have the big ceremony and celebration with friends and family in Pensacola, where Dwayne, a naval petty officer, was stationed. The marriage is not recognized in Florida, or in Dwayne's new posting in Tennessee, but it does give them access to all federal and military benefits.

Past and Present

A couple of clips of longtime gay couples that your Head Trucker stumbled across this week:

1. I remember reading in Life magazine way back when I was a scared, closeted high-schooler about this brave couple, Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who actually dared to apply for a marriage license up in Minnesota in 1971, and then had the balls to take their case all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear it "for want of a substantial federal question." And of course I've read about the case from time to time over the years since then - they are still living together happily and quietly up there in the North Star State - but never before have I seen a video of them. Here is an excerpt of their appearance on the David Susskind show in 1973:




Note for any of the children reading this post:  Mike, on the left, is sporting the totally cool, extremely fashionable shag haircut, which everybody who was hip at that moment in time had or wished they did - men and women, straight and gay.


2. The Economist this week republished a video about Gary Payne and Dick Dehn, who have been a committed couple for over 50 years, and as far as I can tell by googling around, are still going strong today in retirement in South Florida. The stories of couples who met in the 1950's and managed to survive all the homophobia and discrimination for decades are really touching:





And just to bring you boys up to date with our oh-so-modern world - or is it? - in today's news, Pope Francis has issued his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), which was largely completed by Pope Benedict before he resigned earlier this year. In no uncertain terms, the Popes once again declare that marriage is strictly for procreation by one man and one woman.

So much for any hope of a new attitude by this Pope. In the eyes of the Catholic church, we are still sinners and evildoers, and quite unworthy of full human dignity, the equal respect and protection of the laws. Our loves, even if faithful, committed, for-better-for-worse, in-sickness-and-in-health, lasting for more than half a century, are merely unnatural, disordered passions oriented towards what is objectively evil, according to the official pronouncements of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Chastity, friendship, and "holiness" are all that us homos can expect to have in life, and all we should want, they say.

It is encouraging to note, however, that three out of five of American Catholics disagree with the hierarchy - why they keep putting up with it is more than your Head Trucker can understand.

Or if you think you agree with the Church's teaching, here is a rapping priest to guide you in the way of truth and holy living - from Courage, the official Catholic (anti-) gay outfit that Justice Scalia's priest son, Paul Scalia, works with:




On the other hand, if you think it's all a crock, you will be deeply moved by this video of the Washington State parents who spoke at the recent - and last ever - Exodus International conference, and the story of how they prayed so hard not to have a gay son, and got what they prayed for. If you haven't got time to watch the whole video, the essence of the story is here.

Marriage News Watch, 5/13/13

Matt Baume of the American Foundation for Equal Rights reports:



About 4:15 this afternoon, the Minnesota Senate passed a marriage-equality bill by a vote of 37-30. Governor Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law tomorrow, and marriages will commence on August 1st, making the North Star State the twelfth in the nation, plus the District of Columbia, to authorize same-sex marriages.

Update, 5/15: Yesterday, Governor Dayton signed the bill on the steps of the state capitol in front of a cheering crowd:



The City of Minneapolis announced that City Hall will open at 12:01 a.m. on August 1st in order to marry all the gay couples who want to be the first to get hitched in that town. And the city also released this gorgeous photo of the I-35 bridge all lit up like a rainbow last night:

Way cool, and a breathtaking moment in history to your Head Trucker, who remembers when gay meant nothing but merry, and homosexual was not a word nice people used in public, and only whispered in private.

It's worth noting that in Minneapolis on May 18, 1970, Jack Baker and Michael McConnell were the first gay men ever (so far as I know) to apply for a marriage license in the United States. They were turned down by the county clerk, which led them to take a lawsuit all the way to the Supreme Court - which, unfortunately, dismissed the case "for want of a substantial federal question." In other words - "Equal rights under the Constitution? You have no rights, faggots." What a difference 42 years makes, huh? Just amazing.

Your Head Trucker remembers reading the shocking story in Life magazine way back then. BTW, Jack and Mike are still together after all these years, retired now and living in Minneapolis.

Updated marriage map from HRC.  Click to enlarge.
Yellow = same-sex marriage; blue = broad civil unions;
green = limited domestic partnerships.

More Good News: Historic Night of Gay Victories

Despite the elation of Obama's first victory, I remember the terrible, painful, hungover feeling of waking up on the morning after the 2008 election with the four godawful defeats for gay rights pounding in my mind, Prop 8 being the worst of them all.

But this morning, we have only cause to rejoice - champagne breakfast, anyone? These images from the Washington Blade tell the glad tidings:

Also, Washington state seems poised to approve a marriage referendum there, once all the votes are counted. What a difference four years makes.

You can google up the news stories for yourselves, can't you? Your Head Trucker is feeling pretty whipped now, after staying up all night to watch the election returns and discuss them at lenght with M.P. I'll post more after I get some sleep.

The funny thing is, I feared so many bad results, it's taking me a while to truly accept that it wasn't just a good night for us, it was fantastic. Like that hot, hairy fuck you never expected to hook up with, but oh buddy when you did . . . .

But just think how far we have come now, and how this election has ratified all the good changes in this country made during the last four years - and think too what a horrible aftermath we would be facing if the votes had gone the other way.


Update: Washington United has declared victory in the marriage referendum in that state, giving us four wins for four. Finally, my brothers, the tide has shifted. Matt Baume summarizes:




BREAKING: Ronald Reagan Finally Dead. John Aravosis reports:

I’m still digesting this in an effort to figure out what the heck happened. But something did happen last night. And it was much bigger than Democrats winning.

The left, progressives, won last night, across the board. And I’m not entirely sure why. Especially when you consider how much money the Republicans spent, from Sheldon Adelson to the Koch Brothers to Mr. “I was born in a socialist country.”

They all lost. The Tea Party lost. Conservatives lost. Tax cuts lost. Gay-bashing lost. Repealing Obamacare lost.

Ronald Reagan finally died last night. It’s been almost 25 years since Ronald Reagan left office. It’s been nearly ten years since he died. Enough already. He’s gone. It’s over. The voters are no longer falling for the knee-jerk Republican electoral panacea of tax cuts, intolerance, and war. That might have worked in the 1980s, but the 80s are over, the Soviets are gone, the gays are here to stay, and it’s time for the Republican party to enter the 21st century.

Related: Obamas Return to White House as Romneys Return to 1954.

Weeping, Wailing, and Gnashing of Teeth:  Rightwingers' heads are exploding all over America as reality intrudes upon their fantasy world.  A dazed and confused Pat Robertson wonders, "What Is Going On with the American People?"

But why does he act so surprised? Just last January, God Himself told Robertson who was going to win the election:



If you have the stomach for it, you can browse through more slobbering nutcase reax over at Right Wing Watch, where everybody agrees that Obama-loving, gay-married, Marxist-socialist America is now so fucking EVIL that God will just have to destroy us. Or something.

And finally . . .

For once, a moment of absolute clarity:

We're outnumbered.

Yup. And will be more and more so, from this time forward.

Suck it, Limbaugh.

In the Life: Beyond the Rhetoric

An interesting couple of reports on gay Republicans and school bullying in Minnesota from In the Life, which will produce its last video this December.




The Associated Press reports that a record number of gay candidates are running for Congress this year. What is it with gay Republicans? Do you know one? Would you date one? Would you vote for one?

WTF: Cereal Killer

Anti-gay activist targets General Mills headquarters in Minnesota. Who knew Cheerios were flammable?




Pssst - Guys, this exactly is what you look like to the other side when you allow all our long struggle for civil rights and equality to be focused down on a commercial product. So just don't go there, okay bitches?

A Soldier's Legacy

Right now, what this community needs are heteros to show up on their behalf and say "Look, these are my people you're trying to discriminate against. You can keep your religion in your church, you can keep your ideologies in your home, but when it comes to the civil arena, when it comes to civil constructs, their citizenship is every bit as valid as yours or mine."

--Jeff Wilfahrt, father of the late Corporal Andrew Wilfahrt,
a gay soldier in the U. S. Army.

Read the Stars and Stripes article here:

"Soldier Leaves Legacy Much Larger than "He Was Gay"


Honk to Wounded Bird



Related:  Gay officer, companion look forward to repeal of "don't ask"

How Many Gays Does God Have to Make?

State Representative Steve Simon raises a question before the legislative committee considering a Minnesota anti-gay constitutional amendment this week:  How many gays does God have to create before you accept that He wants them around?

WTF: Whose Side Are You On?

From the Minnesota Independent:

State Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, told KLKS on Friday that he will not vote for the Marriage and Family Protection Act, a bill that would make Minnesota’s marriage laws gender-neutral, allowing same-sex couples many of the rights currently denied by Minnesota statute. Koering, who is gay and a Republican, said he would vote against it because the state faces bigger problems.

Koering came out in 2005 after voting against a constitutional amendment to ban civil unions and same-sex marriage pushed by then-State Sen. Michele Bachmann. He is one of very few openly gay elected Republicans in the United States and was re-elected by his conservative Brainerd-area constituents in 2006, despite a hard push by religious right activists to defeat him for his votes on gay rights.

When he came out in 2005, he was cautious about pushing hard for same-sex marriage, a position he still appears to hold.

“I think some of the gay activists will be upset with me for this, but sometimes I think an agenda is pushed so far and so fast that people have no alternative but to push back,” Koering told Raw Story at the time. “And I think that sometimes you have to move slowly.”

There's a reason why so few gay Republicans get elected. Can you say asshole?