“I am happy to see such passion and energy in support of gay rights. We just need to channel that passion and energy to those who would deny us those rights. The dinner with Ted Cruz happened only because IT WAS NOT A FUNDRAISER. It was about security for Israel, but it also gave me a rare opportunity to address the gay issues for which Ted Cruz has championed against. THREE FACTS WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR TED CRUZ TO BE THE CHAMPION AGAINST GAY RIGHTS: 1) he had a private dinner (not a fund raiser) at a gay couples home, 2) he is in several pictures at that gay household, and 3) he stated he would love his daughter the same if she were gay. Those facts are difficult to reconcile with his stance on gay issues — Ted’s far right anti-gay supporters are screaming now. We need to be persistent with our message and it will slowly seep thru even to those most vehemently against gay rights.
“Ken Mehlman was the Chair of the Republican National Committee whose platform included several anti-gay positions. Later in life Ken was instrumental in the passage of Gay Marriage in NY State. People’s views can be changed over time. I worked 6 years for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which required many unpleasant conversations with people who opposed Gays in the Military. And it worked! THE GAY MOVEMENT NEEDS YOUR HELP. Tell those people that are against us or just neutral, that gay people have families, friends, some worship in church and we don’t want to be demonized. Light up social media with calls for the SUPREME COURT TO RULE IN FAVOR OF GAY MARRIAGE! #SUPREMESFORMARRIAGE – Mati Weiderpass,
Translation: I got caught being a Kapo, quick backpedal before I lose too much business. After all it’s about the money.
Williams who released the statement late Friday blamed the “snafu” on an employee of SF Pride saying that had prematurely notified imprisoned intelligence specialist Bradley Manning this week that he had been selected for the distinction but noted that the committee of former San Francisco Pride grand marshals who make the decision did indeed select the 25-year-old Manning, who is openly gay, for the honor, but the Pride Board decided his nomination would be a mistake.
“In point of fact, less than 15 people actually cast votes for Bradley Manning,” Williams said. “However, as an organization with a responsibility to serve the broader community, SF Pride repudiates this vote. The staffer has been disciplined and does not now, nor did he at that time, speak for SF Pride,”
Rainey Reitman, a member of the Bradley Manning Support Network who had cheered the short-lived recognition.
“I and many other LGBT Manning supporters are deeply disappointed by this sudden change in position on the part of the committee,” Reitman said. “Bradley is a gay American hero who sacrificed a great deal so we could learn the truth about our government, and he was fairly elected to serve as grand marshal in the parade
You can read San Francisco Pride President Lisa Willams full statement below.
“Bradley Manning will not be a grand marshal in this year’s San Francisco Pride celebration. His nomination was a mistake and should never have been allowed to happen. A staff person at SF Pride, acting under his own initiative, prematurely contacted Bradley Manning based on internal conversations within the SF Pride organization. That was an error and that person has been disciplined. He does not now, nor did he at that time, speak for SF Pride.
Bradley Manning is facing the military justice system of this country. We all await the decision of that system. However, until that time, even the hint of support for actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform — and countless others, military and civilian alike — will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride. It is, and would be, an insult to every one, gay and straight, who has ever served in the military of this country.
There are many, gay and straight, military and non-military, who believe Bradley Manning to be innocent. There are many who feel differently. Under the US Constitution, they have a first amendment right to show up, participate and voice their opinions at Pride this year. Specifically, what these events have revealed is a system whereby a less-than-handful of people may decide who represents the LGBT community’s highest aspirations as grand marshals for SF Pride. This is a systemic failure that now has become apparent and will be rectified. In point of fact, less than 15 people actually cast votes for Bradley Manning. These 15 people are part of what is called the SF Pride Electoral College, comprised of former SF Pride Grand Marshals. However, as an organization with a responsibility to serve the broader community, SF Pride repudiates this vote. The Board of Directors for SF Pride never voted to support this nomination.” – Lisa Williams
Feeling the heat from plans of avoiding giving health insurance to full-time employees working 30 hours or more by cutting employees’ hours because he can’t afford the costs of health insurance, Papa John’s CEO and multimillionaire John Schnatter wrote an op-ed which was published in The Huffington Post on Tuesday, “suggesting” that his intentions regarding the implementation of The Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) for Papa John’s employees was all a misunderstanding and that he plans to provide health care benefits to all of his corporate employees along with all employees working in his company owned stores.
Papa John’s, like most businesses, is still researching what the Affordable Care Act means to our operations. Regardless of the conclusion of our analysis, we will honor this law, as we do all laws, and continue to offer 100% of Papa John’s corporate employees and workers in company-owned stores health insurance as we have since the company was founded in 1984.”
Good news if true. For both for his employees and his business considering the ongoing boycott. But I for one will wait to see what happens before and what his franchises do including Peyton Manning who owns 21 Papa John’s locations and see if they announce their intention to provide health insurance to 100 percent of the employees in their respective pizza operations before i call this a true victory.
But it is nice to see that Schnatter feeling the heat and that real Americans, ones who care about their fellow citizens were able to stand up and make him take notice over his ivy covered mansion walls. It would help if American were not lied to about how other places in the world operate their health insurances, the e111 benefits are huge, we need to wake up.
Choke on that pizza GOP, Tea Party and Breitbart loons.
