Wednesday, June 28, 2006

The Pentagon takes it back: homosexuality NOT a disorder

Reuters:

The Pentagon no longer deems homosexuality a mental disorder, officials said on Wednesday, although the reversal has no impact on U.S. policy prohibiting openly gay people from serving in the military.

After a 1996 Pentagon document placing homosexuality among a list of “certain mental disorders” came to light this month, the American Psychiatric Association and a handful of lawmakers asked the Defense Department to change its view.

The Pentagon said in a statement: “Homosexuality should not have been characterized as a mental disorder in an appendix of a procedural instruction. A clarification will be issued over the next few days.”

Golly, let’s be sure to watch for that.

Gay brother says no to being best man

As my partner and I sat with my family bubbling over at news of my niece’s engagement, I was tempted to make a statement. I chose not to interrupt her moment by making her aware of mine, but I was saddened that my family could not have the opportunity to celebrate my relationship in that way.

Good for Mike:

Dear Abby:

I am being married this summer to my fiancee of five years, “Beth.” I had always assumed that my brother “Mike,” who is also my best friend, would be my best man. Mike is gay.

When I asked him, I was stunned at his response. Mike said he loves me and Beth but refuses to be part of a ceremony celebrating something for which he is discriminated against emotionally, financially and socially. He refuses even to attend.

Now that I have been forced to confront this issue, I realize my brother is right. Beth thinks he should “get over it” and he needs to accept that it’s just “the way things are in the world.”

As hurt as I am, I can’t hold against my brother his refusal to participate in what he refers to as a “reminder that he is considered a second-class citizen without the same civil rights” as I have.

How can I handle this without turning it into something that could overshadow what is supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life?

DISAPPOINTED in Westlake, Ohio

Dear Disappointed:

By respecting your brother’s decision, and reminding your bride-to-be that accepting the status quo is not always the best thing to do. Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain have recognized gay marriage, and one day, perhaps, our country will, too.

Hillary hires Daou: Smart move

The Warrior Queen reaches out to the netroots. Peter Daou:

I have been offered - and accepted - what I believe is a unique opportunity to help close the triangle: joining Senator Clinton’s team as a blog advisor to facilitate and expand her relationship with the netroots. There are endless possibilities for Clinton-netroots collaborations, from Net Neutrality to the Privacy Bill of Rights to voting reform to so many other critical issues. [...]

As a true believer in the importance of the medium, I’m thrilled about Senator Clinton’s interest in building this bridge with the online community and I intend to do everything I can to make it as productive as possible. And as a New Yorker, I look forward to aiding Senator Clinton’s re-election efforts this November.

I like Hillary more and more.

NBC on YouTube: Smart move

Coming around to the notion of YouTube as smart marketing vehicle:

Just months ago, NBC Universal was demanding that clips of its shows be removed from YouTube. In the time since, YouTube has emerged as an Internet tour de force, and now NBC has changed its tune.

A network representative confirmed a report Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal that NBC has plans to upload promotional video clips of some of its TV shows, including “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” The entertainment company, owned by General Electric, will advertise on YouTube and promote the site on some of its TV shows. Financial details were not disclosed. A YouTube representative did not return calls for comment.

Via James Joyner.