Why the IRS Targeted Conservative Groups

 

For years I have found it ridiculous that far right "family values" organizations and similar groups have been able to receive tax-exempt status as either "charities" or "educational" organizations when in reality they engage in political activities 24/7.  Here in Virginia The Family Foundation is a prime example and at the national level there are numerous hate groups such as Family Research Council, American Family Association and others which are tax exempt.  It is beyond ridiculous that taxpayers are indirectly supporting these foul organizations that are anything but charitable in any sense of the word.  They are political operations first and last.  The same holds true for many of the equally insane and vicious Tea Party organizations.  A piece at CNN looks at why the IRS would focus on some of these organizations in enforcing the tax laws and IRS Code which bars non-profits from any significant political activity.  Here are highlights:

The IRS watchdog is set to release documents this week that will reveal fresh details on why the IRS picked on conservative groups that were seeking tax-exempt status. The tax agency has apologized and given a rudimentary explanation.   Here are some questions and answers that throw light on what happened.

What does the IRS have to do with charities anyway?
 
The IRS has to make sure that charitable, education and religious groups -- that don't have to pay taxes on their operations -- are not scamming the federal government. The IRS gets 60,000 requests each year from such groups seeking tax-exempt status, according to Lois Lerner, director of the IRS's exempt organizations office.

Most charities are tax exempt under the 501(c)(3) category. The classification prevents groups from getting directly involved in politics, because donors can deduct contributions from their income taxes. Groups that want to dabble in politics can also apply for tax-exempt status under a different category called a 501(c)(4). This status allows the groups to campaign and participate in elections, as long as it's not their main purpose.

So why was the IRS digging into these groups? 

The number of 501(c)(4) applications more than doubled to over 3,400 in 2012, compared to 1,500 in 2010. The abnormally large number of applications was a red flag to the IRS.

Why so many?
 
It goes back to 2010, when a "Citizens United" Supreme Court ruling allowed unlimited spending by corporations and labor unions on political campaigns. It also said that political donors should be disclosed. That case prompted a slew of politically-affiliated groups, including Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS, to become charitable organizations under 501(c)4, which allows donors to be kept secret. 

How many groups were targeted?
 
The IRS says that 300 groups were set aside for extra review. About 75 of them had the words "tea party" or "patriot." 

Why did the IRS target conservative groups?
 
We'll find out more when the audit becomes public this week.

Among the legal work I do is at times assist groups in applying for non-profit status and filling out the applicable IRS forms and compiling the supporting documentation.   Being thus familiar with the regulations and requirements I suspect that the IRS was probably fully justified in giving higher scrutiny to groups most likely aimed at pure political activities.  I wish the IRS would audit The Family Foundation.

Susan G. Komen's Foundation's Self-Inflicted Wounds

In what will probably go down as one of the worst public relations disasters for a non-profit organization, the Susan G. Komen Foundation gave in to anti-gay Christianists and dropped its funding to Planned Parenthood even though only 4% of Planned Parenthood's operations involve abortion services. The public reaction was swift and furious and the Komen leadership crowd found itself under attack and, worse yet, received countless messages from past contributors that they'd be directing their donations elsewhere. In an effort to stop the self-inflicted damage, the Komen Foundation has reversed course and restored Planned Parenthood's eligibility for funding for breast cancer testing services. The long term question is whether or not outraged donors will forgive the organization for it's pandering to religious extremists and their political whores in the Republican Party. An article in The Daily Beast has this telling statement:

Much of the controversy dates back to Komen’s decision to hire Karen Handel, an outspoken anti-abortion politician who vowed to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood during her unsuccessful gubernatorial run in Georgia. Komen officials denied that Handel, who was hired as the organization’s vice president of public policy in April 2011, had a hand in the decision. But many observers couldn’t help but make the connection.

Personally, I will never donate again until the Komen board is completely purged of those who gave in to the Christianists. The Washington Post looks at this case study in why giving in to the far right - which despite the volume of its anger, does not represent mainstream America - is not wise move for charitable organizations or businesses. Here are highlights:

Caught in a maelstrom of public reaction to its decision to cease funding Planned Parenthood, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation announced Friday that it would reverse course.

“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” the Komen foundation announced in a statement Friday morning.

But officials across the organization said they were still reeling from the fallout of what many described as a public relations fiasco created by Komen’s leadership. “I felt like we were eaten alive,” said Logan Hood, executive director of Komen’s Aspen affiliate in Colorado. “We had no advance warning.. . . We were sent into battle without armor.”

Still unclear is the long-term impact on a charity long regarded as unassailably apolitical.

“Honestly, we have been turned into a political association without any political skills,” said Laura Farmer Sherman, executive director of the San Diego Komen affiliate. “There was not a crisis-management plan. I think they were completely caught off guard.”

The affiliate has already lost $50,000 in corporate sponsorship for a Race for the Cure in the fall. Farmer Sherman said she has scheduled meetings Saturday to try to make amends with supporters. “There are some relationships that are, perhaps, irrevocably damaged,” she said.

Hogan and Farmer Sherman were among a slew of Komen regional officials who had publicly criticized the national group this week. E-mails flew between affiliates Wednesday and Thursday, with multiple Komen chapters sending letters to the Dallas headquarters opposing the defunding policy.

Meanwhile, several Planned Parenthood affiliates said they had been deluged with offers of financial support. When Gina Popovic, a vice president at Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and Northern Idaho, arrived at her office Thursday, she found multiple donors waiting for her, checks in hand. . . . . The national group said it has received a total of $3 million from more than 10,000 donors since Tuesday.

Abortion opponents expressed dismay at Friday’s announcement. . . . . Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, the anti­abortion group that pushed for the congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood, said the “clear intent” of the Komen foundation’s latest move is “them trying to get out of the box that Planned Parenthood has put them in. . . . I see this as a large organization trying to bring closure to end this.”

Scholarship Funds to Honor "Hero" Author and Narnia Executive Producer Perry Moore

Back in February I wrote about the untimely death of Perry Moore (pictured above), executive producer of the "The Chronicles of Narnia" trilogy and author of the young adult novel "Hero." Moore grew up in Virginia Beach and, as I noted at the time, reading the Virginian Pilot coverage, one would never know that Moore was gay and had a life partner. Not without irony, Moore had noted as follows about growing up in Hampton Roads: “I thought I’d have to kill myself,” he said. “Because I grew up going to church in the south and the pervasive message was that I had this terrible secret that I liked men and consequently I would go to hell for it and ruin my family’s life.”

Now, Hunter Hill, Perry Moore’s partner of seventeen years, and family and friends are in the process of establishing four scholarship funds that will benefit young writers and local Hampton Roads students. The Perry Moore Hero Fund will will award college scholarships to young writers who best express stories of understanding, tolerance and strength within the LGBT community. Next Spring, simultaneous donor gala launches will be held in New York City, where Moore made his home, and in Virginia Beach, where he grew up (details will be forth coming as available). The following is a summary of the scholarship programs being established provided to me by a close family friend, as well as links for information and making donations:

I. The Perry Moore Hero Fund

Hunter Hill, Perry’s partner of seventeen years, established the Perry Moore Hero Fund in partnership with the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York. In line with Perry’s fundamental belief that there lies a Hero in all of us, the Perry Moore Hero Fund will award college scholarships to young writers who best express stories of understanding, tolerance and strength within the LGBT community. The Perry Moore Hero Fund is an artistic scholarship that celebrates literature’s ability to inspire and have a positive impact in the lives of young people. By publishing the winning stories on an official platform via the Perry Moore Hero Fund website, the content will have an immediate, powerful and global voice. The web page to make donations to the Perry Moore Hero Fund is: www.hmi.org/perrymooreherofund


II. Camp Chanco Scholarships in honor of Perry Moore.

Tally Sale Banazek established a special account at Camp Chanco to award camper scholarships in Perry’s name on an annual basis at Camp Chanco in Surry, Virginia. The web page to make donations to Camp Chanco in Perry’s memory is http://www.chanco.org/ Please visit the Chanco website and click on “Donate Now.” At the final payment page please indicate the “Perry Moore Scholarship Fund” when you are prompted to add any special instructions to the seller. Alternatively, checks may be sent to Chanco on the James (with the “Perry Moore Scholarship Fund” in the memo line) at P.O. Box 378, Surry, Virginia 23883.

III. The William Perry Moore IV Memorial Award at Norfolk Academy

Teacher Pat Hume, along with classmates Bretta Zimmer Lewis, Liza Berkley, and Trisha Shotten instituted the William Perry Moore IV Memorial Award at Norfolk Academy that will be given annually to a tenth grade student. The first award was presented in May of 2011. The recipient was honored with a handsome plaque, Perry's book on the making of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, plus DVDs for the three Chronicle of Narnia movies. Pat Hume wrote the inscription on the plaque that hangs in the upper school: “Given annually to a tenth grade girl or boy in honor of Perry Moore '90 whose love of film, language, and literature led him on an incomparable journey of the imagination throughout his life.” The web page to make donations to Norfolk Academy is: https://www.norfolkacademy.org/podium/default.aspx?t=1706&pk=707

IV. The William Perry Moore IV Second Chance Scholarship at Bryant & Stratton College’s Hampton, VA Campus

Christopher Sawyer, Th.D, and Campus Director as well as the Faculty and Staff of Bryant & Stratton College’s Hampton, Virginia Campus announced the creation of the William Perry Moore IV Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded each semester, in the amount of $1,000 ($3,000/year), to a student who has overcome extraordinary odds in life and succeeded in the classroom. This scholarship is to be fully funded by the Campus and will be awarded for the Winter, Summer and Fall Semesters.

I take my hat off to Hunter Hill and Perry Moore's friends and family for these charitable endeavors. Having provided the initial endowment for the Hamar/HRBOR Scholarship in honor of my late parents and Hampton Roads Business OutReach ("HRBOR") to benefit local graduating LGBT high school students, I know that these memorial scholarships in honor of Perry Moore will make a lasting impact on many lives over the years.

Cocktails With John Waters and Weekend Reflections

My frequency in posting has been down this week largely because I've had something going on every evening: Hampton Roads Pride board meeting on Monday; dinner with a client of the boyfriend on Tuesday; HRBOR board meeting on Wednesday; ODU Gay Cultural Studies private reception after John Waters' presentation at Old Dominion University on Thursday. Last night was finally a free night and the boyfriend and I simply chilled, watched the this week's Glee episode and afterwards fell asleep on the sofa. Tonight we are attending a black tie fundraiser for the An Achievable Dream Foundation, a charity founded by one the boyfriend's clients that describes it's vision as follows:

AAD is a nonprofit, year-round, extended day public school borne out of its founder’s belief that all children can learn and succeed regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds; and that education can break the cycle of poverty. We strive to close the achievement gap that currently exists in American education and to ensure our students become productive citizens contributing positively to society.

An Achievable Dream offers healthcare for our students' families through the Achievable Dream/Riverside Health Improvement Center located at the school. In addition, An Achievable Dream offers adult education classes and seminars for parents and families to help them achieve their dreams, as well.

It's a vision that I whole heatedly support because education is the great equalizer. At AAD's school, locate in one of the worse parts of neighboring Newport News, miracles do happen. Donations to the effort can be made here. In an Inside Business article earlier in the year, AAD's founder described his motivation for starting teh foundation as follows:

That desire, he said, comes from his Jewish faith and his father. "The Jewish faith teaches us that if I save one life, then I have saved the world," he said. The teaching has convinced Segaloff that everyone has an opportunity to make such a difference.

The courage to create such a bold program came from his late father, Charles, who felt strongly about judging people on their character rather than their color or religious beliefs.

"My father was building a new store in downtown Newport News. Back then it was the law that there had to be segregated sets of restrooms - one for blacks and one for whites. Even though it was jeopardizing his business, he refused. This held up his building permit. The building commissioner said it was the law. So finally they reached a compromise. My father put a set of restrooms on the first floor and on the second floor. However, he never labeled them black or white.

"It all comes down to, if you know something is right, would you have the courage to do it?" he said.

Just imagine if all of the money utilized by NOM and other "pro-family" organizations used to demonize gays, immigrants and those they deem "other" was used for programs such as AAD. Frankly, it's no small irony that Segaloff is Jewish. Nowadays, it seems that conservative Christians ignore the Gospel message while others are the ones to put the principles into action.

Back to John Waters. His lecture entitled "Filthy" was hysterically funny and he did not hold back on his gay rights positions. Most in the packed audience seemed to love his wit and wild sense of humor. At the small private reception afterwards in a fellow ODU Gay Cultural Studies board member, it was a unique experience talking to Waters about everything from politics to travel, and a number of other topics. Better yet, the reception raised several thousand dollars for the endowment that we are building.

Jon Huntsman's Charitable Works

Brad Pitt is not the only one who actually engages in charitable works. While the GOP presidential candidate slate panders to disgusting lengths to those whose greed causes them to want to eliminate federal programs that assist the sick, the poor, the unemployed and the elderly, one GOP candidate quietly practices the Gospel message of helping others. And he does so without looking for political gain or self promotion. Yes, it's a novel concept for someone in today's Republican Party. Some even question whether Huntsman's good works - which have even extended to gay recipients of his willingness to help others might nor be a liability given the GOP base's desire to kick the unfortunate under the bus. Here are some highlights from Huffington Post:

WASHINGTON -- Maybe Jon Huntsman is just too nice of a guy to compete with someone who would strap his dog to the roof of his car or someone who would make firefighters buy their own gear. At least, that's the feeling you get if you talk to people who have seen the charity of the former Utah governor and his wife, Mary Kaye.

"They are wonderful humanitarians," said Pamela Atkinson, a near-legendary champion of the poor in Utah who advised Huntsman on charity while he was governor and has known him for two decades. "They're people I know I can always turn to."

Huntsman does not talk much about his charity, there are few news stories about it and his campaign declined to make his tax returns available for this series. But a review of available public data and interviews suggest he is generous.

While his campaign did not disclose dollar figures, it said much of Huntsman's giving went to his wife's charity, Power in You, which aids at-risk youth. He also gave to the House of Hope shelter and substance abuse treatment facility; the Salt Lake City Homeless Shelter; the Bag of Hope, a juvenile diabetes research foundation; the Mormon Church; the Washington National Cathedral in D.C. and the orphanages from which he adopted daughters Gracie Mei and Asha. Atkinson said the Huntsmans are not comfortable talking about their giving, and often prefer to help people directly.

Reed Cowan, a former Salt Lake City television anchor, has a close-up perspective on the Huntsmans' charitable side. Cowan worked closely with Mary Kaye Huntsman on Power in You. Before the charity's big gala several years ago, he decided that he had to come out and let the Huntsmans know he was gay. He didn't want to embarrass them, though, so he quit the group -- only to have them demand that he stay and then publicly embrace him at the gala.

A few days later, Cowan's young son, Wesley, died in a freak accident on the monkey bars at his ex-wife's home. Cowan said that the Huntsmans not only where there for him, but pushed him to make something good come out of it. That good was an effort to build Wesley Cowan schools for children in Kenya. The Huntsmans' help, Cowan said, ensured that it succeeded and continues now.

If none of that was enough, Cowan turned to the Huntsmans recently when his sister was diagnosed with cancer. "In the terror of the diagnosis, I emailed [Mary Kaye Huntsman] and Jon and said 'I know you are in China ... and I hope the sun is up where you are ... I need my sister to get the best cancer care in the world ... I hope you get this,'" Cowan said by email. "Within minutes MKH and Jon and Jon Sr.'s family were in action and my sister was in the Huntsman Cancer Institute getting the best care."

Huntsman's charitable impulses don't seem to be much of an asset to his White House bid, however, as he polls in the range of 1 to 2 percent nationally. In fact, Huntsman has gotten crosswise to parts of the conservative Republican base after his interaction with people like Cowan -- whom some credit with inspiring Huntsman's embracing of same-sex civil unions. Still, Huntsman is sticking with that position, and people like Atkinson and Cowan are sure his charity will stand, as well.

Quote of the Day - Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt - who I've had a crush on forever - has caught a great deal of flack about some recent comments about his former marriage to Jennifer Aniston. But the actor has much more to say about religion and same sex marriage in a new Parade interview. I'm sure Pitt's views will cause hyperventilation and flying spittle among the Christianist and professional Christian set, but what he says is 100% true. Hopefully, more will come to agree with Pitt's reasoning. Here are some highlights, the first dealing with same sex marriage:

"Can you believe that we’re still fighting for equality in America? To be against marriage for everyone is utter discrimination. I feel strongly about that because if equality of marriage doesn’t happen now, the next generation will have to deal with it.

“It is an amazing thing that New York has finally gotten same-sex marriage. But the real problem is that the federal government hides behind states on this issue. It is blatant, ugly bigotry, and the federal government shouldn’t be doing that. You’re denying some Americans the right that all Americans have, to live their lives as they choose.

"What are you so afraid of? That’s my question. Gay people getting married? What is so scary about that? It’s complicated. You grow up in a religion like that and you try to pray the gay away. I feel sadness for people like that. This is where people start short-circuiting—instead of being brave and questioning their beliefs, they are afraid and feel that they have to defend them. I don’t mind a world with religion in it. There are some beautiful tenets within all religions. What I get hot about is when they start dictating how other people must live. People suffer because of it. They are spreading misery."

He also has some spot on views on religion in general and seems to have made a spiritual journey that it took me longer to embark upon. Here are snippets of those statements:

There’s a point where you’re un-tethered from the beliefs of your childhood. That point came for me when it was finally clear my religion didn’t work for me. I had questions about Christianity that I could not get answered to my satisfaction, questions that I’d been asking since I was in kindergarten. I realized it didn’t feel right to me, that one question just led to another. It was like going down a rabbit hole, each answer provoking another question. There were things I didn’t agree with.

“My religion was telling me what not to do—what not to even think about doing. Those are the things I would try, because that was my nature. I had to experience things to know what would work for me . . . . You say that something is wrong for me to do? Well, I know it’s not wrong because I just did it. Then you say something else is also wrong? Yeah, I did that too, and you’re right, it is wrong for me. But it wasn’t wrong just because you told me it was.”

Brad is definitely much more than just a pretty face. And, unlike so many Christianists, he puts his money where his mouth is in terms of true charitable works.

Habatat for Humanity - Tysinger Mercedes Hyundai

The boyfriend and I attended a wonderful fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity put on by Tysinger Mercedes-Benz/Hyundai in Hampton, Virginia this evening. Yes, it was close to 98 degrees, but the event was great nonetheless. I suspect thousands of dollars were raised - especially because of the main raffle prize put up by Tysinger and Mercedes Benz USA: $15,000 or a three year lease on a new C-Class Mercedes. In addition, LGBT businesses such as Decorum Furniture provided silent auction donations. I am posting about the event because Tysinger is a gay friendly business and one of the principal sponsors of Hampton's Diversity and Pride event on Saturday, June 11, 2011, in downtown Hampton, as well as a corporation that gives back to the community over and over again.
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If you are looking for a new car and live in the Hampton Roads area, I urge you to contact our dear friend Miles Burcher at Tysinger or Mark or Denise Tysinger about what they can do for you in terms of helping you to buy the right new vehicle. If a Mercedes-Benz isn't your thing, check out the Hyundai's which are remarkable vehicles (several family members own Hyundai's and love them). The boyfriend and I have Mercedes and love them as well. We need to support LGBT friendly businesses.

New HRBOR Scholarship Established to Benefit LGBT Students

Coming out in mid-life is not an easy journey as long time readers of this blog know from my travails and darkest hours over the last almost four years of this blog. One of the wisest things I did in retrospect was to co-conspire with Christiana Flynn to form Hampton Roads Business OutReach ("HRBOR") - an affiliate of the NGLCC - with the help of eight other dedicated individuals whom I now view as quasi-family. Yes, HRBOR has brought me business, and has brought me friends to replace those "friends" who abandoned me when I came out. But more importantly, HRBOR has been a vehicle where I can try to make a difference in this all too often backwards area of Virginia. Today, the paperwork was signed to establish a permanent endowed scholarship for graduating LGBT high school students in the Hampton Roads area. Here is the press release issued by HRBOR:

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PRESS RELEASE – NEW HRBOR SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED

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The Board of Directors of Hampton Roads Business OutReach (“HRBOR”) is please to announce the establishment of a new scholarship to be available to students in the seven cities of the Hampton Roads area. The scholarship will be managed by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation (“HRCF”) with the first award to be made in May, 2012. Applications forms and eligibility requirements will soon be available on the HRCF website. The purpose of the scholarship is as follows:

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To provide scholarships for self-identifying, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) students attending high schools in the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk or Virginia Beach, paying special emphasis to those who have demonstrated involvement in the LGBT community, and who are in need of financial aid for undergraduate education at a four-year college or university.”

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The scholarship will be called the George D. and Marion Phelps Hamar HRBOR Scholarship in memory of the parents of Michael B. Hamar, a co-founder of HRBOR and one of HRBOR’s founding directors, who provided the funding to endow the scholarship fund. Once the HRCF website is updated, donations to the scholarship fund will be feasible online and it is the hope of HRBOR that more than one annual recipient will be possible in future.

Hampton Roads Business OutReach (HRBOR) is a broad based coalition of LGBT owned and LGBT supportive businesses and professionals dedicated to the development, growth and advocacy of Hampton Roads and its LGBT community. By promoting an environment in which diversity can flourish, HRBOR is committed to the economic growth and prosperity of our members and our community.

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No doubt some will think me crazy. But I provided the initial funding to establish the scholarship for a number of reasons, not the least of which was to honor my parents who always valued education and who were unwavering in their support of me when I came out. In fact, when I was telling them that I was gay and made a remark that I hoped that they would not disown me, my father - not always the easiest of individuals to get along with - was indignant that I'd even think such a thing about them. He honestly could not conceive of any decent parent who would disown their own child merely because they were gay. Unfortunately, many parents do not follow my late parents' example. And as a result, LGBT youth make up a disproportionate percentage of homeless youths because too many parents prefer to cling to religious based bigotry or worry about what others will think rather than stand by their children.

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Other LGBT youths, if not disowned and homeless, nonetheless can find themselves cut off from family resources and may never have an opportunity to got to college. Sadly, I know a significant number of individuals who suffered this disheartening experience. It's a tragedy. I sincerely hope that this scholarship will help offset such bigotry in small part and over time will grow and provide benefit for more aspiring LGBT youth each year.

A Gay Couple and a Miracle on 22nd Street

With the bad rap that LGBT individuals get from the Christianists who claim we are seeking to destroy marriage and/or the family, a story out of New York City shows a gay couple doing more to further love and a sense of holiday magic than a host of haters like Tony Perkins and Maggie Gallagher. For reasons still unknown, a gay couple on 22nd Street received hundreds of letters addressed to Santa Claus - addressed to their exact address. The video below is their explanation of how they tried to do the right thing and managed to see that a couple hundred letters were fullfiled. Would that the world had mor Jim's and Dylan's in it and less "godly Christians." An article here has more on their story -these are highlights:
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There were just two weeks left until Christmas, and both Jim and Dylan were in a state of semi-paralysis. They had handed out a few letters to friends to answer, but not nearly enough to make a dent in the pile. Each day when one of them would check the mail more letters would fall out of the box.
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One option: Take the letters to the Main Post Office, where they would be added to the thousands of other letters sent to Santa each year. Thoughtful strangers, in a perfect world, would pick them up and buy the letter writers gifts.
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But Jim imagined the worst: “If we bring them back to the post office, are all the kids getting a letter back with ‘Return to Sender’? I don’t want that to happen.” So Jim and Dylan came up with their own solution, one I sought to capture in our video.
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Remembering Past Gays in the Military

With the legislative repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, thankfully future generations of gays in the military will not find themselves living in fear of outings and expulsion from careers that many of them truly love. Likewise, the military will not be foolishly loosing great talent and expertise solely to satisfy the religious based bigotry of a segment of society that daily proves itself to be anything but Christian in the true sense of the Gospel message. It's important, however to remember that the religious based bigotry against gays existed long before the passage of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and goes back many, many decades. In the mid-1970's Leonard Matlovich, recipient of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, received much publicity when he was forced from the military. His tombstone bears the epitaph "When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.” But there were notable gays before Matlovich who likewise lost their military careers. Thanks to a post by straight ally Bob Felton at Civil Commotion, I was reminded of another such past high profile gay in the military. This man received a Congressional Gold Medal, the Legion of Merit and National Order of Vietnam, yet was forced to resign from the Navy because of his sexual orientation. The man's name? Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley (pictured above left in center), a man some Catholics even wanted canonized after his untimely early death at age 34 because of his world renown humanitarian efforts. Ironically, though forced to leave the military, he was given a military funeral with a U.S. Navy Honor Guard. Here's some highlights from Dooley's life and career:
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[I]n 1944 [he] enlisted in the United States Navy's corpsman program, serving in a naval hospital in New York . . . In 1953 . . . he reenlisted in the Navy. He completed his residency at Camp Pendleton, California and then at Yokosuka, Japan. In 1954 he was assigned to the USS Montague which was traveling to Vietnam to evacuate refugees.
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While Dooley was working in refugee camps in Haiphong, some have alleged that he came to the attention of Lieutenant Colonel Edward G. Lansdale, head of the CIA detail in Saigon. According to these allegations, Dooley was chosen as a symbol of Vietnamese-American cooperation, and was encouraged to write about his experiences in the refugee camps. Some other unsubstantiated reports indicate that he collected intelligence for the CIA. In 1956 his book Deliver Us from Evil was released, establishing Dooley as a strong humanitarian. While on a promotional tour for the book, Dooley was investigated for participating in homosexual activities and was forced to resign from the Navy in March 1956.
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After leaving the Navy, Dooley went to Laos to establish medical clinics and hospitals under the sponsorship of the International Rescue Committee. Dooley founded the Medical International Cooperation Organization (MEDICO) under the auspices of which he built hospitals at Nam Tha, Muong Sing, and Ban Houei Sa. During this same time period he wrote two books, The Edge of Tomorrow and The Night They Burned the Mountain about his experience in Laos.
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In 1959 Dooley returned to the United States for cancer treatment; he died in 1961 from malignant melanoma. Following his death John F. Kennedy cited Dooley's example when he launched the Peace Corps. He was also awarded a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously. There have been efforts following his death to have him canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.

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Dooley's life was an example of what real Christians are about (more information can be found here)- unlike today's professional hate merchants such as Maggie Gallagher, Tony Perkins, James Dobson and others of their ilk. Just think what could be accomplished if the funds spent to stigmatize gays and deprive us of legal equality were applied in a manner such as what Dooley did with his life.

April 29th - Dining Out for Life at Brent's

Because of a scheduling conflict, the boyfriend and I will be hosting this Spring's Dining Out for Life fundraiser at Brent's, a relatively new restaurant in historic downtown Hampton, instead of the same location as last year.We have been to Brent's a number of times and the food is wonderful as is the atmosphere and attentive wait staff. I invite everyone on the Peninsula to come see us and support this worthwhile event that helps to fund much needed assistance to those living with HIV and their families. Twenty five percent (25%) of the evening's revenues will be donated to ACCESS AIDS Care, a local non-profit. Brent's is located at 9 E Queensway, Hampton, Virginia 23664 in beautiful downtown Hampton. For reservations' call 757-722-1185. We hope to see you on April 29th!!

The Homophobic Salvation Army - Another Look

I previously posted about the debate on whether or not it's appropriate to donate to the Salvation Army in light of the organization's glaring homophobia and Christianist view of LGBT citizens. True, as some readers have pointed out, the organization helps many needy individuals and might even offer assistance to gays needing shelter or food. But until now I did not realize that the organization has actively lobbied against gay rights. Thus, I feel vindicated in my position that one should not donate to the Salvation Army at all - it's better to find other worthy charities that do not actively work to keep LGBT Americans second class citizens. Here are some highlights from a column by Lisa Neff at 365gay.com on the issue:

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And she regretted that she had volunteered to collect money for the Salvation Army, which has gone as far as lobbying the White House to obstruct efforts to treat gays and lesbians equally — as citizens and as employees.
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Many, many good people — my friends and neighbors — ring the bell for the Salvation Army during December. And many, many good people — my friends and neighbors — donate to the Salvation Army’s red kettles during December. But I do not. I do not ring the bell for the Salvation Army. I do not donate to the Salvation Army, because the Salvation Army discriminates against gays and lesbians in employment, works to defeat civil rights measures that protect gays and lesbians and promotes position that gay relationships “do not conform to God’s will for society.”
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Some will say, but the Salvation Army performs good work — the organization feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, clothes the impoverished, whether gay or straight. Yes, yet there are many other organizations performing the same work as the Salvation Army that do not discriminate against gays and lesbians, that will not use your donation against you.
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From the Salvation Army’s Web site: “The Army regards the origins of a homosexual orientation as a mystery and does not regard a homosexual disposition as blameworthy in and of itself or rectifiable at will. Nevertheless, while we are not responsible for what we are, we are accountable for what we do; and homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, is controllable and may be morally evaluated therefore in light of scriptural teaching.
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I agree with Lisa Neff and simply do not believe in donating to those who would deprive you of civil legal rights merely because you do not subscribe to a particular set of religious beliefs. This nation is supposed to have moved on beyond religious based discrimination, yet we gays face such discrimination daily. It makes the promise of freedo of religion in the Constitution a farce.

Lutheran Human Warmth and Care Fund

As I have mentioned before, I sublet a portion of my office space to the ELCA Lutheran Bishop of Virginia for the bishop's eastern office. The office staff includes the director of the The Lutheran Council of Tidewater (The LCT) which operates the Human Warmth and Care Fund in Southeastern Virginia. All contributions to the Human Warmth and Care Fund go directly toward helping those in need pay utility bills; there is NO administrative fee.

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This year, with the depressed economy, there is increased demand for assistance and less money available to make the small family by family donations that can keep heat/power from being cut off during these coldest months. I can personally attest that unpaid volunteers man the phones and deal with utility companies to prevent power/heat from being turned off at the homes of the less fortunate. Volunteers also act as a clearing house for directing the needy to other potential resources.

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Call LCT for particulars - the office number is 757-623-0155. Or go to the LCT website and donate online or learn about other volunteer opportunities.

The Salvation Army-Gay Dilemma: To Give or Not?

A New York Times column looks at the issue of donating to homophobic charities and the Salvation Army in particular. Personally, I ceased giving money to charities that include anti-gay efforts in their agenda and in the increasingly rare instances where I see the yule time collection kettles, I make a point of telling their personnel why I have ceased to donate money, clothing or anything else to the organization. In my view, religious based bigotry needs to entail a cost. People can believe what they want, just do not expect me to underwrite their bigotry. There are other worthwhile charities who perform similar services without the anti-gay bigotry. Locally, it seems a number of locations that formerly allowed Salvation Army collection efforts have ceased doing so - perhaps in the hope of avoiding controversy with LGBT customers and their allies. Here are a few highlights:

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With their red buckets and ringing bells out among the shoppers, the Salvation Army reminds people of other worthy uses for their money. The religious organization also has positions on many issues, including homosexuality, which the charity views with disapproval.
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In The San Francisco Chronicle’s Op-ed pages, Phil Bronstein, the paper’s executive vice-president and editor-at-large, jumps into the debate over whether the organization’s position on homosexuality outweighs the good it does.
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Is the Salvation Army one of those organizations that is worth supporting for its overall good even if you disagree with some of its policies? Mr. Bronstein says he will drop some money in the bucket. Shea O’Neill at SF Appeal says if “you can stomach the fact that your money has to pass through potentially gay-bashing hands before reaching a family in need (because it will indeed reach them), then by all means drop a quarter in the bucket.” Tim Redmond at the SF Bay Guardian says Don’t Give.
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It might be remembered in this context that General William Booth, the Englihshman who founded the organization in the mid-19th century, had a view on a related question: accepting money from people you disapprove of (in his case, burlesque dancers).

Brad Pitt’s Gifts to New Orleans

I will concede that I've been a Brad Pitt fan for years - at least since he played Louis in An Interview With the Vampire or starred in Legends of the Fall (see the photo at right). But he has proven that he is much more than a pretty face and beautiful body. He has spoken out for LGBT equality and marriage equality and, given what he is doing in New Orleans, he puts his money where his mouth is unlike so many self-centered others. The New York Times has a story on Pitt's home building endeavor in New Orleans' Ninth Ward which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. (My former partner and I put up 7 evacuees from that part of New Orleans back in 2005, so I heard first hand accounts from those who lost everything - see this prior post). Would that there were more celebrities like Pitt. Here are some story highlights:

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In 2007, frustrated by the slow pace of rebuilding in the Lower Ninth, Brad Pitt set up a foundation called Make It Right; the foundation then commissioned 13 architecture firms to design affordable, green houses. The organization plans to build 150 homes, all for returning Lower Ninth residents. So far, just 15 of them are occupied, but those 15 make a big impression.
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Indeed, from the main route into the Lower Ninth, the Claiborne Avenue Bridge, it’s impossible to miss the Brad Pitt Houses, as everyone here calls them. They are sprawling, angular buildings in bold hues not usually seen outside a gelateria. Monuments to the city’s resilience, and to Hollywood’s big heart, they are also New Orleans’s newest tourist attraction.
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But “Brad Pitt’s neighborhood” is a beehive of activity, with builders and landscapers vastly outnumbering residents. A sign in front of each of the houses gives the name and city of its architect. One, called the Float House, was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winner Thom Mayne of Los Angeles. The main part of the house is built to rise with surging flood waters, on pylons that keep it from coming loose. It’s difficult to see the innovative foundation, but unusual external features are easy to spot, such as a kind of trellis cut into intricate patterns and painted turquoise, set against the raspberry-hued building.
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[L]ike other architects I spoke to, he expressed admiration for Mr. Pitt. “He deserves a great deal of credit,” Mr. Dart said, adding that Mr. Pitt had “done more for New Orleans” than any government agency.
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Ms. Leggett-Barnes, whose house was designed by the Philadelphia firm KieranTimberlake, is — literally — the poster child for Make It Right; her image, plastered on bus-shelter signs around the city, urges former residents to return to the neighborhood. “There may be people who want to move back,” she said, “but don’t know that it’s possible.”

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Brad, I salute your efforts and desire to help others. Would that we had more people in society and government office that had a sense of giving back to others.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

I found this story on fellow blogger Don's blog at http://dondon009.blogspot.com/ and find it most interesting and funny at the same time. Somehow, I thinks these sisters may be more Christian that the Nazi Pope and his minions (as a former Catholic who suffered the church's past and ongoing abuse of gays, I have a license to comment, in my view). These sisters certainly seem to know how to mix it up.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Inc., is a leading-edge Order of queer nuns. Since their first apperance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday 1979, the Sisters have devoted themselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those of the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. The Sisters believe all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit!

Orders can be found across the United States and in several countries around the world.Although the San Francisco Order is often referred to as the "Mother House", the Sisters have no central seat of power and no single ruling body. Each Order is an autonomous, unique group with its own Habits, culture and rules. Just as the San Francisco Order is a reflection of the culture that surrounds it, so too is each Order a reflection of its own environment.

For a list of current organizations (which include a number of abbeys in foreign countires) check out Don's Sunday, June 17, 2007, post.