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DISGRASIAN OF THE YEAR! 10 People And/Or Things From ’10 We Hope Will Get Dick Cancer
[Ed. note--this post was written in advance of the tragic shooting that occurred on Saturday, Jan. 8 in Arizona. Our thoughts go out to those affected by those events.]
We talked a lot in the closing months of last year how 2010 was BALLS. And you know why it was balls? Because it was a year ruled by DICKS. Dickheads, dickweeds, dickwads, dicktwits, dickfaces, cheesedicks, needledicks, pencil dicks, limp dicks, and a various assortment of Dick Tracies, seemed to poke their, ahem, heads out from all sides. It was actually hard to come up with only 10 Dicks From ’10 because the year was so chock-full of cocksmokers. But somehow, after a little dicking around, we did.
And here they are, 2010′s Most Dickstinguished:
THE PALIN FAMILY
WHY THEY’RE DICKS: Everywhere we turned in 2010, there was another story about somebody named Palin being a dick. There was Todd Palin writing angry, poorly-punctuated emails. There was Willow Palin writing gay slur-slinging, poorly-punctuated Facebook comments. There was Bristol Palin being billed as a “teen activist” and dancing her way horribly to the Dancing With the Stars finals. And then there was Mama Grizzdick herself, Sarah Palin, who showed time and again that not only was she a dick, she was a Dick of All Trades–a refudiating dick, a 1st Amendment-confused dick, an Islamophobic dick, a book-shilling dick, a reality TV dick, a Tea Party dick, and, generally, an all-around fame-trolling dick of the highest magnitude. While it’s clear the Palins are gunning to be the First Family of the United States in 2012, for now, they can pat themselves on the backs for being, hands-down, the First Family of the United States of Dickbags.
OUR SOLUTION: The family of dicks that gets Dick Cancer together stays together. Another idea: JUST. GO. AWAY.
Filed under: 2010 Sucked Ass, Arizona, Arizona SB 1070, BP, BP Oil Spill, Brett Favre, Brett Favre Cheats On Wife, Brett Favre Penis, Brett Favre Sad Weiner, Brett Favre Why Did You Come Back?, Bristol Palin, Cheaters, Decision Points, Dick Cancer, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Everything About the Palins Sucks Ass, George W. Bush, George W. Bush Decision Points, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwyneth Paltrow Country Strong, Gwyneth Paltrow Sings, Hamburger Helper Helps a Hamburger Help Gwen Make A Great Mess, Jesse James, Jesse James Cheats On Sandra Bullock, Jesse James Nazi Photo, Jesse James PR Suicide, John McCain, Kat Von D, Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, North Korea, Sarah Palin, SB 1070, The Palins, Todd Palin, TSA, TSA Body Scanner
A Letter Of Gratitude From Two Dan Choi Supporters
Army National Guard Lieutenant Dan Choi, gay activist and de facto face of the movement to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” is currently being hospitalized–involuntarily committed to the psychiatric ward of the VA Medical Center in Brockton, MA following a “nervous breakdown” and “anxiety attack.”
Choi released a statement to colleague/blogger Pam Spaulding:
I did not initially want to publicize this but I now realize it is critical for our community to know several things: veterans gay or straight carry human burdens, Activists share similar burdens, no activist should be portrayed as super human, and the failures of government and national lobbying carry consequences far beyond the careers and reputations of corporate leaders, elected officials, High powered lobbyists, or political elites. They ruin lives. My breakdown was a result of a cumulative array of stressors but there is no doubt that the composite betrayals felt on Thursday, by elected leaders and gay organizations as well as many who have exploited my name for their marketing purposes have added to the result. I am certain my experience is not an isolated incident within the gay veteran community.
At the same time, those who have been closest to me know that I truly appreciate their gracious help and mentorship. I am indebted to their hospitality and leadership.
If you could share the info and sentiment I’d be most grateful.
Our support and thoughts are with Dan right now–we get it, we get you; just get well.
Naturally, we think a few thanks are in order.
Continue reading A Letter Of Gratitude From Two Dan Choi Supporters
Filed under: anxiety attack, Aren't We All To Blame?, Army National Guard, Center For Military Readiness, DADT, Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Elaine Donnelly, Fillibuster, Gays in the Military, Kill The Fillibuster, Knights Out, Log Cabin Republicans, Lt. Dan Choi Hospitalized, Lt. Dan Choi involuntarily committed, nervous breakdown, one is not enough, Politicians, Repeal DADT, Republicans, Republicans Stall Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal, Scott Brown, Shameful Laws
AMAZIAN OF THE WEEK! Jeff Sheng’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Photography Exhibit
On Friday of last week, the day after Veterans Day, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to lift the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, even though a lower court had ruled that the law which bans gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military is unconstitutional. It’s estimated that 66,000 gays and lesbians–or 2 percent of all U.S. military personnel–are currently serving our country. That’s 66,000 people who are making sacrifices, sometimes leaving their loved ones, and often risking their lives for a country that continues to tell them that their sexual orientation is a problem.
L.A.-based photographer Jeff Sheng has spent two years making portraits of a few of these 66,000 good men and women. His “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” photos were on display last week at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters in Washington, and they’re also available in book form.
Because of DADT, however, Sheng’s portraits are portraits where his subject’s faces have been blurred, obscured, shadowed, and hidden.
“If this person got outed, they would lose their pension, their retirement benefits — their 20 years of service in the military would be gone,” Sheng said.
By hiding their faces, his subjects assume the posture of shame. The real shame isn’t in Continue reading AMAZIAN OF THE WEEK! Jeff Sheng’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Photography Exhibit
Filed under: DADT, Discrimination, Discriminatory Laws, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Don't Ask Don't Tell Photographic Exhibit, Don't Ask Don't Tell Photography Exhibit, Equal Rights, Gays in the Military, Jeff Sheng, LGBT, LGBT Discrimination, Military Policy, Photographers, Repeal DADT, Shame, Shameful Laws, Supreme Court Upholds Don't Ask Don't Tell, U.S. Military, Veterans Day
Dan Choi Is On Duty (And Still Gaysian)
Since an Army National Guard committee recommended his discharge last summer, Knights Out founder Lt. Dan Choi has been staying active in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Meanwhile, his commander, a big supporter, fought the discharge decision and recently called Choi personally to ask for his return.
Great Choi-ce
The Advocate has reported that Choi rejoined his unit in Pennsylvania last weekend, opting out of a speaking engagement at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change conference.
As far as we know, he has not snapped a towel, leered at any of his military colleagues, referred to any unform as “fabulous,” nor told any soldier to give him head. In short, he is doing what he was meant to do: serve his country professionally, with honor and loyalty. That duty has nothing whatsoever to do with the gender he dates and is a heckuvalot more than most of us would or could do ourselves.
We sure as hell feel a whole lot safer knowing he’s out there protecting us.
[The Advocate: Dan Choi Back On Active Duty]
Source
Thanks, Isaac and Jaime!
Filed under: Army National Guard, Army National Guard Committee, Bullshit Policy, Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, Gaysians, Heroes, Knights Out, Lieutenant Dan Choi Fired from Army, Military Men, Safety First, US Military
President Obama: You Better, You Better, You Bet
Hi President Obama,
We hear from David Axelrod that during tonight’s State of the Union, you will ask Congress to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
We’ll be watching and listening. Sure hope Axelrod isn’t fucking around.
Good luck with the speech! Knock ‘em dead.
xoxo,
DISGRASIAN
[CNN: Obama To Call For "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal, Adviser Says]
Filed under: David Axelrod, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Gay Rights are Human Rights, Good Things Come To Those Who Wait, President Barack Obama, Promises Promises, Speeches, State Of The Union
Ninjas Hate Joe Lieberman
A man dressed as a ninja and waving nunchucks was arrested this week for standing on a street corner in Vernon, CT, and making a ruckus about wanting to beat up Senator Joe Lieberman. When police approached the ninja with tasers, it was reported that the stealth, would-be senator-beater became “polite and cooperative.”
While a) identifying your target openly and b) becoming “polite and cooperative” when the authorities arrive don’t exactly sound like typical ninja behaviors, who hasn’t wanted to get all shinobi-wan-kenobi on Lieberman’s party-flip-flopping assssss?
But hold on there, Lieberman-haters. Because it appears Obama’s putting the old grimacing malcontent, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in charge of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Looks like we need him on our side, at least for the time being.
Although if he effs this up, ninjas…to the rooftops, we say!
[Metro UK: Ninja wants to beat up senator, gets arrested]
[CBS News: Joe Lieberman Could be Taking the Lead on "Don't Ask"]
Filed under: Barack Obama, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Gays in the Military, Joe Leiberman Is a Douchebag, Ninja Warrior, Ninjas, The U.S. Senate, US Military
President Obama, Don’t Tell Us If You Don’t Mean It
Mr. President, we’re watching and waiting (patiently, as you’ve asked) for you to make good on this promise. And so is our hero, Dan Choi. Here he is on The Situation Room today:
We hope that the next time he goes into the studio to talk to Wolf, he’s celebrating the eradication of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
[Video via HuffPo]
[CNN: The Situation Room]
Filed under: Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, President Barack Obama, Speeches, We Heart Gaysians
AMAZIAN OF THE WEEK! Colonel Om Prakash, Author Of Anti-”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Essay
In the current issue of the Pentagon’s top scholarly journal, Joint Force Quarterly, Air Force colonel Om Prakash has published an article arguing that openly gay troops do not hurt unit cohesion or combat effectiveness, calling the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy a “costly failure” and asking President Obama to find a way to repeal the ban.
The essay was selected as the winner of this year’s Secretary of Defense essay contest and was reviewed in advance of publication by the office of Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the NY Times. Prakash, who works in the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, studied the issue while a student at the National War College. The article signals a shift in the thinking of the Pentagon’s top officials and is expected to put pressure on Obama to repeal DADT.
In “The Efficacy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Prakash reasons:
…the law as it currently stands does not prohibit homosexuals from serving in the military as long as they keep it secret. This has led to an uncomfortable value disconnect as homosexuals serving, estimated to be over 65,000, must compromise personal integrity. Given the growing gap between social mores and the law, DADT may do damage to the very unit cohesion that it seeks to protect.
Yes sir, Colonel! We couldn’t agree more.
[Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 55]
[Boston Globe: Pentagon airs criticism of 'don't ask']
Filed under: Amazians, Barack Obama, Department of Defense, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, Military Men, Pentagon
Dan Choi Fills Us With Joy
Standing behind the Poitier building on the Sony lot in Culver City last night, I reminisced with pride about the calm, cool manner in which I once met Sidney Poitier. He shook my hand and I somehow avoided squealing, then followed up with charming conversation and gentle laughter, holding in my excitement for the first moment he wasn’t within shouting distance. An hour later, I totally fucking freaked out and called everyone I could think of to brag. But the running phrase in every call was: “Well you see, I tend not to get starstruck, so I…”
Mid-flashback, I spotted Dan Choi, one of DISGRASIAN’s favorite Amazians, who was in Los Angeles last night to present the press screening of Brave New Foundation’s latest installation of the In Their Boots series: “Silent Partners.” “Partners” is a documentary short (watch a preview here) about the same-sex partners of three American service members whose lives are shrouded in secrecy because of our military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy–heartbreaking and difficult to watch, but important and incredibly beautiful.
Simply over-choi-ed
I immediately turned into a bumbling idiot, gushing over Choi’s awesomeness and DISGRASIAN’s deep (and clearly very clunky) admiration of his good work. Witnesses have told me that I barfed out words like “flurferful” and “prowb,” possibly even referred to myself as “Dinana.” Whoops.
Still, despite my semi-creepy enthusiasm, the wondrous (and completely adorable) Dan Choi humored me. He even spared some of his early West Point knowledge, teaching me how to properly salute (this actually took awhile):
The smooshed chin is not part of the salute…Until I got it right:
…but the Lieutenant is!
[In Their Boots: Silent Partners]
Thanks, Abe, Cate and Jake!
Filed under: Amazians, Awesome Documentaries, Dan Choi, Discriminatory Policies, Don't Ask Don't Tell, I am Starstruck, In Their Boots: Silent Partners, Knights Out, Salutes
Wish We Hadn’t Asked Tila
Tila Tequila penned an open letter criticizing the policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (addressed, like her Twitter updates, to “everyone”), intended for the eyes of President Obama, which was posted on Global Grind this week. In the piece, she details the journey of amazian Dan Choi, whose public profile has skyrocketed since he came out in defiance of the policy–and as a result, was booted from the military.
She writes:
Being an openly bisexual woman myself and having a lot of close gay friends, I have always HATED that policy, which pretty much tells people that in order to serve our country, you have to live in secret.
We get it. And we laud her efforts, but we can’t help but think she’s missing the point a bit.
See, being bisexual and having gay friends isn’t the reason to hate the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is unfair and wrong. EVERYONE should hate this policy, regardless of their personal perspective on sexuality. End of story.
[Global Grind: Tila's Letter To The President]
Source
Thanks, Jasmine!
Filed under: Attempts at Validity, Bisexuality, Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Friends, Global Grind, Lieutenant Dan Choi Fired from Army, Missing the Point, President Barack Obama, Tila Tequila
Didja Hear? Dan Choi Is Gay
Last night, The Daily Show totally nailed the absurdity of the Army firing Lieutenant Dan Choi–West Point grad, Iraq War vet, and much-needed Arabic translator–after he violated its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy:
Dan Choi Is Gaythedailyshow.com
To protest Lt. Dan Choi’s firing and to ask President Obama to keep his promise to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” click here.
[Courage Campaign: Keep your promise, President Obama]
Filed under: Campaign Promises, Dan Choi, Dishonoring the Gaysian, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gays in the Military, Gaysians, Lieutenant Dan Choi Fired from Army, President Barack Obama, This is Bullshit
DISGRASIAN OF THE WEAK! Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The Army National Guard dismissed Knights Out founder Dan Choi this week–a not-so-gentle reminder that the archaic, pussy-footed, bullshit policy of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the U.S. military is still alive and kicking. And still bullshit.
Note to Obama and Congress: We’re asking and telling you to get a move on–repeal this policy now.
[HuffPo: Dan Choi, Fired Gay Arabic-Speaking Linguist, Speaks To Rachel Maddow (VIDEO)]
Thanks, Kenny, Jasmine and James!
Filed under: Amazian Gaysians, Clinton Policy, Congress, Dan Choi, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Knights Out, National Guard, President Barack Obama
