tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55347364645969293862024-02-07T15:07:02.958-07:00DesertGaySpeakComments and postings from the Arizona Desert covering Gay News, GLBT related topics and any other local, national or world news items that catch my attention or ruffle my feathers. Feel free to add your comments or send a posting to a friend...Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.comBlogger317125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-61642675442012461042012-11-04T13:30:00.000-07:002012-11-04T14:04:23.928-07:00ROMNEY OR OBAMA...On her facebook page my niece asked for help in deciding who she would vote for in the upcoming Presidential race.
It took me a few days to compose a response because I wanted to make sure that what I said to her was fact. Today, Sunday November 4th, she posted that response on her facebook page.
This is that post...
Email from my Uncle Steve
by Karen Krotz Rittenhouse on Sunday, November 4, Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-74883914404905658852010-05-27T11:18:00.001-07:002010-05-27T11:22:03.850-07:00Sam Harris' Gay AnthemNothing needs to be added to this....Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-89382117339574351412009-09-13T14:25:00.010-07:002009-09-13T15:25:40.553-07:00A NOTE TO MY FRIENDS AND LOYAL READERS...By now you've probably noticed that I've missed a number of regular postings.Without going into too much detail, I just want you to know that I'm taking a little time off to take care of a couple of physical problems that I've dealt with over the past three decades but have intensified over the last few months. Hopefully these will be resolved in a short time and I'll be able to get back to Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-35805559688926476482009-09-08T07:00:00.002-07:002009-09-08T07:00:00.125-07:00GAY MARRIAGES GOOD FOR STRAIGHT MARRIAGESRemember all the yelling and screaming by right wing fanatics about how gay marriage is a threat to the institution of heterosexual marriage and threatens the very foundation of our society?Well, it seems that they were wholly, completely and woefully wrong.According to the following report by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, new government statistics released last week show that since same-sex marriages Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-33602328606506277242009-09-02T11:06:00.020-07:002009-09-02T13:04:49.356-07:00TEXAS BAR RAID FOLLOW UP Administrator Alan Steen of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) announced that the investigation into the Fort Worth Rainbow Lounge raid on June 28th has resulted in the firing of three TABC employees.The investigation found numerous violations of TABC policies, most of which were outlined by Administrator Steen as early as last July in an interview with The Dallas Voice.Steen said inSteve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-47692105576189901882009-08-31T07:00:00.002-07:002009-08-31T07:00:00.747-07:00VIGILANCE PAYS OFF & COSTS HOMOPHOBIC PERFORMERBuju Banton is a Jamaican reggae performer whose music includes some of the most virulently violent lyrics ever written. Many of his songs advocate beating, torturing and killing gays, lesbians and transgenders.Obviously, this is homophobia in its extreme. But given the culture Banton comes from, it's not really a very big surprise. As I've written about before, the current Jamaican government Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-79154863411793292432009-08-25T07:00:00.002-07:002009-08-25T17:24:05.256-07:00TEMPE AZ PASTOR CALLS FOR GAY EXECUTIONS AND MURDER OF PRESIDENT OBAMAWe've heard vile rhetoric from right wing religious fanatics before but this guy is so far over the edge, he's fallen off the cliff! If anyone deserves to be shattered off the rocks on his way down and splattered across the canyon floor, Pastor Steven L. Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist church here in Tempe, AZ is that person.Yes, I know that statement sounds somewhat extreme and certainly Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-61393354164422308682009-08-25T07:00:00.001-07:002009-08-25T07:00:04.058-07:00CALL TO ACTION AGAINST DR PHILYesterday morning I received an email from Queers United asking a group of us to blog about two upcoming Dr. Phil shows.I haven't seen any of the past shows that dealt with LGBT topics but I do know from multiple past postings that on several occasions, especially when dealing with transgender/transsexual issues, his guests (some of whom were only in their early teens) were marginalized and even Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-70368014321986235942009-08-19T11:05:00.024-07:002009-08-19T12:35:12.501-07:00THE ALARMING TRUTH ABOUT THE TORTURE AND MURDER OF GAY IRAQISAfter toppling Saddam Hussein and his brutal police and military forces, hope ran high that finally people in that country would be free to be themselves. To not have to worry about being picked up on the streets or taken from their own homes to be jailed, tortured and frequently murdered at the whim of those in power.It was hoped that the establishment of a free and democratic society would put Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-79703898413810686992009-08-18T10:56:00.020-07:002009-08-18T14:12:21.288-07:00A SECOND DOMA BRIEF FILED BY JUSTICE DEPARTMENTLast June, Obama's Department Of Justice (DOJ) filed a highly offensive brief in support of the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA). The reaction to the language used to justify maintaining DOMA was fierce and widespread.Wide ranging objections were heard from GLBT community leaders to editorials in the New York Times and Washington Post to radio and television commentaries to countless blogs across Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-9156608302341699892009-08-13T11:24:00.018-07:002009-08-13T13:27:49.348-07:00HYPOCRISY ABOUNDS WITH SAN DIAGO HOTEL OWNERSan Diego hotelier and developer Doug Manchester was a very early financial supporter of Proposition 8. His $125,000 donation was a key factor in moving Prop 8 forward and sparked an on-going boycott of his hotels.His reasoning in making such a large personal donation was, according to a New York Times interview at the time, because of “my Catholic faith and longtime affiliation with the CatholicSteve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-5125923781290938092009-08-12T11:14:00.016-07:002009-08-12T12:37:16.241-07:00DANIEL RADCLIFFE MAKES SIZABLE DONATION TO THE TREVOR PROJECTActor Daniel Radcliffe, a staunch supporter of the LGBT community and causes, made a sizable donation to The Trevor Project here in this country.This non-profit organization was founded in 1998 by three filmmakers whose film 'Trevor,' about a gay teenager who attempts suicide, received an Oscar in 2004.The Project works to prevent crises and suicides among LGBTQ youth through school workshops, Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-6211882030326062792009-08-10T07:00:00.003-07:002009-08-10T07:00:03.367-07:00RESULTS OF ONE RAINBOW LOUNGE INVESTIGATION NOW INThe highly anticipated results of one of the investigations into the Fort Worth, Texas Rainbow Lounge raid that resulted in the hospitalization of one patron with serious head injuries, were just released this past week.The investigation was conducted by the internal affairs division of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). It found that two TABC agents and a supervising Sergeant Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-41446615074791180042009-08-06T10:51:00.028-07:002009-08-08T14:58:48.467-07:00CHICAGO HONORS LGBT VETERANSIn a ceremony held yesterday in downtown's Daley Plaza, Chicago honored all of the gay men and women who served their country proudly throughout America's march through history.The Windy City Times, Chicago's oldest gay newspaper, reported that for the seventh year running, Chicago has held the only municipally sponsored ceremony in the country that recognizes and honors the service of GLBT Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-737631271525074542009-08-04T10:35:00.021-07:002009-08-04T12:31:52.636-07:0018 YEAR DECORATED COMBAT PILOT MAY LOSE ALL RETIREMENT BENEFITSAir Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach is a decorated pilot who has flown combat missions over Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. Now serving as the assistant director of operations for an Air Force squadron in Idaho, he has an exemplary 18 year record of serving his country with unquestioned honor and a level of bravery that most of us could never know.Now, after 18 years and nine Air Medals, includingSteve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-80961308546505665612009-08-03T09:16:00.027-07:002009-08-03T12:05:11.013-07:00GAY SLAUGHTER IN TEL AVIVAt approximately 11:00pm on Saturday, a man reportedly dressed in black and wearing a black ski mask entered the Gay Youth Center in Tel Aviv, Israel and immediately opened fire, spraying bullets indiscriminately around the room.The teenagers, many of whom were very young and hadn't even come out to their parents yet, were gathered in a basement room of the Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Association Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-49064845670181394692009-07-30T11:40:00.013-07:002009-07-30T12:23:04.641-07:00WHITE HOUSE PRESSURES CONGRESSMAN TO WITHDRAW ANTI-DADT FUNDING BILLThis is both disturbing and encouraging news at the same time.Congressman Alcee Hastings introduced a bill to withhold from the DOD funding bill specific funds that are used to carry out the DADT policy discharges. The next day, Hastings was pressured (read, forced) by White House representatives and other congressional colleagues to withdraw his bill.Yesterday, Representative Hastings appeared Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-12752443445740213182009-07-28T10:47:00.027-07:002009-07-28T17:09:14.132-07:00MOVING CLOSER TO DADT REPEALAccording to a July 25th Associated Press article by Kristen Wyatt, Speaker Of The House Nancy Pelosi appointed openly gay Representative Jared Polis (D Colorado) to the U.S. Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors.Polis, who took office in January as the first openly gay non-incumbent ever elected to congress, is now also the first openly gay member to serve on an oversight board at any of the Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-47587916190331178022009-07-27T11:07:00.037-07:002009-07-27T13:41:51.516-07:00GAY BRITISH SOLDIER ON COVER OF MILITARY MAGAZINETrooper James Wharton of the British Army is now the new face of gays in the military.Nine years ago the European Court of Human Rights issued a ruling that pressured Britain and other member countries to allow openly gay men and women to serve in their militaries. This month, the July issue of the British Military's own official magazine, Soldier, featured a cover photo of openly gay Army Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-14909130007506377482009-07-23T09:07:00.029-07:002009-07-23T13:41:31.522-07:00JAMAICA STILL ENDORSES BRUTALITY AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANSAs stunningly beautiful as Jamaica is, it still has a very dark, brutal and dangerous underbelly.On March 10, 2009 I posted a report on a State Department Travel Advisory warning of the dangers to our community of traveling to Jamaica. On March 29th I ran a story about a call for an outright boycott of all Jamaican products. Obviously the continuing homophobic violence in Jamaica caught the Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-79085543798931719752009-07-22T10:17:00.006-07:002009-07-22T11:15:51.470-07:00DAVID BOIES EXPLAINS REASONS FOR OVERTURNING PROPOSITION 8The announcement last May that attorneys David Boies (left) and Ted Olson will be filing a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California's Proposition 8 was met with strong skepticism and resistance from some in the GLBT community. Many felt that a lawsuit now, with the current make-up of the Supreme Court, could not be successful and might even hurt efforts to put a measure to Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-8503333904599897172009-07-20T10:31:00.024-07:002009-07-20T13:57:39.387-07:00WHEN THE CHURCH CONTROLS THE GOVERNMENTOn July 9th Matt Aune and Derek Jones say they were holding hands and occasionally kissed while walking through the Main Street Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City. For that, they were arrested, handcuffed and charged with trespassing even though many heterosexual couples have done the same thing in the same plaza without incident.In response to that homophobic episode, two "kiss-ins" were held in Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-41690096962442412282009-07-18T12:19:00.018-07:002009-07-18T13:17:09.365-07:00OBAMA INCLUDES GAYS IN NAACP'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPEECHI have written quite a bit about President Obama lately. Especially about his inaction in stopping the cruel and harmful DADT discharges. I am still disgruntled over this continuing issue but there does seem to be a couple of very bright lights at the end of that tunnel thanks to New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's 18 month moratorium bill on DADT discharges and Pennsylvania Representative Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-79492465553774066532009-07-16T11:06:00.020-07:002009-07-16T13:00:08.860-07:00IS MILWAUKEE'S POST OFFICE HOMOPHOBIC?The United State Post Office claims that "diversity means building an inclusive environment that respects the uniqueness of every individual and encourages the contributions of people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives."They also claim that their "commitment to diversity is unwavering. The United States Postal Service has been recognized for its commitment to creating an Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5534736464596929386.post-35503952378290885042009-07-14T10:08:00.023-07:002009-07-14T11:37:05.836-07:00TO BALLOT OR NOT TO BALLOTImmediately after Proposition 8 was passed in California, many gay activists and GLBT groups vowed to take the issue back to the ballot in 2010. Emotions were intense and determination to overcome the homophobia that Prop 8 represented where at an all time high.It was the shock and anger over Prop 8's success that spawned a whole new activist movement throughout the country. It galvanized the Steve Krotzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16496078896515900626noreply@blogger.com4