The FBI has released its figures and Hate Crimes are on the rise. About 8% according to the stats, and yet the addition of sexual orientation to the Federal Law remains in the Senate, with a Presidential Veto threatened. Yet HATE is on the rise, and according to the FBI, attacks on Homosexuals or on ‘sexual orientation‘ accounts for about 15% of the total.

Also in 2006, religious prejudice was blamed for 18.9 percent of the incidents; sexual orientation prejudice for 15.5 percent; and ethnic or national origin for 12.7 percent. (source)

I suppose that Herr Bush’s reply would be that as we are ‘immoral‘ it doesn’t matter. Or maybe he thinks that the fact that it is only 15% isn’t enough to warrant protection from Hate or Discrimination. After all, this is the man who claims ‘water boarding‘ is not only legal, but safe. (see Gay Talk comment ‘Ends Justify the Means?‘)

And what does Mr Hutcherson say about that? Like Phelps, that it is God’s Retribution?

It is scary to think of any nation that is so riddled with hate, might have a Nuclear Weapon in a year or two. Iran is not what one would call ‘progressive‘ nor could you call it even ‘tolerant‘ and yet today it is rising fast in the Middle East as a major player. There hatred for Gays is just one of the many ideologies that sets them apart from being a supposed modern society.

Mohsen Yahyavi is the highest-ranked politician to admit that Iran believes in the death penalty for homosexuality after a spate of reports that gay youths were being hanged. (source)

I suppose it is useless to worry, but then again, maybe we should. I mean this is what happens when other nations interfere in the domestic policies of sovereign states. Jimmy Carter, actively sought to force the then Iranian Government to be more ‘democratic‘ and to allow the return of the Ayatollah Khomeni.

How’s that been working out?

It led to the overthrow of the Shah, not a nice man himself, but far less obstinate and horrid than the subsequent governments have been. Yes he was a Dictator, a ruthless one too, but how many gay children did he publicly hang?

Now we have George Bush, and his drive to ‘bring Democracy‘ to the Middle East. It has led to the Iraq War, turmoil in Lebanon and Palestine. After all it was at his urging that so called ‘democratic elections‘ be held in Palestine, resulting in Hamas (a terrorist group) winning. Like no one foresaw that?

And now, we have Bush urging for ‘return to democracy‘ in Pakistan, a nation already possessing Nuclear Weapons. A Nation already in turmoil fighting the very same ideology that guide those running Iran. Seems to me that History is there to learn from, yet the USA seems bent on repeating its mistakes, over and over again.

In so many ways, this is very similar to the Crusades of the Middle Ages. It didn’t work then, so what makes the USA think it will work today?

Los Angeles city council became the ninth major US City calling for the repeal of the homophobic Clinton policy of DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell). The bill in Congress supposedly has over 120 co-sponsors, yet as usual, it lays languishing in limbo. I suppose partly because we all know Herr Bush will wield the mighty VETO PEN.

In a unanimous vote this week city council approved a resolution calling on Congress to pass the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the legislation that would end the ban signed into law during the Clinton administration. (source)

It amazes me how so many object to this measure, this law of discrimination, yet they focus on George Bush as being Homophobic, while giving Hilary Clinton near Sainthood Status, for her ALLEGED SUPPORT of Gay Rights. I mean this piece of garbage legislation was ENACTED BY HER HUSBAND, and does anyone really believe it was done AGAINST her own beliefs?

Not like she supports Same Sex Marriage, now does she?

Yet at the same time, this RACIST LEGISLATION has cost over $360 Million and has put a strain on the Military need of specialized people. Since CLINTON came up with this law, it is estimated that over 12000 people have been summarily turfed, denied their benefits, because they are Gay.

A report prepared by the Government Accountability Office shows that nearly 800 people with skills deemed ‘mission-critical’ by the Pentagon have been dismissed under the law, including more than 322 language experts, at least 58 of whom specialized in Arabic.

The GAO said that DADT has cost American taxpayers more than $364 million since it was implemented. (source)

You would think this would be a ‘no brainer‘. Given the need, the desire to give the best support money can buy for the Troops, that the last thing you would do is deny them ‘mission critical personnel‘. But then again, guess not. Even though supposedly 3 out 4 surveyed military personnel, including veterans of Iraq, have no problem with Gays in their unit.

Still, it would be nice if this so called Democratic Congress would pull its finger out of its ass, and get on track to passing legislation it promised in 2006. Veto or not.