Monthly Archives: June 2009

(Community Matters) Am very pleased to learn Democratic members of the US House met yesterday to discuss LGBT issues, especially several gay rights bills. We need to move these forward – most immediately, the Hate Crimes bill in the Senate, Employment Non-Discrimination Act in both houses and the Domestic Partners Benefits & Obligations Act which BHO just announced he’d also help get passed

Steven and I support tonight’s DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner and would be there if we weren’t overseas. I don’t begrudge those who choose not to attend or to not support the DNC at this time, though I am at a loss for the ferocity of protest. The administration is our friend.

President Obama has been in office just 157 days. In this time, lots of good has happened and needs to happen including passage of our gay rights legislation and rescinding of the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Yet, I support the aggregation of firepower (political capital) to first save our economy & pass universal healthcare. Even LGBT families will be more impacted by the economy & availability of healthcare than by same sex marriage or military service.

Don’t get me wrong – equality for gays & lesbians needs to happen legislatively in this first year. Next year will be “all about the midterm elections” and the third and fourth years, all about President’s reeelction.

I don’t begrudge the demands for more and for now. It’s an important part of our advocacy that some never let down their voice. Nevertheless, there’s sometimes a fine line between advocacy and nasty personalization.

In a conference call with the administration earlier this week, they appropriately cited our LGBT progress to date: 1) signed UN declaration on gay rights, 2) moving forward with inclusive Hate Crimes, 3) federal benefits within allowances of DOMA & active support for Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, 4) proceeding with lifting HIV entry ban, 5) developing a new national HIV/AIDS strategy, 6) inclusion of LGBT counts in census, 7) hiring & appointment of LGBT personnel, 8) working toward repeal of DADT, 9) full support for ENDA and work for its passage

Some activists castigate those attending the President’s East Room reception on Monday, celebrating the anniversary of Stonewall. I think this is silly. Some of us have whipped ourselves up so strongly, we’re losing sight of who works against us, who’s a friend. This is a bad time to be out of town – I’ll miss the WH reception as well as that evening’s dinner with the President for our NFC and NAB members, plus a day of NFC meetings on Tuesday. Alas, most of my good stuff comes from the intersection of life with Steven – he’s been traveling way too much. I’m maximizing our together time where we can.

(Community Matters) Tobin Levy writes about Marfa in AAS. – nice story.

(Community Matters) Given him a break. Aside from the governance succession, sounds like a family matter. And, since when has fidelity EVER been a requirement to hold elected office. Seems to me something changes in the brains of the men & women we elect to office, place on a pedestal day after day & take away from their families 16/7, sometimes 24/7. I’ve witnessed the vulnerability that occurs when they saturate the media and live in the world where your place in a line says how important you are – they’ve got to have an intimate at their side. We’re as much to blame as they are (for this vulnerability, not their actions nor their hypocrisy).

(Community Matters) Still no word from Congressman Lloyd Doggett on whether he’ll support fairness in federal benefits, so that LGBT employees enjoy the same benefits as straight federal employees. I realize any reluctance on behalf of the Congressman would surprise many Austinites; however, we should remember when Lloyd told a group of gay/lesbian activists that he would NEVER support recognizing our committed relationships the same as his and Libby’s. I would have hoped 15+ years would have enlightened our elected representative but fear he still feels this way.

I don’t understand Lloyd’s apparent reluctance to support the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.

(Community Matters)
OMG, dinner at Uchi last night with great friends. That place is so very, very good. The food & drink just kept flowing. Chef Cole telling us about his new restaurants – love that we’ll have a Uchi very nearby early next year & can’t wait for his tapa restaurant downtown.

##Can’t believe accomplished everything on list in such few hours yesterday, including terrific news of a very generous gift to EF from an important high tech friend. Amanda, Shobie & Peter are the best staff in the land. Thx you guys!. Terrific PeopleFund board meeting. Margo, Kelly & the staff making big differences in economic development & affordable housing for low & moderate income Austinites, every single day. We approved breaking ground on our new building at the MLK commuter rail site – thx to the Meredith Family.

###@ AUS @ gate for EWR flight. A couple of hours layover, then off to Hong Kong. Dinner Fri nite with Diane Land’s & Steve Adler’s daughter, Susan, & her bf, then ST should arrive from Xiamen 9ish. Quick trip, back on Mon. Luke, don’t forget to feed my gay fish!posted from my blackberry

(Community Matters) His letter to religious leaders warns that “a pastor who teaches that homosexuality is wrong could be accused of a hate crime or “charged” with inducing a violent crime against a gay person.”

As we’re in the final stretch of passing an LGBT inclusive hate crimes bill (the House has already approved) it’s getting nasty. I suppose some might be surprised that it’s the most “devoutly religious” who are telling the biggest lies.

(Community Matters) Many thanks to former mayor Will Wynn and former mayor pro tem Brewster McCracken. Your leadership, dedication and hard work has permanently & positively impacted Austin. Looking forward to continue working with each of you, just in new & different ways. No more long, long Thursday nights. Less work, more pay!

photo Deborah Cannon, AAS

Mayor Leffingwell & Mayor pro tem Martinez, thanks for stepping up. Tough times ahead just now, and I know you guys are up to it.

Council members Spellman and Riley, welcome onboard (or back on board as the case may be). All of Austin is thrilled to have you guys on the dais – not a moment too soon. Big challenges in front of us. Thanks for stepping up. Council member Cole, thanks for another term.

(Community Matters) Good gosh – I’m updating my packing list (yes, I have serveral I keep on file – international, new york, mexico, cold, other) and laughing because electronics has become the largest category: Camera, camera transfer cable, camera charger, extra camera battery, Computer, computer power cord, iPod, iPod ear phones, iPod charger, Blackberry, blackberry charger, Telephone, telephone charger, Kindle, kindle power cord, international power converter, int’l plug adapter (British).

(Community Matters) from Andrew Sullivan’s quote for the day:

“OK, let me see if I’ve got this right. Since Barack Obama has taken the presidential oath of office we have witnessed: a) Hezbollah lose a shoo-in election in Lebanon, b) Pakistan begin serious efforts to control the Taliban and al Qaeda elements inside its borders, c) Netanyahu of Israel mumble support about a two state solution and rethink settlements and, d) A major awakening of the Iranian citizenry against the heavy-handedness of the mullahs. What hasn’t changed? The simple-minded thuggery of the Right when it comes to foreign policy (and Grover Norquist, someone should gently remind him that it’s 2009, not 1989). They have long preferred a modified Teddy Roosevelt approach. Speak loudly and wail away with the biggest stick you can find. I don’t know if all this is the results of one speech in Cairo by the President but if it is I hope he gives a second, and soon,” – Carl Owen, Politico.

(Community Matters) you gotta love the picture of Liz & Kirk Watson included in Kirk’s Watson Wire this morning.

(Community Matters) My previous post wasn’t intended to defend the golf course, housing or any specific, existing improvements – nor am I biased toward their removal.

My point is that Gov Perry’s administration’s all-out privatization efforts have not been well thought-out and have mostly been incompetently negotiated and executed (resulting in the waste of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars). They are driven by a philosophy to privatize government assets and functions, apparently less for efficiency and financial return than for private profit-making opportunities. Regrettably, there’s no reason to be confident the all-Perry appointed UT board of regents would embrace any higher philosophical objectives. We’ve just witnessed the command-control philosophy of another Perry-appointed, university board of regents in Bryan-College Station.

(Community Matters)

(Community Matters) Can hardly begin to describe the level of affection and respect for my dad – who didn’t speak English until 7yo, came from a sorta rough part of town, perservered, found a great wife, worked his ass off, self-taught and rose through the ranks very patiently, achieving much success professionally & financially and even more so as a patriarch of the Sepulveda family. Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you so much.

(photo: with grandson and friend)

(Community Matters) After a night in Hong Kong, Steven’s arrived in Xiamen amidst a typhoon which tossed the plane around like a B movie prop. Very stringent health inspection procedures before disembarking and again in customs for any recent visitors to the US.

Haicang Bridge, Xiamen

Fujian Province the purple area facing Taiwan (green island),
both positioned at 4:00

Xiamen is in the Fujian Province, looking out on Taiwan Strait. Fujians are famous for their entrepreneurial talents and comprised most of the early emigrants to Hong Kong, the United States and Southeast Asia. Today, they emigrate to Africa, again as entrepreneurial pioneers.

The 90s saw Xiamen embroiled in the controversy of a multi-billion dollar operation smuggling oil, firearms, cars & cigarettes into China from Taiwan and Hong Kong. As well, the scandal & rumors of the seven-story luxury brothel called the Red Mansion reached all the way to then president Jiang Zemin.

The City - the 2nd most liveable according to the Chinese – is one of 4 Speical Economic Zones. It’s the country’s 8th largest port and one of the World’s top 100. It was the port of trade first used by Europeans in the 1500s and became a treaty port after the first opium wars, the main trading center for tea in 19th century.

(Community Matters) Andrew Sullivan on 9/11 recovery –

I wrote a couple weeks back that something is happening in Iran. But it is not the only place where something is happening. The rejection of al Qaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan; the ground-up election of Obama in America; and now the rising up of Iranians for freedom and civility with their neighbors: these are the green shoots of recovery from 9/11 and its wake. Empowered by new information technology, chastened by the apocalyptic conflicts of the last few years, determined to shift course away from civilizational warfare, the people of many countries are grasping for a new order and a new peace. It will not be easy; and it will not be short. But it is the only path worth taking.