CNN's front page reports on the epidemic of rape against female servicemen serving abroad.

According to Rep. Jane Harman (D-California) a recent visit to a VA hospital revealed that

"My jaw dropped when the doctors told me that 41 percent of the female veterans seen there say they were victims of sexual assault while serving in the military," said Harman, who has long sought better protection of women in the military.

"Twenty-nine percent say they were raped during their military service. They spoke of their continued terror, feelings of helplessness and downward spirals many of their lives have taken since.

"We have an epidemic here," she said. "Women serving in the U.S. military today are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq."

It is likely that most of these assaults go unreported.

The body if this e-mail is a text being circulated by the Color of Change. This case is truly appalling. Please take a moment and help the Johnson's quest to find out the truth by contacting Congressman Henry Waxman today and demanding an external investigation. Here is where you can contact him.

Thank you!

As most of you probably know by now, the title of this diary is excerpted from the note Barack Obama left at the Wailing Wall, in Jerusalem. His note was published on the front page of the Jerusalem paper, Maariv, this morning:

Maariv

As I wrote about in a diary earlier this month, the American Family Association have issued a boycott of McDonalds due to McDonalds "refusal to stay neutral in the culture war over homosexuality." Well guess what? After suffering first quarter losses this year, McDonlads is now turning a profit according to the New York Times.

Not much substance here, I admit, but sometimes a person just needs a reason to smile...

Wayne Besen, in an entertaining and provacative editorial in the Falls Church News, points out what is obvious to most of us -- the "pro-family" American Family Association is anything but.

In the editorial, Besen points out that in their single-minded, anti-family quest to deny GLBT families marriage equality, they are ignoring many real, relevant issues that are having a far more pressing impact on the same "traditional American families" they are purporting to defend.

But if they're pissing off the American Family Association, they must be doing something right.

According to the Washington Post:

A group that opposes same-sex marriage has called for a boycott of McDonald's, saying the fast-food giant has refused "to stay neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality."

Say what? The fast food corporation that is notorious for clearing rainforest to pasture thier cattle is coming out for gay equality? I think my head is going to explode. Wanna watch? Follow me!

In honor of Independence Day, I thought it fitting to give a shout out to all of the reminaing, great independent bookstores in the world.

So, what's your favorite independent place to buy books? Why do you like to shop there?

If you show me yours, I'll show you mine, provide some links, and more, if you'll take my hand and follow me over the jump...

In which I provide a brief round-up of Global GLBT Human Rights...

Okay, so... Honoring the Kos rule that Kossacks only post one diary daily, I find myself of two minds about what to post today. Firstly, I want to report on Stevie Wonder's amazing free concert in Chicago's Grant Park last night.

Secondly, later this morning I will be going to Halsted Street to participate in Chicago's 38th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, which seemed like an apt time to focus some attention on International Pride and the continuing struggles of our GLBT brothers and sisters across the globe.

I'll let the comments decide which subject rules this morning.

And now, careful not to spill our fresh coffee, we are on to the jump.

It was a bit of a hit for me to find out that the head of Bolthouse Farms Organic produce and smoothies is an asshole who has given $100,000 to fund the gay marriage constitutional ban in CA., particularly since I have been a fan of their Berry Blast smothies for years. Talk about William Bolthouse cutting off his nose; I mean who does he think drinks organic fruit smoothies? Really?

Well, I'll tell you one homo who doesn't. Not anymore, anyways. Not Bolthouse Farms, in any case, and never again.

As millions of GLBTs and our supporters attend Pride events acorss the country this weekend, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the origins of Gay Pride Day, the origins of the Gay Pride March, where we have come from in terms of justice and equality, and where we are going.

Many people do not know the origins of Gay Pride Day, or that it is a commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion, which occurred in New York City on June 27, in 1969. Many people just think it is about drinking beer and gyrating on a float in a g-string. Many straights I've encountered think it's just a gay mardi gras or bacchanalia, but have no sense of our history and the significance of us gathering in public to declare who we are, and to celebrate surviving in this homophobic world.

So, I've included in this diary a video that shares first-person accounts of the first gay pride march, as well as a poem/speech I wrote a few years ago to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Stonewall. It explains a little bit about what actually happened that night.

Happy Pride Everyone! Come out, Come Out, Whoever You Are!

Time and again, it has been demonstrated that the more GLBT people comeout, and the more straight people interact with GLBT people in thier families and workplaces and daily life, the more those people are going to support GLBT equality.

This has again been evidenced in New Jersey, whose newest supporter of gay marriage equality is Rep. Steve Rothman, weho came aroun d on gay marriage when an openly lesbian step-daughter joined his family.

This is why I am imploring Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to COME OUT OF THE CLOSET!

Wanna know more? Follow me!

In honor of Gay Pride Month, I thought I would share some happy gay stories that have crossed my path this morning. I know they will put a little extra pep in my step today, so I wanted to spread the love.

In homage to the immortal words of Ren and Stimpy,

Happy Happy Gay Gay Happy Happy Gay Gay!

Enjoy!

A South Carolina school district has delayed until later in the month a vote on whether to ban all student clubs that don't relate to academics or sports as a way to close a gay student organization.

Vice chairman Robert Gantt said Monday the Lexington-Richland School District 5 board was delaying its vote on whether to ban the clubs to get more public input.

Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker said last month he would step down at the end of the next school year because the Gay-Straight Alliance conflicts with his beliefs and religious convictions.

Well, after 8+ years together, we have finally decided to tie the knot. So now everything is a flurry of invitations (having to cut out 200+ list down to a more manageable 150), finding the perfect space, negotiating with caterers, writing our vows...

And, oh yeah, buying those tickets to Los Angeles.

Ben Smith reports on Politico today that McCain is fluffing up his feathers for a fight on gay marriage:

Looking for a fight on marriage

John McCain isn't perfect, from the conservative perspective, on same-sex marriage, opposing a constitutional amendment to ban it.

But he is well to Obama's right, and his statement today on California's marriage referendum aims to make that clear:

I welcome the news that the people of California will have the opportunity to decide on the question of the definition of marriage, rather than having that decision made by judicial fiat as the California Supreme Court asserted in their recent ruling.

The question is... Will democrats or moderate republicans fall for it?

When the Reverend Wright brouhaha came to the fore, many of my fellow gays (presumably Clinton supporters) would roll their eyes and moan, "I can just guess how he feels about gays..."

Can you? I would ask. If fact, as reported in Windy City Times at the time, many Chicago-area GLBTs came out in support of Wright specifically because of his support (and Trinity United's) of the gay community. In particular, the church, with Wright at its helm, was at the forefront of AIDS ministry.

The assumption that Wright would be anti-gay is evidence, I think, of the persistence of the canard that African-Americans are overwhelmingly homophobic. In that sense, I feel like the presumption that Wright is anti-gay bares, in my opinion, a twinge of racist sterotyping.