Palm Center / UC Hastings
Aaron Belkin is director of the Palm Center, a nonprofit think-tank that works on issues related to sexual minorities in the military, and a professor of political science at San Francisco State University. He is the author of Bring Me Men: Military Masculinity and the Benign Facade of American Empire and How We Won: Progressive Lessons from the Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.
LGBT Equality in Military Service and the Boy Scouts Yesterday saw two developments regarding the rights of LGBT people. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced a plan to abolish what he called an "outdated" regulation that harms the armed forces: the ban on transgender people from serving openly in the military. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is now head of the Boy Scouts of America, approved a resolution dropping the blanket ban on openly gay scout leaders. Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center and a visiting professor at UC Hastings Law School, is author of Bring Me Men: Military Masculinity and the Benign Façade of American Empire .
Gender Identity and Civil Rights Former PFC Bradley Manning is now Chelsea Manning, spotlighting transgender rights in the military and beyond. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender movement has helped spread recognition of homosexual rights, but the "T" in LGBT has been silent. Now, state and local officials are grappling with protections for transgender people, including the choice of school bathrooms. The New York Times calls it the "next civil rights frontier." Will transgender sports figures reveal themselves? What about characters in films and TV? Movies tackling transgender issues: Normal Boys Don't Cry Orange Is the New Black Venus of Mars
'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Moves to Crucial Phase After decades of controversy, Congress recognized the right of blacks and women to serve in the US military. "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is a political compromise, signed by Bill Clinton, to get around granting equal treatment for gays and lesbians. With pressure building for repeal, the Pentagon surveyed the opinions of the active and reserve rank and file, timed for release on December 1. But last week, the results were leaked to the Washington Post .
What's the Future of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell?' After decades of controversy, Congress recognized the right of blacks and women to serve in the US military, perhaps making the armed services America's most thoroughly integrated institution – except when it comes to sexual orientation. While some states have legalized same-sex marriage, federal law says gays and lesbians can serve only if they're not "out." President Obama and Defense Secretary Gates want Congress to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the political compromise signed by Bill Clinton. John McCain and others see a threat to "combat effectiveness." We hear what a crucial Pentagon survey reveals about the rank and file. If it's not repealed in Congress, what about the courts?
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
