Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

WATCH: Afghans Rally Against U.S. and Chant "Death to Obama"

This is exactly what we don't want to happen.

Hundreds of Afghans railed against the United States and called for President Barack Obama's death at a rally in Kabul to denounce an extreme evangelical church's plans to burn the Islamic holy book on September 11. The Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center has been denied a permit to set a bonfire and has vowed to proceed with the Koran-burning.

The crowd in Kabul, numbering as many as 500, chanted "Long live Islam" and "Death to America" as they listened to fiery speeches from members of parliament, provincial council deputies, and Islamic clerics who criticized the U.S. and demanded the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. Some threw rocks when a U.S. military convoy passed, but speakers shouted at them to stop and told police to arrest anyone who disobeyed. Protesters who had gathered in front of Kabul's Milad ul-Nabi mosque raised placards and flags emblazoned with slogans calling for the death of Obama, while police looked on. They burned American flags and a cardboard effigy of Dove World Outreach Center's pastor, Terry Jones, before dispersing peacefully.

The White House, State Department, NATO and neighboring nations in Southwest Asia and the Middle East have condemned Terry Jones for the proposed Koran-burning. The Wall Street Journal reports that Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, says the planned burning of Korans "could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort. Not just here [in Afghanistan], but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."

So much for "supporting the troops." Thanks a lot wingnut a-holes. Watch the video WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Zimbabwe Official Vows to Outlaw Homosexuality in New Constitution

In late March, the new coalition government in Zimbabwe began drafting its new constitution. And despite calls to include LGBT rights, Minister of Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa—seen above last March with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad—says he'll see to it that homosexuality is outlawed in new constitution.

Radio VOP Zimbabwe:

"Mutasa said the new document should contain stiff penalties to ensure those who indulged in homosexuality were dealt with severely. He said he had been angered by some Christian organisations, which were lobbying for the inclusion of gay rights in the new document.'We are surprised that some Christian organisations are advocating for gay rights to be included in the constitution, yet we know that gay marriages are even forbidden in the Bible,' Mutasa said.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe—who infamously described gays as "worse than dogs and pigs"—have also rejected calls to include gay rights in the new constitution.

Gay men and transgender women face widespread harassment, violence and rape in Zimbabwe, the U.S. State Department reported recently in its annual human rights survey.  Two gay activists were arrested and tortured last month. 

WATCH: Hillary Clinton Criticizes "Oppressive" Anti-Gay Ugandan Bill

Speaking today at Georgetown University, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a number of remarks on worldwide LGBT rights. (Full text HERE) Clinton described the proposed Ugandan bill that seeks the death penalty for gays as "oppressive" and expanded after her remarks:

There have been organized efforts to kill and maim gays and lesbians in some countries that we have spoken out about, and also conveyed our very strong concerns about to their governments... Then the example that I used of a piece of legislation in Uganda which would not only criminalize homosexuality but attach the death penalty to it. We have expressed our concerns directly, indirectly, and we will continue to do so. The bill has not gone through the Ugandan legislature, but it has a lot of public support by various groups, including religious leaders in Uganda. And we view it as a very serious potential violation of human rights.

So it is clear that across the world this is a new frontier in the minds of many people about how we protect the LGBT community, but it is at the top of our list because we see many instances where there is a very serious assault on the physical safety and an increasing effort to marginalize people. And we think it’s important for the United States to stand against that and to enlist others to join us in doing so.

Clinton also named Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Nigeria as having "serious" human rights violations toward its LGBT citizens. In 2007, the Nigeian parliament proposed extreme anti-gay legislation similar to the Ugandan bill. Thankfully, that has stalled under international pressure.

Clinton becomes the most senior member of the Obama Administration to personally speak against the bill. On Friday evening, after weeks of prodding, the White House finally issued a statement condemning the legislation.

Full text of Secretary Clinton's remarks are HERE. Watch the secretary's remarks AFTER THE JUMP.

LISTEN: Limbaugh "Agrees with the Taliban" and Bashes Obama's Nobel

Conservative commentators are engaging in an orgy of America-bashing over the selection of President Barack Obama as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Right-wing pill-popper Rush Limbaugh, the de facto head of the Republican Party, took the airwaves and "agrees" with the extremists in the Taliban that Obama doesn't "deserve" the award.

In a segment picked up by Media Matters, Limbaugh said: "Everybody is laughing. Our president is a worldwide joke. Do you realize something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn't deserve the award. Now that's hilarious, that I'm on the same side of something that the Taliban, and that we all are on the same side as the Taliban?'

There are some legitimate questions as to whether the President should have been awarded the prize—Obama acknowledged feeling somewhat undeserving—but he did not seek the honor. It's also quite rich that Limbaugh says "everyone is laughing" at the same time the international community says Obama has restored America's reputation.

Not a stretch to imagine the extreme anti-gay and anti-women Republicans side with the Talban. Will the dittohead tell this to our troops in Afghanistan? 

JUMP to listen.

Personal injury lawyers

Free accident claims advice

Mahmoud Ahmadeinjad: Iran Election "Most Free Anywhere"

Really? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad—whose "re-election" last month has been challenged by opponents and triggered global outrage—dismisses critics and said the balloting was "the most free election anywhere in the world."

Said Ahmadenijad in a nationally televised event: "It was a great event. ... No fault was discovered. The whole nation understood this."

The apparently rigged June 12 "election"  was followed by days of street demonstrations and massive civil unrest that led to the deaths of at least 20 protesters and the arrest of more than 1,000, according to state-owned media. Iranian opposition leaders are demanding the immediate release of hundreds of people arrested in a crackdowns and denounced the "brutal attacks" by security forces.

Obama Press Conference

Within the last eight minutes, President Barack Obama opened his fourth domestic press conference—you can watch on CNN.com—"as he seeks to re-focus the political debate amid criticism of his approach to the ongoing protests in Iran and lingering doubts about the state of the economy and the viability of his health care reform proposal."

Obama's opening remarks were on Iran and clean energy. It's very likely he will be asked about yesterday's news of a letter from 77 congressmen to end "Don't Ask, Don't tell" investigations, and, news the White House will host a LGBT Stonewall "celebration".

Radical Iraqi Shiite Cleric: Hate Gays But Do Not Kill Them

An update to the ongoing campaign of torture and murder of suspected gay men conducted by some religious extremists in Iraq. Moqtada Sadr, the powerful radical Shiite cleric, says the "depravity" of homosexuality must be eradicated but warned the anti-gay violence must stop, according to a spokesman quoted by the AFP.

" 'The purpose of the meetings is to fight the depravity and to urge the community to reject this phenomenon,' said Sheikh Wadea al-Atabi, referring to a Thursday seminar attended by clerics, tribal leaders and police. 'The only remedy to stop it is through preaching and guidance. There is no other way to put an end to it,' he said, stressing that the movement could not resort to violence after a series of killings of gay men in Baghdad. 'Al-Sadr rejects this type of violence ... and anyone who commits violence (against gays) will not be considered as being one of us.' "

Recent, gruesome attacks against suspected gays are increasing in Shiite neighborhoods, especially in the sprawling slum of Sadr City, Baghdad. Shiite-affiliated Iraqi militia have been accused of killing gay men and suspected gay men with horrific anal superglue torture. Amnesty International wrote a letter to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki last month urging government protection of homosexuals.

Sadr's motives are uncertain. But with the Iraqi government having limited authority and the United States unable to curtail the anti-gay violence—or indeed much of the other violence in Iraq—Moqtada Sadr is the only authority who can exert some influence. A radical Islamic cleric warning against anti-gay violence. Who would have thunk it?

Sadr Wants "Depraved" Homosexuality Eradicated [AFP]

Some Background ...
Iraqi Militia Killing Gay Men with Horrific Anal Torture? [R20]

Iraqi Militia Killing Gay Men with Horrific Anal Superglue Torture?

A horrific twist to the ongoing torture of suspected gay men in Iraq. The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reports: "The following is a translation of a story from Alarabiya, a UAE-based media network, which was published on its Arabic website. While IGLHRC has not verified all of the allegations, many are consistent with patterns of human rights violations being reported from within the country."

The translated text:

"A prominent Iraqi human rights activist says that Iraqi militia have deployed a painful form of torture against homosexuals by closing their anuses using 'Iranian gum.' ... Yina Mohammad told Alarabiya.net that, 'Iraqi militias have deployed an unprecedented form of torture against homosexuals by using a very strong glue that will close their anus.' 

"According to her, the new substance 'is known as the American hum, which is an Iranian-manufactured glue that if applied to the skin, sticks to it and can only be removed by surgery. After they glue the anuses of homosexuals, they give them a drink that causes diarrhea. Since the anus is closed, the diarrhea causes death.

"Videos of this form of torture are being distributed on mobile cellphones in Iraq. According to this human rights activist, for the past 3 weeks a crackdown on homosexuals has been going on based on a religious decree that demands their death; dozens have been targeted. She says that the persecution of homosexuals is not confined to the Shiite clerics. Some Sunni leaders have also declared the death penalty for sodomy on satellite channels."

Iraqi LGBT in London confirms recent, gruesome attacks against suspected gays are increasing in Shiite neighborhoods, especially in Sadr City, Baghdad. The violence is suspected to be the work of  the Hezbollah-affliliated Mahdi Army (above) and the newer Ahl al-Haq. Iraqi LGBT activists say more than 60 gay men have been tortured. Some went to hospital "and in some cases were refused treatment."

Since the new administration will not condemn or prosecute torture committed by the previous administration in Iraq and Guantanamo, it's probably useless to demand the White House to act on this matter. But at least the Iraqis they have "democracy" now, right?

Personal injury lawyers

Free accident claims advice

Ahmadenijad Congratulates Obama

Barack Obama's victory brings an instant change in foreign relations. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the controversial president of Iran and a thorn in the side of Washington for decades, congratulates President-elect Barack Obama. The first time an Iranian leader has offered best wishes to a American president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, the president praised Obama's victory as "important in future relations between the U.S. and Asia and the Middle East" and applauded the end of what it termed "Bush's defeated policies."

"I hope you will prefer real public interests and justice to the never-ending demands of a selfish minority and seize the opportunity to serve people so that you will be remembered with high esteem," Ahmadinejad told Obama in his statement, IRNA said.

During the primary season CNN and other networks somewhat ridiculously compared Obama's fashion aesthetic to that of the Iranian presidnet. For whatever reason, it's good to see Ahmadenijad wants a dialogue with our new president.

Ahmadenijad Welcomes Obama Change [CNN]

You May Want to Read ...
Video of CNN Comparing Obama to Axis of Evil [R20]
CNN Compares Barack Obama to Ahmadinejad [R20]
Ahmadinejad Will Free 15 Captive British Sailors [R20]
Ahmadinejad Says He Was Misquoted on Gays [R20]

Report: Joe Lieberman on McCain's VP "Short List"

Can't say you didn't see this coming. The Financial Times reports Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign is "vetting" uber-McCain groupie Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) as a potential vice presidential running mate. Lieberman was the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee in 2000, and, has broken ranks with the Democratic caucus with his outspoken cheerleading for McCain, the Iraq War troop escalation and Iran, among other positions.

One strategist says, "[McCain] loves Lieberman. And he is on the [short-]list because Lieberman has never embarrassed anyone, never misspoken. The first rule is, don’t take someone who costs you votes." Last week, Rod 2.0 reported Lieberman will likely attend the Republican National Convention may have a prominent speaking roles.

Lieberman ‘On McCain Short-List’ [FT]

You May Want to Read ...
Lieberman to Keynote Republican Convention? [R20]