Rod 2.0:Beta

Please Take This Survey by The National LGBT Cancer Network

If you have five minutes or less, please help the National LGBT Cancer Networl.

The National LGBT Cancer Network wants to do something about the increasing prevalence of anal cancer in our community. First, we need to find out what people know about anal cancer. We are asking gay and bisexual men to complete a brief (5-minute) anonymous online survey to assess their knowledge of anal cancer. We are particularly interested in hearing from and hope that you will publicize this request through your blog, listserves, website, mailing lists. The more respondents we have, the more we learn.

In the general population, anal cancer is a rare disease, but among men who have sex with men (MSM), the incidence of anal cancer is 40% higher and increasing annually. However, the majority of gay men know little about the disease, have ever been tested for it, or even know that screening tests exist. Health care professionals, too, remain divided on how and whether to screen for it. In fact, a standardized screening protocol for anal cancer does not yet exist.

To participate, click here.

THANK YOU. To learn more about cancer in the LGBT community and the work of the National LGBT Cancer Network, please visit our website, www.cancer-network.org.

The survey is not an advertisement and Rod 2.0 makes no money from this. Please consider taking part and participating. It only takes a few minutes of your time. I took the survey and it only took three minutes.

Bishop Harry Jackson Now Follows Rod 2.0 on Twitter

Bishop Harry Jackson (@BishopHarry) takes a moment from gay-bashing and trying his best to prevent marriage equality in Washington D.C. to follow Rod 2.0 on Twitter.

Too bad his updates are protected. Would love to see if he Tweeted about fellow "moral leader" and anti-gay crusader Marion Barry's latest stalking and extra-marital sexcapades. Something tells me he didn't.

Let's ask him in Twitter.

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Conference Call

Running a little slow today obviously. Sitting in on a Senate conference call on health care and then have an intervieew. Will post after lunch.

Monday Off

Taking a long holiday weekend and today off. Back on Tuesday.

New BlackBerry and Lost Contacts

If you've following me over at Facebook or Twitter, you probably heard about my week without being able to use my BlackBerry. The new BOLD arrived this afternoon but unfortunately the contacts will not import from the SIM. If we've talked on the telephone, please email or Facebook your contact info. Many thanks!

Power Failure

Sorry for the late start. There are torrential thunderstorms and massive power failures out here in Chicago, and I have been without electricity all morning. Just getting up to speed and it's going to be a full day. Thanks for bearing with me.

Obama Signs Memo Extending Limited Federal Benefits; Repeats Opposition to DOMA on Television

President Barack Obama signs the Presidential Memo on Benefits and Non-Discrimination. The White House Fact Sheet on the memo is here. Previous coverage is here and here. The memo is here (PDF).

The event was carried live on CNN. The President used the opportunity to explain health care and retirement coverage are not included in the suite of benefits and, for the first time since taking office, publicly renewed calls to repeal DOMA. The President said: "We all have to acknowledge this is only one step. Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it."

The President reiterated calls for the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act (Lieberman and Collins) to pass so there can be equal benefits for federal employees.

In related news: Gender identity will become a protected class in federal hiring and promotions. On the White House conference call this afternoon, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, the highest-ranking openly gay in the Obama Administration said this on trans federal employees: "Gender identity will be added and made very clear in our guidance to federal agencies. Our argument is that is based on legal authority … that way it does not limit itself to the term of an administration. That is a new approach and a new argument."

Berry admits the benefits being offered today to same-sex partners have been previously available, but, says they were granted at a supervisor's discretion. "If you have an enlightened supervisor, yes, that is a possibility. What the president is doing today is making sure this is no longer optional. He's making this mandatory … it's now the policy of the federal government. This is the president of the United States confirming a mandate."

AFTER THE JUMP, via Law Dork and CNN, watch President Obama sign the memo. Also catch up on links to what other bloggers and gay organizations say about today's actions.

White House Conference Call on Benefits for Same-Sex Partners

Sorry, but it will be a little slow this afternoon. At 3P ET I'll be on the White House conference call with OPM Directore John Berry on federal benefits and non-discrimination. I'll have a write-up later, as well as plenty of posts not related to the White House and LGBT issues. Thanks.

Tech Issues

Having major problems posting on Typepad today. Should be posting over the weekend.

Running Late

Running late this morning. Should be up by noon.