As the Democratic Primary draws near (Sept. 9th!) some more people are speaking out on the First Civil Court race in Brooklyn. I want to offer up the opinion of the Brooklyn Papers and Lambda Independent Democrats on Roger Adler and Devin Cohen (the two candidates running). Let me remind our readers of my standard disclaimer: one of the candidates, Devin Cohen, is a friend of mine, so I am biased.

That said, most people seem deeply disturbed by Roger Adler's anti-gay stands, ties to the Conservative Party, ties to jailed former machine head, Clarence Norman, and his public admission that he openly participates in a pay to play political system. By contrast people seem to like Devin Cohen for his even temperment and honesty. From what I can tell, Devin Cohen has practically all the endorsements while Roger Adler has more money.

The Brooklyn Paper has a pretty good rundown on both candidates. To quote:  read more »

Awhile back I wrote about Marty Markowitz decline from popular Brooklyn Clown to a vindictive, rampaging creep. Markowitz was shocked, SHOCKED I TELL YOU, at the vehement opposition to his becoming Bruce Ratner's Rat. He blamed extremists who don't understand him for the opposition (myself probably included).

Now he has another group of "extremists" who just "don't understand" the clown. Brooklyn's Gay and Lesbian community is outraged at Marty Markowitz's endorsement of the unqualified, homophobic Noach "Call Me Noah" Dear for judge.

From The Brooklyn Papers:

A Civil Court race pitting firebrand former Councilman Noach Dear against a lesser-known judge has been thrust into the spotlight by gay and lesbian activists because of Borough President Markowitz’s endorsement of Dear, who was rated as unqualified for the bench by the City Bar Association...  read more »

Two months into New Jersey's civil unions law, and over 200 same-sex couples now enjoy benefits equal to those of their married hetero--

Hold the phone!

According to the NY Times, many civilly united couples are being denied health insurance. In the case of one female couple, one of them may be denied coverage for a mammogram, because the insurance company won't list both partners as female.

This could have been predicted. In fact, it was predicted by many people. Even I predicted it last December on my own blog when I wrote:

The only way to eliminate discrimination in our laws against members of the LGBT community must include opening marriage to any two adults. Anything less denies the right to divorce, full child custody, and a host of other rights based solely on sexual or gender identity.

To all the legislators in New Jersey, I hate to say, "I told you so," but...

Larry Kramer, playwright (The Normal Heart) and founder of ACT UP, wrote an op-ed piece with the above title for the L.A. Times last Tuesday. If you're registered, or register online, you can see the entire piece here.

He lashes out in the piece at more than the "usual suspects," putting a lot of heat on Democrats and gays themselves. For the Democrats:

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama tried to duck the questions that Pace's bigotry raised, confirming what gay people know: that there is not one candidate running for public office anywhere who dares to come right out, unequivocally, and say decent, supportive things about us.

We have seen this time after time, even from supposedly progressive politicians such as President Clinton with his "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military and his support of the hideous Defense of Marriage Act.

For gay activists:

Our feeble gay movement confines most of its demands to marriage. But political candidates are not talking about — and we are not demanding that they talk about — equality. My lover and I don't want to get married just yet, but we sure want to be equal.  read more »

There are those who claim that Hillary Clinton is congenitally and pathologically unable to take a position, any position, on anything, other than that of insistent supplicant on the fundraising circuit.

These people are entirely wrong. Hillary is capable of taking at least one position: she wants the U.S. military presence in Iraq to continue into the first term as President this vain, substance-free woman has deluded herself into believing she can win.

E Pluribus Media:

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton foresees a "remaining military as well as political mission" in Iraq, and says that if elected president, she would keep a reduced military force there to fight Al Qaeda, deter Iranian aggression, protect the Kurds and possibly support the Iraqi military.

Or maybe these people are entirely correct. Asked whether she agreed with the recent comments by General Pace, who happens to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that homosexuality is immoral, she said:

"Well, I'm going to leave that to others to conclude."

Good thing that she's not running for President and people don't care what her opinion is, right? Oh wait, she is; never mind.

Every day that dawns brings a new reason to doubt Hillary Clinton. This is not leadership; it's leadering, something that looks like leadership, but is not. Too bad for Hillary that more and more Americans are noticing the difference.

[Update]: New York Blade says 'Hillary is a poor choice for gay voters'. Zing!