thomascwaters - Latest Comments

Re: AIDS foundation asks Congress, FDA to investigate Gilead

Ana Patricia Contreras — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 14:51:21 -0000

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Re: Tone Deaf DNC

allen801 — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:59:07 -0000

You nailed it. The DNC is playing with the same old song and dance bullshit ... passing the TPP, when everybody in the country, except people shielded inside the beltway, knows someone who has lost their job to "FREE TRADE". and then you have TRUMP who will murder HRC in the midwest on this one issue alone. And SHE WILL BE TOAST. And i say this as someone who cast my vote for Bernie because I have personally seen the devastating effects of free trade in my home state of Connecticut. A once proud manufacturing state.

Re: How Pride Needs to Change Post Orlando

Tom Lorenzi — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 11:22:33 -0000

Just curious about your statement "Actual security is made a primary effort during planning". Are you saying that the organizers of Pride or the city doesn't take security seriously?

Re: Monster and the Masculine Bar Controversy

tcwaters — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 13:49:19 -0000

Thanks for adding your ideas. I would have agreed with you that it didn't need to be written except that days after the controversy, someone brought it up to me in person, at an event utterly unrelated. As I thought about what he shared with me, I became convinced that something needed to be said.

I like your comment about asking questions or offering suggestions. It is hard sometimes to remember to take a deep breath and do that when faced with something offensive, but you are quite right.

I don't agree that "everyone could see that David wasn't a good promoter." That only became apparent as the thread grew and grew. And I'm not sure that he had the best of intentions, but speculating one way or the other really isn't relevant. Again, thanks for posting a comment.

Re: Monster and the Masculine Bar Controversy

Mike Hirshberg — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 13:45:06 -0000

I see your point but and I read the thread. More than anything I found it to identify a bigger problem in our community, a lack of understanding. I think most of those people could see that David Stanton isn't the best promoter but his intentions were good. I'm all for inclusion, but those gay men did what exactly what we ought to be evolving past (and this goes for you too) they jumped down his throat instead of asking questions or suggesting solutions and your article is only perpetuating drama. This didn't need to be written.

Re: Sexism and Gender Inequality

tcwaters — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 20:36:56 -0000

Thx for the comment!

Re: Pittsburgh Police and Overtime Pay

tcwaters — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 20:35:51 -0000

Thanks for the comment. Starting pay is in the low $60's. I'd be interested to know what you feel an adequate salary would be.

Re: Sexism and Gender Inequality

Vannevar Bush — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 19:00:16 -0000

Quite right; it's definitely all about male privilege, male hegemony, and the second-class status of women and children as creatures that need to be protected. My compliments, sir.

Re: Pittsburgh Police and Overtime Pay

Vannevar Bush — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 18:52:22 -0000

If I may - and I'm not any sort of an insider in this discussion - it seems to me that Pgh Police base-pay has atrophied for at least a decade. Many officers will find a position with PghPolice and after establishing their credentials, take a job in a suburban dept that pays better. I wouldn't take the job for the pay that Pgh offers.

The City of Pgh, in previous administrations, probably knew what they were doing when they allowed privately funded overtime - which to me is mercenary money and a civic shame. But they didn't pay the cops enough, so they offered another way to get them some money via external OT. In doing so, the City forfeited some moral authority.

In the specific instance cited - an officer suspended, drawing full pay, seeking OT that he never worked - that's excessive, fraudulent, abuse. In general, the entire private OT scheme is corrupt. But IMO, previous administrations have built the system of external OT to avoid paying a proper wage, and the result is that *some* police officers have (accurately) realized that they're livelihood comes from the secondary details - paid for by business, administered by the FOP.

It's not just the FOP; it's the City's failure to pay a decent wage in a process that would ensure the Officers know who their employer really is. Just my .02.

Re: The Danger of ‘Bernie or Bust.’

Vannevar Bush — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 18:31:11 -0000

Spot on. I hope to get to vote for Bernie. If Bernie's not the candidate and Hillary is, then I'm voting Hillary. I genuinely hope that the B-or-bust (or H-or-bust) is just social media bluster amplified by conflict-seeking media. I personally haven't found anybody in my sphere who's adopting a MyWay orTheHighway as a response to the other party's candidate.

Re: The coming segregation against the gays?

Michael David Barber Moghul — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:11:15 -0000

Religion should be scrubbed from all legislation. That we allow our taxes to fund it shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the 1st Amendment. Join Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Re: Update: SCOTUS Prop 8 Arguments

tcwaters — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:13:25 -0000

Thanks for looking that up Steve! I think the other cornerstone case to consider is Brown v Bd of Education which was also a unanimous decision. In the case of Brown, the Justices asked the two side to present ora arguments TWICE. The Chief Justice at the time, Thurgood Marshall, was very concerned about the type of message they would send, and when they were not unanimous at first, he ordered another set of oral arguments on more specific questions.

Re: Update: SCOTUS Prop 8 Arguments

Steve 907 — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:46:26 -0000

Oops, I just looked it up. In 1967 Chief Justice Warren delivered a unanimous decision in Loving vs. Virginia.

Re: Update: SCOTUS Prop 8 Arguments

Steve 907 — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:40:04 -0000

I wonder how divided the Court was in the Loving decision striking down laws against inter-racial marriage.

Re: Do gays and lesbians exist?

tcwaters — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:58:39 -0000

From LinkedIn:

I hadn't thought of it that way, but now I can see what he means. You raise an excellent point that the marriage issue really is ultimately more about gender and that the way it has primarily been framed has obscured that.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

tcwaters — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:38:24 -0000

Eddie, REAL change comes when people can disagree without having to resort to personal attacks. You need a reality check as to what you are actually accomplishing.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

Eddie Alkurabi — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:34:41 -0000

We will, In due time =).. Keep fighting although we disagree somewhat.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

tcwaters — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:29:14 -0000

Eddie, You still seem unable to talk to the points I made as I criticized GetEqual SPECIFICALLY about a Press Release that revolved entirely around Marriage Equality. The personal attacks are really useless and it is part of why "activists" like you are so unsuccessful.

As for income inequality, and especially Trans issues, take a few minutes to read my blog, and you will find I write extensively about Trans issues and have been critical of many Marriage supporters precisely because gaining support for marriage still leaves many many of the LGBTQ community out. In other words, you are just trying to attack me.

I have written a lot about the real need for Direct Action, and have said positive things about GetEqual. A press release, isn't a Direct Action. I hope GetEqual returns to Direct Action, where it can do good.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

Eddie Alkurabi — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:09:48 -0000

While, you cheer lead for "marriage quality" I'll talk about how LGB and T have an interesting amount of Income Inequality, workplace protections, housing.. as what sane people call them "Rights".. ? Or to you get your talking points from James O'Keeffe and breidbart ? Silly Man.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

tcwaters — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:42:34 -0000

Michael,

Thanks for adding your comment, but I think you have not understood what I said. I never said that the work of GetEqual is empty rhetoric. I think, and have written before that direct action is extremely important and I'm glad a group like GE does it. But a press release isn't direct action, and I do believe a press release is empty rhetoric. Like too many activists, you seem to take what is said in an all or nothing way, and personally, instead of actually reading what I write.

As for your comment about Prop 8 and 2010, I think there are plenty of PhD dissertations which will be written on California and the Prop 8 journey from 2008 onward. I don't suggest I have any more thorough view of it all than anyone else, and probably less than many. AND, I utterly agree that the efforts following 2008 with the large groups as well as the HRC demonstrate the NEED for direct action groups. But let me say this really loud: A PRESS RELEASE CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT ISN'T DIRECT ACTION.

Check out this post for a further explanation of my points: http://thomascwaters.com/20...

I have said positive things about Get Equal, and negative things. Same about GLAAD and other groups. In my experience, no one welcomes negative comments about something they feel strongly about, but that doesn't make my points wrong.

BTW, I was around during Act Up too. Get Equal is NO Act Up. I expect there is much great work Get Equal can do, but press release criticizing the President, isn't IMHO a part of that.

Re: GetEqual Doesn’t Get It.

Michael — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:27:10 -0000

Okay, I'm just seeing this which says a lot about what I'm doing these days as far as activism goes (and that's on purpose) . I like reading your work Mr. Waters and I was also very much involved wit h GE in the early years. To suggest that their work is "empty rhetoric " is simply ill informed on your part.

I was also around in the days of ACT-UP and the amazing work that they did , GE was on a much smaller scale but they did have an awful lot to do with the repeal of DADT, I know, I was boots on the ground with GE and my USMC Vet. Husband. I don't think your insane actually far from it, however this type of post is what is keeping the modern LGBT movement absolutely complacent and that's the last thing we need.

Try seeing it from a different view. As for prop 8, and I am Californian a 2010 ballot measure would have wrapped that up but our community for the most part was too busy eating "e" and dancing on the speakers to care . And Equality California and Courage Campaign saw a great opportunity to make a fast buck and they did.

Re: A Gay Man Watches Thurgood at Pittsburgh Public Theater

Maggie Folan — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:59:32 -0000

Well said Tom.

Re: When City Council Can’t Listen.

Rauterkus — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:29:56 -0000

Name names.

Re: Anti-gay zeal creates criminals: VA Pastor sentenced for aiding in kidnapping.

tcwaters — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:46:40 -0000

From LinkIn:

Here, here! Interesting how we three 'strangers' are merging in our new-found commonality of thoughts, analysis and 'forecasting'... LOL. As a former traditionalist Roman Catholic (and former long-term seminarian) I know that the Catholic mystics and the Marian apparitions of Fatima, and others, all convey a message that both implicitly and explicitly state that these changes were, are and will happen in this era. The core item that fires up the religious zealots: their collective, extreme interpretation of such messages - extreme to the point of responding in the capacity and to the point of extremism - especially in the political and educational realms. As I've said before: what's most remarkable to me is that they're ALL doing essentially the same thing at the same time!!! Left unmitigated, these 'forces' (whatever their numbers are) will absolutely keep the fires raging until they ultimately get what they want - just as the rest of us are doing! Where does all this lead? I'll let y'all take this trains of history, fact, action and direction to their logical and inevitable ends......

http://www.linkedin.com/gro...

Re: Anti-gay zeal creates criminals: VA Pastor sentenced for aiding in kidnapping.

tcwaters — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:12:15 -0000

Here is a link to info about Arthur Schlessinger, mentioned in one of the comments: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik....