Obama Assembles Pragmatic Team, Tackles Economy

Here's a bit of a round-up of what's been happening in the transition...

Obama surrounding himself with pragmatists rather than ideologues: "The choices are as revealing of the new president as they are of his appointees — and suggest that, from its first days, an Obama White House will brim with big personalities and far more spirited debate than occurred among the largely like-minded advisers who populated President Bush’s first term."

Obama names economic team at press conference today: "With the financial crisis looming as a priority of his term, President-elect Barack Obama sought to put his imprint on efforts to stem the turmoil as he introduced his economic team on Monday, nominating Timothy F. Geithner as Treasury secretary and Lawrence H. Summers to head the White House Economic Council...The president-elect also announced that he had chosen Christina D. Romer to head his Council of Economic Advisers and Melody Barnes as director of his White House Domestic Policy Council. Ms. Romer is an economics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, while Ms. Barnes is a longtime aide to Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts."

Obama-Bush: Split-screen presidency....

Stimulus package Obama's Republicans almost all tied to Brent Scowcroft: "Mr. Scowcroft spoke by phone with President-elect Barack Obama last week, the latest in a months-long series of conversations between the two men about defense and foreign-policy issues, according to people familiar with the discussions. The relationship between the president-elect and the Republican heavyweight suggests that Mr. Scowcroft's views, which place a premium on an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, might hold sway in the Obama White House."

Obama friend: Plain old Barack is gone.

Who will replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate? "...the most high-profile potential candidate is Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has won praise during his two years in office. A Marist College poll had Mr. Cuomo comfortably leading a field of five potential replacements. Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez, Steve Israel, Nita M. Lowey and Gregory W. Meeks were all in single digits, while 43 percent of respondents favored Mr. Cuomo; 42 percent were unsure." But could it be Christine Quinn?

Robert Gibbs named as White House press secretary: "The director of communications will be Ellen Moran, the current executive director of the Washington group EMILY's List, an active supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Democratic presidential primary. Moran will join a team of longtime close advisers who will work closely with Obama on a daily basis."

The Obama transition as reality TV?

Obama's weekly YouTube address announcing he has directed his economic team to assemble an Economic Recovery Plan that will save or create 2.5 million more jobs by January of 2011, AFTER THE JUMP...

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EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Bloomberg to Announce Comprehensive Initiatives Combating Anti-Gay Bulling in NYC Schools

TOWLEROAD EXCLUSIVE:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City School Chancellor Joel Klein will announce a groundbreaking comprehensive initiative later this morning at the Department of Education (DOE) headquarters to address bias-related harassment, intimidation and bullying in the New York City School system. The new Chancellor’s Regulation, A-832, will make New York City’s efforts to combat bullying and harassment based on ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other factors among the most rigorous in the country and build on the city's “Respect for All” initiative, according to organizers.

"The new steps outlined today will help us make sure that all students are afforded a safe and harassment free environment in which to learn," said Senior Counselor to the Chancellor Brian Ellner. You may remember Ellner was an openly gay candidate for Manhattan Borough President in 2005.

In 2004, Bloomberg vetoed anti-bullying legislation for New York City's public schools that had been passed by the City Council. The stated basis for the veto was because of jurisdictional control and the Mayor argued that the City Council did not have authority to legislate issues concerning the health and safety in schools. At the time, the veto angered leaders throughout the LGBT community in New York City. There is currently a Dignity for All Students Act pending in the state legislature. Today's move may pressure state lawmakers to follow the city's lead and pass it.

The new regulations are being unveiled this morning in coordination with Randi Weingarten, the President of the United Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers, who is also openly lesbian; Alan Van Capelle, the executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Kevin Jennings, the founder and executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Thomas Krever, executive director of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, which includes the Harvey Milk High School, Drew Tagbliabue, the executive director of P-FLAG New York City, and local political leaders such as New York City Speaker Christine Quinn, State Senator Tom Duane and Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell (Rosie’s brother).

Said Bloomberg of the initiative: "Bullying and harassment impede our students’ ability to learn. When students are victims of bullying because of race, sexual orientation, or other factors, they simply cannot focus on learning, and we cannot allow that. Our students should always feel safe at school, and these initiatives will help ensure that they do. By holding students and administrators accountable, and by giving victims more opportunities to seek help, we can create safer schools with healthier learning environments. Enforcing the Chancellor’s Regulation will not only ensure that incidents of bullying are handled swiftly and appropriately, it will also help prevent such incidents in the first place."

The new regulation establishes a new email address, RespectForAll@schools.nyc.gov, where students who have experienced bullying behavior and are hesitant to report it to their school can turn for help.

Continued, AFTER THE JUMP...

According to the initiative's organizers, "The regulation also requires each school to create an annual plan to ensure that it has a safe and supportive learning environment and it establishes that schools must train students in the new regulations, so that they understand what behaviors constitute bias-based harassment and where to go for help if they believe they have been subjected to prohibited behavior by bullies. Under the new regulation, schools will report all complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying within 24 hours. They will also conduct full investigations, including interviews and written statements. In addition, the regulation requires staff members who either witness or are told about incidents to report them—and it says schools must contact the families of accused students. The DOE will also work with schools to take appropriate follow-up steps after incidents. This could include sending students to counseling, helping schools to train staff, or intervening to protect the safety of alleged victims."

Said Speaker Christine C. Quinn: "It is unacceptable for any student to feel unsafe in his or her own school, or be denied their right to a high quality education because they have to endure the emotional distress of discrimination or the physical torment of hazing,taunting, and bullying. These new regulations combined with the Respect for All Initiative will go a long way in ensuring that school officials and young people are appropriately informed and trained and that we are accurately tracking incidents of harassment as they occur. These uniform requirements will provide our students with the security of knowing that they have access to any help and support they need as the new school year begins."

Respect For All is a training program for school staff that prepares teachers, guidance counselors, and others to identify and address bullying, harassment, and intimidation.

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Someone Left NYC Pride Out In The Rain

On my own blog, I tend to be wordy. So of course I’m taking over Towleroad the day after Gay Pride Weekend. It’s impossible to summarize multiple events across the world too briefly, so my first couple of posts, devoted to Pride, will be anything but the lighter fare Andy promised from me.

Over one million turned out to watch approximately 500,000 march in New York City’s annual Gay Pride Parade, the 39th celebration since the Stonewall Riots (June 28, 1969). Intermittent showers soaked the throngs of participants and spectators, failing to dampen enthusiasm even as more than one pair of size 12 Prada pumps had their last hurrah.

New York’s David Paterson—the nation’s first legally blind governor—became the first governor to appear in the parade, eliciting loud cheers as he kicked off the march alongside New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Other politicos included Senator Charles Schumer (Hillary Clinton was not in attendance), openly gay New York State Senator Tom Duane and out lesbian Council Speaker (and possible mayoral candidate) Christine Quinn, who had this to say of Paterson:

“Politically and personally, thank you to Governor Paterson. What he did following on the great work in the assembly—sends a message that leadership isn't about waiting, it's about finding the opportunity. It's about finding the way to move progress and civil rights forward.”

Co-grand marshals were transsexual Dirty Sexy Money star and local girl Candis Cayne and activist Gilbert Baker, who created the rainbow flag.

My own experience with the stormy NYC parade? Put away wet, but not rode hard…

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News: Charlton Heston, Rickroll, Woody Harrelson, Singapore

Canadian PM Stephen Harper urged to repudiate gay slur by Saskatchewan MP Thomas Lukiwski: "The prime minister needs to deal with this issue directly and try to put it behind him as soon as possible. I think the prime minister has to personally say, 'I don't accept these comments, I repudiate them and it's not part of the party or the government or where its mind is at on a lot of these issues right now."

New book Uncle Bobby's Wedding teaches children about same-sex marriage: "Cute guinea pigs stand in for humans in this sensitive story in which Chloe is not concerned that her favorite uncle is marrying another male, only about how it will affect her close relationship with Uncle Bobby. When he assures her that they can still have fun together, she relaxes and gets into her role as flower girl. Sarah S. Brannen takes a calm, straightforward approach to this hot-button issue, as when Chloe asks her mother, 'How can Uncle Bobby get married?' Mama answers, 'When grown-up people love each other that much, they want to be married.'"

Woody Harrelson goes skinnydipping with Owen Wilson.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in slush fund scandal: "Chris Quinn could well become the first lesbian mayor of the largest city in the United States, but she could just as well end up indicted in a fiscal scandal that threatens to unravel what has been a political career marked by political savvy and unbounded ambition."

Charlton Heston dies at 83: "Although Heston talked about and praised the "brilliantly talented homosexuals" he worked with during his career, he was often accused of being homophobic, especially later in his life. In a 1997 speech at the Free Congress Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala, Heston was criticized by gay rights groups, including GLAAD, for derogatory remarks made toward the gay community. In the speech, Heston demonstrated both tolerance and discrimination against gays in almost equal measure. 'Many homosexuals are hugely talented artists and executives... also dear friends. I don't despise their lifestyle, though I don't share it,' Heston stated. 'As long as gay and lesbian Americans are as productive, law-abiding and private as the rest of us, I think America owes them absolute tolerance. It's the right thing to do. But on the other hand,' Heston continued. 'I find my blood pressure rising when Clinton's cultural shock troops participate in homosexual-rights fund-raisers but boycott gun-rights fund-raisers... and then claim it's time to place homosexual men in tents with Boy Scouts, and suggest that sperm donor babies born into lesbian relationships are somehow better served and more loved.'"

Censor board bans four films at Singapore Film Festival: "It said the films 'exceed the Film Classification Guidelines'. Board of Film Censors chairman Amy Chua said 'Arabs and Terrorism' and another film, 'David the Tolhildan', were "disallowed on account of their sympathetic portrayal of organisations deemed terrorist organisations by many countries...Another rejected film, 'A Jihad for Love' by gay Muslim film-maker Parvez Sharma, is about homosexual people living within Muslim communities, the festival said. In a statement, Chua said the film was disallowed because of 'the sensitive nature of the subject'."

JC ya later: Chace Crawford and Carrie Underwood broke up via text message.

The ugly homophobic truth about the RickRoll.

Protest as "ex-gay" group Exodus International holds convention in Fresno, California: "The opposing viewpoints echoed a debate that has played out across the country. The Orlando-based Exodus and a handful of other groups have sought to present what they describe as a Christian alternative to a gay lifestyle. But their efforts have inspired a backlash from people who say such an approach can lead to self-loathing. Saturday's protest was cordial. The protesters -- about a dozen -- kept their distance, and at one point, Exodus president Alan Chambers offered to bring them coffee. It was the last day of a three-day conference. About 150 people from all over California attended. It included talks by the mother of actress Anne Heche, who had a relationship with openly gay Ellen Degeneres, and Chambers, a formerly gay man who has since married a Fresno woman. They have two children."

Death by blogging: Can't say I don't relate.

Head of security for Siegfried and Roy details Roy Horn's instructions for him to cut up their deceased tiger Sahara and cremate it.

Moment of truth: Perez Hilton takes lie detector test over John Mayer make-out session.

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News: Boeing Dreamliner, Paula Abdul, Toilet Paper, Katie Couric

   San Francisco cop suspended for homophobic amateur videos wins appeal of suspension: "Cohen, an officer since 1995, shot videos showing officers responding to mock calls. One showed a homeless black woman railing against white people after apparently being hit by a patrol car. Another showed an officer ogling a woman he had stopped for a traffic violation. One officer was shown dressed as a transgender person, and a policewoman was filmed putting on lipstick during a mock drug raid. Another video showed officers attempting tai chi to vaguely Asian music, then heading into a massage parlor."

   Bachelor Andy Baldwin tries his best to bring back the Speedo.

   Scottish minister resigns post after Gaydar profile discovered. Source: "Jarvie separated from his wife in 2003 but they never divorced. His behavior has been causing concern in Falkland and Freuchie for some time. A minister who dresses up like a member of the Village People and is looking for married men for group sex might not be the best person to hold down the office of minister or chaplain. It's shocking to everyone. When his wife left he cut his hair and grew a goatee - everyone was waiting on him coming out."

   Radio station loses listeners after calling openly gay NYC City Council Speaker Christine Quinn a "nasty lesbo".

   POLL: 75% of Israelis would accept a gay child, despite the perceived difficulties.

   Telemundo host Luisa Fernanda loses job after calling gay man a Grouper: ''For me, it was just an association of words, comparing a fish to a fish. I had no idea it was an offensive word. I would be incapable of being homophobic.''

   Paula Abdul's reality show a step too far? "If only people see how cool I am mixing it up with my fans, then they won’t think I’m just Simon Cowell’s bimbo or a floozy pillfreak. They’ll see me as a sexy, supportive, fun little powerhouse. While it’s not clear that this logic seized anyone but Ms. Abdul, she still brought her vision to the screen. And no one has stopped her."

   REPORT: David Beckham made £300 million for Real Madrid in four years.

   Boeing unveils lightweight, carbon-composite Dreamliner 787.

   Brad Pitt and Archbishop Desmond Tutu talk gay rights: "I could not for any part of me be able to keep quiet, because people were being penalized, ostracized, treated as if they were less than human, because of something they could do nothing to change--their sexual orientation."

   Slap happy: don't dare use the word "sputum" in front of Katie Couric.

   Fort Lauderdale mayor targeted in toilet paper protest after disparaging comments about gays and public bathrooms: "'We are encouraging people to mail either a roll or several sheets of toilet paper to the mayor at City Hall to help him to wipe his dirty mind clean,' said Brian Winfield, spokesperson for Equality Florida, a gay rights organization that helped come up with the toilet paper protest Friday. The bathroom brouhaha started after Naugle's comments in a July 4 article in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel about the city's plan to buy a $250,000 self-cleaning robotic toilet for beachgoers. The high-tech commode could be programmed with a time limit, after which the door would fly open. In the article, Naugle was quoted as saying the toilet could prevent 'homosexual activity' that has occurred at other public restrooms."

   Lance Bass finds new love in Brazilian model.

   Gay Pride in NYC Bronx faces hostile reaction from Parks Department: "When they hear ‘pride event,’ they think it’s a bunch of riffraff or hooligans who are going to destroy their park. If we were the Boy Scouts of America, I don’t think we would have received such antagonism."

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Protestors Scold Gay NYC Council Speaker at LGBT Celebration

Protestors from the Radical Homosexual Agenda interrupted a celebration at New York's City Hall at a "Celebration of LGBT Pride" ceremony hosted by openly lesbian City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

Why? According to James Wagner, who reported on his blog:

"Because Quinn was the civilian agent for a secretly-negotiated agreement (there were no public hearings) with the NYPD which gives the police full authority to restrict public assembly and public speech (if more than 49 people get together anywhere, under any circumstances, they are all subject to arrest - unless they have applied to the police for a permit ahead of time and have received the department's approval). This policy was never submitted to the Council for consideration; no statute supports this agreement and practice; it is the creation of the Speaker herself."

According to Wagner, Quinn, who has thus far "made herself inaccessible to those who have sought to meet with her on this issue" said, after the protestors were removed, that "she was willing to meet with anyone who disagreed with her on the question of Police rules for assembly."

Radical Homosexual Agenda zaps Quinn on police authority [james wagner]

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News: Helen Thomas, Cheney Lies, Christine Quinn, Ricky Martin

Utah's shameful anti-gay school club laws set to take effect: "Next month, a 17-page law will take effect governing just about every nuance of public school extracurricular clubs, from kindergarten jump rope to high school drama. How groups can form, what they can discuss in their meetings, who can join, and what a principal must do if rules are violated are addressed. But the school clubs law, signed last week by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., was not really intended to rein in the rowdies down at the audio-visual club, some lawmakers said. The real target was homosexuality. 'This is all about gay-straight alliance clubs, and anybody who tells you different is lying,' said State Senator Scott D. McCoy, Democrat from Salt Lake City, who voted against the law."

Justice: 46-year news veteran Helen Thomas retains front row seat in White House briefing room.

Despite the fact that Bush promised of Valerie Plame leak "I want to get to the bottom of this. If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is," a White House official revealed at hearings late last week that (surprise!) it was never investigated.

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn makes St. Patty's Day statement in Dublin. Quinn: "The fact I'm here in Dublin and able to march and participate in inclusive events should send a message of how backwards the New York parade is. John Dunleavy obviously isn't interested in compromise. Last year he said allowing gays and lesbians into the parade would be the equivalent of letting the Ku Klux Klan march in a civil rights parade or the Nazis march in an Israeli Day parade. But he only represents a very small minority of people in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, so we eventually will get beyond this. The vast majority of AOH members, like the vast majority of Irish New Yorkers, are open-minded."

Riot strategy planned for Beckham games: "Police and LA Galaxy officials fear the arrival of Goldenballs could spark an invasion by English football hooligans."

Staten Island playwright presents Boys Just Wanna Have Fun about a NY cop who falls in love at a SI gay bar. Anthony Wilkinson: "Staten Island has a true reputation of being conservative and Republican and homophobic. Nobody who is gay in Manhattan, or even in Jersey, is going to run to Staten Island to spend the night in a gay bar. But as a whole Staten Island is very family-oriented, and that’s one of the positive things about it."

Ricky Martin named king of 50th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade. To head down Fifth Avenue on June 10th.

Inside the Dolce & Gabbana designer baby lab.

Decorated war veteran and Pennsylvania congressman Jack Murtha responds to Dick Cheney's assertion that a withdrawal from Iraq would result in chaos: "Why would I believe that? I mean, all the things that they have predicted have — everything I predicted turned out to be true. Nothing they predicted turned out to be true. Why would I believe there's going to be chaos in the Middle East just because they say it? The Iraqis don't believe that. The countries on the periphery don't believe that and the public doesn't believe it. The public wants us out. They spoke in the last election."

Is this how Paris Hilton persuades other artists to let her cover their singles? (warning: NSFW)

Corrupt politicos do battle as Tom Delay slams Newt Gingrich, citing Clinton impeachment. Delay: "It is now public knowledge that Newt Gingrich was having an affair with a staffer during the entire impeachment crisis. Clearly, men with such secrets are not likely to sound a high moral tone at a moment of national crisis."

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Like Quinn, Eliot Spitzer Says No to St. Pat's Parade

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer will not be marching in this weekend' St. Patrick's Day parade, making him the first governor in 12 years not to take part. Earlier this month, it was announced that openly gay New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn would refuse to march in the parade because of its policy against allowing gays and lesbians to march. Quinn decided she'll march in Dublin, Ireland instead.

It is being suggested that Spitzer is taking a stand against the policy as well:

"Though a source in the governor’s office refused to say if Spitzer was declining a place in the line of march in support of the continued exclusion of Irish gay groups, it is believed that the governor took this issue into consideration when making his decision not to participate. Spitzer has gone on record as a strong supporter of gay rights. The New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 1991 has denied permission to Irish gay and lesbian groups to march under their own banner, and a series of court challenges have failed to remove the ban."

In addition to his consistent support of gay rights and issues, Spitzer made a promise during his gubernatorial campaign to introduce legislation that would allow gays to marry in New York.

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