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Air Force Nurse Wins Appeal, Clears Path For Gay Servicemen to Sue the Military

Posted 5/22/08 1:01 pm EST by in Activism, trials

majorwitt

Happy Fleet Week! While NY has been overtaken by young men and women fresh off their boats, an Air Force nurse is suing the Air Force over firing her for being a lesbian.

Major Margaret Witt spent 18 years as a flight nurse before she was suspended in 2004 (two years short of full retirement benefits). Despite a citation for her work from President Bush, someone called the Air Force and told them they were shocked, shocked! to learn Major Margaret was having a romantic relationship with a civilian woman. The military claimed this violated their "don't ask, don't tell" policy. (Although it doesn't appear as though the individuals in the actual relationship "asked" or "told," now does it?)

"Don't ask, don't tell" has been around since 1993, when President Bill Clinton introduced it as a compromise between an outright ban of gays and lesbians in the military and letting patriotic Americans serve their country regardless of who they happen to love. This left the door (um closet?) open for plenty of complications and more than a little bitterness.

Anyway, back to Major Margaret. She first sued the Air Force back in 2006, but a judge threw her case out. Then yesterday, a federal appeals court overturned that decision and possibly cleared the way for other former servicemen and women to sue the military. Now perhaps all of those Arabic translators who got booted for being gay can get their jobs back and help our soldiers and Marines understand what everyone's saying to them in Iraq.

Oh, and on a related note: Ellen DeGeneres and John McCain did a complicated little dance around the topic of gay marriage on her show...

MTV News Exclusive: T.I. Speaks to Atlanta Kids As Part of His Community Service

Posted 5/21/08 5:14 pm EST by in Activism, Behind The Scenes, Music


Last weekend, MTV News sent Sway, Shaheem, and producer Joseph Patel down to Atlanta to hang with T.I. They interviewed him at his home, and, on the day after his new son was born, even followed him as he performed his court-mandated community service -- something no media outlet has filmed before. And the biggest surprise of all? The man is an excellent public speaker. He really got the kids worked up.

Check out the clip above, shot at ESPN Zone for a group of students as part of the Atlanta Education Fund Student Forum. T.I. talks in really plain terms about the point of staying in school.

You can read what T.I. has to say about the firearms bust here. And below is a snapshot of the community service form he must have signed every time he puts in an hour giving a talk like this one.


ticommunityserviceform

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Alleged Teen Rape Victim Asks For Help on YouTube

Posted 5/16/08 2:53 pm EST by in Activism, Internet, Tragedy, trials

Apparently, YouTube isn't just for stupid human tricks, song covers, and crazy campaign videos anymore.

A 16-year-old girl from Florida took her case to the Internet after prosecutors in Florida dropped rape charges against her 23-year-old alleged attacker. The intense video post is titled "A 16 year old rape victim needs help," and at this point has been viewed by nearly 300,000 people.

Of course, commenters on YouTube are well-known for being muuuuch more sympathetic than law enforcement officials and prosecutors. Comments have ranged from "She looks like she was asking for it" to "She is just a pissed-off hussie that wants the man prosecuted now that he dumped? her or whatever he did to her." Cool, guys. Thanks!

CNN picked up the story and spoke to the teenager about the whole thing. Sadly, this alleged victim's story isn't that uncommon: one in four young women in America have been sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). What is unusual here is the YouTube plea.

The girl has posted the alleged rapist's criminal case number, so we know this isn't a LonelyGirl15 situation. But what do you think about calling someone out as a rapist online? Is this an effective way to get help -- or is she opening herself up to more harm than good? And should the Internet serve as a court of public opinion when the actual judicial system has failed you?

The YouTube clip in question, after the jump. Read More...

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Ellen DeGeneres & Portia De Rossi Set to Marry, And It's Legal!

Posted 5/16/08 1:22 pm EST by in Activism, Weddings

(by Sarah Muller)



Here come the brides...Ellen DeGeneres and longtime girlfriend Portia De Rossi are getting hitched in a good, old-fashioned, legally recognized style.

Ellen announced the news while taping her show yesterday –- the same day California courts ruled against a ban on gay marriages. Studio audience members cheered and gave a standing ovation as Portia watched from the sidelines. (You might remember Portia from "Ally McBeal” and, more recently, “Nip/Tuck.”)

"I'm thrilled that the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage," she told The Advocate magazine yesterday. "I can't wait to get married. We all deserve the same rights, and I believe that someday...not allowing gays to marry will seem as absurd as not allowing women to vote."

Mazel tov!

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Steve Novick: The One-Handed Progressive Candidate Pearl Jam, R.E.M. & Death Cab Want You to Know About

Posted 5/14/08 11:50 am EST by in Activism, Campaign '08, Music



Steve Novick is a 4'9" populist with no time for Big Money, a hook for a hand, and a beer named for his hook hand. And in this charming campaign ad, he happily opens a brew for a pal...using his hook! Oh wait, did we mention that half of all of indie rock is backing the man's Senate run?

Politics cannot get better than this!

Novick is a Democrat running for Senate from Oregon. His supporters include R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard, Krist Novoselic, Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, Corin Tucker, the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, and Rufus Wainwright. Barack Obama clearly isn't the only candidate with major star power behind his campaign.

“We think people are looking for something a little different," the self-identified progressive told Politico. "And I’m little, and I’m different.”

Where did this guy come from??

Right now he's polling neck-to-neck with fellow Dem Jeff Merkley, who has the support of more establishment members of the party in next week's primary. The winner will face off against Republican Sen. Gordon Smith. If Novick wins the primary, Pearl Jam will play four east coast shows and donate the proceeds to Steve's campaign.

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George Clooney & Brad Pitt’s Charity Steps in to Help Myanmar

Posted 5/13/08 3:09 pm EST by in Activism, Tragedy

ClooneyNOOW

Yesterday, MTV News ran a story asking why there has been so little in the way of high-profile relief efforts to Myanmar in the wake of the devastating cyclone. With an estimated 100,000 dead and more than a million displaced, why aren’t we seeing celebrities rallying to the cause?

Well, the good people at Not On Our Watch, a non-profit dedicated towards ending mass atrocities around the world, read our story and emailed us some info. It turns out that the group -- founded in part by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle -- has given half a million dollars to Save the Children for emergency relief work in Myanmar (Burma). (That's twice the amount we initially reported.)

One of the key and incredibly tragic problems in bringing aid to the country has been their military government: the junta has delayed desperately needed food and supplies from being distributed to those who are in dire need. Aid workers from numerous international relief groups are still waiting for permission to enter the country, and supplies that have made it across the border have often been seized. Save the Children is one of the few agencies already at work inside the country.

Not On Our Watch has given $250,000 to Save the Children up front, and will match every additional dollar given to the aid group up to $250,000.

Here’s hoping this inspires plenty of people to help make a difference.

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Excellent Radiohead Waterbottles Give the Earth Some Love

Posted 5/9/08 4:32 pm EST by in Activism, Music, tour

radioheadwaterbottles

Did you know that more than 15 billion bottles of water are produced every single year?

And of that number, only 12 percent are actually recycled, meaning that nearly 40 million plastic bottles go into the trash or become litter every single day?

Yeah, neither did we. Luckily, the Gloomy Guses in Radiohead are always around to remind us of what a terrific job we're doing raping the planet. This time their helpful reminder comes in the form of these custom-made water bottles, which they debuted onstage this past Monday at the kickoff of their North American tour in West Palm Beach, Florida.

And even though they're not exactly the most, uh, rocking bit of merch, we totally want one! If only so we can scrawl our name on the front, just like Thom Yorke does! (Oh yeah, and to save the environment or whatever.)

A quick look through the W.A.S.T.E. Shop on their official site didn't turn up a single mention of these Swiss-made beauties, so we're asking fans who've been lucky enough to catch Radiohead live for help: have they been selling the bottles at the merch table?

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Panic At the Disco Get (Cough) 'Green'

Posted 5/9/08 11:56 am EST by in Activism, Behind The Scenes, Interviews, Music, tour

panicintv

Now, personally, I always took the Panic At the Disco song “That Green Gentleman” to be more about the, um, 4:20 club than the Sierra Club, if ykwim. The band, however, wouldn’t cop to that when I talked to them yesterday…Whatever.

But Panic did want to talk about the environmental consciousness of their current trek, the 2008 Honda Civic Tour. Before each night’s show, singer Brendan Urie appears in a video, encouraging fans to take part in an “eco-contest” to decide how a large chunk of change raised on the tour will be used to help the planet. (For more info on that, go here.)

Brendan also explained to me that the band is working on the tour with two non-profit eco organizations: Reverb, which facilitates environmentally friendly touring; and Global Inheritance, which seeks to inspire more eco-activism. “Plus, at each show there’s a few things to get kids involved,” he told me. “Honda have a bike setup where you can charge your phone, and there’s pamphlets and information. Lots of good stuff.”

Ryan Ross said the band has been doing good things as well, from traveling on a biodiesel bus, to re-using plastics, and recycling more backstage. “It’s been cool for us because we’re young guys -- we’re still learning about what’s going on, too. So it’s been personal,” he said. “I think it’s been good for everybody to try and do a little something.”

Now fellas, back to this “Green Gentleman”? “Green can be so many things,” Brendan said with a smile. “You’re new to something…You’re jealous…It could be my favorite color…” But Ryan stopped me in my tracks: “You’ll never know, John. You’ll never know!”

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A DJ Saved Your Life -- What Have You Done For Him?

Posted 5/7/08 12:15 pm EST by in Activism, Music

FlashHallOfFame

The US economy is in shambles. We are faced with rising gas and food prices, an increase in home foreclosures, and the dwindling value of our dollar. In such trying times, it is easy to forget about some people and let them fall through the cracks. The people breaking their backs, lifting crates, and asking for a simple mic check…one, two, one, two.

This is why the Million DJ March must descend upon Washington, DC, on August 28th! The three-day event, which culminates on a march from the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument, will shed light on the plight of the DJ within the music industry. After all, even though our forefathers did not have wheels of steel, they most certainly would want us to appreciate those who spin them.

Despite saving all those lives last night, the march’s founder, A. Shaw, said that DJs are often harassed and legally penalized for their promotional efforts: “Label and major businesses who reap the rewards of default publicity need to pay attention and give more recognition and financial compensation to DJs for the promotion they provide, without which music sales would surely suffer."

The march is expected to attract DJs from across the globe -- most notably DJ Green Lantern -- feature performances, and highlight the DJs' decades of service to the industry. (Um, was Kool Herc at the Million Man March? Is that the connection...?)

Shaw said she hopes the event leads to a union to assist DJs, with a 401k and gig compensation security: “I am calling upon the industry to show support for an event to unify deejays and help create future economic safety for those that have chosen this art form as a career.”

That'll show them in Washington.

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50 Cent Meets Mandela -- And We Are There

Posted 5/1/08 11:38 am EST by in Activism, MTV News, Music

50mandela

This in from MTV News producer Joseph Patel, who’s currently on assignment in Africa with 50 Cent. That’s right: Africa. The rest of us are either at our NY desks, in LA traffic, or otherwise chained to the Tri-State area. (We hate you, Joseph.) Here's his report on just one of the incredible moments MTV News has captured in South Africa this week:

It's a crazy thing, my job.

Yesterday, super-production manager Phoenix Higgins, super-camera guy Nick Neofitidis, and I flew 18 hours from NYC to Johannesburg, for an assignment documenting 50 Cent and G-Unit's tour of South Africa and Tanzania.

This isn't JUST a tour. 50 is here to see and learn about the region and continent in a way that perhaps he didn't appreciate the last time he was here, in 2004. This morning, for example, we rushed to Hector Pieterson Memorial museum in Soweto to meet up with 50 and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, who was giving 50 a lesson on Apartheid and its effect on South Africa. Mandela's grandson is the spitting image of a young Nelson, and has a lot of his grandfather's austere diplomacy -- except he's young enough to know who 50 and Jay-Z are. After the tour, guided by Mandela's grandson, 50 gave out 20 dollar bills to the local kids before his car got mobbed and his manager made him speed away.

The picture above is a shot of the younger Mandela and 50, mobbed by some local Soweto kids outside the old Mandela family home. Everyone here knows who 50 Cent is, and is in a state of suspended disbelief that he is in their country.

We were on our way to the Apartheid Museum, at the entrance, in fact, when we were told by 50's tour manger that we had to turn around and head straight for Madiba's house.

(Find out who Madiba really is, after the jump...) Read More...

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