If you're down on the National Mall this weekend and see, oh, 12,000 flags stuck in the ground, don't be alarmed. The Federal Government hasn't started an experimental flag farm, nor is the display an effort of the area's squirrels to show their patriotism. The flags have been planted to represent the 12,000 members of the United States military who have been discharged under the practice of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The policy, which governs......

Local LGBT activists are upset over a document distributed by the Washington Nationals, according to City Desk. The document details the team's Vendor Procurement Program and features Major League Baseball's affirmative action policy, which includes this portion:The Licensee shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or against any service recipient or applicant for services because of race, color, ethnic status, religion, sex, age, national origin, disable veteran status, Vietnam era veteran status,......

Written by DCist Contributor Fredo Alvarez In a 60-39 cloture vote, the U.S. Senate barely passed the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (S 1105) today as an amendment to the FY 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1585). The measure would expand protection against hate crimes to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, and would enable the Federal government to provide assistance in the investigation or prosecution of......

WTOP is reporting that D.C. police are investigating a weekend attack near Shaw nightclub Be Bar as a hate crime. The victim, an intern who works for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Human Rights Campaign, was first shouted at by his assailant with a derogatory term for homosexual, and then beaten up. The victim was taken to an area hospital and has since been released. The incident took place at 10th and O Streets NW in......

The recent antics of the anti-war ANSWER Coalition, including pasting signs on utility boxes advertising their planned protest this Saturday on the National Mall despite orders from the city not to, resulting in several arrests and thousands of dollars in fines, haven't won the group many new fans among locals. Even though the District is a heavily liberal town populated by people who mainly agree with their stand on the war, ANSWER's attitude toward the......

The Examiner reports on a $36,000 bill received by the organizers of the 2007 Capital Pride Festival from the D.C. police and the Emergency Management Agency, who say they need the money to pay for overtime and other costs for security incurred during the June festival. But the festival's organizers and some members of the D.C. Council are questioning the charges, since the agencies waived these same fees last year and other annual parades, like......

MONDAY: French journalist Sylvain Cypel will speak about his book Walled, a look at relations between Jews and Palestinians in Israel and the barriers — both cultural and physical — between the two groups. Politics and Prose, 7 p.m. D.C.-area Star Wars geeks will want to check out Olsson's Arlington/Courthouse, where science-fiction author Karen Traviss will be talking about her new novel Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice. We love Han, Chewie and the gang as......

Ah Easter. A day traditionally filled with brightly colored eggs and the bunnies that inexplicably lay them, a fat honeyed ham, and clusterbombs. Well, the last one may not be a tradition yet, but the Vineeta Foundation and a coalition of other peace advocacy groups including Code Pink, DAWN, Voters for Peace, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Democracy Rising, US Campaign to End the Occupation, Backbone Campaign, After Downing St., Iran Coalition......

Veteran gossip columnist Michael Musto is in town today promoting his new book, La Dolce Musto, a collection from his columns of the same name (he'll be at Nage Restaurant from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.). The bespectacled provocateur has spent 20 years at the Village Voice chronicling New York City’s gay life, nightlife and sex life, sometimes in terms that would make Candace Bushnell blush. Along with the tales of club kids, politics and sex......

Written by DCist Contributor Christopher Durocher. If the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has a month to call their own, it’s October. The month begins with National Coming Out Day and ends with Halloween — the gay equivalent to Christmas. It’s fitting, then, that the Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Committee used this month to present to Mayor Anthony Williams its Committee Report and Recommendations, a nine page document highlighting issues of concern to the......

Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher Opponents to Virginia's proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, including Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin and D.C. Council-member David Catania (I-At Large), will host a benefit tonight at the Human Rights Campaign's D.C. headquarters. The event is designed to bring together both members of the Virginia community who oppose the marriage ban, as well as District and Maryland residents who support their efforts. The benefit will raise money for......

By DCist contributor Christopher Durocher. This weekend, the Library of Congress, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) each honored the contributions of Franklin E. Kameny, an 81-year-old D.C. resident who has served as a civil rights icon for the past half a century. Kameny’s activism began in 1957, when he appealed his dismissal from the Army Map Service of being gay. He has continued to live an out, proud life......

So, apparently it rained last night...A tornado touched down in Severna Park, Maryland. The Post says that according to area utility companies, 30,000 customers across Maryland, Virginia and the District lost power last night. I know my Internet is out; can I blame the storm? In other news, today is the 116th birthday of Rock Creek Park: check out the National Park Service's list of activities celebrating the District's very own nature-y goodness. District Teen......

Debating Where to Debate: It was big news a few weeks back when Marie Johns challenged Adrian Fenty to a duel...errr...debate during a phone call she placed to a radio show Fenty was guesting on. The ambitious one-on-one challenge by Johns was set for August 12 at high noon...errr...9 a.m. But WTOP is reporting today that both Fenty and Johns may end up debating themselves, because they can't seemingly agree on a location for their......

Once again, everyone but the U.S. government might finally realize that the denial of voting rights for District residents is an affront to democracy and human rights. We've received word that Timothy Cooper, Executive Director of Worldrights, a human rights advocacy organization, testified on Monday before the United Nations' Human Rights Committee in Geneva. Cooper's grief? The lack of voting rights for District residents. In reference to the persistent injustice we constantly harp on, Cooper......

In a town as political as Washington, there are times that the line between day jobs and the life outside of work becomes increasingly blurry. We'd all like to think that once we leave the office, we leave the baggage that may come along with it. For Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, that may not be the case. The Thursday the D.C. Anti-War Network is planning on protesting Negroponte, whose long history in foreign......

Saturday marked the start of North Korean Freedom Week. The North Korean Freedom Coalition has a roster of events in the Beltway area that are aimed to get out the word regarding human rights atrocities and violations in North Korea; the Coalition's website notes that since the mid-1990's, an estimated 2 million North Koreans have died, families continue to starve and people continue to be tortured. Below are a few of the offerings:......

Known for her creative and daring works of modern dance, choreographer Maida Withers' latest work, Thresholds Crossed, is performed by a collection of U.S. and Russian dancers. Colored by the implied humor of Cold War era propaganda art, the work can be described as a unique fusion of dance, art, and political statement. It delves into the human rights issues that link, and belong to, the United States and Russia. A multi-media performance, it combines......

Think nonfiction is a dish best served on celluloid? Then you'll want to take note of a number of unique opportunities to catch these screenings of new documentary films in the area. Two Good Bets Tonight: The National Geographic Live! film series, in association with the DC Environmental Film Festival, is hosting a special screening of A Life Among Whales, winner of the 2006 Earthwatch Institute Film Award. The film, directed by Bill Haney, chronicles......

Many of us snickered upon hearing the news -- Marion Barry, the District's mayor-for-life and most infamous crack addict, had been caught again, victim of his own inability to stay away from illegal drugs. Just the same, some of Barry's defenders started coming out of the woodwork, celebrating a man who while imperfect was still a reason for hope for many of the city's residents. In today's edition of DC Watch's widely read online newsletter,......

Good morning, Washington. The Post reports today that an agreement has been reached on the development of the National Capital Medical Center. Howard University and city officials yesterday told the paper that a deal is complete outlining the placement of the $400 million hospital on the site of the former D.C. General Hospital in Southeast. The city will contribute $212 million toward construction, though Howard remains noncommital on how much care will be made available......

Today might be a slow day at work (no loss -- it may rain, and just in time for what looks to be a great weekend). After all, we here at DCist expect that everyone celebrated the Cinco de Mayo in style. How else could you recognize Mexico's 1862 victory over the hated French than with copious amounts of Mexican-themed drinks? Whether or not you joined DCist at our own Cinco de Mayo happy hour......

City officials are reeling after a member of D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams' cabinet was found dead in her home. Wanda Alston had served as advisor to the mayor as director of the D.C. Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs. She is pictured to the right in a photo from the Washington Blade printed in a story from last July about the selection of a new head for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration. The AP......

Editor's Note: With the breaking news out of Chile that a retired army chief suspected of human rights violations under dictator Augusto Pinochet has flung himself from a 18th floor balcony at a Santiago apartment tower to his death (say that in one breath?), we thought it was odd timing that we were working on a profile of a monument remembering another violent passage from the Pinochet era right here in D.C.: The Embassy Row......

(By DCist contributor Zoe Mitchell) According to a press release we've received, the activists who briefly occupied the Randall Shelter over Thanksgiving weekend are planning to drop by the Wilson Building today to listen in on a subcommittee's vote on the fate of the building, and perhaps take action. The Subcommittee on Human Rights, Latino Affairs and Property Management is scheduled to vote today at 3 p.m. on declaring the Randall Shelter surplus property. If......

A human rights group has sued two Somalis who now live in Northern Virginia for committing crimes against humanity. The Center for Justice has sued Mohamed Ali Samatar and Yusuf Abdi Ali "war crimes and other human rights abuses committed in Somalia in the 1980s during the brutal military regime of Somali dictator Siad Barré." (The photo is of Barré) The lawsuit is on behalf of a number of victims of the dictatorship. Here's some......

Amnesty International is utilizing star power to draw attention to a new exhibit on Sudan. The event, titled "Stop the Fires. Darfur." will feature "A collection of dramatic photographs and compelling testimony documenting the current human rights crisis in Darfur, Sudan," actress and Oscar Winner Mira Sorvino (IMDB) and "light refreshments." DCist had heard the event would also feature an appearance by D.C. native Dave Chappelle, but Amnesty International tells us he cancelled due to......

Anyone who's anyone in the human rights sector seems to be getting arrested these days at the Sudanese Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue near Sheridan Circle. Just yesterday, the founders of Ben and Jerry's ice cream were arrested on the embassy steps protesting the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Dafur region, something the House of Representatives classified as "genocide" in a recent resolution. Who will be next? Crosswalk.com says the arrests are becoming "trendy." Those arrested so......