Comments on: How McCain, Obama differ on gay marriage proposition
OK - all the candidates are towing the party line in an effort not to alienate voters before the election and I'm learning as I get older that there is really no difference between Republicans and Democrats. I consider myself a Libertarian but get nauseous thinking about Bob Barr after many run-ins with the man myself being from Atlanta for 22 years.But it is now lime to take a stand and tell ANY candidate that "if you're not with us - you're against us." Of course, Democrats don't want to bring up the gay word during elections because it gives the Republicans an issue to use against them. But Republicans aren't shy to drag out that old chestnut (even with the likes of Mark Foley and Larry Craig, etc...) to let people know they are the party to keep the gays down.
Funny, nothing really changed over the last 7.5 years with Bush/Cheney - and if anything, gays and lesbians are moving forward faster for equality. Marriage is breaking out all over the country, DODT is being ignored, HIV/AIDS is still getting attention (despite Lance Armstrong trying to push cancer as cooler and hipper), gay people are out of the ghettos and moving to all areas of the land, TV is embracing the gay culture with more and more realistic gay characters in TV and movies (fixing the damage Will and Grace did), and public opinion is changing toward LGBT issues with christian terrorists being ignore and berated.
So many Republicans and Christians have gay and lesbian children (Cheney comes to mind) negating the chance a Gay Holocast will happen in America.
And finally, the youth attitude toward gays is bubbling up through society as more and more under-30's start to influence the world with growing acceptance to gay rights and equality - much like the youths of the 1950/60's helped advance the civil rights movement of African-Americans. Homophobia and racism will still exist in the world but it will no longer be openly tolerated.
This presidential election will not the the pivital point in LGBT history. This is an election of ageism, sexism and racism - so it is time to start bringing the LGBT issue upfront on both parties. Gay/lesbian marriage and adoption will be the usual wedge issues along with guns and abortion. Evangelicals will be staying home because neither candidate is "christian conservative" enough. Kudos to Evangelicals for taking a stand!
Why can't the LGBT community do the same thing!
Much like many AIDS organizations fearing the end to AIDS (no AIDS, no high paying jobs/organizations), many gay rights groups love the status quo these days of being hated and discriminated against in order to have THEIR high paying jobs and limos and offices and status. It doesn't matter if these people make any advances in the fight for LGBT equality as long as they have their jobs and perks. Dinners, award shows and feel-good conferences doesn't really do the job these people are paid to do. It only adds to their elitist kingdoms to look down on the common gays and say to the wealthy they must pay to be let into the circle/club. (There are actually some gay groups in America that shun publicity and ACTUALLY work for our rights not looking for the glamour and recognition!)
So it's time to take a stand! It's time to put our heels down and say "enough is enough." Fight for US or "we will not fight/vote for you!"
And start more local groups - but do not model them against the existing A-list LGBT organizations.
Tom Dempsey
Editorial: How McCain, Obama differ on gay marriage proposition
Mercury News Editorial
Article Launched: 07/03/2008 01:31:47 AM PDT
John McCain's support for the initiative to ban gay marriage in California - Proposition 8 - was predictable, given his conservative base of support. But Barack Obama's opposition, announced this week, was not a given. Nor is it a flip-flop on principle, as his opposition claims.
Obama and McCain both have said they believe marriage should be between a man and woman. They part company on the impulse to legislate their personal belief in a way that removes rights now granted to Californians in the state constitution.
Make no mistake. This is a civil rights issue. Under law, only marriage confers certain legal rights of inheritance, medical decision-making and child custody.
The distinction Obama makes between personal belief and what should or should not be law is in keeping with American political tradition. Many Republicans and Democrats over the years have personally opposed abortion, for example, but would not take away a woman's right to make such a personal decision.
Granted, this nuance of thought and judgment makes for an easy target for Swift Boat crews revving up their political engines.
It also makes for a better president.
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_9773612
