There are many in the gay community that are backing John Kerry with enthusiasm. In some ways, I can't blame them since the GOP seems to be going out of its way to kick gay Republicans out of the party. However, before Kerry get crowned as the new messiah of the gay community, people might just want to take notice of something.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Kerry backed the recently approved same sex marriage ban in Missouri. Here is Kerry's take on the Missouri ban:
"We support nondiscrimination against our fellow Americans," Kerry said. "We've always argued the states will be capable of taking care of this by themselves. Massachusetts and Missouri are proving they are capable of taking care of it by themselves. [That] I think bears out that we didn't need a [federal] constitutional amendment in order to do what's right."
So let me get this straight. It's bad to discrimate against gay people. It's bad to put that in the federal constitution. However, if a state decides to do the exact same thing, well, then it's okay. States rights, don't you know.
Kerry seems to want it both ways. He thinks it's wrong to be bigoted against gays, but seems fine with the states barring people from getting married if they happen to be of the same sex. So in essence, it's wrong to discriminate at the federal level, but at the state level, anything goes.
Uh huh.
What's even more interesting is the response from the Human Rights Campaign one the nation's premier gay rights groups. Here is a quote from their communications director:
"This is consistent with what he's been saying all along,'' Steven Fisher, the group's communications director, said.
That's it? George Bush is doing almost the exact same thing and HRC is asking for his head. Why in the world are they not screaming bloody murder?
Listen, I'm not here to defend Bush's stance. It was an act of cowardice to shore up the religious right. He lost my vote the day he did that. But for goodness sakes, people should be willing to at least mildly criticize John Kerry for supporting a discriminatory ban passed on a state level. Yes, I know Missouri is a swing state and all, but please, this is about freedom. Does he have to sell us out in order to win this state? And does the gay community have any sense of courage to even summon up a mild rebuke?
Is Kerry better than Bush on gay rights. Yeah, but that's not saying much.
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We need a third party that champions personal rights (government off of defining marriage except that it is between two people), is moderate on abortion, supports free trade, supports government in adjusting to free trade, supports research and science unconditionally. Supports small buisness, medical insurance for working people. On international policy this party needs to champion human rights no matter the cost, speak up for the enviorment, support fully family planning measures, aids drugs, against all dictators, for freedom everywhere. Uses trade to bring autocracy to an end like in cuba use the china model.
Amit
Hi. Can someone tell me what the terms
ABB(Kerry)
and
ABK08 group
mean?
Thanks!
Jerry
Bob,
Regarding your question "Why is it so hard? You either support gay rights or you don't!"...
If only it were that simple...it should be, but for many people it isn't. I am a straight female. I fully support gay marriage. For me, it is that simple. However, I think so many factors come into play for a lot of straight people. I am NOT condoning the following, just offering up some possible reasons. There really is nothing new here, but...
1. People fear what they don't understand and/or what they don't know. For some reason, since they can't "understand" (whatever that means) homosexuality they can't fully appreciate the simplicity of equal rights for this group.
2. Try as they might, many people can't escape what they were taught at home. Assuming that homosexuality was even discussed in the home (years ago... the formulative years) chances are there were many derogatory, prejudicial terms used. People may want to accept "equal rights for all..." but can't cross that bridge.
3. The "religious" factor"...I'm not even going to go there.
4. I'm sure there are so many more obstacles that they can't get through.
5. Oh yeah, I hate to say it but I think many heterosexual people cannot "get past the bedroom" in their mind's eye. Because of that they don't first see the loving, supportive, nurturing, responsible, hard-working, committed couples/individuals.
6. Child rearing: I have heard so many people talk about "if a child is raised in a homosexual household then he/she will 'grow up' to be gay." I cannot get them to understand that it doesn't work that way. Otherwise, there would be no gays because most people (gay/straight) are/were raised by heterosexuals. Ignorance is not bliss.
I am so grateful to my mother. When I was a little girl, I heard kids in the neighborhood referring to two women who lived together as "dikes". I didn't know what any of that was about. At one point, I used the word in front of my mother. She asked me where I had heard the word and if I knew what it meant. This is how she defined homosexuality to me:
"you know how mommy loves daddy and daddy loves mommy? Well, there are some men who love men and some women who love women."
Period. That was it. No adjectives, no judgements, just simple words, statements of facts. So, as I got older and started to understand more about the facts of life - I was like, "o.k. fine...some men love men, some women love women."
It should be that simple. It is that simple...as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, for many people it isn't that simple...yet.
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle at August 11, 2004 11:56 PMYeah, Brian, I opposed invading Iraq. Part of why I opposed it was that it looked to me like a many-year commitment for American troops in an extremely bloody part of the world.
So now we're there. And it's looking like we'll be there for at least a few more years, and the number of American servicepeople who have died there has surpassed 930.
Given that, I want a grown up in charge. I want an administration that will deal with out allies in a real attempt to get some boots on the ground. Kerry might fail in that endeavor, but Bush already has.
One senator opposed the PATRIOT Act, Russ Feingold. He was never in the race.
I support gay marriage, which has a hell of a better chance of evolving into the law without a constitutional amendment at the federal level.
Mental contortions? I keep hearing that, but I don't see it.
Posted by: shamanic at August 10, 2004 04:34 PMThe ABB crowd is hysterical, bordering on irrational. They oppose the Iraq war but will support Kerry who voted for it. They oppose the Patriot Act but will support Kerry who voted for it. Many of them, as you point out, support gay marriage but will support Kerry who is against it.
I will vote for Bush when hell freezes over. I despise what he's doing to the country. But I can't muster the massive mental contortions necessary to vote for Kerry.
I hope Nader's on NY's ballot.
Posted by: Brian at August 10, 2004 01:31 PMPersonally, I plan to vote for ABB(Kerry) on November 2nd and start supporting some ABK08 group the minute Bush concedes.
Posted by: William Bollinger at August 10, 2004 09:02 AMThe five Vermont Republicans who lost their seats in primary battles for voting for the first Civil Union bill in the nation and
who made sure that every single right outlined in the Vermont Constitution and Vermont law applied equally to heterosexual and homosexual Vermonters (every right but one - same-sex couples do not have the right to call their unions marriage)
are a fine example of politics with principle.
Posted by: dorsano at August 9, 2004 11:56 PM
Will someone please help me understand, "Why is it so difficult to stand up and say ALL People should be treated equally regardless of sexual or gender orientation?" Why is it so hard? You either support gay rights or you don't!
Posted by: Bob Faust at August 9, 2004 11:53 PM