Arizona Anti-Gay Bills Move Forward

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/011205azBan.htm

Arizona lawmakers, already considering amending the state constitution to ban gay marriage, is now considering legislation to bar any government-sponsored benefits to domestic partners.

The proposal, by Republican Reps. Mark Anderson and Warde Nichols would insert the ban on benefits into the proposed amendment.

The pair said Tuesday that they want not only to protect the sanctity of marriage, but also to discourage unconventional unions.



what the hell are unconventional unions

and if they wanted to preserve the sanctity of marriage, talk to the straight people who have been the ones fucking it up for however long

[LeftCoast]

1. Hell, while they're at it why don't they legislate camps in the desert

with the words "Arbeit macht Straight" over the front gate. :grr:

edited to add: Fucking homophobes!

[cosmicdot]

24. considering Sheriff Arpaio's concentration prison camps ...

... they're already in existence ...

any new law or law change could alter who is incarcerated

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-33,GGLD:en&q=sheriff+arpaio+camps+maricopa+arizona

http://www.tgorski.com/news_analysis/Arpaio%20Eye%20Witness%20Reports%20Of%20Atrocities%20010715.htm

[handywork]

2. Assholes...

what the hell is wrong with people. Can't they just let people live thier lives???

[villager]

4. What was that about "getting government off our backs?"

oh right, just another one of their lies...

[Occulus]

9. These people want us back in the closet.

They're quietly present where I work- so quiet the only way I found out was when someone posted something about the anti-gay marriage amendment here in MI and someone else penciled in their wholehearted support of the measure.

The irony is, I don't know who they are, but I'd say it's a fair bet they know I'm gay, even though I haven't done anything specifically to "come out" to but one or two people there. Ah well, word spreads.

What I don't like and am not comfortable with is the trend I see toward pushing gay peoples' faces into the dirt more and more, and I fear it will only get worse. How long will it be, indeed, before our own government pushes to get homosexuality reclassified as a mental illness? How long would it be after that before the men in white coats started showing up?

Anti-discrimination legislation for the military, indeed. Perhaps that was from another thread, the one about the store clerk refusing to serve the marine and getting fired for it. The irony is, as a homosexual, I cannot openly serve in the military, but members of the military might someday receive nondiscrimination rights that I cannot ever myself receive. Then one wonders how gay people (who are known by others to be gay previously) will be treated when the draft starts.

My parents thought my being gay was a horror. They simply can't imagine what it's been like for me. Taunted, attacked verbally and at times physically as a kid, ignored. Later, fought for and earned respect from my peers, only to lose it and everything else when my parents found out I was gay. Thrown out, homeless, nobody to turn to, two weeks in my new bedroom in my new, shoddy apartment, not going to school. Falling grades, stress, suicidal thoughts. Not many friends. Grades bottoming out, lost second apartment when a prospective roommate skipped out on signing the lease. Slept under trees on campus and in friend's dorm rooms for a couple weeks. Moved back home, parents decided helping me pay for school was "a waste of their time and money." End of story, end of drams, end of joy, end of... life.

Nine years later, mom still holds my piano hostage and I'm wondering if I'll get carted off for being gay later on in the future.

WHAT. THE. FUCK.

[Maat]

11. Please hang in there!

I care!

I went through a lot - including rejection by my mother and father - because I want to get out of Substance Abuse Central - and go to college, even if it meant renting a room in a flea-infested house. I went through a similar situation and similar thoughts. That was over 20 years ago, and I went on to have a very happy life. It did not happen for awhile though.

And I'm a 46-year-old Mom, and a PLAGer due to a 'nephew.' We have to stand together and fight for what is right.

[Occulus]

12. I mentioned PLAG at the time to my parents

they wanted nothing at all to do with it.

Later on, they paid cash for a truck and a luxury car. My mom now has nearly $400,000 in savings, yet does the bare minimum for my sister and her three kids (even though mom knows they are in a bit of financial trouble) and has stepped in my home but maybe twelve times in the last decade- despite my living less than twenty miles away. I'm over her behavior, for the most part, but what she did in the past hurts today as badly as it did then. All I wanted to do was teach music to high school kids, I mean, come on, that's not too much to ask for....

Oh, and she told me a couple years ago that both she and my father knew I was musically talented when I was five years old but didn't do anything about it ebcause they didn't want to "put too much pressure on me." Instead, they had me playing soccer and baseball and allowed me to thusly make a fool out of myself in front of my peers at a very young age, and that over and over and over again. Yeah, nice work, guys. Fucking wonderful job.

They didn't even acknowledge my desire for music education until I was in middle school and signed up for band and choir on my own. I went on to earn over twenty solo/ensemble medals, was a member of the MSVA State Honors Choir twice, the Regional Honors Choir three times, sat first chair oboe at the MSBA Youth Arts Festival in their band (there was also an orchestra, but I prefer band music for some reason), and when I was 19 marched in the colorguard of the Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps (top six in DCI at the time). Oh, and from the age of thirteen I was composing and arranging music on an almost daily basis, almost always for my own amusement.

I still compose, but the joy of it was crushed a long, long time ago and I honestly just don't want to have much to do with music at all anymore. So, I guess, I don't know... share the story with the people at PLAG? Maybe, use me as an example of what can happen... I don't know...

She's still holding my piano hostage. It's the only instrument I can still play minimally well. To think, at one time, I taught myself how to play large segments of the piano score for "Rhapsody in Blue"- and all without lessons, too.... which they also wouldn't get me, even when I asked!!!

Do you get the impression these people just didn't want me to me involved in such a "sissy" activity? My father, to the day he died, never, ever apologized... or even directly brought the whole sad mess up. Even just between the two of us.

I'm still trying to pick up the pieces, to put myself back together. Sometimes I doubt I ever will.

[Maat]

18. Funny, I went through a similar experience.

My dad inherited the Big money from my paternal grandfather (who was there for me all of those years). Paternal Grandpa thought my dad would do the right thing. He helped very, very, very little over the years - maybe under $1,000. He (Dad) always promised me that I would be 'in charge of the $ one day.' I would be trustee, yada yada. Anyway, he and my mother had been divorced since '69. Suddenly, when he was getting poorly because of his drinking, a few months before the coma, my dearest mom started taking him to the doctor (unbeknowst to me). Well then, all of a sudden she's in charge of everything, and due to inherit a big chunk. A few weeks later, he goes into a coma, and bingo, she's in his house. I've just had to let it go!

You will find a way to get your own piano. I went back to law school (my dream) when I was 40 (better late than never). I made my own money, and, starting in my mid-twenties have made a nice middle-class life for myself.

How old are you anyway! Hell, I've had THREE great careers already.

Never despair! What goes around comes around! And I will go to PFLAG in your honor - and say a prayer for blessings (to you) each time.

Hang in there! I care! Your fellow DUers care! It is never to late to realize your dream, I say! And get thyself to a support group. Can you go to a PFLAG? DUers - what's a great support group?

With love,

Dawn

[Occulus]

19. I'm almost 30

but the fields I'm interested in (gaming and computer animation) are fairly "young" fields... I'm not sure I'll be able to start a career in it by the time I get out of school, which itself is yet a few years away. I'm trying to be patient, and trying very hard to position myself so that I can leave my postal job and go to school. By the time I'm done and in the field, I'll be almost 40!

[Maat]

21. *Yes, you can ... I did ... go in a new direction, that is.*

And ... he's doing very well right now with his own company. Besides, computer animation is helping out many places.

I'm 46 - so, I tell people, 'Hey, the law is going to be my FUN career!' One step at a time, one class at a time, one semester at a time, I always say! Never give up! I didn't pass the CalBar the first time last July, but, if I have to take it 47 times, I will. I will pass eventually. And I'll be stubborn, and live until I'm 90 - because I adopted my daughter at 40, and I HAVE to continue on - for her.

I began as an accountant in my 20's, got bored, got my psych degree at 33, started as a social worker at 35 (had 7 life-changing years there, a good career, culminating in the adoption of my daughter), and will began as a lawyer at 46, probably. So, never give up!

For some reason, my 30th birthday was hard too! I felt like you did. My 40th was the best. By 40, you really, really no longer care what others think of you, and you know that you'll get there, and get through it - no matter what 'it' is. After your 30th, a bit of a bummer, you start to feel stronger and stronger and stronger.

And I'm an uppity, hetero, boring ol' married mom! So, I'm a woman, and you know how many career ops are out there for us; but I won't be discouraged.

Hope this helps, somehow. And I'm starting to really join and work causes I believe in. And, I hope that it is O.K. that when I go to a PFLAG meeting, it will be in your honor (along with another 'nephew'). I just feel like everyone's auntie! And everyone's mom! Take care! PM me if you don't want to post.

[AzDar]

3. First it must get by our wonderful and wise Lesbian (imho) Governor! n/t

[blondeatlast]

14. A few notables (very out) in the legislature, too.

I can't wait for my hero Ken Cheuvront's reaction to this (and I'm a straight, married gal, too).

Let me know when the marches begin!

[HuckleB]

5. I am so happy that I no longer live in AZ.

I won't call it a hellhole, as most of the state is wonderful, outside of Maricopa County, but the politics have gotten worse and worse since I left. At least I could respect some of the live-and-let-live conservatives of the past, but today's Limbaughites have clearly gotten too much sun!

[progressiveBadger]

17. I am leaving soon

I love AZ's weather, it's fantastic opportunity for outdoor rec... but I miss being in a liberal environment. I miss protest marches every other weekend. I miss people actually giving a damn about someone other than themselves. I'm going back to get my Masters in Social Work, and I'll be damned if it's going to be in a state that cares so little about everyone else. This is not a nurturing environment for my belief in human nature and the worth of every living thing.

[HuckleB]

23. We would have stayed in Flagstaff, if there were any jobs at the time.

And Tucson's not totally devoid of progressives. I liked Tucson, actually. Much more of the flavor of the desert, and not so big that it doesn't cool down at night, like in the Phoenix area.

Best to you. Where are you going to get your MSW? Do you know what you want to do with it?

Salud!

[CrispyQ]

6. "unconventional unions"

Dangerous terminology. Although their intentions may not be such at this time, it is possible that they are opening the doors to a future definition of 'unconventional unions' to include unions between inter-racial couples, inter-faith couples, etc.

I am horrified at what our country is becoming.

[blondeatlast]

15. See post *13 for the danger in this right here in my home state of AZ.

They screwed this up BADLY. the dimwits.

All we need to do is reference "Colorado City" and "enforcement."

[AmandaRuth]

7. i know gays who vote repub, and voted for boosh

I sure would like to get their reaction to

-----The pair said Tuesday that they want not only to protect the sanctity of marriage, but also to discourage unconventional unions.-------

And where are those log cabin republicans anyway.

[davidinalameda]

16. Steve May is a Republican

so the Log Cabinites look like they're doing somethijng

[renaissanceguy]

8. FINALLY the neocons are showing their true colors.

The whole "protecting marriage" bullshit was just a cover. Not only do they want to "discourage" gay relationships, they want to try to force us to be straight. And if you don't believe me, look at Exodus International, and then ask any neocon if they believe sexuality is a choice.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14741193

[Charlie Brown]

10. from the Arizona Constitution:

http://www.azleg.state.az.us/Constitution.asp?Article=21

"If more than one proposed amendment shall be submitted at any election, such proposed amendments shall be submitted in such manner that the electors may vote for or against such proposed amendments separately."

Their bill will not meet the criteria for the AZ Constitution, and will be shot down by their Supreme Court.

[blondeatlast]

13. "Unconventional unions?" They could start with AZ's own Colorado City,

famous for polygamy AND child brides in multiples.

One of the things they study in CC is how to milk the government to pay for their oodles of children. Rumor has it they have an enormous stock of weapons, too.

[sakabatou]

20. Grrr...

"...is now considering legislation to bar any government-sponsored benefits to domestic partners."

In the words of Gilbert Godfree (sp.): WHAT THE F--K?!

[KamaAina]

22. "Unconventional unions":

labor organizations that elect their leadership through means such as mail-in ballots, rather than at a large, central gathering.

What the hell else do these morans think it means??!!

[American Tragedy]

25. Barry Goldwater is twirling in his grave.

[struggle4progress]

26. kick