It's Time For The Democratic Party To Stand Up For Gay People

[ruggerson]

And I don't just mean more words in a platform.

I mean, leading Democratic figures such as Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Biden, Dean, etc. must explicitly and vigorously react to the ongoing demonization of gays by the Republican right and by conservative churches.

This latest action by Pope Benedict only mirrors and reinforces the ongoing hate campaign waged by the Republican party in the United States.

A hate campaign that will not be defeated by having a "civil dialogue" that "respects" people's "religious beliefs systems." Religious belief systems that engender and breed hatred are NOT morally equivalent to belief systems, religious or otherwise, that engender equality and dignity and justice. Religious belief systems that teach that one set of people are somehow superior to another should be forcefully attacked as dangerous, bigoted, fundamentalist and profoundly un-American.

I don't want to hear the word "tolerance" come out of any Democratic politicians mouth ever again. I don't want to hear about treating people with "compassion."

I want to hear about "full human rights," and "respect."

I don't want to hear about compromising away marriage rights in favor of patchwork civil unions or domestic partnerships.

I want to hear how civil marriage rights foster permanency and commitment and stability, all rock solid American values, and how those rights and privileges should and must be extended to all who wish to honor them.

And I want to hear a little anger and eloquence.

We are your brothers and sisters and we deserve no less. And if we lose some Southern votes because of it, oh well, they weren't worth having in the first place.

I maintain we will gain FAR more votes from the vast, neutral middle who respect politicians who bravely and courageously stand up for strongly held values, even if they don't specifically agree with all of them.

It's long past time to stand up and do what is right. The whole world is watching.

[msongs]

1. democratic party inc take a stand???? ummmmmmm ->

quite a few have on the glbt issue, particularly howard dean. I am sure we can name others if we think really hard...you know, hard work.

then again might not wanna make those catholics mad by criticising the papa.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[mitchtv]

3. Not a big fan, but John Kerry

voted against the DOM act, when up for reelection. He also told Bill Clinton he wouldn't back the anti gay initiatives during the campaign. I trust him on the issue.

[KittyWampus]

2. On the marriage thing. The State should get out of it all together and

give out and require only civil contracts for any two people of any persuasion who want to join households. Oh, and forget bothering with the civil ceremony in front of a judge. Since when do contracts require a 'ceremony'?

Let Marriage be the word refering to spiritual bonds and let each church decide who they'll allow to marry.

[Rowdyboy]

7. Absolutely perfect answer....Get the state out of the marriage business...

Let individual churches marry whomever they like and be a spiritual bond. A civil union contract requiring signitures and witnesses should be all the state requires of any two adults wanting to join together, and it should carry all the benefits and penalties currently carried by "marriage"..

[pitohui]

4. no doubt but

...er...pope benedict?

i am not aware that it is the business of the democratic party to tell the pope what to do, the pope is not to my knowledge an american citizen

[omega minimo]

5. Your plan will succeed

if it combines efforts in a campaign for "full human rights" and "respect" for women, people of color, all those who are The Other-- in a mass movement for social justice.

:patriot:

[omega minimo]

6. Or not

[JVS]

16. Yes. It will succeed or it will not. More true words were never spoken!

[ruggerson]

10. While equal rights is indeed one issue

the specifics of each group are entirely different. Women are discriminated against in a different way than blacks or hispanics or gays and lesbians.

And even though we still have institutionalized racism and sexism, we have changed the laws to ostensibly grant women and racial minorities full and absolute citizenship.

Not so with gays and lesbians.

[omega minimo]

14. There is more common ground than you know

I'm very interested in where, or if, the gay rights proponents are aware of this. It's seems a huge blind spot.

They are all the same issue. Your cut-and-dried response is why the illusionary door b/w them is wedged shut.

The divisive approach may work. Previous civil rights successes have come from affected groups working together.

This statement seems really short-sighted:

"...the specifics of each group are entirely different. Women are discriminated against in a different way than blacks or hispanics or gays and lesbians."

A riddle for you-- what is the common theme? What is the purpose of keeping each "specific" group down?

The CA Legislature passed a gay marriage bill. The Gubernator vetoed it. Is the divided strategy working?

[babyk]

8. I disagree

in terms of priority, this is not at the top of the list of important issues.
We can wait until Dems are back in power before wasting energy and time on these issues.

[ruggerson]

9. Assuming

you're not just trolling, which I think you are, it's pretty sad that anyone would think that human rights are a waste of time.

Maybe in your country. Not in mine.

[phusion]

11. How about the Greens

or some other party...

And why doesn't the Black Caucus and Dennis Kucinich move away from the dem party. The dem party is lost, IMHO.

[kentuck]

12. Stand up for gay people ?

Don't hold your breath. It's a major task to get the Democratic Party to stand up for anything nowadays, except for the rare Senator or Congressman here and there. But, when was the last time they stood together for anything as a Party?

[ruggerson]

13. Mayor Gavin Newsom totally gets it

but he's light years ahead of the national Dems. You're right, unfortunately. They triangulate and follow polls so much they end up standing for absolutely nothing.

[ourbluenation]

15. ITA, either they believe in civil rights or they don't. I'm sick of it.

eom