Congratulations on the victory. Will you ask your representatives to enact these GLBT provisions?

[Bluebear]

Congratulations on the first step tonight. We have been promised that improvements can be fixed "later". The following provisions for GLBT Americans were tossed out of the reconciliation package for whatever reason:

* Health Disparities – the bill specifically designates LGBT people as a health disparities population, opening up health data collection and grant programs focused on health disparities related to sexual orientation and gender identity. With collection of data and funding of research, we can better address the specific health issues facing LGBT people.
* Unequal Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits – the bill ends the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, incorporating the language of the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Without this tax penalty, more people will be able to afford employer-provided coverage for their families, and more companies will be able to offer these important benefits.
* Early Treatment for HIV under Medicaid – the bill also incorporates the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which allows states to cover early HIV treatment under their Medicaid programs, instead of withholding treatment for Medicaid recipients until they develop full-blown AIDS, This will dramatically improve the quality of life for low-income people with HIV, as well as saving taxpayers money and reducing the transmission of the virus.
* Comprehensive Sex Education – the bill provides funding for comprehensive sex education programs that focus not only on abstinence, but also reducing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. After more than $1 billion wasted on failed and discriminatory abstinence-only programs, this funding will provide youth, including LGBT students, with the tools they need to live healthy lives.
* Non-discrimination – the bill prohibits consideration of personal characteristics unrelated to the provision of health care. HRC worked with a coalition of civil rights groups to develop and lobby for this language and we believe it will help protect LGBT people from discrimination in the health care system, where there are currently no federal protections for our community.

Won't you please ask your representatives in Washington and President Obama to enact them separetely, and soon?

While you are at it, a word about repealing DADT and immigration reform are ripe for change. Thank you!

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. I am not celebrating this "victory"...but I will always have your back

Bluebear.

[Bluebear]

6. You know how I feel.

The waiting time for pre-existing conditions is a disgrace. What this "high-risk pool" will do for your situation is anybody's guess. They say this is a first step, I am curious to see how many steps will be advanced now.

In solidarity with you always, BB.

[thotzRthingz]

57. DITTO! there is much to be done, but in the current climate it may be next to impossible--never

thought I would say that about America... (very heavy sigh)

[leftstreet]

2. K&R

[tishaLA]

3. They NEED to be in the first "fix" of this bill dammit

There's no time for messing around.

[GreenPartyVoter]

Yep. I hope that the first revisit for tweaking won't be too, too far away.

[Lifelong Protester]

4. I have given you a rec, and bookmarked your post

for further reference. When the president said it matter that all of us were out here emailing and calling, I sat up a little taller. I certainly see we have more work to do, and I for one, am not dropping out of the fight.

[Skittles]

5. I'm just not ready for another dog and pony show yet, PT

[Bluebear]

7. But this was just the opening act

:silly:

[Skittles]

9. gawd

I can't wait to see what else is in store for us

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ruggerson]

22. So you'll only demand equal rights for all if a poster on an internet board stops angering you

okie doke.

You do realize that many of the provisions the OP mentions were yanked by the Democrats in order to get "bipartisan" support.

[Bluebear]

36. Awww...

did I hurt another ignored one's feelings? :)

[FreeState]

29. Wow - thanks for your non-support n/t

[Dappleganger]

10. Yes, I will.

But not all at once. I'll commit to writing and calling and being a squeaky wheel. The bottom line of course, is civil rights for ALL. No more of this garbage of your rights being subject to the whim of states and the 'moral majority'.

Please remind me from time to time, ok?

[Bluebear]

12. Thank you, appreciate your squeaks :)

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Smashcut]

13. I have the OP's back if you don't, without any conditions either.

If your "support" is basically a quid pro quo for unquestioning allegiance to a politician then it isn't worth a damn in the first place.

[readmoreoften]

17. Thank you. I love how lowlifes like this use the health of my partner and I as a bargaining chip.

And then they wonder why we criticize them. Probably about the clearest case of blunt and raw--scumbaggery I've seen on DU in awhile.

[LeftyMom]

35. A-fucking-men.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[readmoreoften]

21. Seems like you had the good sense to EDIT YOUR ENTIRE POST.

You know what you said.

[ruggerson]

20. human rights are not held hostage to the support of one politician

this issue predates and will outlast the current resident of the oval office.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. YOu mean your Leader?

who we cannot question?

Sorry... I elected an EMPLOYEE of mine, not a leader that I give blind obedience to.

[sabrina 1]

32. And you and others have spent the past several months

demonizing good Democrats who actually were fighting for the rights of all Americans, like Dennis Kucinich. But if you ask me for help getting rights for people who don't have them, I won't allow your past actions to stop me from supporting their rights.

[Chisox08]

15. I got your back. Every American deserves equal rights.

I'll keep the pressure up on my congresscritters on your issues along with fighting for medicare for all.

[dana_b]

16. yes, bluebear

bookmarking for tomorrow. I'm too tired to sound logical tonight.

[bobbolink]

18. There you go again. A big smashing victory, and the ink isn't yet dry and you want more.

YOU GO!! :yourock:

Thank you for telling me the specifics I need to say....that helps.

Now, can you make some calls about getting low-income housing? At least to pass a One For One provision? (For each low-income housing unit they demolish, they must provide a new low-income housing unit.)

I scratch your back, etc.

Thanks!

[readmoreoften]

24. Remember, a lot of LGBT folks need low-income housing too. :)

The rights of the poor and working classes are also LGBT rights. Tell us who to call and what to say and I'm there :) There needs to be a poor people's website. One of the difficulties is the digital divide--I think it makes it hard to organize on poverty issues on a national level. Just my two cents.

(and thanks for your support :) )

[bobbolink]

46. ABSOLUTELY! Which is why I keep emphasizing the need to work together, rather than

stay behind our own walls.

A friend here told me about his brother, who works with AIDS patients. He told her of trying to help one very ill gay man, and coming up with zero resources. The young man finally bought a gun (no ammo) and held up a 7-11 store.... with the sole purpose of being put in jail in order to have meals, a place to sleep and medical care.

THAT is what we have come to. :cry:

Thank you so much for your kind offer, and pleeeeez check your PMs!

:pals:

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I am on a first name basis with the staff

so why not?

Should I send them a thank you card though before I start pounding on them?

I mean we are on a real chummy relationship now.

[ruggerson]

26. Of course they were tossed out -

they want our voting bloc but when push comes to shove our families and our lives are of absolutely no concern to many of them.

Thanks for the OP k/r

[ScreamingMeemie]

27. Kicking for reality.

:kick:

[FreeState]

28. K&R

[sabrina 1]

30. I wouldn't hold out too much hope of any fixes if I were you.

Better to recognize what you are dealing with than set yourself up for disappointment as we did when we helped them get control of all three branches of government.

'Fool me once' as someone once said ...

Better to start working on getting rid of the Dinos in Congress, donating only to real Democratic candidates. It will take time, but imho, after watching this process, it should take less time than expecting this crop of Democrats to stand up for the people who elected them, which looks like never.

My prediction is that they wanted to get this HIR Bill out of the way early hoping we'll 'get over it' before November. And getting close to the election, they'll give the base something, something they could have done earlier but were afraid we might forget about it after this.

DADT should be easy to pass now, should have been done already as there is little opposition to it among Democrats and even some Republicans. I think we'll get that done, and the hope will be that that should make up for the betrayal that this bill was to the base.

[Luminous Animal]

31. I suspect, just as they did with labor post NAFTA,

the majority of citizen Democrats, will let the GLBT community swinging in the wind.

[amborin]

33. K&R

[Eyerish]

34. K&R

[Prism]

37. The President suddenly has less on his plate . . .

Maybe. Unless this is a buffet. Then, well, other things, my friend. Other things.

I'm sure we'll receive the reasons nothing gets done as soon as the new ones are formulated and distributed to the appropriate posters.

[BlueIris]

38. Kick.

[Ohio Joe]

39. Agreed

I will definitely do so and here is where people can find the contacts to pester their rep's as well as President Obama:

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

I suggest everyone do it in a polite but firm manner on a regular basis. I will be doing it once a week.

[Kind of Blue]

40. I Never Stopped!

KnR

[eridani]

41. They will tell you to fuck off--we've already DONE health care n/t

[bobbolink]

44. Which only means that we have to come back even STRONGER.

[DevonRex]

59. Amen. nt

[DevonRex]

58. Hell no, we are NOT done. And we sure aren't done fighting for equal rights for GLBTs.

This is a core principle. We do NOT turn our backs on people who don't have the same rights as others in this country.

[Toasterlad]

42. K&R On Principle

I expect nothing more from Congress on health care for at least the next 30 years. This legislation has adequately demonstrated their contempt for the American people. And of course, the consider GLBT folk LESS than people.

[QC]

43. kick

[EFerrari]

45. Kick

[Duncan Grant]

47. Kick

:kick:

[Duncan Grant]

48. Kick

:kick:

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Kickety

[Starry Messenger]

50. Will do.

Although I'm pretty pessimistic today. The way things are going I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled out some states right's garbage about treating GBLT issues in the bill.

[Unvanguard]

51. I asked them back when the contents were still under discussion.

And I will ask them again when it becomes salient again.

[The Genealogist]

52. Need to send Sen McCaskill a note on this

Sen Drunky Bond and Rep Reichwing Blunt don't think we are humans.

[foxfeet]

53. K&R

:kick:

[Eyerish]

54. kick

[frustrated_lefty]

55. My doctor is gay and I spent 10 years doing HIV research.

I'm straight and don't have HIV.

For myself, I promise to trust competent doctors without regard to their sexual preference, and to promote research which it's justified.

I am not a majorly vocal proponent of same-sex issues....maybe I should be more vocal?...

Having reviewed, you bet I'll support those provisions! I'm sorry they're considered GLBT, they should be human.

[stillwaiting]

60. As a gay man I appreciate your words.

The problem we face as a community is that our straight allies don't speak out in support of us as much as our opponents speak out against us which leaves the many in the middle often siding with the haters because they are sheep.

My IMMEDIATE family speaks out very little on my behalf (one of my sisters does a fairly good job on occasion). I always hear them tell me stories about how they were involved in a conversation (or overheard a conversation) where people were being just downright prejudiced or vile. On many occasions they always "wish they had said something".

They claim to love me wholly and to believe that my path through life is much harder than they can imagine. They don't think its a choice. But for some reason speaking out in defense of gay people (even their own son/brother) is not something they are comfortable doing very often, if at all.

Until the haters know that it's just not socially acceptable to bash gay people (verbally or otherwise) it will continue. That will take a lot of confrontational conservations with bigots or at the very least more outward visible displays of support at gay rights marches and rallies. The ranks of our supporters must become larger and more visible.

Potentially uncomfortable conversations are necessary for us to ever gain equal rights.

Thank you for at least seriously rethinking your stance on how to approach this issue.

[DevonRex]

56. Bluebear, I will do this. Thank you SO much for taking a positive

step and recommending these much needed provisions. We are not done yet and DU can certainly be a force for the necessary changes.

As a veteran I want to end discrimination in the military. We lost too many great soldiers when I was in. Anybody who tells you that military personnel are FOR DADT is flat out WRONG. We had many gay and lesbian translators in MI. We protected them as much as we possibly could. But how could we protect them from "investigators" who followed them around constantly? I still cry when I think of the ones we lost.

I saw first hand what they went through to serve their country and I am still in awe of their sacrifice. Most lived almost celibate lives. That's how devoted they were. That's how strong they were. It's hard being in the military. Your lives aren't your own. You get little sleep for long stretches. You have to be in top physical condition. You have to swallow your pride. But to be willing to give up any kind of relationship on top of it? Most people couldn't imagine living like that.

When DADT is finally repealed I would like to see a march in DC with all the gay and lesbians who have already served. I think the nation needs to SEE how many there are. They will be surprised at first. And then they will be grateful for their service and their sacrifice. They need to hear their stories, too, ones from before DADT and ones during DADT, so they'll know exactly how tough it was. And then the American people will truly understand just how much they loved the country that treated them as "less than."