We were promised the gay equivalent of the Congress of 1964, and didn't even get 1948

[dsc]

The record of gay rights for the 111th Congress is likely to have been very dismal. On the plus side, both Houses passed hate crimes and the House passed a repeal of DADT. So we got one law. Think about this, we got one law despite having Democratic majorities that are once in a generation in nature. In my lifetime (43 years) there has only been one other Congress as lopsided (77-79) or the 95th Congress. Carter made no pretense of caring about gay rights (he and Ford were about equal on the issue). Obama, and this Congress, on the other hand, promised us a lot. We were promised hate crimes, DADT, and ENDA, all of which have supermajority support in the electorate. Yet in two years of a Congress with huge majorities we didn't get ENDA through either house and repeal of DADT only made it through one house.

Gays have worked to transform this country. In less than 20 years, we have seen the majority of the country, including a majority of Republicans and conservatives go from thinking gays should have no legal rights to thinking we should be able to serve in the military and have employment protection. Even a majority of Utah citizens think ENDA should exist. But politically we got nada, nothing, nihil. And despite the changes in culture we still need these laws. I am still the only openly gay teacher in my building (we have over 70 teachers). A closeted, from the students, teacher in my building recently got forced to resign after a gay witch hunt instigated by a student initiated frame up. DADT is still preventing dozens of Arabic speaking soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from serving our country.

The epic failure of this Congress to affect any lasting change for gays has many fathers despite everyone trying to insist that this failure is an orphan. Gay groups deserve some blame for refusing to put pressure on a stalling Obama. Obama deserves blame for stalling. The Congress deserves blame for not trying to pass these things in 2009. Gays have every right to be bitterly disappointed with this appalling record. Gays are the third most loyal constituency of the Democratic party (behind blacks and Jews). We have nothing to show for it save a hate crime law. I go to school tomorrow knowing I am one disgruntled, lying student away from a gay witch hunt. Gay service personel go to work tomorrow knowing that their service is totally devalued by this government due to whom they love.

We don't just deserve better, we were specificly promised better.

[mitchtv]

1. time for civil disobediance

disrupt, rinse , repeat

[EFerrari]

2. We were asked to forgo impeachment so we could retake Congress, too.

[laughingliberal]

3. K & R nt

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4. kick

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5. kick

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6. kick