Gays March On Washington------again----------

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gyrafoam

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I was there for the march in the early 90's. After all of his promises and talk of equal rights, the Clintons fled to Camp David for the weekend so they did not have to be seen with us.
The f*%king Parks and Recreation Dept. supposedly did a (very lame) head-count and fed that mis-information to the media which was only too glad to announce the low numbers of our turn-out. A total lie. You couldn't see a blade of grass from the Capitol building all the way to the Washington Monument. It was a MOB! I never saw the mall so full.

So it will be interesting to see whether or not we just get "lip-service" again. You know the old addage of "talk is cheap". At least the Obamas' stayed in town and he spoke at the dinner. Remains to be seen if he will turn those words into action.

From todays NYT:

 
Yes, it does remain to be seen.

Don't Ask Don't Tell is all well and good, but what about DOMA? Since Bill Clinton admitted he made a mistake (too little, too late), is that piece of shit going to go away anytime soon? Congress doesn't seem all too thrilled about that one.

And what's with Barney Frank saying he's not backing the repeal of DADT, and saying it's not going to pass, so he's not going to bother? What line of BS is that? This is so typical.
 
That is not what Barney Frank said, at all.

Dahlinks, let's not get all hot and bothered here.

Clinton made a mistake by not fighting for us, that is true. DOMA was a comprimise to prevent the christianists from anchoring permanent sub-human status for us in the Constitution.

Something the christianists together with their Republican enablers are still trying to do.

DADT has caused untold harm.

We need to make it clear to Obama and all the Democrats that by making us human before the law and recognizing full civil rights such as marriage and and end to discrimination, then we will support them just as the Negroes have done since LBJ told the racists in Dixie to take a short walk off a high bridge.

Attacking one of our very few true allies, a man who has stood with us through thick and thin like Congressman Frank is worse than stupid.
I remember when many lesbians threw us under the bus when Aids first hit. Others stood with us. Standing as a house divided, we were blown over by the first wind. We have nobody to blame but ourselves for letting the christianists do these things to us. Time to grow up and set aside the bitchy Joan Crawford nastiness and start acting like real ladies instead of cheap tawdry drama queens.

If we can hold Maine, we will have a fulcrum with which to finally put some real pressure on Obama and Co. That is where our main focus needs to be these coming weeks, not making those who can help us angry.

This article is well worth reading, please check out the link. Those are our real enemies.

 
Andrew,

I didn't mean you were stupid. I just finished reading a long article on just exactly why we are making the same mistakes today we did in the early '80's. Every member of congress who stands with us is needful. We dare not drive them from us.
 
Well unless Mr. Obama and the democrats intend to pull an okey-doke and attach bills revoking said laws to other "must pass" items, as was done with the hate crimes thing, the calender works against anything happening this year.

Mr. Obama has his hands full getting health care passed, and until he has all his ducks lined up, isn't going to risk ticking off members of either party.

If the thing does not happen this year, then it will have to wait until 2011, after the dust settles from the 2010 elections.
 
As commander-in-chief, president Obama doesn't require anything other than his signature to revoke DADT. If he chose this route (executive order), the new policy would take effect immediately, and would be followed up by congressional action (a bill) to codify it into law.

The DOMA is an entirely different situation. President Obama has no jurisdiction to do anything about it other than push Congress for legislation to repeal it.
 
When the dust settles after the 2010 elections,

We gays will be back to "NAC"...not a chance.

The Republican party can only become more conservative, there is nobody left to draw them back towards the middle.

The Democrats will see their losses in both houses and be terrified they'll lose the 2012 elections, including the White House.

It's either git 'er done now or we are screwed, again.

The urgency of whenever...such a narrow window, but that's the way things are.

I do think we might just barely manage DADT. Human status otherwise with universal anti-discrimination laws and marriage? Only if we grow a pair and start playing hardball, the way the conservatives have so successfully done it.
 
One positive step forward

I was looking at the reporting on the march in various online magazines and newspapers this morning. With only a few exceptions, the pictures and brief video clips did not focus on the traditional birds of paradise and local BDSM types with their nipple piercings strung together on leashes drawn by bikery dykes... they showed normal people who happen to be passionate about being treated as human beings, not sub-human.

This is a genuine step forward. How often in the last decades has an article - even if it genuinely argued for our receiving human status - begun with one of those flaming queens in her four inch eye-lashes, boa and seven inch heels.

Nothing against queens, dahlinks, so let's not even go there...if I weren't 6'2" and built like a brick outhouse (and could walk in heels) I'd show you flaming but it is very hard to argue for being treated as a responsible marriage partner and parent when the public image is of every conservative Christian parent's worst nightmare: His son in tight short-shorts, a bra and updo.

This is a positive sign of clear social change.
 
Keven dear

There is NOT a thing wrong with LARGE ladies.. I happen to like them large most have better additudes and are far more happy than the twiggies.. So get thoes heels out dahling.. There is a impersonator in Dallas named Chesta Drawers who is 6 6 and 265. And in the grandest thing you have ever seen.. Always a smile and kind word for everyone. She uses humor insted of the bitchyniss usually found with such persons.. She makes everyone around her smile.. She said that makes her smile..By making people laugh at and with her she makes herself happy.. We need more like her..
 
> We gays will be back to "NAC"...not a chance. <

Says who, Fox News?

Take a look at the polling numbers, and don't buy into this now-or-never crapola. Just to give one example, somewhere between 68 and 88% of the American people wanted a public option for their health care, but Republicans stood en masse against it. You can rinse and repeat on most other issues.

Also, look at the current handicapping for next year's elections. Republicans have no hope of regaining control of the Senate before 2012, and before 2014 in the House:

 
Now y'all see...

....why I say the Demopublicans are no more your friends than the Republicrats.

Honestly I think EVERYONE of whatever sexual orientation should be 'civil unioned' and 'marriage' should ONLY be in the church of your choice.

Folks, the democrats have a filibuster proof majority in the senate and such an overwhelming majority in the house it is funny. If they wanted to repeal DADT they could do it in a heartbeat, same with healthcare. But of course, they don't.
 
Jeff,

As we say in Germany: Dein Wort in Gottes Ohr.
Your word in God's ear.

I am not optimistic, doesn't change the fact that I have fought hard for our rights since 1977 - and continue to do so.

As for heels, honey, if I could, I would. I have enough trouble putting one foot in front of the other (size 13D) on a good day...
 
Keven, I would love to see a picture of you in those heels!! Of course, with the feet swelling and all that fun stuff, I can understand how it might be hard to slip into those at our advancing ages!!!

I have to agree with Hunter, if they wanted to do it, they could...but they don't. I watched yesterday as the Democratic Congressperson from Michigan spoke on DOMA, and how, because Michigan passed a law saying marriage is between one man and one woman, as did other states, she is hard pressed "at this time" to say that a repeal of DOMA is possible in the near future because it presents certain "challenges" due to those laws. After all, states do have autonomy to discriminate against people if that's what is in their resident's best interests. It sounds like the same horseshit that was put forward in 1964 when the feds passed the highly unpopular Civil Rights Act. Sure, most people did not want it....we wanted to be free to discriminate against blacks in the US, but the feds thought differently, and rightfully so. This doesn't sound any different. After all, when has the federal government ever stepped all over state's rights in the past to do the right thing?

Sounds more to me like they are not interested in upsetting the status quo...the same status quo that they need to keep themselves in office.

Call me pessimistic, but the democrats will screw us big time, even if the President has all the best intentions.
 
I have to agree with panthera here.

We (the people of the United States) have to ban together and make change for ourselves. Saying "They should..." "They Could..." "They Need to ..." is not the answer. WE have to create the change. It's not up to everyone else but ourselves. WE are, are own worst ememy. We judge each other, We discriminate against each other, etc. How are people suppose to take us seriously when we are all divided within our own community. I've said this before and I'll say it again. We have the power with government. By voting. We need to remind these people in washington that they work for US. Not the other way around. It is not only permissible to question our leaders, but it is OUR responsibility to do so. Once we decided they we are all going to unite and take charge, things will change. Until then, laying the responsibility at someone elses door step, thing will remain "status quo".
 
We all voted. We got change. We got promises to win our votes. We've got action happening on many levels. But the bottom line remains....THEIR votes on the floor of Congress.

So, who should we vote for next? The Dems have the majority in both houses. The President has put forth his agenda. They know what he wants to happen. They know what SOME of the people want to happen. So, we have a chance. Who should we vote for next IF they say NO??? Pat Robertson?

It's all well and good to say we must vote, and I could not agree more. But we have done that and we the people spoke loud and clear that we want change, and we seem to have elected a President who is willing, at least appears to be willing, to push for that change. We also elected a Congress because we wanted that change. And that Congress now touts a 22% approval rating. Granted, it's early in the game for both the president and the congress. And it's probably not fair to judge long term effectiveness at this point in time. But maybe it is?? Everyone thought Bill Clinton was going to be instrumental in at least getting some legislation on the books that would impact discrimination. I know I did. And he gave us DOMA and DADT. Thanks Bill! Then he decided recently that he was wrong. Thanks again Bill. Disappointing? Yes, but I voted! For Bill. I don't regret that decision, but still disappointed in his actions.
 
I Agree,

Change does not happen over night. It a long, hard battle. Things don't change with one election. Yes, we voted for change, and my point is, is that if these people don't work for us, they can be voted out. We all voted on what we knew to be the best. If our elected officals do not do what we elected them for, we can send a clear message of "you're outta here!" I can't say who we should vote for next. No one has stepped up to the plate yet to make that decision right now. My point being that it's a long up-hill road and one not easily traveled. We need to unite and be one all on the same page. There are many closeted gays actually working against us on capital hill. If everyone would come out, this whole thing would be done and over with. I know some are going to say that some people can't come out and it would damage their lives forever. To that I say, those of us that did come out, our lives changed forever and will never be the same. Change is hard. Most, if not all people, don't like change. However, change is the only consant in life (along with taxes and death).
 
I agree, they can be voted out. But the folks voting them into office in their respective districts are those same folks that aren't necessarily interested in the kinds of change that we are desperately need! Therein lies the problem. And that does take time. But as I said before, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, it was highly unpopular with the people...but it was the right thing to do for human beings. Let's see if Congress will follow its own lead. I am pessimistic, but there is always a glimmer of hope.
 

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