(no subject)
I've been told that not all Republicans are anti-choice, anti-gay rights nut jobs. But why don't we ever see those people represented in the media? Where are the republicans that support transgender rights, that want to protect people against discrimination based on sexual orientation? No republican who supports true equality is anywhere in the public view, especially not in presidential campaigns. And for many, the idea of being conservative is synonymous with the idea that gays shouldn't be allowed the same freedoms and protections as heterosexuals.
Looking at conservative candidates today:
Ron Paul
Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)
Says he wants no “sexual orientation” term in Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Rick Santorum
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Believes that children raised in same-sex families will lead to “dysfunction” in society.
Mitt Romney
Presents himself as a stalwart fighter against same-sex marriage. He used to say that he supports equality for gays, including banning anti-gay discrimination and being supportive of gays in the military (before repeal of DADT). But when the conservative populous discovered Mitt sent a letter to a gay rights activist group, stating, “We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern,” he was chastised and actually attacked on his stance. Romney's retort was that he had always been an opponent of same-sex marriage, had always opposed discrimination against gay men and lesbians and had been consistent in his views about allowing them to serve in the military.
--So of the conservative candidates, Mitt is the most pro-gay, but he is sure good at hiding it!
Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have made their stances clear as well:
Bachmann
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)
Perry
Believes “homosexuals are an inappropriate role model for adolescent boys”
Supports anti-same sex marriage amendment to the Constitution.
Released that horrid “strong” campaign, attacking the allowance of gays in the military.
NOTICE: NO candidate, not even Romney openly supports transgender rights. In fact, Romney says that federal protection of transgender rights will “open the floodgates to litigation” as a reason for not supporting them. WELL NO SHIT SHERLOCK - if transgender people are discriminated against, they should have the right to sue. Well, in the 35 states that legally allow employers to fire employees for their gender identity, transgender people don't even have the right to ask for legal compensation. What Romney is saying is that making a law protecting transgender people will only create more lawsuits, and not solve the problem, so instead, we should just not make the law and forget about protecting certain members of our society.
So what, now? We have to decide whether socio-cultural or economic issues are more important to us? Sure, I haven't been a fan of many of Obama's economic policies, but who's to say a conservative party member will do any better? What we do know is that it's clear the stances of every Republican candidate on LGBTQ rights. I don't think I can bring myself to vote for any of these people. So the alternatives are to A) not vote at all and hope whomever gets elected doesn't make a constitutional amendment banning “sexual orientation” from being included in anti-discrimination laws, or B) Vote for another four years under the default democratic nominee, Obama.
So what about Obama? As far as his views on LGBTQ issues, he's made it clear that he doesn't support same-sex marriage as well. But who cares, really. In fact, he makes a great point that the gay rights movement should be disentangled from the word “marriage.” He has stated multiple times that gay marriage is less important than equal gay rights. Finally, someone with his head on straight! Maybe if the conservatives didn't see gay rights as an offense against “the Amrrrcan family,” and “marriage according to the Bible” (which shouldn't have anything to do with government???) - maybe then they'd be a little more inclined to listen. Or at least a little less hostile.
Obama
Voted YES to provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
Voted YES to Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
Supports civil unions.
I think I'll be taking plan B, if only because the conservative party are a bunch of either bigoted assholes or too wimpy to speak out against discrimination.
Looking at conservative candidates today:
Ron Paul
Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)
Says he wants no “sexual orientation” term in Employment Non-Discrimination Act. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Rick Santorum
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Believes that children raised in same-sex families will lead to “dysfunction” in society.
Mitt Romney
Presents himself as a stalwart fighter against same-sex marriage. He used to say that he supports equality for gays, including banning anti-gay discrimination and being supportive of gays in the military (before repeal of DADT). But when the conservative populous discovered Mitt sent a letter to a gay rights activist group, stating, “We must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern,” he was chastised and actually attacked on his stance. Romney's retort was that he had always been an opponent of same-sex marriage, had always opposed discrimination against gay men and lesbians and had been consistent in his views about allowing them to serve in the military.
--So of the conservative candidates, Mitt is the most pro-gay, but he is sure good at hiding it!
Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have made their stances clear as well:
Bachmann
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
Voted NO on enforcing against anti-gay hate crimes. (Apr 2009)
Perry
Believes “homosexuals are an inappropriate role model for adolescent boys”
Supports anti-same sex marriage amendment to the Constitution.
Released that horrid “strong” campaign, attacking the allowance of gays in the military.
NOTICE: NO candidate, not even Romney openly supports transgender rights. In fact, Romney says that federal protection of transgender rights will “open the floodgates to litigation” as a reason for not supporting them. WELL NO SHIT SHERLOCK - if transgender people are discriminated against, they should have the right to sue. Well, in the 35 states that legally allow employers to fire employees for their gender identity, transgender people don't even have the right to ask for legal compensation. What Romney is saying is that making a law protecting transgender people will only create more lawsuits, and not solve the problem, so instead, we should just not make the law and forget about protecting certain members of our society.
So what, now? We have to decide whether socio-cultural or economic issues are more important to us? Sure, I haven't been a fan of many of Obama's economic policies, but who's to say a conservative party member will do any better? What we do know is that it's clear the stances of every Republican candidate on LGBTQ rights. I don't think I can bring myself to vote for any of these people. So the alternatives are to A) not vote at all and hope whomever gets elected doesn't make a constitutional amendment banning “sexual orientation” from being included in anti-discrimination laws, or B) Vote for another four years under the default democratic nominee, Obama.
So what about Obama? As far as his views on LGBTQ issues, he's made it clear that he doesn't support same-sex marriage as well. But who cares, really. In fact, he makes a great point that the gay rights movement should be disentangled from the word “marriage.” He has stated multiple times that gay marriage is less important than equal gay rights. Finally, someone with his head on straight! Maybe if the conservatives didn't see gay rights as an offense against “the Amrrrcan family,” and “marriage according to the Bible” (which shouldn't have anything to do with government???) - maybe then they'd be a little more inclined to listen. Or at least a little less hostile.
Obama
Voted YES to provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. (Dec 2007)
Voted YES to Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
Supports civil unions.
I think I'll be taking plan B, if only because the conservative party are a bunch of either bigoted assholes or too wimpy to speak out against discrimination.