Comments on: ‘Gambling with lives and livelihoods’ http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/ the gay community's news source Thu, 23 May 2013 17:04:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Pete Giaquinto http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/#comment-3071 Pete Giaquinto Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:08:04 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=11503#comment-3071 This administration and congress have completely screwed over the GLBT community. Repeal of DADT? No. Repeal of DOMA? No. passage of Domestic Partnership Benefits Act? Nope. Meaningless tid bits tossed our way via executive orders? Sure, but the next republican president will overturn by his or her own executive order. Bottom line, neiter Obama or democrats in congress deserve our money or our votes. Screw em! Better the enemy we know.

]]> By: Tim http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/#comment-3070 Tim Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:45:37 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=11503#comment-3070 I don’t believe Obama and the Dems in Congress have any intention of working on DADT or any of our other Pro-LGBT bills during this Congress, and after the election, the Republicans will certainly kill any and all Pro-LGBT legislation after they increase their numbers and/or take control of the House. So basically, Obama our “Fierce Advocate” and the Dems in Congress blew us off and didn’t do jack for LGBT community when they had the chance to pass so much. We should demand that they take action on the Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act, which passed out of committee in both chambers of congress more than 9 months ago and is just waiting for a floor vote. Likewise, we should insist that they get going on ENDA, which hasn’t been given a committee vote in either chamber yet and probably won’t get one. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is not my top priority, and certainly comes after ENDA and DPBO, but even that isn’t going to go anywhere, because the Republicans will kill it after Obama and the Dems fail to act. Basically, the only thing we have to show from Obama and the Dems, (with large majorities in each house of Congress) is the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, and that was low hanging fruit that should have been passed within three months of Obama taking office. Why in the Hell did they waste a year of time arguing about healthcare with no action on anything else! I think HRC is wasting its time focusing on DADT, when we should be pushing for ENDA and DPBO while the Dems are still in a position to pass them. In the end, I expect they will give a line about priorities that come first and we will be thrown under the bus. More and more it looks like my partner and I will be backing Bloomberg in an independent for President in 2012, and only gay & gay supportive members of Congress will get our support.

]]> By: Rebecca Juro http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/#comment-3069 Rebecca Juro Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:32:28 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=11503#comment-3069 As much as I detest Sharron Angle, I almost wish she’d win so we might have a shot of getting a Senate majority leader who actually leads instead of hiding under a rock every time the going gets rough. Reid’s spinelessness is directly responsible for most LGBT Americans remaining without job protections. We deserve far better, that is if Democrats really care about our support. If we get nothing then Democrats should be able to expect the same in return. Our trust and support has been taken for granted for far too long. Now, they should be forced to actually do something to earn it before it’s offered.

After two generations of serial lies and broken promises from Democrats, we’ve been taught quite well by these folks that offering carrots doesn’t work, so now we’re left with nothing else to try but a stick.

It’s time to prioritize our own lives, jobs, and community, over the interests of the Democratic Party. History has taught us over and over that if we don’t we can be certain that the Democrats never will.

]]> By: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/#comment-3067 Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:27:40 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=11503#comment-3067 With all due respect, your writing that the current amendement “WOULD lead to repeal” is not only factually incorrect but inexcusable. Such careless word choice is one of the reasons many in the community are in a state of dangerous complacency because they think that passage and the President’s signature would automatically repeal the law when ALL it would do is give Obama, Gates, and Mullen the OPTION of triggering it. Or is that news to you, too? And did you hear that, thanks to Obama’s betrayal, “repeal” no longer automatically equals an end to discharges?

]]> By: Rick http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/09/02/%e2%80%98gambling-with-lives-and-livelihoods%e2%80%99/#comment-3066 Rick Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:02:31 +0000 http://www.washingtonblade.com/?p=11503#comment-3066 Here’s how we can light a fire under Reid, Congress, the Pentagon to stop the delay tactics… sign and share this petition! http://www.change.org/petitions/view/president_obama_suspend_further_dadt_military_separations_now

]]>