Comments on: ‘Don’t Ask’ repeal a tough act to follow

By: SC Guy

SC Guy — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:55:34 +0000

It is always so amusingly irritating to read about the liberal groups talking so optimistically about their homosexual agenda. What they conveniently delete, though, is how difficult it was for the queers to get their agenda rammed through under the most ‘favorable’ circumstances, i.e. with a huge Dem majority in both houses of Congress. As a conservative, I felt it was likely that ENDA would pass in this Congress as well as other of the junk legislation and I pleasantly surprised to see the angst amongst even many Dems to move forward on this sort of garbage. Consider that even with a 58-42 Dem Congress, DADT barely made it past the filibuster and it took vote after sleazy vote to get it to pass.
As usual, the media makes it sound like supporting homosexuality is totally mainstream when it is not. Consider that it is still totally legal to fire a homosexual or openly discriminate against them in employment and many other situations in 29 states.
Also, it’s amusing to read the ‘optimism’ of making any progress in what is being labeled the most conservative House of Representatives in modern times. Do we honestly believe that they are going to anger their conservative base by voting the liberal line on these issues, especially after the DADT debacle? Please get real, people.

By: Marlene

Marlene — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 13:10:25 +0000

First, we need to drop ENDA in favor of amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adding gender/gender identity/gender expression and sexual orientation. ENDA is a half-assed bill that only prohibits bias on the job; it doesn’t protect against housing and public access discrimination whatsoever!

By: Peter the saint

Peter the saint — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 05:50:21 +0000

Mr. President, marriage IS “a strong civil union”, since we’re talking about civil recognition by civil society and our civil court system, and not about how allah, god, saints, fairies, the earth or any other worshipped being may view my life or have any concern with it. It is about having full and complete access to rights and responsibilities that my peers have.

As you surely know, creating a hodgepodge structure is a substitute, and it’s a poor substitute. What we have all LEARNED from the civil rights movements in this country is that WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LEARN NEW LESSONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY! So, what that means is: you, me, us, everyone already now understands that to deny normal, law-abiding citizens the exact same rights that everyone else has IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Crooks and liars got away with it for seventeen years with DADT — but they’re NOT gonna get away with doing that any longer. Crimes against my psyche are OVER.

By: Sloan

Sloan — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 06:56:51 +0000

If we believe it is impossible to make progress on ENDA in the next Congress, then we guarantee that it will be impossible. On the other hand, since we know that ENDA, like DADT repeal (and even more than DADT repeal), enjoys broad bipartisan support from Americans of all faiths, we need to embrace that knowledge and envision that advancing it IS possible in the new Congress. The only way we are guaranteed to fail is not to try. If we try, and we advocate before the more reasonable members of Congress of BOTH parties, and we truly embrace that this is a non-partisan issue, then equality may prevail — or at least progress. Believe we can’t, and we can’t. Believe we can, and we may.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:17:11 +0000

I’m glad DADT has finally been repealed, and its a big step toward equality, but I really wish the Democratic leadership had called for a floor vote on the Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligations Act. Of course they could still do this seeing as how it already passed out of committee in the House & Senate, but at this point the senate isn’t going to pass any more Pro-LGBT legislation. If the house passed the bill it would at least lay the groundwork for future passage. ENDA should also receive a committee vote before Congress adjorns, although it obviously doesn’t have time for a floor vote. I agree with the story angle about the GOP blocking everything in the next Congress, but that’s why its so important for this Congress to take these preliminary actions, so that the Congress that takes office in 2013 will be better positioned for fast action on our issues.