Martin O'Malley first 2016 candidate publicly backing today's Equality Act rollout

[bigtree]

Greg Krieg ?@GregJKrieg 26m26 minutes ago

Martin O'Malley first 2016'er publicly backing today's #EqualityAct rollout: http://mic.com/articles/122609/democrats-set-to-introduce-equality-act-for-lgbt-civil-rights-in-congress … https://twitter.com/MartinOMalley/status/624255306319663104 …

Democrats in the House and Senate are preparing to introduce legislation that would offer LGBT Americans sweeping protections previously denied to them under federal law. The bill, known as the Equality Act and set to be unveiled Thursday, would outlaw discrimination in a series of public settings, including the job market and institutes of higher education.

"Every day, millions of LGBT Americans face the danger of real discrimination and sometimes even violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat, wrote in a letter to congressional colleagues obtained Monday by the Washington Blade. "In most states, a same-sex couple can get married on Saturday, post pictures on Facebook on Sunday and then risk being fired from their job or kicked out of their apartment on Monday."

The bill: The Equality Act would represent the most robust expansion of protected classes since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discussions about using the amendment process to add to that wide-ranging law were dismissed by activists and legislators, citing concerns over potential interference by conservative lawmakers seeking to hollow out the measure.

Instead, the Advocate reports Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with cosponsors Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) will submit a bill in the Senate, delivering on a promise Merkley made in December 2014, when he told the liberal Center for American Progress he would use this session to push for "across the board protections" for the LGBT community.

****Martin O'Malley ?@MartinOMalley 56m56 minutes ago
I proudly support the new LGBT civil rights bill—we must continue to fight for a more open, respectful & inclusive nation. #EqualityAct -O’M****

[FSogol]

1. K & R. n/t

[DemocraticWing]

2. This is the bill that Queer Nation was pushing for him to get behind.

He listened, and he's the first out of the gate. One thing I'll say about Martin O'Malley is that he seems to have a knack for listening to activists, even when they have problems with him at first. He listens and tries to do the right thing.

[bigtree]

3. yep, he was like, 'I support ENDA'

...then he got schooled.

Great point about him listening and stepping up.

[askew]

6. Yep, he listens and then he leads.

It's why I can't wait for him to reveal his criminal justice reform platform. He's really been listening and talking with activists on this issue. I am expecting great things.

[MH1]

8. He seems to be very intelligent and sincerely interested in solving problems.

He has a great record as governor of Maryland, and mayor of Baltimore before that. He seems to actually believe that all people should be treated fairly and that it is time to take away the repressions and barriers that various groups such as LGBT face.

[elleng]

9. Yes he is, MH1.

[bigtree]

10. yep, MH1, a solution-based appeal

...with respect enough for voters to be upfront about the specifics of what he's planning to do in office.

[MH1]

11. I like that he actually implemented effective strategies as mayor and governor.

To me that's worth a whole more than rhetoric. It's also worth more than ideas without a track record of implementation; even though having good ideas sure beats having bad ideas!

[elleng]

12. Darn right,

I'll say again!

[bigtree]

4. kick

[bigtree]

5. kick

[elleng]

7. Great to see!

[Andy823]

13. He has great ideas

And he puts those ideas into making actual "plans" to fix the things we need fixed in this country. He is the "only" candidate that is doing this. It really ticks me off that he is getting ignored by the media, and here on DU. I have not see one post here showing any "plans" by the other candidates. I have asked several poster so put up links to any written out plans their candidate may have, but not one has responded.

[elleng]

14. Damn right, Andy!

DUers should recognize this; otherwise, why bother???

[Andy823]

15. The problem is

Keeping threads that actually talk about the issues, and how to fix the problems, on the front page so people can actually read them. Right now the main page is full of "trash and bash" threads and plain old flame bait threads that do have nothing to do with the "issues". It's a shame when supporters can't actually post, in detail and in writing, what their candidate plans on doing to fix such things like immigration, Wall Street corruption, infrastructure, and all the other issues that face the country.

O'Malley is the only one I have seen that is addressing the issues, and showing everyone in writing, just what he plans on doing to fix the problems. That alone should get hundreds of recs if people really cared about which candidate is going to actually take on the challenge instead of simply talking about it.

[Jamaal510]

16. Judging by the caliber of threads

O'Malley is the only one I have seen that is addressing the issues, and showing everyone in writing, just what he plans on doing to fix the problems. That alone should get hundreds of recs if people really cared about which candidate is going to actually take on the challenge instead of simply talking about it.

that make it to the "greatest" section, I think it's safe to say that the average DUer is more interested in fiery speeches than specifics and sausage-making.

[elleng]

18. I'm afraid so, Jamaal510,

and it's worse than just 'sad,' it's potentially calamitous.

[dsc]

17. He wasn't first (sorry my bad I misread the time of your OP) He was first

note the time stamp

http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/2015/07/hillary-applauds-equality-act.html#disqus_thread