Change.Gov-Gay Civil Rights in detail!

[Hope And Change]

Change.Gov-Gay Civil Rights in detail!

by http://travelingmanrick.dailykos.com/">travelingmanrick

Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 04:36:54 PM PST

I want to encourage everyone to visit Change.Gov to read up on the latest regarding President-Elect Obama's transition to the White House. When I first signed on to this campaign there were a great deal of us in the GLBT community who were nervous about Obama's support. What finally convinced me to step out on faith was the difference between Obama's website and Clinton's. There was no where on the Clinton website that talked about the issues of the GLBT community, Obama's did, then I watched the interviews with the Democratic candidates on LOGO and learned that Barack was the first to agree to appear, Hillary was the last of all of the candidates to agree to appear. I thought that was pretty telling as far as their commitment to our issues

Visit the website here: http://change.gov/">Change.Gov

http://travelingmanrick.dailykos.com/">travelingmanrick's diary :: ::

While I found there were many issues that I thought were not covered on the campaign website I took a leap of faith and jumped on board. What I wanted to share with you was what is included under "Civil Rights" which is listed in the "Agenda" portion of the website. This is the most comprehensive and detailed listing of Gay Rights that I have ever seen written out for the entire world to see. While some may parse words over "Marriage" I will gladly accept "Civil Unions" as this plan is written. Read it and maybe you too will feel the incredible sense that yes, we just may change the world, and in our lifetime...who would have believed that 15 years ago?

Here is the best part:

The Obama-Biden Plan

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. Barack Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

Fight Workplace Discrimination: Barack Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. Obama also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

Expand Adoption Rights: Barack Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, Barack Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Obama will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. Obama also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. He will continue to speak out on this issue as president.

Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. Barack Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

These are the issues that have been near and dear to my heart for over twenty years now. I know that all of these proposals will probably not get passed during his tenure but to see them in writing says a great deal to me about the commitment of our President-Elect to at least begin having the conversation about finally having our country treat all of it's citizens the same. It renews my faith in the world and in politics in the good old USA.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/20/192716/63/760/664368">DailyKos Diary

[dsc]

1. It is baldly false

that there was no place on Hillary's website that had gay issues. It was admittedly hard to find due to a poorly set up website but it did exist.

[Hope And Change]

2. Ok.But it wasn`t me who wrote this diary.I just found it on DailyKos.

[davidinalameda]

3. did her website talk about her support for DOMA?

hmmm

[dsc]

4. It accurately described her position in favor of partial repeal

[davidinalameda]

5. how partial?

[FreeState]

6. Here is a link to an Advocate article on it:

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid46508.asp

Senator Clinton’s change on DOMA came to light when her advisers released the text of her candidate questionnaire for the Human Rights Campaign.

DOMA contains two provisions: one that gives states autonomy on marriage and one that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages. With the precision of a neurosurgeon, Clinton cut herself free of the second plank of the law while continuing to embrace the first plank, essentially saying that she would let states decide their own destiny on marriage but leave the door open for federal recognition of same-sex unions.

“Senator Clinton believes that each state should make its own decisions regarding marriage or civil unions, but once a state legalizes such relationships, these relationships should receive full federal recognition and benefits,” Ethan Geto, senior national adviser to Senator Clinton on LGBT Issues, explained in an e-mail to The Advocate. “As several states have legalized gay marriage or civil unions, Senator Clinton has come to believe that the restrictions imposed by DOMA on federal government recognition of same-sex relationships are unfair.”

[davidinalameda]

9. so she was fine with only some states allowing same sex marriage?

that's still second class citizenship for us

but she didn't win and we will have a president that favors the FULL repeal of DOMA signed into law by hill's husband

[FreeState]

10. Yes - but thats Obama's stance as well

he is not pro-marriage equality and believes its up to the states.

[davidinalameda]

11. he wants DOMA fully repealed

that's the important thing

hill didn't

[Moloch]

7. I can't wait...

the first pro-GLBT president ever. Obama is going to do a lot of things for equality for GLBT citizens and its about time.

[mitchtv]

8. An old queen once said to me...

"talk is cheap" and a bit of advice don't believe everything you hear. I'll believe it when I see it