I am breaking my boycott for one thread and one reason only:

[Tyler Durden]

That reason is my unqualified support of and solidarity with the GLBT community, and my sorrow at their being once again dismissed on the national stage.

In my years of political activity since carrying a sign supporting Robert Kennedy, I have celebrated the successes of citizens of this nation that I have worked to support; the homeless, the disabled, people of color, non-union workers, farm workers...all who have slowly achieved some modicum of political and social equality in this country. They have battles yet to fight, but they have had advances.

But now, as one of the groups I have supported and who has worked so hard with all of these communities in the past once again is left to be minimized and discriminated against once again, I am filled with a sorrow that may eventually end my participation in national politics forever.

I am tired to my bones of mourning the friends I have lost to the closet, HIV, suicide and anonymity.
I am sick to death of the tyranny practiced in this country by the failure of politicians to support the basic tenant of the Constitution: Equal Treatment Under The Law.
I am angered beyond rage to see the justifications for excusing these behaviors in so-called political "leaders."
AND I am appalled beyond my ability to reason when I see others who claim to represent causes I have worked, sweat, and in some cases bled over, dismiss these fellow citizens in their fight for equality.

It is not enough to regret tacit support for bigotry.
It is not enough to support "separate but equal" treatment.
It is not enough to allow participation but deny identity.

Nothing is enough, except Equal Treatment Under The Law, and anything less is one more step down the road to the eventual, and I now believe inevitable, end of the Republic as we know it.

Without Equal Treatment Under The Law, nothing else makes any sense.

Today, as the members of the GLBT Community on this forum vent their rage at the failure of both the country and their fellow citizens to grant them their most basic rights as people in this society, I cannot share their discrimination as I don't share their identity, but I CAN do what I always have done, everyone here should do and has not done:

I stand in solidarity and support of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community, and I vocally, monetarily, and PHYSICALLY stand with you in your fight, which is most truly a fight for the rights of us all.

[malta blue]

1. great post Tyler Durden

:applause::applause:

[Tyler Durden]

2. Yeah, and I screwed up putting it HERE and not in GD-P

Where those fuckwits are fighting over who smells the best.

Are we so bruised by Bush that basic RIGHTS in this country are not enough of a goal to support?

[malta blue]

7. but see GDP is such a cesspool it actually is a better

read in here :)

[Tyler Durden]

10. I put it there anyway....

But there is no outrage in those who THINK they have no horse in the race.

How little they know.

[shaniqua6392]

3. I will stand in solidarity with you.

I am truly sorry that the change you desire is so far out of reach. I wish I could do more. :cry:

[marmar]

4. "I stand in solidarity and support of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community"

As do I. And I wish it were easier to convince people that attacks on LGBT rights are attacks on everyone's rights. There's too much provincialism in our thinking.

[WillParkinson]

5. Bravo

Well said. And thank you.

[The Traveler]

6. Well said

I keep trying to get people to understand that what we are talking about are human rights, which our society arbitrarily withholds from GLBT people on the basis of their sexual preference. If that can be done to them, then the rights of straight people may be withheld on some other arbitrary basis. This is, as you said truly a fight for the rights of us all.

Not. One. Step. Back.

[Tyler Durden]

9. It has been so many years since Stonewall.

I'm getting too old for this, and the bar is so low that the young will support ANYONE who doesn't come right out and beat physically on GLBT people.

I say again: PEOPLE.

[The Traveler]

11. An RFK favorite for your consideration

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.


Never surrender.

[Tyler Durden]

13. The world should have been different...

You know something? I am adamantly opposed to the death penalty, and I would feel the guilt forever, but I would GLADLY end Sirhan Sirhan's life with my bare hands.

We have seen so many examples of how the actions of one change the world as we know it...you would think we could extrapolate it into the current election.

[Politicub]

8. Thank you for posting this

It does feel as if GLBT rights are being swept under the rug for political expediency. And if we do hear about GLBT issues these days, its from the right calling for an odious marriage amendment or my own party defending homophobia as a winning campaign tactic.

[Tyler Durden]

14. "Feels Like"?

It's been going on for so long they don't even bother with sweeping it under the rug. They bring out the Political "DYSON" to make certain they don't lose suction as the clean it off the body politic AGAIN and AGAIN...

The SHAME of it would cause more moral people to cover their heads and weep; maybe this just proves that the first casualty of any person's ethos once they enter politics is the ability to feel SHAME.

[Politicub]

16. You're right - "feels" was too soft a word

It is happening - no "feeling" about it. Anyone who pays attention to this stuff sees it. It's all about audacity now (no reflection on Obama, just seems like the right word choice), no matter what it is.

[LostinVA]

12. I love you, Tyler

You and Vinnie.

:pals:

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. Did I miss something? Was there some kind of vote on gay rights yesterday?

I'm intentionally keeping myself out of the information loop until the primaries are done, so I'm missing out on a lot of news.

[Tyler Durden]

17. No, just the usual denials and "non-issue" claims.

I was moved by a couple of my friends to post my solidarity and support, and let them know there are people who have marched and worked with them since Stonewall.

You REALLY don't think "Separate but Equal" should come back just because some idiots think GLBT citizens are "icky," do you?

[EFerrari]

29. Who said this was a non-issue? Geezus, that's what happens

when I sleep for eight hours!

[Tyler Durden]

30. I think it was the 100th time I saw someone post about Civil Unions.

And how GREAT it was that "candidates" were for them, even if they were against "Gay Marriage."

The duplicity and "Jim Crow" nature of it all made me despairing and angry all at the same time.

[EFerrari]

33. I know. It's nearly impossible to listen to their stump speeches

without wincing or yelling at the teevee. What passes for political courage these days is nothing to write home about.

[Tyler Durden]

36. I used to have to change the station when Bush spoke....

Now it's on the "oldies" station all the time. NPR is never on unless it's a Prairie Home Companion, or on Saturdays.

[Iggo]

18. Word.

"I stand in solidarity and support of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Community, and I vocally, monetarily, and PHYSICALLY stand with you in your fight, which is most truly a fight for the rights of us all."

Thanks for putting my feelings into words.

[Tyler Durden]

19. Too bad the other so-called activists can't feel this way.

Shame is out of style.

[Iggo]

49. I'm still a rookie....

...so, technically, I guess I'm a wannabe activist.

But I'm in now.

[Orsino]

20. I resent having to vote against LGBT interests.

But our progressive Democratic Party throws them under the bus every damned election.

[Tyler Durden]

21. Where is everyone else SCREAMING about this?

Instead we get justifications, excuses...

If I believed in God I would say God Damn Them All.

[bigbrother05]

22. Human Rights violations are world wide

and the standards are so low now, that everything is on the back burner. Preaching to the choir, but politics are very slow, and people are ignorant. Our society as a whole "Americans", are in the dark. Little steps. I will apologize for the stupidity of us all.

[radfringe]

23. k&r good buddy

sadly it isn't going to happen overnight

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4566265&mesg_id=4569858

[Tyler Durden]

24. Dear Friend, I'm an "old timer" too.

Will we live to see Equality? It's been a damned long fight since the GLF.

[radfringe]

31. gonna go on for a long time

I think the mistake is looking towards legislatures for leadership and action, we're looking towards them to be the parade marshall - when in fact, we have to lead the parade.

the only 2 things that gets a politician's attention are votes and money. we can encourage politicians through our votes and money, but that's only one of tactics that need to be done

Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King - emerged as the right leaders at the right time to bring victory to the struggle. If you look at the history of those movements, you will find the struggle started long before any of them were born.

I'm not talking about hoping for a messiah - but to keep things on track, to keep people involved - you need a leader.

Stonewall was an event, Bryant was seen as "the enemy", Matthew Shepard was a tragedy - yes, they unified people, but only for a short time, for the long haul we need a leader to inspire, encourage, unify and lead. until we have that we're just a bunch of people yelling at the wind.

[Tyler Durden]

34. I miss Harvey Milk.

IMHO the RFK of the GLBT community. I wish I'd known him.

[EFerrari]

38. This place was like a morgue for months after we lost Harvey.

It was as dark as if someone had turned down the sun. I was working in City Hall and after that transferred out to the Feds. It was too hard to be there.

[Javaman]

25. What was your boycott? nt

[Tyler Durden]

27. Not to post in GDP until the Convention.

I had one thread moved there; I didn't feel that counted. But the outrage I continue to feel at the constant FLAUNTING of the backbone of our nation: the Constitutional Guarantee of Equal Rights And Treatment Under The Law, and its complete disregard simply to get a candidate nominated...

We have come full circle: we ARE the people we originally revolted against.

[Javaman]

42. In other words: we have become what we loath. nt

[Tyler Durden]

45. If you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss looks back at you .

[Stinky The Clown]

26. I am right there with you ..... and with the entirety of the GLBT community.

K&R

[Hell Hath No Fury]

28. Solidarity!

:hi:

[redwitch]

32. Well said.

:thumbsup:


How long must we sing this song?

[Tyler Durden]

35. The INTERNATIONALE was only sung for 29 years....

Before the Russian Revolution.

Hell, we just want EQUALITY not Revolution.

[Zoigal]

37. Behind you and the GLBT Community a hundred per cent, Tyler.

Equal Treatment Under the Law is the only answer. z

[kineneb]

39. I support the right of all people

to a life where there justice, peace and compassion.

[radfringe]

40. might be a bit "off topic" but I want to throw this out anyways

one of the arguments against including GLBT's in discrimination protection type legislation is the whole "meme" about "special rights"

it's also been spun in a fashion to include gay marriage

so let's take a look at a few special rights

- how many people have been FIRED because they were straight?

- how many people been refused housing because they were straight?

- how many straight married couples are denied family-plan health insurance through their workplace?

- how many spouses have to show a health proxy in order to visit the other spouse in the hospital or to talk to doctor about the spouse's condition?

- how many straight married couples are denied pension/retirement benefits in the event of the death of spouse?

- how many straight people have to hide the fact they are straight out of fear of being assaulted or otherwise harassed?

- how many married couples have to hide the fact they are married?

aren't these special rights? these are rights only available to one select segment of our society.

here's another rub - there are government and private programs which provide assistance to households. Income is usually a determining factor of elibility. the government won't recognize my relationship with my partner, but they will include both of our incomes when determining eligibility - yet we can't file a joint Income tax return.

[EFerrari]

41. Sometimes I think that the only way this will happen is if we

get the government out of the marriage business altogether for everyone.

[radfringe]

43. here's the dilemma regarding marriage

and Obama also recently made this point

Marriage implies a religious connotation. So to legalize gay marriage is in one sense the government telling religions they have to recognize it. Of course, that sets off the whole seperation of church and state debate. Yet for a priest/pastor/minister/rabbi to perform a LEGAL marriage - they have to have authorization by the state to do so. Yes, by the dictates of their religion they can perform a marriage ceremony, but it's not a legally recognized one unless they have the government authorization.

there are many people, for whatever reasons, chose to have a CIVIL marriage instead on one through a church. this doesn't make their marriage any more or less than one performed by a religious leader who has the state's authorization.

this is why the blather over whether to call it marriage or civil unions. following this logic - straight couples getting married by someone who isn't a religious person aren't really getting married - they are getting civil unioned :D

frankly, I don't care what it's called as long as it carries the same special priviledges that straight couples would enjoy.

as far as being married in a church - that should be left up to the individual religions/congregations.

[EFerrari]

44. As a Catholic, I was never really married at all because I was never

married in the Church. (Or, that's how it used to be before fish became obnoxious. I'm too lapsed to know if it's still that way.)

It just seems that it would be easier to get the government out of marriage except for the civil license than to ask risk adverse @sshole politicians to support same sex unions. Let's go for civil unions and start a movement where straight supporters also go for them. That's what I would do if I were calling the plays, anyway. It cuts off the wackos at the knees, imho, and creates an opportunity for supporters to show their support in a material way.

/oops

[Tyler Durden]

47. There should be no dilemma.

Rights extended to ONE group belong to ALL. The problem is they've left it to the STATES to determine issues dealing with INTERSTATE corporations, health insurance, taxes, adoption, etcetera.

That way, any group of idiot bigots in a given state can hijack the process.

[radfringe]

48. perhaps dilemma was wrong word

it's a conflict between state and church jurisdiction

use of the word MARRIAGE and making gay MARRIAGE legal implies state interference with religious practices and beliefs. Like I said before I don't care what it's called, just want to same privileges and rights that straight "unioned" couples have.

as far as the fed letting states determine issues - then you're talking about the issue of state's rights and jurisdiction - and that's another whole nother bee's nest to whack. That being said - if it's advantageous for the feds to dictate policy over a states policy or law - it does that.

just look at bush overriding California's higher emission standards, or on the flip side - the fed gov enacting legislation to set minimum emission standards that all states must meet

but when it's politically inconvenient - it becomes the bailiwick of states rights, and they let each state do it's own thing. this way the politicians on the fed level aren't harmed, and any negative reaction falls on the state politicians.

[Tyler Durden]

46. D, there's nothing off topic about that.

Normal Rights aren't "special" until someone wants to extend them to a group from which they had been denied.

I hate, and do mean HATE the bigots.