Matthew Shepard Act will be a Priority of Obama's Admin. --Return Human Dignity

[Blaze Diem]

Bush was responsible for the withdrawal of a bill amendment called the Matthew Shepard Act, which would have included gays in the same hate crime legislation that imposes tough penalties on predators who target people based on race and gender. The bill was named for a gay student in Wyoming who was tortured and murdered because of his sexual identity. Barack Obama has said that passage of the Act will be a priority of his Administration.
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(snip) From
EYES ON OBAMA..http://www.eyesonobama.com/blog/content/id_42620/title_The-Era-of-Bush-Dwindles-To-An-End
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We must hold Obama to his word. I truely believe we are only seeing a glimmer of what He will do in the name of humanity. I will give him time:

How to Support This Promise:
http://www.stophate.us/shepard/
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Matthew Shepard Memorial

Lovingly Hosted by Stophate

"He should be remembered just as a kid,
as somebody who lived his life honestly." Judy Shepard


and here:
http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer

[TheWraith]

1. Kicked and recommended. Good news is always welcome! nt

[foxfeet]

2. It is good news and will be even better when concrete action is taken beyond promises.

I'm willing to wait and see, but not forever. When it is signed into law, I'll be among the first to send sincere thanks.

[Blaze Diem]

3. Me too. I am still sickened and brought to tears with the thought of what Matthew Shepard endured.

A sacrificial lamb.
Obama needs to take up the torch and put an end to the hate.
It has to happen on his watch.

[foxfeet]

5. "We must hold Obama to his word."

Exactly. He's got a lot on his plate, but I'm not willing to let this issue be forgotten.

[TWiley]

10. We must hold organizations that preach hate accountable too.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. I will believe it when I see it happen

You will excuse me for no longer jumping with joy every time the Obama team issues a promise about supporting GLBT issues. And anyway, this has absolutely nothing to do with the White House and everything to do with Congress.

I don't see any reason to hold my breath.

[Terran]

6. It has a lot to do with the White House

Strong support from the President can make or break a bill, as I'm sure you know. If they're making this a priority for the administration, then I expect we will see it pass.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. And has Obama *ever* shown strong support for GLBT issues?

McClurkin. Warren. His insistence that marriage is "one man and one woman." Frequent statements that states should be allowed to prohibit equality if they want to. His backtracking on repealing DOMA and DADT.

Like I said, I ain't holding my breath.

[Terran]

12. From change.gov:

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.

I don't know, I see stuff like the above at the new Administration's website, and at this point I don't assume they're all a bunch of liars the way Bush et al were. As for civil unions, I'm one of those who doesn't care what you call it as long as I get my economic rights. This is a lot and it won't happen overnight, but I don't think I'm being too naive to believe that it will happen.

[Blaze Diem]

14. Thank you for thisinfo. I to believe it will happen. The basic cause for humanity

to lean on the side of human rights is what I see in both Obama and Biden.
To set right the laws that have been stripped from the books, by bush and those he pandered to, goes to the the soul of all those who made their way to stand in long lines to mark the name of Barack Obama on a voting ballot.

I'll trust in Obama's word because I truley believe he is a man not created of hate.

I will simply do what I can to be sure he hears this voice.

[Boomerang Diddle]

13. YES.

Are you serious?

[Blaze Diem]

8. Agreed . Your doubt is valid.

More reason why President Obama must do this.
How can anyone not be moved to change by this young man's tragedy.
Unfortunately, there are so many cases of hate and heartache in the GLBT part of our society that are known but never told.
Its the silence that is an awful testimony to why the fight for equality can never be allowed to stop.
One does grow weary of it all, however.

Obama must be held to his word.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. And pray tell: how do we hold Obama to his word?

What leverage do we have? And be careful, lest you be condemned for "helping the Republicans win the next election."

[LeftyMom]

11. That's exactly what I was going to say.

My guess is that it's not going to happen unless congress makes it happe: Obama's much to eager to be all things to all people to stick his neck out on this.

[polly7]

15. Sorry for appearing ignorant but I googled and couldn't find what

I was looking for ..... WHY did Bush have the amendment withdrawn? What purpose did it serve him - just pandering to his base?? Cripes, the more I read about what this man has done the more I find myself capable of hate.

[Blaze Diem]

16. I think he just believes he is white, male, and powerful. He can order the murder of thousands with

no apparent issue of conscience, Shock & Awe killed babies, mommies, dads, gramas, grampas, cousins, friends, teachers, household pets, memories, futures, historic gardens, and forever changed generations in a country that was no threat to the USA.

He has barely noticed the levels of poverty, ever increasing in his own country. Bush has no soul, has no conscience, and cannot speak truly without a written script in front of him.

He has displayed, continuously, all traits that make a sociopaths personality.

He simply needed no reason to withdraw this amendment, just some handler pointing out the fact that such an amendment existed.