Quote of the Month

"If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn’t worship that God."
-Archbishop Desmund Tutu

House Passes ENDA

That is the Employee Non-Discrimination Act that prevents employers from firing people because of their sexual orientation.

In a perfect world, a law like this would be moot and just more unnecessary government intervention, but even my semi-libertarian heart can't overlook the fact that the LGBT community is treated like second class citizens in much of this country. Like I always say, if Americans are going to act like children, the government should treat them like children.

35 Republicans voted for the bill;
Judy Biggert (R-Illinois)
Mary Bono (R-California)
John Campbell (R-California)
Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Tom Davis (R-Virginia)
Charlie Dent (R-Pennsylvania)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
David Drier (R-California)
Jeff Flake (R-Arizona)
Vito Fossella (R-New York)
Rod Frelinghuysen (R-New Jersey)
Jim Gerlach (R-Pennsylvania)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland)
Davd Hobson (R-Ohio)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Joe Knollenberg (R-Michigan)
Randy Kuhl (R-New York)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Thaddeus McCotter (R-Michigan)
Jim McCrery (R-Louisiana)
John McHugh (R-New York)
Candice Miller (R-Michigan)
Todd Platts (R-Pennsylvania)
Jon Porter (R-Nevada)
Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio)
Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida)
Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin)
Jim Saxton (R-New Jersey)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio)
Greg Walden (R-Oregon)

25 Democrats voted nay, 7 of them because it did not include the transgendered (All but two from New York City oddly enough);

Yvette Clarke (D-New York)
Rush Holt (D-New Jersey)
Mike Michaud (D-Maine)
Jerrold Nadler (D-New York)
Edolphus Towns (D-New York)
Nydia Velázquez (D-New York)
Anthony Weiner (D-New York)

Another 18 Democrats voted nay because they just plain opposed the bill (and are mostly from the south);

John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Marion Berry (D-Arkansas)
Bud Cramer (D-Alabama)
Artur Davis (D-Alabama)
Lincoln Davis (D-Tennessee)
Chet Edwards (D-Texas)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois)
Jim Marshall (D-Georgia)
Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)
Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia)
Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina)
Ike Skelton (D-Missouri)
John Tanner (D-Tennessee)
Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

The President says he'll veto the bill and it's unlikely to see Senate passage before the end of the year, but it's a step.

God Wrote the Constitution, Did He?

"We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it, and that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God's law."

If you want to follow "God's law," then perhaps you should become a General in the Pope's army, but here in America, the only law that matters is the one the 13 colonies approved in 1787. Sometimes it agrees with "God's law," sometimes it doesn't. If you can't accept the times it doesn't, then perhaps you shouldn't be a part of our government.

Have a nice day :-)

Now It's Convenient To Defend the Gays?

Newt Gingrich's laughable rational to why the President of Iran shouldn't have spoken at Columbia;

“I think it is an outrage for the university to lend its prestige to a dictator whose Government executes homosexuals, tortures and kills journalists, lock up students”

Yeah Newt, we shouldn't kill the gays, we should just make their lives so miserable that they wish they were dead, right?

The Bravest Man In America

San Diego's Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders, who decided, against the popular opinion of his party and probably his city, that he will endorse San Diego's City Council resolution calling for the legalization of gay marriage in California.

Previously opposed to gay marriage, but supportive of civil unions, Mayor Sanders gave an emotional press conference that may very well symbolize the change in opinion of the nation as a whole. Sanders, choking back tears, said;

"I've decided to lead with my heart. . . to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice...I just cannot bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community that they were less important, less worthy, or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage than anyone else simply because of their orientation."

Sanders' daughter, Lisa, is a lesbian and Sanders claims she and her parter is a big reason why he changed this mind on the issue;

"In the end, I could not look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships—their very lives—were any less meaningful than the marriage that I share with my wife Rana,"

I really do believe the day is coming that this will become a non-issue. The day is coming when gays will be given the same legal rights. A majority of the country still opposes it, and it may take a decade or two to change that, but all we need to do is point to places like Belgium, Canada, Spain, South Africa and Massachusetts, where gay marriage is legal and society has not crumbled to the ground.

It's hard to accept change, especially something as massively new and different as gay marriage. Americans don't handle differences and changes very well, it takes time, but thanks to men like Jerry Sanders, who decided to follow his heart and not his political party, we're on that road.

Sanders may loose the next election because of it, but he'll loose gracefully and bravely.

The Republican Oxymoron

"As Republicans we must oppose discrimination and defend traditional marriage: one man, one woman,"

-Mitt Romney

How is that opposing discrimination, I'm confused, who is being discriminated against by allowing gays to marry.

This is why I don't vote for them.

Maryland Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban

What riles me the most is that they said this;

The court also found that the state has an interest in promoting procreation and that the General Assembly "has not acted wholly unreasonably in granting recognition to the only relationship capable of bearing children traditionally within the marital unit."

Ok, so I guess heteorsexual barren women and heterosexual impotent men can't get married either. Right?

Somebody answer me.

What Seperates Clinton and Vitter?

Read into what Larry Flynt says;

"I very seldom get a chance to get a big one, and sometimes I have to go bottom feeding. We have a criteria, and that is if someone is living a life contrary to the way they are advocating -- their personal life -- than they become fair game."

Clinton never went front and center, arguing that moral issues were the main issues, that traditional marriage is sacred and government should protect it. Clinton was a sinner, admitted he was a sinner (after a period of time) and didn't waste his time preaching morality.

Vitter did. He advocated protecting "traditional marriage" all the while he wasn't practicing what he preached.

Clinton was immoral and that was bad enough, but Vitter is not only immoral...he's a hypocrite.

If Clinton should've resign for his sins, then Vitter should as well. (Let the record show I don't think either one committed anything henious enough to resign, but I'm calling on Vitter to practice what he preached.)

Elizabeth Edwards: I'm Comfortable With Gay Marriage

Elizabeth Edwards did what no other Democratic or Republican presidential candidate or spouse of him, including her own husband, still hasn't. She has publically endorsed the idea of gay marriage.

“I don’t know why someone else’s marriage has anything to do with me, I’m completely comfortable with gay marriage.”

Few marriages are as rock solid as the Edwards'. If they don't feel threatened by gay marriage, no one else should either.

New York State Assembly Passed Gay Marriage Bill

By a vote of 81-65, the New York State Assembly became the third state legislative body in the US to vote to legalize same sex marriage. Last year, both houses of the California legislature endorsed same-sex marriage, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill got some bipartisan support. Four Republicans, two men from the Hudson Valley and two women from the Adirondacks, voted for the bill;

Mike Spano (R-Yonkers), Joel Miller (R-Poughkeepsie), Teresa Sayward (R-Essex County) and Dede Scozzafava (R-Gouveneur) all voted aye.

21 Democrats and 1 Independent voted nay, breaking with party line; Peter Abbate (D-Brooklyn), Daniel Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent), Joan Christensen (D-Syracuse), Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), Bill Colton (D-Brooklyn), Steven Cymbrowitz (D-Brooklyn), Francine DelMonte (D-Niagara Falls), Ruben Diaz Jr. (D-Bronx), Dennis Gabryszak (D-Cheektowaga), Sandra Galef (D-Peekskill), David Gantt (D-Rochester), Diane Gordon (D-Brooklyn), Timothy Gordon (I-Delmar), Auriela Greene (D-Bronx), Carl Heastie (D-Bronx), Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn), William Magee (D-Nelson), Margaret Markey (D-Maspeth), N. Nick Perry (D-Brooklyn), Annette Robinson (D-Brooklyn), Robin Schimminger (D-Kenmore), Anthony Seminerio (D-Richmond Hill).

State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselear) has already said the bill will be dead on arrival to the Senate, so it'll almost certainly will not reach Governor Spitzer's desk this session.

Spitzer would sign it if it did. It would make New York the second state to legalize gay marriage after Massachusetts and the first to do it legislatively.

Are They Serious?

They'll let crazies in, but not the gays.

Shows you how screwy the leadership of the Pentagon is. They're willing to put billion dollar weapons that can kill hundreds in the hands of someone who may snap at any moment, but not in the hands of a man who enjoys the company of other men.

"This is just one of several items under review by the Department of Defense and the services in an effort to remove the stigma associated with mental health issues,"

Oh, suddenly so concerned with the stigmas of minorities are we?

Massachusetts Marriage Rights Staying Put

The Massachusetts State Legislature put a stop to a proposed referendum for a amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage.

By a 151-45 vote, the two houses of the state legislature, together for a constitutional convention, defeated a proposed amendment that needed 50 votes to pass. The amendment had previously gotten 60 votes in the last session. The representatives who changed their votes include 2 State Senators, both Democrats, and seven state Representatives; five Democrats and two Republicans.

A yea vote wouldn't have made any difference, the amendment would've failed anyway if put before the people. Three and a half years into legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts, there's enough support statewide to keep it legal in a referendum, granted it wouldn't be that large of a victory and it would help the Republican candidate for President next year should it be on the ballot.

Among those running for the GOP nomination for President...former Governor Mitt Romney, who came up with the idea of this constitutional amendment.

Coincidence? Decide for yourself.

This Is A Doctor?

It's one thing to have your opinion, it's another to accept it as fact.

Especially when your asking to be the nation's top doctor

Rudy: Not For Catholic Conservatives

Catholic Conservatives are lining up in hopes of bringing down GOP front runner Rudy Giuliani.

No matter how much of a hero you are, the Religious Right will destroy you if you don't endorse their middle ages philosophy on the world.

This is why I don't want to be President.

New Hampshire Civil Unions Legalized

As expected, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed into law a bill that legalizing civil unions for gay couples in his state.

New Hampshire becomes the fourth state, after Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey to legalize civil unions.

Maine, California, District of Columbia, and now Washington and Oregon have domestic partnership laws.

Massachusetts legalized gay marriage in 2003.

In California, What's More Popular, Bush or Gay Marriage?

Gay Marriage by 2 to 1.

Bush's approval in the Garden State- 26%

Californians who support marriage equality- 48%

Ronald Reagan's Home State has sure turned on the GOP, hasn't it?

Gay Marriage Bill Introduced In State Assembly

with 53 cosponsers, 52 Democrats and one lone Republican.

The bill is being introduced by Daniel O'Donnell (D-Morningside Heights)

The co-sponsers;
Marc Alessi (D-Mastic), Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona), Michael Benedetto (D-Pelham Bay), Jonathan Bing (D-Upper East Side), William Boyland, Jr. (D-Brownsville) Adam Bradley (D-White Plains), James Brennan (D-Park Slope), Richard Brodsky (D-Greenburgh), Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston), Vivian Cook (D-South Jamaica), Luis Diaz (D-University Heights), Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Riverdale), Patricia Eddington (D-Medford), Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Herman D. Farrell, Jr. (D-Washington Heights), Ginny Fields (D-Oakdale), Deborah Glick (D-Greenwich Village), Richard Gottfried (D-Chelsea), Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo), Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern), Hakeem Jeffries (D-Fort Greene), Susan John (D-Rochester), Brian Kavanagh (D-Turtle Bay), Ivan Lafayette (D-Jackson Heights), Rory Lancman (D-Flushing), George Latimer (D-Rye), Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), Barbara Lifton (D-Ithaca), Vito Lopez (D-Bushwick), Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), John McEneny (D-Albany), Joan Millman (D-Brooklyn Heights), Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood), Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park), Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale), Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights), J. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), Phil Ramos (D-Central Islip), Jose Rivera (D-Kingsbridge), Naomi Rivera (D-Morris Park), Linda Rosenthal (D-Upper West Side), Teresa Sayward (R-Plattsburgh), Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck), Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), Matthew Titone (D-Staten Island), Darryl Towns (D-East New York), Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach), Mark Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows), Keith L.T. Wright (D-Harlem), Ellen Young (D-Flushing), Kenneth Zebrowski, Jr (D-New City).

Did you notice the lone Republican? It's Teresa Sayward, from way up in the Adirondacks. Most of the sponsers are New York City Democrats, representing all five boroughs. Three of the four Nassau County Democrats are co-sponsers, as are all six Suffolk County Democrats, five of the six Westchester Democrats and both Rockland County Democrats.

At least eight more Assembly members have endorsed gay marriage, including Joel Miller (R-Poughkeepsie), Aileen Gunther (D-Sullivan County), Audrey Pfeffer (D-Rockaway Beach), Nettie Mayersohn (D-Kew Gardens Hills), Ann Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside), David Koon (D-East Rochester), Janele Hyer-Spencer (D-Staten Island), and Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria).

Hat tip; the Agenda

The Hate Crimes Paradox

The House of Representatives passed today legislation adding homosexual, transgender and transsexual people to the list of those covered by hate crime laws. While the 237-180 vote was nearly party line, 14 Democrats opposed it while 25 Republicans supported it. If and when the Senate passes it, the bill will go to the desk of the President, who announced today he will likely veto it.

I've never been a fan of hate crimes legislation. To me, having tougher sentences for hate crimes demeans victims of crimes that weren't done because of "hate." To me, it's almost as if it is not nearly as much of a crime when someone beats someone else up or kills him or her because of a reason other than racism, sexism, or some sort of discrimination. All crimes are committed because of some sort of hate. Hate crime laws do nothing to make our society more equal and less prejudiced. Identifying a certain crime as a "hate crime" only keeps the idea of "separate and unequal" alive.

Nevertheless, this is not why most of the 180 members of Congress who voted nay today voted their way and it's probably not why President Bush is going to veto this. Let's be real here, most of those opposed to this bill and probably the President would not vote to repeal or support a repeal of hate crime legislation for African-Americans, Jews, or Women. Sure, some would, but most won't. This is an anti-gay vote. This is lip service to the Christian fascists trying to turn this country into a Jesus State.

If we are going to allow hate crimes legislation for everyone else, then it is only fair we include the LGBT community. Some argue they are gay, lesbian, transsexual or transgender by choice. They choose their lifestyle. Even if that was true, which it is not, we do cover choices under hate crimes; religion, for example. You can choose your religion. For instance; I choose to be a non-practicing Catholic. You may choose to be a practicing Christian or Jew and nobody can try to kill you for it. People cannot beat your up for going to a synagogue or to a church, therefore, it is only fair we protect LGBT Americans who some believe choose their lifestyle, and some don't.

There is only one reason for voting against this bill and still supporting hate crimes laws for other groups; you either A.) Cannot seem to separate the Bible from the Constitution or B.) Are afraid of the people who cannot seem to separate the Bible from the Constitution.

Bigotry is the reason for voting against or vetoing this. This continues to prove my point, that the LGBT community is the target of today's prejudice.

Muzzle People of Faith

Is what Dr. James Dobson says Congress is trying to do by passing a hate crimes legislation to cover homosexuals, transgender and transsexual indivuduals.

Because, you know, Christians not only have the right, but the obligation, to be prejudiced against homosexuals. If to be Christian means to be prejudice and hateful, then I want no part of it, thank you.

House Passes Hate Crimes Legislation

The vote was 237-180.

14 Democrats voted nay, mostly from the South;

Marion Berry (D-Arkansas)
Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)
Chris Carney (D-Pennsylvania)
Bud Cramer (D-Alabama)
Lincoln Davis (D-Tennessee)
Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana)
Brad Ellsworth (D-Indiana)
Bart Gordon (D-Tennessee)
Mike McIntyre (D-North Carolina)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)
Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota)
Mike Ross (D-Arkansas)
Heath Shuler (D-North Carolina)
Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi)

25 Republicans voted FOR the bill;

Judy Biggert (R-Illinois)
Mary Bono (R-California)
Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Charlie Dent (R-Pennsylvania)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida)
Phil English (R-Pennsylvania)
Mike Ferguson (R-New Jersey)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-New Jersey)
Jim Gerlach (R-Pennsylvania)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Randy Kuhl (R-New York)
Ray LaHood (R-Illinois)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Jim McCrery (R-Louisiana)
Todd Platts (R-Pennsylvania)
Jon Porter (R-Nevada)
Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida)
Jim Saxton (R-New Jersey)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Greg Walden (R-Oregon)
Jim Walsh (R-New York)

I find some of these votes rather surprising.

UPDATE: The White House is threatening to veto the measure.