Cariboohoo Barbie Didn’t Know Africa is a Continent

Faux news has stepped away from bashing the Democrats now the election is over, and have started in on McCain and Palin.

Check this out:

Right Wing is Already Calling McCain Victory

On the repugnant right-wing conservative, biased, bigot loving, gay (and anyone who isn’t a white Christian) hating website, also known as rightwingnews.com - they have called McCain the winner of the 2008 election.

An Open Letter to GLBT’s Supporting McCain

“Marriage is under attack by those who are creating substitutes to marriage,” said Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Gilbert. “I think when this passes it’s going to put to bed this debate once and for all.”

Opponents of Proposition 102, however, say voters have already had their say and it’s an insult to put it on the ballot again.

Two years ago, they narrowly defeated a gay-marriage amendment, becoming the first state to do so. Twenty-seven states have constitutional bans on gay marriage.

“They chose not to change the constitution,” said Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix. “One of the reasons why they said no is because we already have a law.”

When I read this article on eastvalleytribune.com, It unleashed the dragon and I am up on my soap-box.  So, here it goes.

As much as I value diversity and freedom of choice, I also have a full understanding of how this election will change our lives (the GLBT community) for many years to come.  There are “Christian” groups raising millions (over $50 million in California alone) to take rights away from people…forever!  States that want to amend their constitutions to ban same-sex marriage, so judges can’t rule otherwise.  Arizona’s 102 and Florida’s 2 are on that list.

Now, as much I as realize those who are fighting these people have raised money too, it’s been done in defense of a right we don’t have in most states, marriage.  So, I asked these “Christian” groups (who also back Palin & McCain), how many hungry could you feed for $50 million?  How many homeless could you house for $50 million?  How many people could you send to college for $50 million dollars?  Or better yet, If Jesus had $50 million, what would he do with it?  Come on now, Christians know Jesus well to know he hates gay-marriage (and they can’t blame the Bible because Jesus didn’t write it), so they should know the answer to that question.  However, they have made the “choice” to spend tens of millions of dollars on oppression, all in the name of God.

Same sex marriage is legal in four countries: Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada. In the U.S., 45 states have barred it.  A little off topic but worth mentioning, it is still legal in 33 states to fire someone for being gay. Then there’s the other states, who again are trying to amend their constitutions to ban it as well, so the courts can not overturn the decision. This is why McCain believes it should be left up to the states.  Now I realize, he alone won’t make that decision, but he will be likely to appoint 2 or 3 U.S. Supreme Court Justices if elected.  What do you think is going to happen? Let’s also not forget to mention that if John McCain dies, then Ms. Palin steps in. Do you think someone who still thinks it’s a “choice” and “tolerates” gay people is going to push for any legislation that provides us with equality?

Let’s put Obama in office, and let him pick those same 2 or 3 spots and see what happens. Now, I’ve heard it before, and have addressed it before, but let me repeat it.  Some criticize Obama’s lack of fully supporting gay marriage, but I’m not going to buy that point.  Any presidential candidate who would openly endorse gay-marriage would be committing political suicide.  We don’t need a martyr, we need a gay friendly president. So, WAKE UP PEOPLE!

And I know, some of you who are GLBT and support McCain may claim there are other issues (and there are, and Obama is a much better choice to handle those as well), but this is the one issue that affects all of our lives, whether you are G, L, B or T.  And if it’s not an issue for you, then be open-minded enough to realize it is for most of us, and do the right thing.

A president who wants to leave those decisions up to the states is not a supporter. It’s not that difficult to see. Obama is our friend. This election is about so much more than so many realize. It’s about our future, and not our distant future, our very real, and very near future.

Please, do the right thing for all of us in the GLBT community. Vote for Obama!

Today We Pick a New Leader and A Lot More

When Americans go to the polls today, if they haven’t already in states that permit early voting, they are going to have a varying array of issues to consider, of course the most important, whether or not they will vote for change with Barack Obama, or whether we’ll have 8 more years of the same and human rights to chose, such as abortion and gay marriage will be taken away from McCain and Palin.

In California they will vote on gay-marriage, and also decide whether chickens and pregnant pigs deserve more living space.

In Florida and Arizona, they’ll decide whether or not gay-marriage should be constitutionally banned.

In Massachusetts, they will vote on whether to ban commercial dog racing. In Iowa, they will vote on eliminating the term “idiot or insane person” from state descriptions of who is eligible to vote. In a many other states, the voters will decide if more casinos will be allowed.

One great thing about democracy, the U. S. system permits citizens and state governments to add extra measures on the ballot each election, some serious, some rather odd. All together, there are 153 ballot proposals across the nation. 61 of those measures were initiated by citizens, 84 from state legislatures and 8 from state commissions.

Of the more popular, is Proposition 8, which would strip away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.

Groups supporting and opposed to Proposition 8 have raised and spent well over $60-million, a new record for a ballot measure. It’s hard to fathom “Christians” spending so much money to deny equal rights in America, a place where children still go hungry, the homeless is in record number and unemployment is hitting a peak. Of course, this may not be an issue if the McCain/Palin ticket wins because Palin has made no bones about her stance there should be a federal ban preventing gay people from marrying one another.

The right for a woman to chose whether she wants an abortion was resolved by the famous Roe vs. Wade decision in 1974, but the issue is back on the ballot in South Dakota and in Colorado Amendment 48, was introduced by a Baptist woman. Now again, this may not be an issue if McCain/Palin win because Palin has made it adamantly clear that abortion should be illegal, even in the case of rape, incest or the better interest of the mother’s health.

In Colorado and Nebraska, voters are being asked to do away with any affirmative action hiring in the public service prevents unbiased treatment on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity or national origin in hiring. Again, Palin and McCain don’t believe in equal pay for women, so this could become an issue of the past as well.

Other ballot measure no so hot include a Washington proposal to allow the terminally ill to commit suicide with the help of a doctor and attempts in Massachusetts and California to alter the punishment for marijuana possession to a $100 fine to help free up the overcrowded prisons.

In Oregon, a group called Preserve Our Best Teachers has proposed a new statute that would compensate teachers based on classroom performance. In Washington, citizens have asked for a statute to open up car pool lanes to all drivers outside rush hour.

So, the list obviously goes on, but I want to leave you with this point. Many Republicans claim they are because they don’t want “big government”. Well, it’s the small government (or small minded) that has put us into our current economic situation. If you’ll remember, when Bill Clinton left office, this country had the respect of foreign nations and a budget surplus. Now, well, you know. But I still need to bring up, as much as the Republicans talk (and talk is not cheap in this case as it’s cost tax payers and arm and a leg) about small government, they seem very interested in taking rights away from citizens of this country. That’s not small government, that’s not democracy and that is certainly not the American way. Don’t let it happen people, get out and vote…and vote for change, or it may be the last time you get to vote!

Where the Candidates Stand on GLBT Rights

Employment Non-Discrimination:
-Obama: Supports ending employment discrimination against the entire GLBT community.
-McCain: Cast a deciding vote against ENDA.

On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
-Obama: opposes the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
-McCain: believes that GLBT people should not be allowed to serve openly, and supports “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He said, “My view is that in the case of the military, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was appropriate. And I also believe that gays should not be in the military.”

On Relationship Recognition:
-Obama: Supports the repeal of DOMA; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA); supports civil unions and domestic partnerships; supports family benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples
-McCain: Voted for and supports DOMA, which denies all couples protections; voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), but campaigned for a state amendment that would have also banned civil unions and domestic partnerships; does not support family benefits for partners of federal employees; opposes allowing civil marriages for same-sex couples

Hate Crimes:
-Obama: Supports inclusive legislation to protect the entire GLBT community against bias-motivated violence
-McCain: Voted against hate crimes legislation three times

HIV/AIDS:
-Obama: Supports Ryan White CARE Act and access for early treatment of HIV under Medicaid (ETHA)
Supports comprehensive sex education aimed at preventing disease
-McCain: Has never co-sponsored Ryan White or ETHA, and voted for a Jesse Helms strategy to remove funding aimed at protecting the community from HIV/AIDS; supports abstinence-only education that leaves out GLBT people and is ineffective in combating the spread of HIV

Adoption:
-Obama: Opposes bans on adoption by same-sex couples
-McCain: Opposes adoption by same-sex couples

Source: HRC

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