Baldwin Optomistic About Gay Legislation

Saturday, Tammy Baldwin, the openly lesbian U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, told attendees at the 2009 International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in San Francisco, California that she is holding on to optimistic expectations the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009 (DPBO), which Baldwin sponsored, will reach the House floor this year. If enacted, the bill would provide benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. Baldwin also stated she expects The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill that would prohibit workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity will be passed as well.

In regards to Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the military’s ban on servicemembers serving as openly gay, she expects that will reach the house sometime next fall, and feels it will be attached to the military’s 2011 spending bill.

All three pieces of legislation is expected to gain the approval of the House of Representatives, which is considered more liberal than the Senate, but it’s also expected the bills will face tougher obstacles in the Senate, where Democrats hold a small majority.

Baldwin stated at the conference:

“I’m hopeful we will see those three pieces of legislation make it all the way, or damn close.”

The Leadership Conference was sponsored by The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, a group that promotes the election of openly gay men and women into public offices.

President’s Speech Sparks Movement on DADT

Reports came in earlier today claiming the White House is talking to Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn) about a strategy to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Lieberman has stood in opposition of the policy since it was enacted and signed into law in 1993.

Representative Patrick Murphy (D-Penn) has sponsored a bill in the House of Representatives that was introduced in March, but so far, it hasn’t moved forward swiftly enough for those who support military equality for LGBT Americans.

Reports also say that Lieberman is looking for a Democratic sponsor for the repeal bill in the Senate.

Earlier reports revealed claims by Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis) that the repeal initiative is gaining momentum and expected it to pass by spring.

Support for repealing the law is also being backed by Representative Joe Sestak (D-Penn), who is the highest-ranking former military officer serving in Congress. Under the Murphy bill, those discharged under “Don’t ask, don’t tell” will be allowed to re-enlist, if they are still eligible for service.

Lawmakers Pushing to Repeal DOMA

Yesterday, more than 70 lawmakers launched a drive to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) the 1996 law that prevents the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

Supporters of the measure are anticipating the bill’s initiation will speed up effort to repeal the law in Congress. President Obama has stated he fully supports the repeal of the DOMA.

A spokesperson for Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), said about 70 Democratic lawmakers have already signed on to the legislation. Nadler is one of the leading co-sponsors of the bill.

People have been highly critical of President Obama for not moving swiftly enough in repealing the discriminatory law, but according to a statement the President made in June of this year:

“Unfortunately, my Administration is not authorized by existing Federal law to provide same-sex couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That’s why I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It’s discriminatory, it interferes with States’ rights, and it’s time we overturned it.”

Seeing the Big Picture Takes Eyes

So many in the LGBT community have been ranting over President Obama’s lack of support for the LGBT community.  Many LGBT citizens have shown various degrees of anger that President Obama hasn’t waved some magic wand and DOMA and DADT haven’t disappeared overnight.

The one thing that Obama’s critics don’t see however, is not only the big picture, but they don’t even see there is a picture.

For the first time ever, the Census Bureau will start collecting and counting data that will show how many LGBT people are living in the U.S.  Until now, no one has ever attempted to put a number on how many LGBT citizens there are in this country.  Is it 10% or is it more?  We simply do not know.  However, because of an effort by President Obama and his administration, the U.S. is finally going to start counting.

Why is this important.  Because it’s smart.  To all those anti-gay people out there, the LGBT community is a very small percentage of the population, therefore they often justify their bigotry and discrimination by claiming the overwhelming majority is having to make concessions for a relatively small minority.  If we gain some real statistics, and are able show exactly how many people are affected by the anti-gay discrimination that plagues us all, then it is going to be with a great deal more ease that laws are past to protect our community.  President Obama is smart in the fact that he is starting from scratch.  He is going to the root, and will branch upward.  Once there are solid statistics on the LGBT population, it will be much easier to push for equality.  Again, before now, no other administration has attempted to even put a number on our community.

Why is this so important?  Well, there are many reasons, but the one of the most important is changing the view of the general population.  Here’s an example.

According to a post on the SLTrib:

President Barack Obama and the House’s only openly lesbian member are pushing a bill that would give equal benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.

But Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz stood in opposition to that effort during the legislation’s first hearing Wednesday.

“I, like most people in this country, [am] in favor of preserving traditional marriage,” said Chaffetz, the ranking Republican member on the House subcommittee that oversees the federal work force. “I don’t’ think we should try to create something that is under a different name.”

“I, like most people in this country”.  So here’s the assumption, that “most people” in this country do not support LGBT rights.  Although many would correctly argue that the majority should never be able to decide rights for a minority, that unfortunately isn’t how things work.  I know you’ve heard the term “strength in numbers”, well it’s true.  President Obama needs the support people.  If he went into office, and just started demanding laws were changed to help what most perceive to be a very small minority, then the opposition would be even greater than what he is facing now.  So, again, let’s start from the ground up and get a real handle on exactly how small, or large, of a minority the LGBT community is and go from there.  Smart and correct, President Obama is taking this very crucial step, which simply won’t happen overnight.

The other “smart” thing President Obama is doing…leaving the lawmaking up to the lawmakers.  The very powerful Right Wing (don’t underestimate your enemies) in this country have accused President Obama (even before he officially took office) of wanting to take away democracy in this country, and THAT is a pretty serious charge.  If President Obama went into office, and started making changes to laws without following the democratic protocol, he would NOT be re-elected in 2012 and the hope of real change in this country would be lost as the Republican party would most certainly reverse any progress made.

This is only the beginning folks, and it’s going to be a long road to travel.  If you’re not up for the journey, then perhaps you should sit this one out.  We have a fight ahead of us…key word, WE!  President Obama can NOT do this on his own, nor should he have to be a martyr for the LGBT community.  There is so much more at risk here.

The one thing I have, that so many others don’t, is trust.  President Obama has NOT gone back on his word.  Perhaps progress hasn’t been as swift as you would like, but progress is being made, with or without your help and support.

So, open your eyes.  See the big picture, or at least step back far enough to see there is a picture.  Know that there has to be a method to obtaining our goals or equality and inclusion, and know that President Obama is smart enough to know he has to follow a path that has been carved out by decades of mis-information.

It wasn’t until 1974, which is well within the lifetime of many of us, that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association, stopped listing homosexuality as a mental disorder. It was only 25 years ago that homosexuality was still viewed as a disease in this country. Don’t tell me progress hasn’t been made.

Again, have faith. Know that President Obama is working towards ending discrimination, but again know it’s not an easy or small job. Know he is taking the necessary steps to do this correctly, following the democratic process, and saving himself, and the entire LGBT community, from being viewed as a “special interest” who unfairly pushed their way into the everyday life of America.

In the meantime, do your part. Write your congressman, speak to your neighbors. Education is key in gaining acceptance, and we have to be the educators. We have a lot to loose, but even more to gain.

Barney Frank Speaks OUT on Sarah Palin

Barney Frank, who has represented the 4th District of Massachusetts since 1981, and is one of two out gay people in the House of Representatives. Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Congresswoman, is the only lesbian in the House.

Frank, a Harvard graduate, who has long stood as an outsider in congress because of his sexual orientatin, came out in 1987.  Since, his political adversaries have attempted time and time again to unseat him, but to no avail.

In a Boston Globe article, Congressman Frank stated;

“Governor Palin’s daughter is entitled to be treated with compassion. But that is precisely the point that makes this a relevant political issue. Palin was selected by McCain in substantial part because of her high standing as a leading advocate of the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party.”

On the way to becoming a grandmother to an illegitimate child her underage daughter is carrying, Palin, 44, stated:

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents.”

Congressman Frank’s general reply:

“The glaring inconsistency between the social philosophy that blames liberalism for divorce and teen pregnancy and the facts of Palin’s family life further underlines the serious shortcomings of that philosophy. This does not mean that family members are “fair game,” a view that some have inaccurately attributed to me. People are not “game,” fair or unfair. They are human beings who often face difficult personal decisions. The relevant political point about the existence of these incidents in Palin’s family is not that they reflect badly on her or her relatives, but that they further reveal the central flaw of the harshly judgmental and intolerant philosophy she exemplifies. That is why the questions of divorce and teen pregnancy are relevant in discussions of the McCain/Palin ticket. The individuals involved in these cases deserve to be treated with compassion, but so do millions of other Americans who find themselves in similar situations. But, sadly, they are often met with criticism and hostile public policy formulated by those who now claim Palin as their political champion. Too often, people on the right seek to impose strict standards on others, and blame them for falling short, while making exceptions for those close to them. Respect and compassion should extend to all who find themselves in similar situations.”

While Palin claims to have gay friends, and is receptive to arguments about discrimination, she also stated she would support a statewide ballot proposal in Alaska that would deny benefits to homosexual couples.

I wonder if listening to Stevie Wonder makes her a sensitive to African-American issues?

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