Thank God I found your blog! I feel like I've been living a real life version of invasion of the body snatchers since Obama was elected! Heterosexual people who I considered to be my friends had the audacity to tell me I should stop complaining about the Rick Warren incident and "trust Obama"....and worse. I have lost lifelong friends over this bullshit, and it has even damaged relationships with family members. Obama did more to degrade, insult, and damage LGBT people on his first day in office than any other president has done in an entire term (at least in my lifetime)...
I'm guessing that beyond Obama choosing Rick Warren to convey God's love to everyone who isn't gay or, well, a woman, was Obama's choice of Tim Kaine as the new DNC Chair. As I have pointed out in previous posts, Kaine is both anti-Choice, and anti-gay. Hell, he even opposes same-sex civil unions. Betcha didn't know that abt the NEW CHAIR of the DNC!!! How could we not possibly take this choice, this hand pick, by Obama personally?
And how we can not take it personally that, as the commenter above noted, our families and friends keep dismissing the numerous slaps at our community by Obama? I don't see how we can't, and I, for one, most definitely DO take it personally. When people like Anne Hathaway think her wearing a damn ribbon is sufficient "protest" to Obama's choices, and others, people who KNOW us, think to do even LESS, well, there's no way not to take that as a slap.
This seems like the perfect time to remind all of those people about the DNC's Platform on gay issues, hammered out this summer. Here is a post I wrote back on August 11, 2008 on the DNC Platform with a couple of edits for the passage of time:
So, I was taking a glance at the DNC Platform for 2008, and I noticed something missing. There was VERY little mention of GLBT Rights. It mentioned repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - a policy loudly decried, so that's not a big surprise. UPDATE: But now, Obama has put this on the back-burner until at least 2010. Oh, what a SURPRISE from this man who surrounds himself with homophobes!!! Ahem.
And the Obama camp "opposes" DOMA. Well, I guess that's something, they do NOT specifically say they will work to OVERTURN IT, though. So, okay. What else have you got? Oh, okay - on pp46-47, they say they want to end discrimination based on the usual list, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Well, golly gee - all the rest are already illegal, so why are we lumped into a big group? Oh, and they want to work in a bipartisan way to end employment discrimination. Great! That is the ONLY proactive statement they make for the GLBT community, but even THAT is not specific. Those few mentions are interwoven with a bunch of other groups throughout. There is a subheading on FATHERHOOD (I kid you not - I'm not making this stuff up, people!), but NOT a subheading on obtaining FULL rights for the GLBT community. Nowhere in there is a stated COMMITMENT to obtain FULL Federal benefits for LGBT couples, all the same rights that heterosexual couples currently enjoy, and something Hillary Clinton committed to doing if elected president. So, a few nebulous mentions - you will NOT find the term "GLBT Community" in there, and one stated action on employment. Which includes EVERYONE. Peachy. I reckon we'll have to wait for full citizenship because these are just "words," words without even a COMMITMENT to action. I, for one, am not "grateful" for what little is offered in this Platform. I want my country to acknowledge me as a a FULL HUMAN BEING, not act like I should be thrilled to lap up whatever crumbs are dropped from the table of "real" Americans. No. Hell to the no.
How is it that countries like URUGUAY have national civil rights for THEIR GLBT citizens (as of January 1, 2008), and we do not, a country FOUNDED on democratic principles?
Or how about South Africa? Yes, South Africa, the country recently in the throes of a racist regime included IN ITS CONSTITUTION, rights for their GLBT citizens. In 2006, when the issue of Civil Unions came up, their dominant church, the Anglican Church, was not going to fight it. Rather, Archbishop of Cape Town, which oversees 24 bishops in the country said:
he supports the proposed controversial Civil Unions Bill which will legalise same-sex partnerships.
Speaking on Thursday, he said that there should be two separate types of marriage; the existing law which covers heterosexual couples and a new concept which would allow for same-sex unions.
Ndungane said that "I have said to my friends who are gay and lesbian that using the word marriage is like a red flag to a bull. They will be wise to use the word partnership or union.”
While the Synod has said it will not actually perform (or bless) same-sex unions, but it will be supportive. He went on to say:
"People of homosexual orientation are God's children. We cannot penalise someone for something not of his or her own making", said Ndungane, adding that, "Diversity is a creation by the almighty. We need to embrace all of us in our differences and seek to walk together."
Now, in all fairness, some in the GLBT community were not thrilled with this compromise, particularly because they feel like it ends up being separatist in terms of the whole marriage concept, and that it is unconstitutional. I imagine they are right, but when you live in a country in which people go crazy over a gay Episcopal priest, Gene Robinson, being elevated to Bishop in 2003, or have a President of the United States, George Bush, claim he wants to make Gay Rights Unconstitutional, well, it looks pretty good to me.
But I'm not done. We all know (right?) that countries like France, England, and those freakin' cold countries in Europe have full rights for their GLBT citizens - what a concept. Yes, they all seem to see us as being fully human. And get this: Holland isn't content with providing their OWN citizens with full rights - they think it should be GLOBAL, and are fighting to make that happen. Yep. How about that? Meanwhile, we are having people literally beaten to death because they are gay. Geez - what would it take to get the Dutch to come over HERE and get to work on this issue??
Oh, but I am still not done. Guess which other country has full rights for their GLBT citizens? Oh, guess. Go ahead. I'll wait. Nope, no, huh uh - that would be CROATIA. Yes, I said CROATIA. I would have more rights in Croatia, the country recently in a major war with the Serbs until 1995. Just 18 years after forming its Constitution, I have more rights THERE than I do in the United States of America. In fact:
Croatia is also one of very few countries in central, eastern and southern Europe to grant same-sex couples the civil partnership rights equal to those granted to heterosexuals.
In fairness, it is not ALL hunky dory there:
However, like the people of many countries in the region, Croatians do not have the same tolerance we've come to expect from the Dutch, the Swedes, and the rest of western Europe. Gays are accepted when they are not obvious, and meet greater tolerance in cities than in rural parts of the country.
But STILL - they have the SAME RIGHTS as heterosexuals do there. Presumably, that means they are not prohibited from inheriting from their partners like they are in a number of states in the USA. Presumably, they can visit their loved ones when they are in the HOSPITAL. And so, so much more.
Yet, the DNC did not see fit to include us ANYWHERE in its platform for the Convention. And the reason is because they tailored it to OBAMA. If it had been Clinton, I believe, no - I KNOW - it would have been different. She has been a faithful, stalwart friend to our community for years, and she has already said that if elected, she would ensure that we ALL got the same federal benefits, not just some of us (see the YouTube video below).
I have said all along that if Hillary was not our candidate, not our PRESIDENT, that we were going to get kicked to the curb. I would be delighted to be proven wrong, but I'm pretty sure I am right, unfortunately. The lack of inclusion in the Platform for this year was not an oversight. It is just more of what we can expect.
Hillary Clinton was the ONLY candidate out there who will serve ALL Americans, not just some. And that matters. That matters a lot. I have no doubt she will do a great job as Secretary of State, but it would have been better for ALL of us had she been president:
So, yeah - it's personal. To try and minimize the impact of Obama's choices on the GLBT community, or expect US to minimize it, is nothing more than piling on.
Welcome to the New DNC.
14 comments:
So tell me, Rev, why do my gay friends continue to adore BigO? I know we're talking about the DNC here, but realistically we understand that the new/old DNC represents the views of the President.
I'm at a loss to understand it. They ignore the honor given to Rick Warren; they ignore the insult to Bishop Robinson; they ignore bringing Donnie McClurkin on board to represent the campaign; they ignore the fact that BigO has never once marched in any gay pride parade; they ignore the fact that BigO refused to have his picture taken with Gavin Newsome; they ignore the fact that BigO does not support marriage equality for everyone; they ignore the appointment of Tim Kaine. I'm sure there's lots more I'm leaving out.
One friend, when she found out that her landlord was reducing her monthly rent as a way to help out during these difficult economic times, wrote on her facebook page, "He must have been Obamafied!" As if her landlord wasn't a decent, caring, thoughtful person (which he is) who chose to express those qualities, but only did so because he was influenced by the greatness of BigO himself (I feel nauseous just writing the words).
I suppose ignorance is bliss, and people need bliss right now. I suppose it's no different than all the so-called feminists falling down at his feet even though he's proven himself to be a sexist and misogynist. As a woman, I don't get that at all.
It will be very difficult to keep from screaming "I tried to tell you" when they finally do wake up to the truth, if they ever do.
Hope you are healing well from surgery! Glad to have you back.
Hey, SF!
Thanks - I'm still taking some time, but felt compelled to put this back up, especially when I learned that Kaine doesn't even support civil unions. Holy crap!
And I think you hit the nail on the head - it is just like women falling at Obama's feet, working for his coronoation, even though he consistently acted in an incredibly sexist way, and acts out raps by JayZ, that misogynistic pig. Yet, still there they are!
People really do seem to be completely blinded by him. What is staggering is that this is who they choose after BUSH! I mean, really - the similarities between the two continue to grow, and these folks just brush it all aside. It is really shocking.
Hey, how is your beautiful boy doing? We have ended up with a stray our stable owner found. Not what we were planning, but she has just come right in and acts like she has been here for a while! Poor thing was emaciated - and besides wanting food, she is very calm and quiet. And she's cute.
Anywho - GOOD to hear from you! Hope you are well!
Jumping in to TAG you.
The rules are simple: post six things about you and then tag six bloggers to do the same.
Hope you are feeling better!
Now, on to read the post. You know I'll have something to say!
Congratulations on the new addition to your family, Rev! She may not have been what YOU were planning, but sounds like that little lady had plans of her own! My boy is hanging in there, he goes back for a checkup Monday so we'll see what the good doctor has to say. Thanks for asking!
BlueLyon, you kill me! I'll have to think abt that while I'm in my repetitive motion machine!
And HOLY FREAKIN' COW - what 6 things you have! I am literally LOL at the cool things you have! I LOVE the one abt the dolphins! SO cool - and yeah, that would be the best date EVER!!!!!
SF, you said it - not our plans, but someones for us to end up with this sweet little dog. She has a LOT of similar characteristics to one of our greyhounds we had to put to sleep last year, and abt whom we had been talking a lot recently...She's smaller, though, which I need now (our other two dogs are 50 and 70 lbs. This one is abt 40.). So, yeah - SOMEONE decided we needed to have this little girl. Oh, and our other two dogs just accepted her right off the bat. They have been very gracious to her, actually.
Oh, I do hope your boy has a good report! Sending good energy y'all's way!
So, tell me how you really feel, Rev. ;-)
First of all, I'm so glad to see you back and writing again!
Next, I can't tell you how many times I shouted out, "Exactly!" as I read this post.
I don't understand why I am seeing so many bloggers who are gay and lesbian who are still showing their adoration for Obama. Why is it that they are so intent on speaking about the significance of the first black president, and yet are so willing to ignore that Obama is not treating gay issues as civil rights, equal to black civil rights? And do you know what is sad? Even if Obama does nothing for the LGBT community but give them lip service for four years, they will vote for him again as he fills their heads with more false promises while campaigning.
Hey, ME!
Well, my writing will be spotty, I think, for a little longer. But sometimes I just can't help myself! :-D
Unfortunately, I think you are spot on abt the GLBT community. They will make excuses that, you know, he just couldn't get anything through with the ALL DEMOCRATIC Congress, and he had more important things to do and the economy sucks and there are two wars and, and, and, and...You can just see the excuses flowing.
Like women, the GLBT community are our own worst enemies. We will subjugate our very lives for false promises...
Here ya go, Amy... a little something to make you smile.
http://me414.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/947/
Then go ahead and switch parties. You'd obviously be much happier as a Republican. I mean, they LOVE gay people!
Arturo, thanks for missing the point! The DNC has claimed to be the party for the GLBT community, but has provided only lip service to that end. Now under Obama, we have actively anti-gay people who OBAMA picked running the show.
How can you not have a problem with that? Oh, I know - those rainbow colored blinders Obama handed out...
ME, you CRACK ME UP!!!!! Thanks for that! Hey - it seems pretty likely to me!!
Oh, and another note to Arturo who has no problem with the DNC morphing into the RNC - I want my party back, the one that did actually care abt women, the poor, the disenfranchised, not this group who think women should not have the right to choose (Harry Reid and Tim Kaine, for instance), and who consistently throw the GLBT community under the bus, insulting us at every turn with Obama's picks.
But that's just me. If you are content to be trampled on, that's your deal.
Rev. Amy- Oh yeah, looks like Arturo is another one of those mindless Obots who do nothing more than go from blog to blog to call anyone who doesn't bow down to The One, a Republican. Look at the name of his faux blog. He sets up a blog (without any posts), just so he could call Larry Johnson a Republican. I guess that's the only thing he could think of with that one working cell he has in his brain (and that's being generous).
LOL, ME - you nailed it!
What these people don't get is that after seeing the way the DNC REALLY works, its theft of certified votes, blind eye to voter fraud, etc., etc., many of us know that the DNC is no better than the RNC we were told was so evil.
In fact, I would say they are worse for engaging in such reprehensible, despicable actions, ESPECIALLY going against the will of the people so they could shove their hand-picked unqualified empty suit sham of a candidate down our throats, and the country's.
But yes, sheeple like that will just blindly follow whatever the DNC tells them to go. I prefer thinking people myself! :-)
(And I am sure Larry was SOOOOO upset at being called a "Republican." Here's a man who has actually worked IN the WH. He has a far better grasp on how politics really works than people like Arturo can even imagine on his very best day.)
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