In Support of Civil Unions Part II

As events in Connecticut unfold, I become more convinced that Civil Unions are a logical, achievable step along the path toward gay marriage. There are some in the struggle who seem determined to continue an all or nothing stance. In my view, this is not the correct position to take.

GOP Retreats From Ban on Gay Foster Parents

From oregonlive.com:

“Leading Republicans in Texas are distancing themselves from a proposal to make the state the only one to prohibit gays and lesbians from being foster parents. It appears the plan will die without becoming law. The Texas House approved the plan last week, despite concerns that as many as 3,000 children could be removed from their homes. But amid a groundswell of anger and criticism, conservatives backed away from the proposal Friday. ” [via gayorbit]

It appears this amendment will die a quiet death in committee. Even the sponsor of the amendment is keeping quiet.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, who proposed the ban, said he no longer wishes to discuss the issue.

Gay/Lesbian Lobbiest Kept at Bay

From the Houston Chronicle:

“When Rep. Robert Talton learned that the gay and lesbian lobby was coming his way last month, he had state troopers posted at his office door to keep them from coming in. “

[snip]

“It’s a waste of both of our times,” Talton said. “They have their position and I have mine, so I made a decision not to talk to them.” [hat tip to Gay News Blog]

It is obviously hard to reason with someone who has taken such a stance. Talton’s actions are nothing new for him. Why fight a losing battle. Energies should be focused on lawmakers who can and will at least speak to all citizen’s of Texas, not just those with whom one agrees.

In Support of Civil Unions

A new Gallop Poll released on April 19, 2005 seems to show support for the federal marriage amendment increasing. Support is greatest among Republicans (71%) and those identifying themselves as independents (51%). Only 45% of Democrats surveyed support the amendment.

Bacteria Fights HIV

From 365Gay.com:

“Scientists have identified good bacteria already living in some humans that target and trap HIV and may protect against infection. They reported their findings at the 2005 American Society for Microbiology Beneficial Microbes Conference, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.”

“The major roadblock in the development of this technology is the lack of financial support. Drug companies and venture capitalists are not interested because the beneficiary populations are infants and women in poor countries,” says Tao. He is currently seeking sponsorship from charities or philanthropists to develop this technology.

An interesting development.

Republican Makes Party Line Clearly The Issue

From Lloydletta’s Nooz and Comments:

“If his personal preference for the homosexual lifestyle sways his vote incorrectly and against the Republican Party platform, then I would take issue with that and I would think other people on the (county) executive committee might take issue with that and citizens in Crow Wing County and District 12,” Lehman said. – Brian D. Lehman, Crow Wing County Republican Party chair

The Republican party a big tent? This seems to make it clear that anyone is welcome as long as you stick to party lines. Forget independent thought or voting one’s conscience is you are Republican.

An Activist Judge is One Who Doesn’t Agree

From The New York Times :

“When it comes to judicial activism, conservative judges are no better than liberal ones – and, it must be said, no worse. If conservatives are going to continue their war on the judiciary, though, they should be honest. They do not want to get rid of judicial activists, a standard that would bring down even Justice Scalia. They want to rid the courts of judges who disagree with them.”

This says it all.

Non-Republican = Godless

From The New York Times:

“As the Senate heads toward a showdown over the rules governing judicial confirmations, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader, has agreed to join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as ‘against people of faith’ for blocking President Bush’s nominees”

Democrats are no longer just the dreaded evil word liberal but now they are against people of faith. It seems some in the Republican party are using God and religion as the new political litmus test and tying it directly into the Republican party. In other words, if you aren’t a Republican, then you are Godless. This and other actions are moving the Republican party closer to being the party promoting a theocracy.

Bill Allows Pharmacists to Deny Treatment

From CNN.com:

“Reports of pharmacists with particular religious and moral beliefs denying prescriptions for birth control have prompted legislation that would ensure all prescriptions are filled. House and Senate backers unveiled a bill dubbed the Access to Legal Pharmaceuticals Act (ALPhA) on Thursday.”

This is a frightening piece of legislation. It could have a lasting impact on health care in this country as it would open the door to doctors and pharmacists only treating on providing service to those whom they deemed worthy. Any person whose lifestyle or beliefs were offensive to a health care professional could be denied choking off avenues for treatment.

“Nobody has a right to come between any person and their doctor,” Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat and co-sponsor, said Thursday. “Today they might not fill prescriptions for birth control pills. Tomorrow it could be painkillers for a cancer patient. Next year it could be medicine that prolongs the life of a person with AIDS or some other terminal disease.”

Family Group Warns Against Gay Content

From Townhall.com:

“Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association. ‘Most of us have enough to explain to our children nowadays.’ Wildmon warned that late-night programming on Here or LOGO could turn pornographic. ‘The very nature of homosexuality is based on eroticism and the infatuation with sex,’ he said.”

Comcast and Cox Communications have signed up to carry the new networks. Contact these companies and let them know you support gay programming. The only way to combat the AFA on this is with a call/write in campaign of our own.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Under Fire

From 365Gay.com:

“(Washington) Seven members of the House Armed Services Committee have called on Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) to hold hearings to review ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.

The seven, all Democrats, made the request a month after the introduction in the House of bill to repeal the military’s ban and allow service members to serve openly. All seven also are co-sponsors of the repeal proposal.”

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has proven to be an unworkable policy. Hopefully this will go away.

Connecticut Civil Rights Bill

From gay news blog:

“Same sex couples would have the same rights as married couples, but the word marriage would only be used between a man and a woman. If the bill passes it would make history.”

Connecticut is set to put in place the first Civil Unions law which, if I understand what I have read correctly, will provide same sex partners with the rights of married couples. I know this isn’t what some would want as to not have the word marriage attached, to them, still leaves us as separate. But this seems to have been more palatable to the mainstream and to me seems like a great step in the right direction.

More On The Minnesota State Senator

From The Raw Story:

“Minnesota Republican state Sen. Michele Bachman moved to bring a measure allowing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage to go to the Senate floor. The move was made despite the fact that measure had not been approved by the appropriate committees. Outside the Capitol, gay and lesbian activists were marching outside the capitol for equal rights. Koering voted no, the lone Republican to do so, and along with opposition from 34 Democrats, the measure failed. The senator said he cried all the way home.”

A Father’s Vote for Gay Rights

From washingtonpost.com:

“What Niemann [Doyle L. Niemann D-Prince Gearge's] did was speak out on the House floor in support of the Medical Decision Making Act, one of two gay rights bills passed in the final days of the Maryland General Assembly’s 2005 session, which ended late Monday. ‘I am casting this vote for my daughter, who I love dearly, who is 25 and is in a committed relationship with another woman,’ Niemann said. ‘Now, should we deny her the rights that we would expect that I would expect for my wife and I? No. I’m casting my vote for her.’ “

This guy should be applauded.

Poll – 44% Say Homosexuality a Sin

There is still work to be done…

From The New York Times:

“We know from the ugly and irrational fury over the gay marriage issue, and the silly ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy in the armed forces, that there are still tremendous reservoirs of fear and loathing ready to be unloaded on gay men and women who’d like nothing more than to live their lives freely, honestly and openly. Things are not as bad as they were in 1962, but they’re not good.

Media reports have applauded the tolerance toward gays that has supposedly developed over the past several years, but I think much of that tolerance is wafer-thin. Millions of gay or bisexual Americans still live their lives locked inside the protective cloak of a falsehood – afraid, for very good reasons, to come out.

A poll conducted for NBC Universal’s USA Network, which will be showing ‘Ring of Fire,’ found that 44 percent of the respondents believed that ‘homosexual behavior is a sin.’ A third said society should not accept homosexuality as a way of life, and 14 percent believed gay athletes should not be permitted to play team sports. “