The Democratic Party prides itself on inclusion. Unfortunately, the so-called "big tent" doesn't always have room for everyone.
Earlier this week we discussed how the Democratic National Committee's Faith In Action initiative dabbled in anti-gay politics ahead of the 2006 election. That wasn't the first time, of course, that religion and sexuality have come into conflict. Some of you may recall that Chairman Howard Dean once appeared on Pat Robertson's 700 Club, on which Dean infamously "misspoke" about the party's marriage stance. That is, he erroneously said they believe marriage should remain between a man and a woman. The gays were not pleased, to say the least.
That appearance came up during Dean's testimony in the ongoing discrimination discovery filed by former gay outreach leader Donald Hitchcock, who claims the DNC fired him in retaliation for boyfriend Paul Yandura's public criticism of the party. In this video, Dean again claims he thought he was going on an ABC Family show, not the 700 Club, a broadcast he equates with the "biased" and "hate-mongering" right wing.
Dean does admit, however, that he knew his remarks would be aired on a religious show. He also discusses the consistent conflict between religious and gay leaders within the party. He cannot, of course, remember any specifics. Convenient.
Meanwhile, we hear that thousands of pages from the discovery will soon be released. We'll keep you posted. Hitchcock and the DNC sit down next week for closed door mediations. Will they hammer out a deal or will Dean be offering more testimony in a trial? Stay tuned…
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Isn't it ironic that the Yandura/Hitchcock lawsuit has lasted longer than DH's stint at the DNC?
I find it more ironic that the DNC has had two years to show that they respect the LGBT community with real actions, but have squandered that away. Now its hard to blame their lack of progress on LGBT issues on Hitchcock. It appears that Hitchcock/Yandura just exposed the institutional problems that continue to this day. Good for him!
I AGREE WITH H'MO–THE DNC SHOULD HAVE SETTLED THIS ALONG TIME AGO INSTEAD OF BEING ARROGANT AND REFUSING TO DO SO.
THE JUDGE RULED THAT THE CASE HAS MERITS AND EVERYTHING WE ARE SEEING COMING OUT OF THE CASE IS DOING NOTHING BUT HURTING THE DNC AND DEAN.
QUIT DRAGGING THIS OUT DNC AND SETTLE.
WOWZA Who sez the DNC didn't want to settle? Maybe DH is after as much as he can get out them.
That's what it sounds like more to me. He wants to become a rich Gay Man.
Take the settlement and move on. In the long run he will make much money from this exposure. It always works!
Hitchcock should write a book about his experiences with the DNC -title - The future of the Democratic Party. "Theocracy or Democracy?".
Charley - you're making quite a leap there assuming that Hitchcock can write. Not that it would matter - Yandura would write it for him anyway…
The Democratic Party recaptured the title of "Most Bigoted Party" back from the Republicans in the last two years. The DNC, it turns out, is a hotbed of christist bigotry where the tone on GLBT rights is set by a narrow-minded prejudiced pentecostal fire breathing preacher named Daughtry. She's also a pigheaded opponent of same sex marriage, as are Obama, the Clintons and most Democratic (sic) misleaders.
The Democrats are solely responsible for DADT and refused to repeal in the last two years they controlled Congress. DOMA is a collaborative effort by both bigoted parties and that wasn't repealed either. Instead the Democrats gutted ENDA and then dumped it. Then they junked the Matthew Shepard Hate crimes bill after the latter had passed both houses of Congress. Lawrence King and half a dozen other GLBT young people died as a result.
Now Obama wants to up the ante with ‘faith’ (read superstitious cults) based ‘charities’ (read new luxocar and bigger mansion). He wants more money so he can have a collection of pulpit pimps to rival Karl Roves collection. No doubt swine like the Rev. Donnie McClurkin and pigs like the Rev Pat Robertson think its Manna from Heaven. Hallelujah, Praise be, etc.! The name of that dance is “Allemande to the Right”.