Alright. So, DNC Chairman Howard Dean yesterday released a statement on California's gay marriage ruling. And, by some sort of politically expedient miracle, Dean managed not to use the word gay. Incredible! Said the former Vermont governor:
The Supreme Court of California today took a step forward in the long march toward protecting equal rights under the law for every American. This should not be a matter of politics or partisanship; it is a matter of protecting the rights and dignity of all American families.
Yes, that's totally true, but you know the gays aren't going to take Dean's "gay" omission.
Take, for example, gay activist Larry Kramer, who had some harsh words for Dean – and others. In an angry missive to Michael Petrelis:
This is all shocking, michael, all the responses from hillary, obama, dean. it shows that we have much much work to do and that HRC is, as ever, out to lunch.
note that hillary and obama go out of their way to insert the words "civil unions" when the california opinion distinctly rules that these are no longer the desirable goal. [all sic]
If there's one homo you don't want mad at you, it's Larry Kramer.
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Dean's statement sounds fine to me. What's Kramer want? An accompanying photo of his sucking a cock?
I have tremendous respect for Mr. Kramer and the body of his life accomplishments. However, I feel he's hopelessly wrong here. Dean is right: this is about "rights and dignity for all". There is absolutely nothing gay about equal access to marriage. For the first time in a very long time Dean got it EXACTLY right.
I wish the news reports and the commentators would READ the damn opinion instead of relying on what others told them it said.
Sorry Larry, as much as I respect you, the ruling stated there cannot be two separate institutions and that the state can call the institution whatever it likes, in others words it's Marriage for everyone OR Civil Unions for everyone.
smart move if you ask me, the ruling did not give gays "marriage" at all.
Yes, I have to agree with the above comments. Dean's statement is exactly right and well worded.
Kramer and Petrelis, angry AIDS activists of the 80's.. This is a time for celebration not griping, and Howard Dean got it right.
Howard Dean has a long record of choosing the easy way out. In Vermont, when he was governor, he chose segregation for gay people in civil unions over real equality in civil marriage.
A couple of years ago, he appeared on Pat Robertson's TV show to slam gay marriage and declare that the Democrats' platform calls for marriage to be between a man and a woman only.
And today, he is just issuing a vague, mealy-mouthed press release to quickly get the issue behind him without having to defend any sort of stand.
Howard Dean has never had any honor or interest in defending the rights of gay people — why would he suddenly change that long record of failure and cowardice?