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» Infighting…
Democrats took control of New York state's Senate this week, which could be good news for gay marriage advocates, but those hopes may be dashed by conservative party members who are forming a right-leaning coalition. [NY Times] |
» Taking Sides…
"Two years after they were swept into office, most new U.S. House and Senate Democrats have made good on their pledges to back gay rights. Nearly 60 percent of freshmen House Democrats and all but one of the freshmen Senate Democrats scored 85 or higher on the Human Rights Campaign Congressional Scorecard released last week. The scorecard also shows that nine of the 41 scored freshmen House Democrats earned perfect marks. Five of the nine scored freshmen Senate Democrats and independents received perfect scores." [Washington Blade] |
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Homo-journo Bil Browning raised a justifiable stink this week after Indiana's Democratic party funded state Represenative Andy Schemenaur's anti-gay flier, which touted the politico's commitment to "traditional" family values. |
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Indiana's Democratic party has been taking a page from the right. While most of this electoral season's anti-gay rhetoric has come from the Republicans, the Hoosier State's Democrats decided to get nasty with a mailer sent out for state Representative Andy Schemenaur. The flier, which reads ""Faith & Family: A Hoosier Way of Life," touts Schemnaur's commitment to defending to so-called "sanctity of marriage." You know what that means: no nuptials for same-sex lovers. What a disgrace. [via Bilerico] |
» Vroom?
Are Democratic leaders throwing gays under the bus by not doing enough to fight California's Proposition 8? Karen Ocamb says "yes:" "So while Obama and the Democratic Party say they stand for the principle of equality for all, when it comes to gay people — they appear to be sitting this one out. And if Prop 8 passes, their handprints will be on our backs — having pushed us under the proverbial bus." [HuffPo] |
» Democratic Madness Explosion!
Can't get enough of Howard Dean's deposition from the Donald Hitchcock discrimination brouhaha? Well, there's new video showing the DNC Chairman discussing platform formulation and the gays therein. Hoorah! On a related note, there was a 2008 platform conference call, but we'll have more on that later. Meanwhile, the Convention theme nights have been released. And, no, there's no drag night. [Pam's House Blend] |
» Scheduled.
"Party officials say former President Clinton will deliver a speech on the third night of the Democratic National Convention before an address by the as-yet-to-be-named running mate for Barack Obama." [Yahoo!] |
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The Party's done a good job addressing - but never explicitly - the ever-evolving face of the nation. For example, their section on "empowering families for a new era," the platform committee write, "The face of America's families is also changing, and so are the challenges they confront." While gay activists were hoping for explicitly inclusive language, this rough draft touches only briefly on issues close to queer people… |
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Early this week, as the state was preparing to go to the primary polls, Finney surrogate Dr. Peggy Elliott launched a mail and phone campaign smearing Finney rival Inga Taylor, pictured, who could have become the state's first lesbian, black lawmaker. |
» Better Late Than Never
"Democrats are convening the first congressional hearing on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy since its enactment 15 years ago. But they acknowledge there's no chance of repealing it this year. Indeed their only hope of success, they say, is if Democratic Sen. Barack Obama gets elected president." [AP] |
» Queer Campaigning
As Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama prepare for their "unity" meeting in New Hampshire, Michelle Obama's planning for the gays. The potential first lady will join DNC Chairman Howard Dean and other party leaders tomorrow for the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council's gala at the Waldorf Astoria. The gays are fancy! [Time] |
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One, they don't want rile the right-wing during this crucial election season. Two, they're afraid of botching the job a la Bill Clinton. And, perhaps mostly importantly, the party's not entirely sure they can get it done, but that doesn't mean they're not committed to the cause: The party's reluctance to champion the cause also is a matter of political reality: Democrats lack a veto-proof majority in Congress. While a number of military analysts have come out against the discriminatory policy, Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen thinks it's up to Congress to decide the matter. |
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…Florida Democrats have internal problems which must be solved. The final meeting to choose Florida delegates left bruised feelings when leaders of the Gay/Lesbian alliance — representatives of a huge voting bloc in South Florida — complained that they were only given half of the promised slots despite "affirmative action standards." We're sure Floridian gays won't be the only ones upset over the so-called "standards." |
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We think it began ending after Larry Craig's arrest, but The Nation's Richard Kim thinks the big bang came last week. And, despite what the right wing says, California's Supreme Court merely upheld legislative will, rather than legislating on their own accord: In 2005 and 2007 the California State Legislature passed bills granting gays and lesbians the right to marry; on both occasions, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bills. But by directly expressing their support for gay marriage through the democratic process, the State Legislature undercut the right-wing claim that gay marriage is something "activist judges" foist onto an unwilling public. Indeed, the majority on the state's Supreme Court, comprising three Republicans and one Democrat, weren't "legislating from the bench"; they were reaffirming legislative will. And despite his vetoes, Schwarzenegger has said that he respects the court's opinion and opposes an amendment to the California Constitution, something he calls "a waste of time." The same-sex shift in California, Kim argues, can only bring good things to the Democrats. That's an understandable argument, but it would be even more true if the Democrats and the Republicans differed on gay marriage, which they don't. The decision is even better because social conservatives are calling on McCain to take a tougher stand against gay marriage, but he can't, which means this voting bloc may give up on him entirely. And that's what would be good for the Democrats come November. |