Oh, come on, Texas. Just when we were starting to like you, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has gone and sued the Obama administration, claiming that the state should be allowed to withhold family and medical leave from married gays and lesbians.
Isn’t that nice of him?
He’s far from the only one trying to make life rotten for LGBTs. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley filed an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court last week, claiming that marriage equality harms children. And Idaho Republicans asked Congress to impeach all of the judges who ruled that marriage bans are unconstitutional. That is a lot of judges, what they’re really asking for is a massive gutting of federal courts.
But this limited backlash aside, most lawmakers are still moving in the direction of supporting greater equality. Michigan Democrats have proposed five bill that would repeal various marriage bans. Puerto Rico, which previously defended its marriage ban, just reversed course and will now allow it to be overturned. And Congress is considering reforms that would allow LGBT couples to access Social Security benefits that they previously couldn’t.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And public support is growing too. Last week the Presbyterian Church voted to recognize gay and lesbian couples as married. And a new survey in Wisconsin shows that 70 percent of residents say that overturning the state’s marriage ban has had no effect on their lives. Of the people who said it did have an effect, about half said it was positive.
Giancarlo85
Withhold medical and family leave? Wow. Where are all the sugarcoating LCR types on here? Those libertarians who defend republicans? Come on now… are you gonna defend this crap too? Or will it just be another excuse?
polarisfashion
God these Republicans just make me want to puke. The conservatives have always been wrong about everything. They are against women’s rights, minority rights, gay rights, etc. Every time I hear one of these idiots open their mouth, I just cringe at how stupid and bigoted they sound. The more they talk the dumber they sound. Why in the hell does anyone vote for these clowns?!!!
Cam
Where is BJ coming on here claiming that us disagreeing with these folks wanting to take away family leave makes THEM the victims here?
There is no reason for them to do this, other than bigotry. They want to harm gays, and that is what this is about. (Now that I said that, BJ, you can claim that I am the evil bully and the anti-gay bigots are the victims).
Giancarlo85
@Cam: BJ, CoachS and other Republican brownnosers won’t post here. Don’t expect a reply.
Mack
Every rights we get, the Southern states will do what they can to eliminate them. As long as there are Republicans running states, Congress or even the Presidency we’ll have to fight for our rights. And they’ll do it in the name of their Almighty God instead of the Constitution of the United States.
Atrius
And they don’t even bother with hindering the remarried divorcee.
Atrius
@Giancarlo85: Libertarians that defend Republicans don’t qualify as “Libertarian”.
Giancarlo85
@Atrius: Libertarians can’t even defend themselves and are a bunch of frauds anyways. I don’t quite grasp how one can find social freedom and justice compatible with so called “economic freedom”.
Luis H. Lopez
Evil anti homosexual bigoted wasting tax money and court time !
onthemark
“Oh, come on, Texas. Just when we were starting to like you…”
When were we starting to like Texas? I missed that part.
@Cam: @Giancarlo85: I was surprised a few days ago at BJ’s extremely pallid, lame response to Aaron Schock’s implosion. Yes, it seems possible that BJ has given up!
Saint Law
Christ on a bike their vindictiveness really is meticulous isn’t it?
Saint Law
@Giancarlo85: Unless re-distributive measures are enacted, money is sucked upwards. Always.
Under a libertarian regime this process would be so accelerated that most of its adherents would be plunged in to dire poverty, with as much chance of rising out of it as serfs under feudalism.
But try telling them that.
Scribe38
@Cam: I will answer for the GOP loving posters on queerty. “It’s all Obama’s fault. I won’t give my vote away on one single issue. The GOP can sh*t on my personal rights, as long as I get a tax break and can pretend I’m not a common f@g. I will continue voting against my own tribe, because I hate what I am.”
Scribe38
@Scribe38: Forgot to mention, “women are threatened by homosexual men and women should not have a right to choose what happens to their own bodies”. Okay I think that covers everything.
Brandon Etheridge
I’m so glad I moved out of that backwards state.
Darryl Moir
Can you all blow the city up; I will reimburse you for your cost.
jason smeds
Homosexuality is more prevalent in Texas than it is in any other state. Even straight-identifying politicians in the Republican Party have taken part in same-sex experiences.
polarisfashion
@jason smeds: Yes and its hysterical when they get busted! I can’t help but wonder how their young boy toys feel about them? I could never date a guy I knew was a homophone, I don’t care how rich he is, it just wouldn’t feel right.
Wade DeGottardi
The party of freedom and small govt., folks
Xzamilio
Not even pretending to hide the anti-gay propaganda anymore…
Ramoncito Emilio
A-Dawn Hernandez
George Scherer
The lone chromosome state.
jwtraveler
What do you expect? It’s Texas.
hyhybt
One quibble: the difference between “the Presbyterian Church” and “Presbyterian Church (USA)”. Even within the US, there are other Presbyterian churches.