Showing posts with label Gay Lesbian and Bisexual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay Lesbian and Bisexual. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Democrats Stand to Lose if GOP changes course on Gay Marriage
Image via WikipediaIn August, gay advocate David Badash of the New Civil Rights Movement wrote an Op-Ed piece for Change.Org. in which he pointed out the fear which drives GOP members like Ken Blackwell.
Referring to Blackwell's piece entitled, Disaster Looms if GOP Changes Course on Gay Marriage, Badash retorted with some words about recently outed former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman:
Which brings me to this question: Might some of the bleak predictions of an anti-gay rights backlash under the new GOP House post-midterms - my own included - be driven by this same fear, coming from the liberal perspective? For what could prove more disastrous at this juncture than that the GOP become socially moderate? With such a change, the Democrats would lose a huge advantage formerly held with the electorate...
Or are the dire predictions of the GOP having used the gays, only to throw them over in favor of extremist Tea Partiers and the Christian right still valid? Time will tell... in the meantime, it is something to ponder, and watch closely...
Despite the mixed feelings of the LGBT community at large, Mehlman's coming out does change the game. He brings credibility, fund-raising resources, and something the current de facto leaders of today's Republican Party fear most: a modern-day, under-fifty, politically well-regarded bridge from the GOP of the Bush dynasty to today's out-of-control, Tea Party infested buffoonery that is the Republican Party.
Mehlman has promised to advocate, and fund-raise, for marriage equality, and this scares Blackwell.
Badash then sums up with these closing words:
The disaster of which Blackwell speaks is not for the GOP. It is disaster for Blackwell, who will be seen as out-of-touch, old hat, a bigot, and a homophobe when the GOP finally accepts marriage equality, and when marriage equality becomes the law of the land.
In fact, should the GOP "change course on gay marriage," the winner would actually be the GOP, and the effective loser would be the Democratic Party, who would lose votes to the GOP. The other loser?
Ken Blackwell.
Or are the dire predictions of the GOP having used the gays, only to throw them over in favor of extremist Tea Partiers and the Christian right still valid? Time will tell... in the meantime, it is something to ponder, and watch closely...
Neil Howe and William Strauss, in their epic work, The Fourth Turning, pointed out that, after the Civil War, certain socially progressive movements went underground, and has to wait decades to emerge, and begin again, from scratch. Could this be gay marriage's fate? Or is Badash correct, and will the GOP choose progress over a regress back into the bigotry of the Christian right?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Gay Rights battle in Holland, Michigan, heating up
Image via WikipediaFrom Fox News:
The battle over gay rights is in full bloom in the Tulip City.
In Holland, Mich., advocates of a proposed ordinance banning discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity say they plan to "stay the course" after a local newspaper ran a full-page ad warning that the ordinance would offer "special protections" to homosexuals.
The advertisement, which appeared in the Holland Sentinel on July 23, cited ongoing efforts by activists it claimed are seeking to give "homosexuals special protections" under employment discrimination laws within Holland, a city of roughly 35,000 residents nicknamed the "Tulip City" due to its annual flowerfestival.
"Let's not grant special protection to voluntary sexual behaviors that are actually harmful to individuals and to society," read the ad, which listed the Family Research Council and Request Foods as its sponsors. "Within the limits of existing law, let's let employers make their own hiring decisions -- not the government."
The ad appeared as the city's Human Relations Committee considers a proposed ordinance similar to measures passed in nearby Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The ordinance has not yet been drafted and a public comment period will likely be held within months, city spokeswoman Carolyn O'Connor said. It's unclear as to when any measure would be put up for a vote, she said.
"It is in review," O'Connor said. "At this point, they're researching it."
Advocates of the ordinance, which was proposed by Bill Freeman, chaplain of Interfaith Congregation in Holland and a member of Holland Is Ready, a group pushing for the ordinance, say they are merely calling for a ban on discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual preference.
"I'm not asking for special protections," Freeman told FoxNews.com. "I'm asking for the same protections that Christians, minorities and women have. And I'm not asking for this on behalf of sexual behaviors; I'm asking for this for human beings who happen to be gay, bisexual or transgendered."
Freeman said he found the advertisement -- which cited five "facts" pertaining to homosexuality -- to be inappropriate.
"They listed several facts that were really myths and several myths that are really facts," said Freeman, referring to the ad's assertion that research does not show that individuals are homosexual at birth.
"I think people are born gay," Freeman said. "Science is finding that to be true more and more every day."
But Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council, defended the advertisement as a preemptive effort to "lay out some general principles" that Holland residents should consider.
"And I think it did that effectively," Sprigg told FoxNews.com. "We don't believe that sexual orientation is comparable to the categories protected in traditional civil rights laws. The concern is that the passage of these laws makes a moral statement of disapproval of those who themselves disapprove of homosexual conduct."
The advertisement was intended to "forestall action on the proposed legislation before this really begins," he said.
Sprigg defended the "myths" and "facts" contained in the full-page ad, citing a pamphlet, "The Top Ten Myths of Homosexuality," that he authored and is distributed by the Family Research Council. He said the 26-page pamphlet is supported by 84 footnotes citing sources like the Journal of Marriage and Family, the Washington Blade and the Journal of Homosexuality, among others.
"These are not assertions that are unsupported," Sprigg said, adding that he rejects the proposed ordinance primarily because it would interfere with the free market.
"We believe employers, in general, should have the right to make their own decisions about what qualifies or disqualifies someone for employment, and that the government should not make those decisions for them," he said.
Members of Holland Is Ready held a meeting last week and decided that the group will not run a separate ad refuting the earlier spot.
"Our plan is to simply stay the course, to continue working for the safety, rights and inclusion of [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered] people and their families on the Lakeshore," a member of the group, Jennifer Adams, wrote in an email to FoxNews.com. "We'll be watching the process closely and going about the work of seeking equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."
Meanwhile, the listed co-sponsor of the ad, Request Foods, said on Friday that it did not support the effort to stop the ordinance and should not have been listed in the ad.
"The ad was paid for by one [investor] without our management team's knowledge or permission," the company said in a statement emailed to FoxNews.com. "The opinions expressed in the ad do not reflect Request Foods' views and the ad should not have included our company name."
Calls seeking comment from Peter Esser, publisher of the Holland Sentinel, were not returned.
In an op-ed that appeared Tuesday in the Holland Sentinel, Dr. Dwight McBride, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, suggested that readers "consider the source" of the advertisement.
"For those who may not know, the FRC is a neo-conservative lobbying organization; its purpose is 'defending faith, family and freedom,'" McBride wrote. "FRC’s co-sponsor, Request Foods, is a Holland based company whose president and CEO, Jack DeWitt, is also a known advocate of conservative causes."
McBride's column continued, "Now I don't know about you, but I'd rather have my information and 'research' from more unbiased sources than a political lobbying organization and a food distributor."
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
CEO of Target Defends contribution to anti gay Minnesota Forward
Image via WikipediaMinneapolis, MN — Target's CEO is today defended the company's $150,000 political donation to fund anti-gay politics. Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel is telling employees of the Minnesota-based retailer that the company's support of the gay community remains "unwavering."
Target has come under fire from LGBT groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, for giving $150,000 to a right-wing political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage, immigration and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
"We rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda," Steinhafel said in an e-mail published by the Associated Press. "Let me be very clear, Target's support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company."
The AP also reports that Best Buy, another Minnesota-based retailer, contributed $100,000 to the conservative PAC.
Target opened its new Chicago location in the Uptown neighborhood on July 20. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com on Monday that he was surprised by the news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
A Facebook group dedicated to boycotting Target continues to gain momentum.
Target has come under fire from LGBT groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, for giving $150,000 to a right-wing political action committee (PAC) known as Minnesota Forward, which in turn bought television ads for Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.
"I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman," Emmer says on his website. "As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage."
Gay rights groups say it's unwise for Target to back the anti-gay Emmer, because his conservative views on abortion, gay marriage, immigration and the minimum wage could upset some Target shoppers.
Emmer has also been criticized for his association with a Christian rock band, which according to the Minnesota Independent has made statements concerning the morality of killing gays and lesbians.
"We rarely endorse all advocated positions of the organizations or candidates we support, and we do not have a political or social agenda," Steinhafel said in an e-mail published by the Associated Press. "Let me be very clear, Target's support of the GLBT community is unwavering, and inclusiveness remains a core value of our company."
The AP also reports that Best Buy, another Minnesota-based retailer, contributed $100,000 to the conservative PAC.
Target opened its new Chicago location in the Uptown neighborhood on July 20. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Ald. Helen Shiller (46th) and openly-gay state Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) were at the opening.
Rep. Harris told ChicagoPride.com on Monday that he was surprised by the news.
"This shows how important effective campaign disclosure laws are, so that we can follow the money that supports candidates who actively work against our community or who fund anti-gay ballot initiatives," said Harris. "Companies like Target need to understand that they can't have it both ways when it comes to issues of our basic rights, and that the facts will eventually come out. I hope that they will rethink this contribution and find a way to make it right."
A Facebook group dedicated to boycotting Target continues to gain momentum.
Source: Chicago Pride dot com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)