(1:04) - FOX's anchor brings up John McCain's opposition to repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Before I get into this, here's a brief overview of what is going on.
- John McCain's daughter, wife, and campaign manager have come out in support for marriage equality. They deserve a ton of credit for that -- especially Cindy McCain, who put the moral imperative of this issue ahead of what was convenient. It should be a cause of profound shame for Democrats that more in our party haven't done the same.
Note: The GOP should thank Meghan McCain. I don't agree with her take on many things other than social issues (and the wackness of The Young Cons), but a lot of Millenials who pay attention to politics are willing to at least hear her out. Equality for our LGBT friends is the civil rights issue of our time. Being on the right side of it matters a lot.
- Senator McCain is facing a primary challenge from former Rep J.D. Hawyworth, a champion of the GOP base who, among other things, panders to birthers. If McCain supported the repeal, he would no doubt be attacked for it.
If Hayworth wins the primary and becomes the Republican nominee, the race for this Senate seat becomes a toss - up. As a Democrat, I obviously have an interest in Hayworth winning the primary. But this is about something bigger than that.
Uganda, like most of the countries in Africa, is full of contradictions.
While everyone we met in Uganda was friendly and helpful, going out of their way to assist us when we needed directions, a Wifi hotspot, or a place to find vegetarian food, the country also has some of the most restrictive laws against human rights on the continent. While we were there, the "Bahati Bill" was introduced in parliament. The Bahati called for life in prison -- and in some case the death penalty -- for people found “guilty” of homosexual activity.
As gay marriage laws are passed around the world, including most recently in Mexico City, it's hard to believe that lawmakers would punish people for being gay or having HIV/AIDS. The Bahati bill also punishes anyone who fails to report a homosexual act committed by others with up to three years in jail, and a prison sentence of up to seven years for anyone who defends the rights of gays and lesbians.
Across the country, from Maine to here in Washington state, agents of discrimination are relying on their typical mix of lies and rank fear-mongering to try to convince voters to take rights away from gay people. In both states, the opponents of basic equality got vile smears and blatant lies into circulation before dropping the most flagrant charges and switching to different language that plays on the same fears they just whipped up.
One of the reasons efforts to discriminate have been successful to this point is the amount of support they receive from straight men. For whatever reason, a lot of us take cues from each other, so I wanted to put this out there.
(on evangelicals, Rick Warren, and the meaning of that choice... - promoted by poligirl)
There has already been a lot of discussion regarding President - Elect Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inauguration. But I feel like I have a responsibility to add my voice to the chorus. I'll explain why below.
While the passage of Proposition 8 in California marred an otherwise electrifying election night, new polling released by Newsweek is the latest indicator that we are making progress on the issue of LGBT rights.
