Shame on the righties, although to be fair, they probably had no idea that she was a lesbian. If they did know they might have been less complimentary of her. The right are consistently, chronically, regularly hypocrites who harm other people with their narrow minded bigotry.
Same sex couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples to marry the person they love, the person with whom they live, raise children in many cases, own homes and make love.
The Golden rule which occurs with minor variations in all of the major world religions says do onto others as you would have them do unto you. If you would deny someone their sexual orientation, if you would not wish to have the circumstances reversed so that you could ONLY marry someone of the same sex, but not the man or woman you actually loved and with whom you had a committed relationship, then you should not impose that kind of limitation onto others, denying them happiness and fulfillment.
When people live in a monogamous relationship which is in every way similar to heterosexual marriage, except for the gender or sexual orientation of the participants, it is and should be recognized as a marriage.
When you deny people that right, when you deny people that freedom, when you deny people the benefits that occur in heterosexual marriage, you insult them, you harm them, you discriminate against them with a bias that is ignorant and bigoted.
Both Romney and Palin support,condone, endorse and encourage exactly that kind of discrimination, exactly that status of second class / inferior citizenship for the late Sally Ride and her long-term partner.
They cannot fairly and honestly applaud her, and deny her equal humanity including her sexuality. If you respect the courage and intelligence of Sally Ride, if you admire her as a person, respect ALL of the facets of who she is -- she richly deserves it, and so does her de facto spouse, who should be receiving full federal benefits after 27 years together.
It is time to repeal DOMA, it is time for a federal law respecting same sex marriage. It is time to speak out against discrimination and gender and sexuality inequality. NOW is the time, not later. For once, the conservatives should abandon being on the wrong side of history.
Allow people to be equal; support marriage equality NOW.
The bigotry, discrimination, hostility and intolerance shown to same sex people, the very views expressed by Palin and Romney and the people who they support, and who supports them, result in tragic and violent crimes like these instead of equality:
Expert: People Could Use Obama’s Stance As ‘Justification’ For Anti-Gay Violence
In Churches Across The Country, Far-Right Pastors Preach Anti-Gay Hate And Violence
Settlement for University of Wisconsin student who suffered antigay attack
Nebraska Woman Has Anti-Gay Slurs Carved Into Her Skin In Alleged Hate CrimeHighest Number Of Anti-Gay Murders Ever Reported In 2011: The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
GOP challenges military march in gay parade (Our armed forces have a lot to make up to our gay armed service personnel for the shabby, ugly, and unfair way the have been treated. THIS from the right does not respect the service to her country of Sally Ride, or of the many brave and honorable members of our armed force.)
Boy Scouts Pledge to Keep Antigay Ban (no surprise there, the Mormons are a major funder of the Boy Scouts, so the call the policy shots; Romney is a former Boy Scouts of America board member)
Mike Huckabee: Keeping Gays Out Of Boy Scouts Will Protect Boys From Abuse (it is utterly false that homosexuals are pedophiles; overwhelmingly, the majority of pedophiles are heterosexually oriented)
FRC Strategy Memo: ‘We Must Go On Offense,’ Target Secular Research And Young People (the plan to lie, deliberately, about sexual orientation)
The Price of Bullying: About $35,000
3 hospitalized after spate of anti-LGBT violence
Zachery Gray, Florida Teen, Suffers Brain Damage After Suicide Attempt Allegedly Due To Anti-Gay Bullying
When we stop having headlines like these, when we stop having the right argue in support of conservative teens being able to bully other students for their sexual orientation, when we no longer have people being treated as second class citizens for who and how they were born, only then will praise from Romney or Palin not ring false, and not be offensive hypocrisy.
The above were a casual selection; there were so very many more horrible headlines that underline how badly the right treats gays, the violence, the hatred, the prejudice and the disrespect. Shame on conservatives for being bigots, for their intolerance, and for their hypocrisy. Once again, the more extreme right, which is most of them now, are on the wrong side of history. It is a conservative pattern, to be on the wrong side of issues historically; so why don't they learn? Or can't they change?
Sincerely honor Sally Ride; treat her with respect as a full and equal person, including treating her partner as a spouse.
I was wondering when Congress would react to the San Diego parade.
ReplyDeleteI am not well versed in military rules, but I know that active-duty personnel cannot wear their uniforms at political events ... but this was not a political event ... this parade has been held for decades ... and included in this year's event was a recognition of the change in DADT policy.
Our theme this year is “America’s Pride” because equality is an American value. Honoring our servicemembers and veterans is an important part of this message.
Last year, service members walked in tee shirts but not uniforms ... this year, some military (including officers) approached their Commanders and asked permission to wear their uniforms ... and the DoD gave it's ruling so that there would not be different rules for different groups.
If you read the DoD release, it clearly states :
It is our understanding that the event organizers plan to have a portion of the parade that is dedicated to military members. Service members do not need approval to wear civilian clothes and march or ride in nonpartisan parades. However, we further understand organizers are encouraging service members to seek their commander's approval to march in uniform and to display their pride.
Based on our current knowledge of the event and existing policies, we hereby are granting approval for service members in uniform to participate in this year's parade, provided service members (1) participate in their personal capacity and (2) ensure the adherence to Military Service standards of appearance and wear of the military uniform.
I read the Army Times newspaper account that more than 350 service members cheered on by the rainbow-bedecked crowds that lined six-deep Saturday along the route for the annual San Diego LGBT Pride parade.
With the DADT repeal last year, “it was (about) civil rights. This year, the fact that people could come in uniform, it’s about personal empowerment,” said Sean Sala, an activist and former Navy operations specialist second-class petty officer. “It’s a landmark day.”
Rep. Susan Davis, D-San Diego, who was walking through the large post-parade fair at San Diego’s historic Balboa Park. Davis, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said she supports allowing troops wear their uniforms at pride parades and represent themselves individually, “absolutely.”
Parade organizers put the troops near the front of the parade, which stretched along a two-mile route through San Diego’s gay-friendly Hillcrest neighborhood and ended at Balboa Park.
Banners hailed each of the services, all which were represented. Most of the service members who did not wear their uniforms instead sported T-shirts proclaiming their branch of service.
While the massive crowds were supportive, a small anti-gay religious group stood along the parade route on University Avenue bearing signs proclaiming “Repent” and “Homo Sex is a Sin.” They largely were muffled by the surrounding crowds that seemed to get louder as each marching group drove by.
Sorta makes you wonder what would happen if the Minnesota Twins combined LGBT "Out in the Stands" with a Military Veterans Night ... would they be allowed to wear their uniforms ? In case you did not know, the Minnesota Twins held “Out in the Stands” in 2010 selling more than 1,200 tickets. Businesses want customers … well, except for Chik-fill-lay.
Why didn't Senator Imofe and Congressman Forbes consider that this was good PR for the military ... promoting Pride and Freedom ... and it was free and optional. Would they object if a group of active duty military members walked in the local “AnyTownUSA Pride Days” parade … only if it’s a “Gay Pride Days” parade that they find objectionable … IMO, it is a fair question to ask Congressional candidates this year what is their opinion of how the military handled it and do they think that Congress should have been consulted … recognizing their previous votes regarding military and gay marriage (see this noting that the House Armed Services Committee voted in May, by a vote of 36-25, an amendment to the Defense funding bill to protect the religious freedom of military chaplains as well as the conscience and moral principals of servicemembers who are opposed to gay military members but feel pressured to hide their opposition due to fears of recrimination. Also, by a vote of 37 Republicans and 24 Democrats, HASC voted to pass an amendment that would prevent same-sex marriages or “marriage-like ceremonies” from being held on any military installation or any property used by the Department of Defense (DoD). I do not know what became of these amendments as it went through the full House and merged with the Senate bill … but the point is that the next Congress may consider enacting legislation to prohibit wearing of military uniforms at public events they do not like.
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