Historic election overlooked gay rights
Date published: 11/23/2008
Historic election overlooked gay rights
The election of Barack Obama was historic, but there is one downside: Proposition 8, which tries to deny gay people the right to marry, passed in California.
According to exit polls, 70 percent of the black community voted to deny marriage rights.
If Obama didn't make for a historically large black turnout, the proposition would have failed and gay people would have kept the right to marry.
No wonder gay people feel like the low man on the totem pole; basic rights are denied to them. But gay organizations have only themselves to blame. They did a terrible job reaching out to other minority communities.
Coretta Scott King believed in equal gay rights. She understood the issue is human rights, not sexuality. I wish others would.
This is a sad footnote to a historic election.
Patrick Victor
Fredericksburg
Date published: 11/23/2008
Most recent reader comments:
The key is under the law.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving
all!
Oh Jason
(posted by
patrick4hp
, Nov. 26, 2008 5:15 pm)
I know it doesn't help, but it's something that needs to be said. There is an old saying about the tyranny of the minority, and this is a perfect example of it. I don't support those on our side that overeated, like protesting against Morman churches, one of my best buds is Morman, and straight too, but not narrow. But, at the same time, it shows a certain defiance about gay people not getting the rights everyone else gets, so I am not surprised at it either. Again, HRC did a terrible job.
Patrick
(posted by
jasonmva
, Nov. 26, 2008 3:08 pm)
I realize your heart is in the right place but from one gay man to another, some comments are not helping. By essentially blaming the black community for the reason Prop 8 was passed puts you in the same catefory as those who portest our lifestyle. I'm not saying this to be mean. It is just not helping achieve the ultimate goal. Of course there will be setbacks. We just need to come up with new ideas and not place blame on others when things go wrong. We do still have a long way to go.
SMF
(posted by
jasonmva
, Nov. 26, 2008 2:59 pm)
Unfortunately in Virginia, it would not have mattered if they had a will or power of attorney thanks to HB751. By passing that law, the state does not need to recognize a legal contract between two people of the same sex, regardless of orientation.
Life...
(posted by
Aanchir
, Nov. 26, 2008 10:07 am)
I'm not addressing the issue of the treatment of gays in Iran, however abhorrent it is. I am comparing government censorship in Iran to the treatment of gays in America. Both are examples of governments refusing to acknowledge views opposing their religious views. The only physical difference in a straight and a gay couple is the ability to produce children. Does this play a role in marriage rights? Fine; figure out how much and limit gay marriage rights by only that much. But the other rights must be given
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