Thursday, April 26, 2007

Wow I guess I understand why they are getting so vile with their rhetoric!

No wonder the fundies are getting so shrill! They are losing this battle. And they are losing the control they so desperately want:

The New Hampshire state legislature passed a civil unions bill that will permit committed same-sex couples to have the same state-level rights, responsibilities and obligations as married couples. Gov. Lynch has pledged to sign the bill into law, which will make NH the fourth state to have civil unions.

And if that were not enough to give them all nightmares, maybe this will:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer's plan to introduce a gay marriage bill in New York state is favored by almost two-thirds of the 1,022 respondents to a recent Crain's online poll.

About 63% of voters said they support a gay marriage law. If New York adopted the new legislation, it would become only the second state behind Massachusetts to legalize same-sex marriage.

Or maybe this:

The Iowa House took a historic vote Wednesday to extend civil rights protections to gays and lesbians, giving approval to the measure in the waning days of this year’s session of the Iowa Legislature.

Or possibly this:

Late tonight, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. The legislation now makes its way to the floor of the House for consideration by the full chamber.

“Law enforcement is now one step closer to getting the extra tools they need to combat hate violence,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Hate crimes continue to spread fear and violence among entire communities of Americans and currently, law enforcement can use these additional tools and resources to prevent and prosecute them. We look forward to the day when partisan politics are finally put aside and this bill passes through Congress and is sent to the president’s desk for signing into law.

These past 6 ½ years have been dreadfully painful for so many of us. George W. Bush and his administration ushered in one of the most divisive, destructive, and evil eras of hate and homophobia that this country has ever seen. They have empowered the worst of the worst people and given them a national platform to shove their cruelty, hatred, and bogus Christian and family values down our throats. And maybe, just maybe the American people had to see it firsthand to know it wasn’t for them.

Finally! I think there might be a reason to hope again.

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2 comments:

Jarred said...

Being a resident of New York, I'm particularly excited about the news from Governor Spitzer's office. Probably too excited considering I'm not even in a relationship currently, let alone one serious enough to even consider marriage. ;)

But yes, we've been seeing a lot of good news in the terms of gay rights lately. It's quite exciting. Of course, the pragmatist in me also says we need to steel ourselves for the backlash that is likely to come in response. Ultimately, I think we'll win, but I think we need to be prepared for a long struggle with the occasional setback, too. But in reality, time is probably our greatest ally.

Seething Mom said...

You are right Jarred. I have to keep telling myself, don't get too excited, but somehow I just cannot help feeling optimistic, especially when I think back a mere 3 or 4 years ago when the Neanderthals by and large had the public stage to themselves.

Thanks, as always, for being that calm voice of reason (which at times can escape me).