Comments on: Colo. Springs leader supports gay, lesbian event

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:38:36 +0000

Twisted Pride, you would be impressed to see the changes in Colorado since the Hate State days of Ammendment 2. Our Democratic controlled legislatre and Governor have passed into law a gender expression inclusive hate crimes and employment non-discriminaiton law, second-parent adoption law, designated-beneficiary law (sort of domestic partner light)and a housing and public accommodations non-discrimination law. We still need to get rid of that nasty anti-marriage equality ammendment but we have made a good start by booting Marilyn Musgrave (replaced by Democrat Betsy Markey). from office and retiring Senator Wayne Allard (replaced by the very liberal Senator Udall).

By: Twisted Pride

Twisted Pride — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:48:39 +0000

@Travis: Thank you for the year correction, my memory is slipping.

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:46:54 +0000

As a Colorado resident (Denver), let me say that Colorado Springs is it’s own little “island”. Yes, it’s very conservative, and frankly I can’t stand the place, but much of Colorado has a “live and let live” attitude. I grew up in Southern California, and I actually feel less stress about being gay in Denver than I did So Cal.

By: Dave W

Dave W — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:48:20 +0000

Let me just add that everyone is confused on this and that is why we need clarity in our language. Andrew Sullivan is sometimes called a “gay conservative blogger”. But he is a strong church apologist and for some reason church=conservative in this country.

Our “conservative” political leaders are trying to be on both sides of the coin…supporting state religion while purporting to be for small government and individual liberty.

Of course we know they are just taking advantage of the religious weak minded just as the priesthood has done for years, but it presents a dichotomy that the thinking classes need to continue to call out.

By: Dave W

Dave W — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:43:33 +0000

Travis, thanks for the facts…but when you have a situation where the state controls the acitivities of its people, purporting to know better what behaviour is acceptable, that is not conservative.

We have allowed the religious right to hijack the word conservative. We need to take it back. A conservative governing body would be uninterested in controlling the private behaviour of its citizens.

Maybe this is why so many “red” states repealed their laws in the 70′s….coincidentally on the cusp of the RR takeover of the GOP. Remember Southern Baptists were originally aligned with the Democrats.

I say this because it is important to separate out our political parties vs. ideologies.

The religious right and the RECENT republican party are not conservative at all…big government, spying, behavioural control, limiting states rights, limiting personal freedom.

Many of the things we expect from the “liberal” party (Democrats) are quite conservative in nature. We want the states to govern marriage (the GLAD case, the Mass AG case are states rights cases..conservative!), we want church out of politics (at least I do!)…limiting the government to secular activities. Abortion rights are also important to me and they represent personal liberty that is a conservative principal (liberalism purports to have a large state in which its operators study societal norms and determine what is best for us).

Let’s get our language clear: We are fighhting the religious right which has hijacked the GOP. I don’t see anything in what we want as being at odds with conservatism.

Just look at what Cheney is saying, now that he can be a conservative vs. a republican!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:29:53 +0000

The mayor Rivera should resign and let the more progressive vice mayor Small take over.
Small would do a better and more inclusive job of running the town. I am glad Small is showing a streak of independence despite of how the mayor himself is on the GLBT community of that area. Small should talk Rivera into not running for mayor again and Small should run for Mayor and select a vice mayor should shares his belief that GLBTs are also business owners etc. worthy of recognition of the contributions they make to the life of the community.

By: Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law)

Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:51:00 +0000

Ellen Degenerous is a fantastic woman – you Californian people are assholes for voiding her marriage!!!!!!

Californian people are facist fuck-tards for voting against on peoples marriages between members of the same-sex.

By: Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law)

Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:48:11 +0000

I will say it again and again California is NOT LIBERAL AT ALL – END OF STORY!!!!!

The proof is in the pudding!!!!!

They are conservative, rednecked, facist bastards who drive like insain assholes.

At least in New England, we know what real liberalism is – and we are truly liberal people!!!!

People in California are behind-the-times cuddling up to Texas assholes with their little consitutional amendments and legally killing people (death penalty) because they were deeply afraid of gays and because they “pretend” to be liberal – but they are far from liberal.

California is as conservative as a hot stove in a church christmas party room when funding and organising prop 8 petitions.

By: Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law)

Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:39:24 +0000

Californias sodomy law was repealed in wait for it, 1978 – no so liberal after all.

Colorado, Illinios, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dekota, Nebraska, West Verginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Vermont, Oregon, Indiana all repealed there sodomy laws – way before California repealed theirs.

Even “extreamly conservative” states of West Virginia, Nebraska, Ohio, North and South Dekota all repealed their sodomy law – way before California ever did.

By: Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law)

Travis in Vermont (the state were gays are truly equal under the law) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:31:10 +0000

Found this interesting too:

All the states that have legally allowed gay marriage have repealed their sodomy laws all in the 1970s.

See these 6:

* Iowa allowed gay marriage in 2009, sodomy law repealed in 1978.

* Vermont allowed gay marriage in 2009, sodomy law on oral sex repealed in 1977. Vermont never had a law on anal sex on the books (yes I know interesting).

* Massacussetts legally allowed gay marriage in 2004, sodomy law still in the books (of some stupid reason), in 2009, but was not enforced since 1971.

* Maine if allowed this year (ballot remember). Sodomy law repealed in 1976. Mutual Masturbation was never illegal under the sodomy law since 1955 under a ruling from the Maine Supreme Court.

* New Hampshire will legally allow from midnight new year day in 2010. Sodomy law was repealed in 1975, even when a Govonor was deeply homophobic and on top of that he did not know what he was signing into law.

NOT FORGETTING;

* Connecticut legally allowed gay marriage in 2008 and fixed the law in 2009. Sodomy law was repealed in 1970, the second state to do so. After Prop 8 passed by a 52 percent vote in California – it too became the second state to allow gay marriage, 8 days later.