At a time when the gay folk in Kentucky (and about 29 other states) could really, really, REALLY use a federal ENDA bill passed into law, what are placing our hyper-emotional, laser-like focus on? Whether the gay marching band is shown on TV. Who said which prayer on what day.

I *know* Prop 8 hurt *badly*. I *know* some reassurance could really help us right now. But folks, PLEASE, keep your eyes on the prize.

You know how the Clinton staffers posted the message to themselves in ’92: “It’s the *economy*, stupid!” I think our community needs to post a reminder to ourselves: “It’s the *legislation*, sweetie!”

Hang in there, everyone…don’t give in to cynicism.

I think Barack’s is also. Hey, he can include people that I don’t like. I have friends that some of my other friends don’t like but that’s just how life goes for all of us.

You can’t be in politics if you aren’t calculating. I think he is using the Warren crowd the same way he is using us but in the end everybody gets a voice including me. If people I don’t like get a voice and I piss and moan over it why do I wonder when they get pissed when I get my voice?
Either way we will not have Bush in there undoing humanity in the name of the EndTimes.
I’ll still bitch like I always do but right now I am thinking of a mother and father and their two small kids who have had a monumental day and made it just as big for so many of the other people they share the planet with. They are still going and they are cold and exhausted and I am warm, and safe, and home with my partner.
I feel better already. I’ll raise a little hell and write many letters and cry foul as often as I can but I’m not scared I’ll be locked up or made a criminal like I have been for 8 years.
The world can only get better and we need to get better too. WE need to organize more and put our best face forward and get shit done.
My goal is that Gay kids stop killing themselves. When the man in the White House uses the word Gay frequently it becomes much more difficult for the world to justify hating us. I don’t think he’ll let that happen to us.
I have great hope.

This doesn’t surprise me at all — in fact, it is exactly what I expected from the commercial networks.

Fortunately, I was able to watch the parade on C-Span and I can testify that they DID show the GLBT Band and identified them as well.

Thanks C-Span!

I saw her and Obama dancing at one of the Balls earlier, and I swear I heard people shouting: “Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin!!!”

Just another example of the Obama’s keeping their distance from “the Gays” by avoiding anything that smacks of being too tasteful or chic.

Also, in case you didn’t know, Obama is going to keep that over-the-top, garish rug with the sunburst, imperial Presidential Seal in the Oval Office. It was designed, in part, by Laura Bush after a long night of drinking and snorting coke with the Little Shrub. The design layout was then sent out, with loving care, to be hand-woven by child slave-labor in China before returning to be installed at the White House.

Bill Clinton had his own rug laid down too — which was said to be very soft on the knees. It was also heavily treated with Scotch Guard so that protein-rich body fluids could be easily mopped up. Likewise, George W.’s rug is blood repellent so that no evidence of torturing prisoners-of-war would be left behind in the Oval Office to clash with the neo-fascist decor.

I suppose George’s pinball machine and his Mr. Slushy maker is staying behind too in the Lincoln Bedroom — which should be a big hit with the kids. An outdoor basketball court is also in the planning for the Rose Garden.

So move over Jed Clampett, the Jeffersons have arrived!!!

~ Bud Evans

http://rainfish2000.blogspot.com

Before the election, inclusion of Gays and Lesbians was a common theme in Obama’s speeches, Sunday Bishop Robinson was excluded from the HBO broadcast, and today the GLBT community was excluded from the event.

Tell me how Obama is different from any other politician!

Support for the LGBT Community
“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes:
In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees’ domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples:
President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage:
President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.

Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell:
President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.

Expand Adoption Rights:
President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.

Promote AIDS Prevention:
In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS:
In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

*Happy the man I voted for was elected
*Happy the last guy is leaving
*Happy this country elected biracial and Black identified man to the Presidency
*Happy my mother and most of her siblings lived to see it.

I miss my Grandmother today

Most of all, I’m happy there’s a sense of hope and optimism here and apparently, around the globe.

This administration won’t be perfect. They will screw up but I believe he has the best interest of our nation as a whole at heart.

Today, President Obama and his administration get the benefit of the doubt from me.

Tomorrow and the next few years will tell the story