So, this article talks about how disappointed some LGBT leaders are that last week's Senate debate on the proposed federal amendment to ban same-sex marriage had no support at all for equal marriage -- just support for "more important" issues and federalism (which I think was just lip service).
But, during last week's debate, most Democratic senators argued only that Congress should be confronting more important issues like the economy and the Iraq war; they did not specifically address same-sex marriage.more . . .
"We are disappointed that more senators could not take an affirmative stand for gay and lesbian Americans," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
And instead of just dropping the Democrats after that scandalous display, these LGBT leaders are giving the Democrats one more chance, in the form of the state-level marriage ban amendments.
Well, if the Democrats' efforts in Alabama this past month are any indication of their upcoming efforts in Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and other states, those LGBT leaders are in for serious disappointment.
In Alabama, the Democratic primary candidates for Governor were all for the marriage ban. No effort was made by Dean or others in D.C. to change this. The only candidate for governor on record as against the ban was Libertarian Loretta Nall. The amendment sailed through the legislature with broad bipartisan support (and I've always said that the first sign that a law is a very bad idea is when it has broad bipartisan support).
So does this mean that, after November, we'll see groups like NGLTF supporting third parties that have a better gay rights record than the Democrats?
Don't hold your breath.
Gay rights leaders said a crucial test of Democratic Party support -- in addition to the marriage vote -- is how the party responds to a formal request from the National Stonewall Democrats to help fight the state amendments and encourage gays and lesbians to vote. The party has yet to budget any money for the efforts.
Well, if the Democrats' efforts in Alabama this past month are any indication of their upcoming efforts in Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and other states, those LGBT leaders are in for serious disappointment.
In Alabama, the Democratic primary candidates for Governor were all for the marriage ban. No effort was made by Dean or others in D.C. to change this. The only candidate for governor on record as against the ban was Libertarian Loretta Nall. The amendment sailed through the legislature with broad bipartisan support (and I've always said that the first sign that a law is a very bad idea is when it has broad bipartisan support).
So does this mean that, after November, we'll see groups like NGLTF supporting third parties that have a better gay rights record than the Democrats?
Don't hold your breath.
