Administration Moves To Remove Gay Protections From Federal Labor Contract

[Whoa_Nelly]

(Washington) The Bush administration has begun working to remove hard won protections for gay and lesbian workers from civil service labor contracts.
In several contracts negotiated over the past few months the list of categories that are protected has been replaced with the more nebulous phrase "any class protected by law." While the change will mean little to African Americans or other minorities, it effectively removes LGBT workers from being protected from being fired or harassed on the job.

<snip>
The most recent instance is at the Social Security Administration where negotiations are underway for a new contract. SSA is is trying to remove specific language protecting its employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The labor contract changes comes six months after the office of Special Counsel which investigates and prosecutes federal government employment discrimination came under fire for saying it would not investigate claims of sexuality harassment.

more...
http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=9&id=4236

[farmbo]

1. Quick...trot out those two Gay Black Republicans to sanitize this

:crazy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=862370&mesg_id=862370


edited for DU URL

[Fridays Child]

3. I'll look for them in the "Two Gay Black Republicans" clubhouse.

But I'm warning you that it can be difficult to get a hold of them. They're almost always in a "Two Gay Black Republicans" meeting or at a "Two Gay Black Republicans" convention.

[calimary]

8. Shoot! You beat me to it!

FIRST thing I thought of - yet another reason for those gay black republi-CONS to get with the program, 'eh?

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. THIS IS SO FREAKING WRONG!!!!!

WTF is wrong with these people??? WHAT? They want us to roll backwards in time until we are in the fucking STONE AGE???

God bless.

Hateful hateful hateful spite-filled venemous BASTARDS.

[Mika]

4. It is truly shameful

Makes me want to weep.

:puke:

_________________________________

The GOP's Axis of evil

Universal health care

Universal education

Democracy

_________________________________

[Whoa_Nelly]

15. You're so correct, Moonbeam

That's exactly what they want to do.
Bye-Bye Constitution. Hello ultra-conservative religious right laws.
And it's not only the homosexual Americans that are trageted. It's also dismantling public education, environmental protections and, of course, our civil liberties.

[arwalden]

5. Mother Fucking Pig Shit Sucking Sons Of Bitches

I loathe and despise with every ounce of my being the Republican party and EVERY SINGLE PERSON who identifies with the Republican party and EVERY SINGLE WORTHLESS PIECE OF TRASH who votes for ANY Republican candidate. May they all die horrible painful deaths.

Thanks you.

-- Allen

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

6. Time to go back in the closet Allen...

I can see this is the start of something, huh?

Rolling back gay rights, a little bit at a time.

[arwalden]

7. I Also Despise The Apologists And Their Defenders Who Argue...

... that they "all aren't that bad" and "some are good" and "some don't feel that way".

BULLSHIT!!!

Those are the ones who smile at me to my face but HATE ME behind my back and vote for these Republican MONSTERS anyway.

What did Queer Americans do to them that was so harmful that they feel the need to inflict this FUCKING BULLSHIT on us?

WHO THE FUCK DO THEY THINK THEY ARE??

WHAT THE FUCK GIVES THEM THE RIGHT??

I tell ya... one day, someone is going to snap! Someone is going to be pushed just a little bit too far! There are many folks out there who are much more angry than I am and who are ALSO unstable... who knows what they are capable of? (This is how the Stonewall riots started you know. Just one little event that was the final straw... and BOOM!)

Good thing I have DU to keep me balanced.

-- Allen

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

9. I hope no one snaps....that would be the excuse the bashers need.

...sort of like Kristalnacht was set off by a Jewish guy offing a German ambassador in France, I think.....

If some gay person goes "off"...this could be a good media shitstorm to justify further gaybashing from the right.

They are looking for every angle they can to hit at us....

[calimary]

10. I don't know what to say, Allen. Except that I am so sorry, and I don't

understand it, either. Three cherished friends of mine are gay. I think about them every day. I use them as an example to my children - who've met them, enjoyed dinner out with them, talked with them when they came over or came to town for a visit. My kids are fortunate to see, for themselves, that a person who happens to be gay still is able to give and accept genuine love, commitment, dedication, loyalty, honesty, hopes, dreams, ambitions, and charitable outreach. To them, my friend Letitia is merely another woman delirious that she FINALLY became pregnant, and that she will finally be able to love, nurture, and raise the children she's yearned for, for so long. To them, my friend Dave is just another guy who, after searching literally for YEARS, finally found someone with whom to share his life - another person who, like Letitia, will no longer be lonely or at loose ends, and has love, contentment, emotional support and emotional security. To them, my friend Chaz is just another guy who is still searching for a life partner, and who struggles with loneliness, uncertainty, and disillusionment.

Dear God, WHAT kind of country is this where we just simply MUST have our second-class citizens? I'll tell ya this much, THAT is certainly not the kind of country that I'm willing to send my children off to die for.

I'm sorry this is happening to you, Allen. I'm sorry this is happening to Dave, Chaz, and Letitia. And everyone they know and hang out with and care about. I'm so sorry. If ANYTHING is UNamerican, this is it.

[havocmom]

11. Gays are only stage one in this. Goal is to dismantle all protection

for civil workers and contract workers. Then the private sector will be doing as it damned well pleases. The goal will be for them to have only their kind in any position, period.

DUers, they mean to end every single hard won protection for all workers, everywhere. This is just the beginning.

Think Germany a few years back...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

12. EXACTLY how I feel Allen

and I'm hetero.

I have this casual friend who asked me why I have such a problem with her voting for bush. She said I "shouldn't take it so personally."

I said I sure as HELL do take it personally because you are voting for people who institute policies that HURT MY FAMILY.

She looked perplexed for a second. She said "you don't have any gay people in your family."

I said, "yes I do and so do you, we all do. We are HUMAN BEINGS and an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people are ALL PART OF MY FAMILY DAMMIT."

She said "whatever."

Well what the HELL ever to her, too. Hateful bee-otch.

We aren't much friends anymore.

[belle]

13. aaaaAGAGGHHHHHHHH.

KILL.

[Eloriel]

14. This is why I call them "Repugs" -- this is SO vile and repugnant. n/t