To All Straight DU'ers: Thank You!

[ruggerson]

Thank you for standing with your gay brothers and sisters.

I can only speak for myself, but I am moved that so many of you are so outraged by this.

And to Mr. Bush:

Today, you have made us all Gay Americans.

Everywhere I went today, people were talking about this. Straight people. And they were uniformly disgusted with you and with this amendment.

Pretty sad that it took your raw hatred to finally achieve your goal of uniting so many of us.

[Mythsaje]

1. Hey, he SAID he was a uniter...

The idiot actually got something right, though I doubt this is what he had in mind.

[proud patriot]

2. There's no place other I'd stand then by your side

:patriot:

[blue neen]

3. Well said, ruggerson.

The raw hatred IS uniting so many of us. I believe America is sick of his vile diversionary tactics.

[Oceansaway]

4. well said .....n/t

[liberal N proud]

5. It is about liberty for all, not just bu$h's base

[MadMaddie]

6. I second the Thank You...to all DU'ers...

And sadly it is his hatred but also his love of pandering and power that the rest of America is finally seeing....

[ret5hd]

7. oh well that's just great...

my boss is pissed at me, the dog just had pups, my veg garden is almost dead...
and NOW i have to go tell my wife that today i'm gay!

man oh man, is she ever gonna be pissed.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Yes!

It is a remarkable and very welcome! I was almost dreading hanging out here when this issue came up again after the tongue lashing we gays received here for Kerry's loss - but the response this time has been overwhelming. Thank you!

[bliss_eternal]

16. The Kerry loss and glbt community blame

was absolutely inexcusable. :puke:

I'm not trying to open any old wounds by saying so. Just wanted you to know, some of us did not jump on that bandwagon.

I'm in the process of interviewing people to renew our vows. If the person doesn't support gay marriage, they won't be hired to perform my ceremony. Anyone that would not join a same sex couple as man and wife, isn't right to perform my ceremony. The union I have with my husband is no better than the union many same sex couples share. Anyone that doesn't think so can suck on it. :P

This issue is about HUMAN rights. Anyone that doesn't see or recognize this risks losing any rights they hold dear. If they can do such a disgusting thing to the glbt community, they can do this to all of us. :hi:

[rosesaylavee]

25. Try your local Unitarian Universalist

community - I have a very very strong gut feeling that UUs will not cease to perform ceremonies no matter what this fool proposes.

And as for that Kerry thing - that was before my time on DU - people were lashing out and continue to lash out seeking to blame someone/anyone for that loss... which was strictly *co and Rove at their best.

Peace.

[bliss_eternal]

27. Very cool--

thank you for the recommendation! :hi: I will check into this.

It's very important to me, only true progressives need apply. LOL!

[Ms. Toad]

They performed our "civil" ceremony

in Canada - Civil, meaning the one that conferred legal recognition of our marriage that was, at that time, 22 years strong. We will celebrate 25 years on September 11.

Note: this was supposed to be a reply to Post #27 - it appears properly placed, but says it is responding to the original post :shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

44. Congratulations on 25 years!!

That's so wonderful!!!

:toast::party::bounce:

This is part of what pisses me off, I know so many same sex unions that have surpassed straight marriages in terms of time together, committment, etc. How dare anyone say such a relationship can't support children?!

The fundies don't want gays to adopt, they don't want women to abort, but are THEY willing to adopt children that aren't infants, potentially with blonde hair and blue eyes? :eyes:

[Ms. Toad]

85. Thanks!

Pssst...don't tell anyone....we also have a 15 year old daughter who is currently at the top of her class, and on track to complete not only the full academic honors track, but 4 years in fine arts and 3-4 years in each of two performing arts, and is a certified scuba diver as well.

:sarcasm: Her family structure is just so devastating to her that she can't even dream of competing with the rest of her classmates or fit into normal society. Can you imagine how much better off she would have been in another family? /:sarcasm:

(Not to brag, of course, just to make a point :) )

[bliss_eternal]

95. You sound very proud of her...

and she sounds awesome!!! You have a right to brag, ;) she's blessed to have both of you in her life! ...and thank you for proving my point. :hi:

[walldude]

48. 25 years.. there you go ruining the institution of marrige

damn gay people are getting married and staying married. Screwing it up for all those Christians and Right Wingers who prefer to be on their third and fourth wives with a mistress or two on the side. Why couldn't you people just stay in the closet.

:sarcasm: for the humor impared

..and congratulations on your 25th year :toast:

[Ms. Toad]

87. That's the point my occasionally right wing brother makes

....that people he knows would kill for the kind of relationship his sister has with me. Despite being kind of crazy on some issues, he is one of our strongest supporters.

Thanks,btw.

[goclark]

84. 25 years, that is fantastic!!

Much continued happiness for you!

We will all be happy when we are able to slap this hateful "Amendment" to the ground and stomp it to pieces!

I am so angry!

[Ms. Toad]

88. Thanks

and stomp as hard as you can, and get some friends to stomp with you!!!

[goclark]

135. All my friends support Homosexuals Rights, that is one of my

requirements for friendship.

No way will I tolerate anyone saying anything to me that is unkind.

One of my dearest family members was gay and would never come out.
Their entire life was so unhappy because they were afraid that people would find out.

George and all his evil doers should know there is a special place in hell for their evil deeds.

[Ms. Toad]

36. Thank you.

You are absolutely correct that not everyone jumped on the bandwagon - but enough did that it still occasionally makes me hesitate to poke my head out. :hide:

I appreciate the care with which you are selecting the person to renew your vows - and your ongoing support here.

[bliss_eternal]

42. That's so sweet of you to say...

thank you--but no need. I appreciate your saying this, but my support is on-going, no matter how many times my ass gets flamed. LOL! :P

[huskerlaw]

57. If you're in the LA-area

you may want to try All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. I just started going there and they have a very active GLBT group and seem to be extremely progressive.

[bliss_eternal]

63. Thank you--

do you know that I have them bookmarked? LOL! I read about them a while ago and loved the way their congregation seemed to embrace everyone.

If they perform civil unions for gay couples, they can renew our straight (boring) vows. LOL! :hi:

[huskerlaw]

66. You should check them out!

I've only gone twice so far, but I've been extremely impressed. They're very politically active...they've invited Al Gore to come speak and yesterday Desmond Tutu "dropped by".

The church is very large, and yet many people have gone out of their ways to introduce themselves to me (I guess I looked like a newbie!).

[bliss_eternal]

69. Thanks, huskerlaw--

I'd like to--that's quite a recommendation! I see you've got my husband's favorite team on your siggie line. ;)

Dh and I FLEW from the last church, when one of the pastors started to find reasons to bring shrub into his sermon and praise him. :wow: :puke: :scared: One week, he started in on "reforming gays." The was our last time EVER. :eyes:

[huskerlaw]

73. I'm really excited about

this church...and I typically hate going to church. Of course, it helps when you get to call people and say "Guess who I met at church today? Desmond Tutu. Yes, *the* Desmond Tutu..." ;)

That last church sounds scary! Actually, it sounds like the church I was forced to attend as a child. :scared:

Anywhoo, if you want to check out All Saints and don't want to do it alone, PM me. Actually, I'm guessing other DUers attend there as well. I should post somewhere and ask around!

[bliss_eternal]

76. Cool!

Thanks for the offer--if I decide to come out, and can't get dh to join me I'll pm to see if you're going so we can meet. Thanks, huskerlaw! :hi:

[motocicleta]

60. I know a good place to get married, up in Boonville

A couple of my lady friends went there to say they wanted to get married. The receptionist looked at the calendar and said, justifiably, that they were all booked for this year (only take so many weddings because it's such a pain in the ass). Just then the owner walked through, saw what was going on, and said, "For them? We can do one more."

Warmed the cockles of my cold, shriveled heart to hear that story. I'll recommend it to anybody that beieves in human rights and good weddings.

Oh and PS: a bunch of us didn't jump on that bandwagon. Great idea, bliss - when my wife and I get around to it that will be a good starter question.

[bliss_eternal]

67. Where is Boonville...?

That's a great story!!

I'm not having any hateful people renew my vows. If they don't believe gays should have more than civil unions, they have no business marrying anyone professionally (as far as I'm concerned), because they don't believe in true love.

Any love that can withstand the stress of what our society places on it, is TRUE love.

We're having a tough time finding a place/area--we want to renew our vows near water but I want to be in a city/place that is also progressive for the most part. So that shuts out most Orange county beaches. Hahaha! Dh thought about La Jolla but I don't think they are as progressive as I'd like. :(

Hermosa voted almost 100% pro-Kerry--so they are a possibility. I know Long Beach has an active gay community, so I'm checking there too.

[motocicleta]

71. It's up north of SF, in the coast mountains near Mendocino.

Great food up there. Probably too far north. Glad you liked the story, though. Good luck!

[jonnyblitz]

9. I notice and appreciate every last one of them!

Sometimes we only point out the occasional homophobe/homophobic comment without taking note of all the supportive straight folks who post here! I know I have probably been guilty of that. :hi:

[Semblance]

10. Absolutely!

There are millions of us straight people who know in our hearts that gayness is 100% natural, every bit as natural as heterosexuality.

Gay rights is one the most important defining issues of our time. People living 50 to 100 years from now will look back on our culture and wonder how people could have acted so poorly.

[flvegan]

11. Gay don't matter, never has, never should.

Nothing I love more than marching/celebrating with my like-minded brothers and sisters, regardless of their sexual preference. They don't judge me for not being gay, how dare I judge them for being gay?

And THAT is the bottom line...

[havocmom]

19. Well said, flvegan

"They don't judge me for not being gay, how dare I judge them for being gay?"

:applause:

Well said, indeed!

[flvegan]

24. I find that this is the base for humanity

any other thought is based in ego alone.

Hell, that statement is a discussion of its own. Maybe I should introduce a new thread...

[havocmom]

34. Glad you started a thread

Will try to visit it often, but perhaps a kick for the morning crowd tomorrow. Things have pretty well worn this ol hag out this evening.

Your glaring logic has redeemed the evening for me. I shall rest easy knowing there is sanity and humanity still left.

[flvegan]

45. I had to, and thanks.

I thought that the idea stood to reason, and nobody else seemed to be saying it.

Sleep well...

[MercutioATC]

12. Ruggerson, here's my take on the issue...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1357879&mesg_id=1357879

[Faygo Kid]

13. Why, you are Welcome! Proud to stand with you.

Divorced twice, and shockingly, it had nothing to do with gay people loving each other! Go figure.

[marmar]

14. You're most welcome...

I was just watching the pro-marriage amendment press conference on CSPAN with some sadness. There was a diverse group of people - White, black, Latino, Jewish and so on - advocating the writing of discrimination into the constitution. As an African American male, I find it very distressing when people who have suffered discrimination support discrimination against another group - homophobia sadly crosses race, ethnic and religious lines.
The rhetoric is the same applied to interracial marriages in the Loving vs. Virginia case. Have we learned nothing from history? And who will the extremists target next, after they've stripped rights from gays and lesbians.
So again Ruggerson, you're welcome. Your straight brothers and sisters and DU will always be standing with you.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. Not A Problem. I'll Defend Anybody Who Is Being Treated Unfairly.

This ammendment is pure 100% Bullshit.

[ismnotwasm]

17. You betcha

I'm right there with you, as are my husband and four children.

[adriennui]

18. why wouldn't we stand together?

we all have people we love who happen to be gay whether friends or family.

[bdamomma]

47. true,

:thumbsup:

[Touchdown]

20. Here, here! I echo Ruggerson's words.

Without your help, we couldn't have come this far.

:yourock::grouphug:

[Contrary1]

21. As Colbert would say...

The word is Gaymerikans.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Who knows who they will go after next?

Quakers? Oh, never mind, they already have.

Seriously, I don't like bigotry.

I also can't wait for the day that scientific research proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that sexual orientation is genetic. There are a ton of people I can't wait to look at and say "Told you so, you goddamn bigot!"

[bliss_eternal]

28. I agree 100%

:hi: Always good to see you!

I tried the genetic argument with a (former) friend that is very religious. I didn't go as well as I hoped. :eyes: I thought I was pointing out that no one would take on such hardships for themselves if it was merely "an option" or "lifestyle choice." Dude did not get it.

[ellenfl]

51. i had the same discussion

with two co-workers a few years back. my argument was why would anyone CHOOSE to be vilified (and worse) by people like them. they are both super religious by the way. he was a mormon missionary in his younger days and she was a young naive southern baptist.

when i was in college in the early 70s, my best friend came out. she didn't choose to, she just always felt the attraction to women, not men. she didn't choose the 'lifestyle', she was born to it.

i find it interesting that god is supposed to have been the creator of everything . . . except gays. why is it that the supposedly super religious people are the ones so against same sex marriage? especially considering that the bible belt has the highest rate of divorce. something has been breaking up bible belt marriages for a long time and it has nothing to do with homosexuality.

i just don't get it . . . but it is one of the hypocisies that makes me proud to be an atheist. but i suppose god didn't create atheists either.

ellen fl

[bliss_eternal]

61. I don't get it either...

...and I refuse to damn atheists, too. We are all created equal, in my opinion. :hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

81. Hey great to see you too, bliss!

:hi:

Did you see this yet?


http://gay-gop.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

[TayTay]

23. I support the civil rights of all Americans

I believe that the protections and rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States should apply to all Americans equally. Period.

It should not matter if someone is gay or straight. We are talking about Americans who work, pay taxes, raise families, live in and contribute to their communities and who vote. I would never, ever back discrimination being written into our founding document. This sham amendment is bigotry pure and simple and it's disgusting.

[Avalux]

26. No need to thank -

we are all in this together and I will stand with you all the way. Solidarity! :patriot:

[melnjones]

29. Here's one Christian...

who firmly believes in equal rights and separation of church and state. And let me qualify...I work in the national headquarters of a denomination that is 98% NOT pro-gay, and I hope to be ordained in the next few years as a minister. We are rare, but we gay-friendly Christians do exist, and sometimes in the most unlikely places:-) Peace to you, friend.

[bliss_eternal]

46. Bless you--

I'm sure you'll be a fantastic minister! Best of luck with it! :hi:

[IndyOp]

30. Because Hatred Is Not a DU Family Value, I Ask You To Join Me...

On THIS thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1359123

:bounce:

[Ms. Toad]

Thank you!!!!!

It's such a wonderful feeling scrolling down that thread and seeing all pink triangles, rainbow flags, and no FMA symbols!

[bliss_eternal]

53. Done--thanks for the link!

:hi:

[Downtown Hound]

31. This amendment is nothing more than the modern day equivalent

of the Dred Scott case. Shameful. Gays will always have my support in their struggle for equal rights.

[UTUSN]

32. I'm just a Dem n/t

[Richard Steele]

33. We either hang together, or we'll hang seperately, as Franklin said.

I'll be sportin' this here pink Triangle for awhile,
and so will alot of others.

Solidarity!

[sellitman]

35. I am a human therefor

I support my fellow humans.

(That is why * and his minions don't BTW)


They ain't human.

[laylah]

37. ...

:hug:

Jenn

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. Well if I don't speak for you

they will soon come for me, that is why I have been speaking for brown, gay and Arabs... and blacks and whites and gay and straight and all that

[Kajsa]

39. I think most of us have had it

with this homophobic crap.

We stand together, here!

[Asgaya Dihi]

40. No problem

If we don't stand together we'll hang alone, right? My wife and I are both against the amendment, there's no reason to deny simple things like survivors benefits and the right to make health decisions in need, or any other basic rights under law for other couples.

[kiraboo]

41. We are all one, standing up against hatred and bigotry.

Honored and proud to do so! :hi:

[bdamomma]

43. I will not judge others

I wish they would just leave the gays alone.

[Mr_Spock]

49. Bushco jumped the shark today

I'm so sick of these nasty pandering fuckwads who want to legislate hate.

[kpete]

50. Of course - we stand with you!!!!

[Tansy_Gold]

52. Love, true love, is always a good thing

and it should be celebrated and applauded and welcomed. No one should be denied the right to love whom they please, to make a family, to wed or not to wed, to live together in peace and recognition.

This FMA is an abomination.


Tansy Gold

[BoneDaddy]

54. With ya 100%

As a firm believer in human rights, this is atrocious what Bush is doing.

It is an extremely important issue but it, like other issues, are serving an overall purpose of distraction from the war, the NSA investigation, treason (in my eyes)with these attempts to mobilize his base of religious lemmings, fascists and intolerants. Look at what they have done in the last month alone. Bush's numbers tanking so they distract with the immigration issue, creating more rifts and further divides between us. He is adding gasoline to a fire that has burned too long. Now with the issue of gay marriage, he is doing it again. This is all very very calculated.

[Joey Liberal]

55. I'm straight and I'm on your side - always! n/t

[spindrifter]

56. We are one people, standing united

with our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters.

[Mark E. Smith]

58. We're Democrats, we have each other's backs.

To hell with those hateful bastards.

[Lochloosa]

59. Kick...so you can see my new avatar....

[bliss_eternal]

74. Mine, too...

I think next week I'm going to try the rainbow! ;)

[huskerlaw]

62. You're welcome, but...

there's nothing to thank us for, really.

This shouldn't be a gay or straight issue, it's a human issue. What happens in your bedroom is no more the government's business than what happens in mine. Who you love shouldn't affect governmental policy any more than who I love.

:hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

64. I'm proud to stand ... one step behind and in full support.

[me b zola]

65. It is an honor to stand with you

We are all in this together. :grouphug:

[stevedeshazer]

68. I'll be gay 'til my sisters and brothers have the same rights as all

Count on it. :)

[bliss_eternal]

78. If not for the courage and sacrifice of the many

people that marched for civil rights, my union with my dear husband would be illegal--we are interracial. A gay man helped Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. organize the march on Washington.

Love should not be legislated.

[Jazz2006]

70. No thanks required.

Happy to stand with and stand up for all whose rights are being trampled upon.

And delighted with my new avatar :D

:hi:

[Hamlette]

72. there is no group I'd rather stand with

not only are you exceptionally fine people, you've had more than your share of grief.

We live in a pretty screwed up world.

As Churchill said: when you're going through hell, keep going.

We're gonna win. Cause we're right.

[Maestro]

75. Totally ignorant bunch of pork, the amendment is!

It fixes nothing except give government approval to hate, deride and shun! What a fine government we have. :sarcasm:

[Greybnk48]

77. No thanks necessary here either

everyone should support human rights. I cannot believe this crap is still going on in this day and age, but we'll keep fighting the haters until they crawl back under their rocks.

[usregimechange]

79. Everyone sees this as a political stunt, but we stand w/ you....

[Pastiche423]

80. It is truly sad

to watch, not only Our Constitution, but our Declaration of Independence (All Men (and Women) Are Created Equal) being gutted and trashed.

To all of my gay brothers and sisters, I sit in solidarity w/you.

Peace

Victoria

[MarianJack]

82. As a Happily Married Straight Couple,...

...ChicaAzul and I are proud to be gay today!

We support you, we love you, we will stand with you, and WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED!

[goclark]

83. With you 1000-%! K and R

[Fleshdancer]

86. We're in this together.

:hug:

[MamaBear]

89. Thanks for inviting us in.

And making us feel welcome, and letting us work this alongside you.

[Hepburn]

90. You know what GWB has done?

Well, as a liberal and a straight, I have always been "supportive" of the rights of gays. However with this sick BS that BushCo has been putting out, I have gone from supportive, to angry, to engaging those supporting the anti-gay marriage amendment on every front I can think of. I am so angry over this BS from BushCo, I could spit. They took someone like me who was very sympathetic and made them damn mad and ready to kick ass. I took the list of phone numbers of the RW senators who support this crap and I called and started asking questions like those found on the Brad Blog....well, I am a little old retired lady who still has some nasty lawyer skills lurking under my rather gray hair. Man, did I give it to those receptionists who answered the phones for the assholes. I don't think they liked me too much. And when there was an answer phone? I left a message.

Yes, it is not much that I did...and I wish to hell that I could do more. So tomorrow, I am looking for my local gay support organizations and the first thing I am going to say is: "Where do I go to volunteer?"

GRRRRRRRR.......:mad: Screw those RW fundies and their homophobic BS. All these assholes are doing is using the gays to rally support for their party. That is so fucking sick and nasty ... and just plain WRONG.

Rant over.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

108. The same thing happened with my husband. He was philosophically

OK with gay marriage, but it was certainly not a burning issue for him.

Since gwb has pulled this crap, yet again, he is ready to take to the streets to fight amending the constitution for this hateful view.

It has been great to see him react this way. He's gone from OK with gay marriage to passionately supporting it.

Thanks, gwb! :hi: MKJ

[Swamp Rat]

91. No problem dude

:hi:

[Dem2theMax]

92. Straight and newly 'pink' here and I wouldn't be anywhere else but

next to ALL of my brothers and sisters of the world. :hug:

[robbedvoter]

93. What straight DU-ers?

:shrug:

[ruggerson]

120. you can say that again

:toast:

[robbedvoter]

121. OK, : What straight DUers? (I wouldn't mind making "straight" a bad word

it's almost up there with uptight :grouphug:

[upi402]

94. You're welcome my brothers and sisters

any day of the week

[sofa king]

96. I'm proud to be a gay American.

It is an honor to stand amongst the ranks of people who have the courage to stand up for what they believe in, what is right, and what they are. If someone wishes to paint me with the same brush, then so be it. I will wear such a distinction as a badge of honor.

[undercutter2006]

97. somebody please tell what it is that just happened?

What did this idiot say now ? I dont' watch that much tv...

[gordontron]

123. oh just a move

by the president to endorse the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. It will never pass of course (2/3 majority needed) but it is an insulting political move none the less. and welcome to the DU :hi:

[eppur_se_muova]

98. To an awful lot of people, this wasn't a big deal until ** made it one.

Now it's a big deal -- and we categorically DISAGREE with Bu**sh** and REJECT what he's trying to do. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, DUMBASS!

"Pretty sad that it took your raw hatred to finally achieve your goal of uniting so many of us."

They'll engrave that on Bu**sh**'s political tombstone.

[kevinbgoode]

99. Please let me extend my gratitude and thanks as well

I have never been so proud to be on this discussion board as I am today. You are all standing as if you are family for us - and that is something I certainly won't forget.

[dsc]

100. What he said

With margins of 70 percent on many of these state amendments sometimes we forget that there are straights who honestly support us. Thanks.

[Hekate]

101. Hatred is not a family value. More than happy to stand with you.

:grouphug:

Just as I hope my son and daughter will someday find love and happiness in marriage and family, I hope the same for their childhood friends who happened to grow up gay/lesbian. Love is love.

Hekate

[OneBlueSky]

102. there are very few Americans left who don't know (or know of) . . .

and like one or more gay men and/or lesbians -- be it Uncle Joe is Peoria or Jack on "Will and Grace" . . .

and regardless of this poll or that, the whole gay marriage thing is nowhere near as powerful an issue as BushCo seems to think it is . . . most people have other things on their minds and just don't care what Joe and Jack do with each other . . .

[ulysses]

103. you're more than welcome.

:thumbsup:

[malaise]

104. Fugg Bush

Your private life is none of his fugging business.

[bigtree]

105. been there all along friend

you are us

[ThatsMyBarack]

106. As a straight-but-not-narrow gay supporter....

....I'm skating in the Gay Games VII in my home town, Chicago. The figure-skating events are at my home rink! :patriot: :hippie:

[Mad_Dem_X]

107. Discrimination against a group of us

is an injustice to ALL of us. I am proud to stand against bigotry and hatred, no matter to whom it is directed. We are all human beings deserving of respect!

[Cha]

109. No problema!

bush can take his HATRED Du Jour, to satisfy his faux christian looney base, and stuff it up his bigoted stupidass.

[sutz12]

110. My LTTE in Seattle Post Intelligencer Today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1362603

Keep bigotry out of the U.S. Constitution

I'm sorry, but I don't think enshrining bigotry into our Constitution via the "Defense of Marriage Amendment" is a good idea, especially when the country has so many more pressing issues to be addressed.

Does anyone really think that if we outlaw homosexuality, God will protect us from the terrorists? Not to insult my religious friends, but I need a bit more tangible protections than that.

[jonnyblitz]

111. thanks again all straight DUers!

:loveya: :hi:

[mogster]

112. Checking in

:-)

[Xenotime]

113. * is turning america away.

[populistdriven]

114. You are welcome!

[Brazenly Liberal]

115. I'm honored to stand with you.

I'm now wearing a rainbow flag avatar to show my support. I think it looks goooood on me, too!

This amendment will never pass, but that doesn't make it better. In fact it makes it worse. Because the shameless pandering to ignorance and hatred is so blatant, so palpable.

It would be poetic justice is this was the final nail in the November GOP coffin.

[katinmn]

134. It is not expected to pass, and that's a bonus for those pandering

to the religious right. They can continue to use this issue to get the faux Chistians to the polls in November.

We need to find a way to diffuse this issue once and for all. The extreme right is like a cult that has been made legitimate by our corporate owned media and the criminals now ensconced in all positions of power. They are only a small, but very noisy, faction of society. We have to speak up and be louder and more demanding than they are.

[myrna minx]

116. Today we are all GLBT.

I stand with all of my GLBT brothers and sisters. :grouphug:

[4_TN_TITANS]

117. Just as I have a right to be married heterosexually

the GLBT community should have the right to marry same sex. This Liberal supports you all!

The CBS station out of Nashville made it a point to include the Democrats comments about how it was just pandering.

[EFerrari]

118. Kick

[katinmn]

119. We won't back down! Speaking of solidarity, the LGBT

community has shown tremendous compassion for Katrina victims, immigrants, and hotel workers.

For one example, have you seen this new campaign "Sleep with the right people?"
http://www.sleepwiththerightpeople.org/main.php
It's aimed at lifting poor hotel workers and others out of poverty by improving working conditions.

What goes around comes around and I hope the LGBT community is starting to feel some of that love come back.

[Pharaoh]

122. I Stand with you!

Gay brothers and sisters!!!

screw the fascist neocon morans!!!!!!

[Philosoraptor]

124. Fuck it. We're all in this together.

[Swamp Rat]

125. What do you think of this idea?:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1367928

[Nothing Without Hope]

126. Always standing with you! Here are two additional related threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1365931
thread title: LTTE by a loving mother of a gay son - powerful and moving - pass it on

Lots of other letters and articles posted in that thread, and good comments too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1364235
thread title: Add YOUR favorite CARTOON supporting GLBT rights to this thread!

[eviltwin2525]

127. Ich bin eine queer!

[shadowknows69]

128. Just saw the thread and changed mine

how many days are we doing it for again?

[WillyT]

129. Standing With You, But... Confused Here !!!

Got the Purple Triangle Avatar of Solidarity goin here, but now I see all these Rainbow Flag thingys.

Did I miss a memo?

:grouphug::hi::grouphug:

[katinmn]

132. I found this history on the flag and the triangle

The first Rainbow Flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, who created the flag in response to a local activist's call for the need of a community symbol. (This was before the pink triangle was popularly used as a symbol of pride.) Using the five-striped "Flag of the Race" as his inspiration, Baker designed a flag with eight stripes: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. According to Baker, those colors represented, respectively: sexuality, life, healing, sun, nature, art, harmony, and spirit. Baker dyed and sewed the material for the first flag himself - in the true spirit of Betsy Ross.

Baker soon approached San Francisco's Paramount Flag Company about mass producing and selling his "gay flag". Unfortunately, Baker had hand-dyed all the colors, and since the color "hot pink" was not commercially available, mass production of his eight-striped version became impossible. The flag was thus reduced to seven stripes.

http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/bulgarians/rainbow-flag.html

The pink triangle:
http://www.pink-triangle.org/
The pink triangle has become one of the symbols of the modern gay rights movement, but it originated in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. In many camps, prisoners wore badges. These badges were colored based upon the reason for imprisonment. In one common system, men convicted for sexual deviance, including homosexuality wore a pink triangle. The icon has been reclaimed by many in the post-Stonewall gay rights movement as a symbol of empowerment, and, by some, a symbol of rememberance to the suffering of others during a tragic time in history.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

130. Hey! You mean to say you're one of.... "THOSE" people???

Cool. I got no problem with it at all.

:yourock:

[il_lilac]

131. proud to call you brothers and sisters

We will not let hate win.

[SeattleGirl]

133. I found what Bush said today utterly despicable.

(But then, I find most of what he says utterly despicable.) But to call for an amendment to the Constitution to DELIBERATELY discriminate against a particular group of people is beyond the pale. Gays have to deal with enough discrimination and outright hatred as it is; but to codify it as part of the Constitution is sickening. I received two petitions today via email, that will go to the Hill before the 8th. I signed both of them, and I'll sign any other one I happen to get, plus I'm going to make some calls to the folks who will be doing the actual voting.

No one deserves this kind of treatment. NO ONE.