Thread: Recap: Obama good or bad for gay rights?

Since Obama and the Democrats have gained control of the government, what is the score card for gay rights?

Decline
-Prop 8 passed in California banning same sex marriage.
-Prop 1 passed in Maine banning same sex marriage.
-Legislation to legalize same sex marriage stalls in Rhode Island.
-Rhode Island governor vetos domestic partnership rights to claim each others remains.
-The gay marriage law in New York failed.
-The gay marriage law in New Jersey failed.
-The civil unions law in Hawaii failed.
-The Supreme Court bans cameras at Prop 8 trial.
-The Indiana Senate passed a resolution to put the question of same sex marriage and civil unions on a ballot for voters.

Progress
-Iowa established same sex marriage
-New Hampshire established same sex marriage
-Vermont established same sex marriage.
-Referendum 71 to overturn "Everything but marriage" domestic partnership law fails in Washington State.
-Washington DC established same sex marriage.
-Salt Lake City established job discrimination protection for gays and lesbians.
-Federal employee nondiscrimination signed

In The Works

-Federal trial challenging Prop 8
-Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Promised, but not Delivered

-Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act


Given that Obama's official positoin is that he is for civil unions but opposed to same sex marriage, that might be the best one can expect from this president. DADT and the Prop 8 trial are the highlights for 2010, and given the momentum that anti gay rights activists have enjoyed since Maine, they may be the last opportunity to turn the tide. The Supreme Court will likely rule on Prop 8 in 2011, and given the 5-4 conservative split, it is likely that same sex marriage will not survive a Supreme Court ruling. Whether Obama touches DOMA in 2011 will likely be determined by how well the economy is doing and whether health care reform is passed before the mid term elections.

Thoughts?

**** My thought is WHY if it's all about Equal Rights & Tolerance & Understanding is it that some are absolutely totally focused on this issue ??

**** If we were currently living in Paradise - we almost zero unemployment , no inflation , solid Primary education , afforadable Health Care across the board , no crumbling infrastructure, solid Family units, no drug subcultuire, didn't have 20 Million illegal aliens in our midst, and Peace abroad - then considerations of such a substance might arise and be fairly & humanely pondered by most Americans.

**** Some are focused on this like a laser. They judge nearly all others most of the time as to how they stand on this topic - and this is WHY some Judge somewhere in response either to social pressure ot quiet longings will rule against some Religous body to try to force a compliance. No way there will be objectivity regardless of written law.

****** A) It's not a Civil Rights issue

*******B) You are focused on this topic and probably can never be objective.

***** The other guy is the one Focused.

***** Refusal to speculate at all about future ramifications is in a way a kind of proof that some simply don't care about the overall society down the road

Originally Posted by Zinc Route

***** Refusal to speculate at all about future ramifications is in a way a kind of proof that some simply don't care about the overall society down the road

True. But that is why many people support same sex marriage. It has an incredible number of benefits for society.

1. The 8 to 10 million children being raised by gay parents and same sex couples could benefit immensely from the institution.
2. Stable, monogamous homosexual relationships would do a lot to cut down on of the major risk groups for HIV transmission.
3,. There is a major economic benefit to society by allowing gays to marry as much money would be generated by gay weddings.
4. It would greatly cut down on a lot of the disparities that same sex couples face that married heterosexual couples do not, such as mental health issues.
5. Since the evidence indicates that same sex couples can do just as a good job raising children as different sex couples, it would provide a large group of people who could adopt children from our overburdened foster care system.
6. It would reduce the harm of societal stigma towards homosexuals.
7. It would create greater equality in our society by granting rights such as hospital visitation and estate rights to the spouses of same sex couples.
8. It would reduce the chances of polygamy being accepted in society by affirming the benefits of two parent families.
9. It would affirm America's standards of liberty by recognizing a liberty right that has been shown not to cause any harm to anyone in society thereby making the country freer for everyone.
10. It would nobelize homosexual unions as opposed to stigmatizing them and in time may even reduce promiscuity and increase fidelity.

But I'm sure a future oriented person like yourself has already considered all that.

****** No - despite the best itentions of Many I'm focused on the just about total refusal of Most(Majority) Gays and others/friends to address or criticize in the least the provacative/outrageous of a segment of Gays - the type that are promiscous- enjoy offending - and always manage to disproportionatly affect every event. Decades have now passed and these flambouyant types still seem to run the show at times- put on displays that are intentional and seem to really enjoy rubbing some institutions the wrong way.

****** I've yet to see real internal criticisms among Gays on this or at least to an extent that it's noticed at all by the larger society.This is Why I safely assume that some less bneficial aspects of Gay Marriage will in short order permeate thru and Most will stand by as more and more pressure is exerted on the established order.

Originally Posted by Zinc Route

****** No - despite the best itentions of Many I'm focused on the just about total refusal of Most(Majority) Gays and others/friends to address or criticize in the least the provacative/outrageous of a segment of Gays - the type that are promiscous- enjoy offending - and always manage to disproportionatly affect every event. Decades have now passed and these flambouyant types still seem to run the show at times- put on displays that are intentional and seem to really enjoy rubbing some institutions the wrong way.

****** I've yet to see real internal criticisms among Gays on this or at least to an extent that it's noticed at all by the larger society.This is Why I safely assume that some less bneficial aspects of Gay Marriage will in short order permeate thru and Most will stand by as more and more pressure is exerted on the established order.

You would deny a whole group of people a set of rights that would be beneficial to them, to their children, and to society at large, because you hate a small set of extremists within their ranks? Yeah, I'm done talking to you. You are admittedly prejudiced.