te crimes "this year." Even if that happens, that still leaves ENDA, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and a half dozen other gay rights bills languishing in Congress.
And when "this year" is over, and maybe hate crimes at best will have gotten a vote, we already know what we'll be told because we've heard it so many times before: 2008 is an election year, and gay rights is too hot a potato to touch right now.
cheap uggs Now more than ever is the time for action from our "courageous" Senate allies Hillary Rodham Clinton,
cheap ugg boots [url=http://www.classicbootonsale70off.top]uggs on sale sale[/url] Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd. They've all promised "leadership" on gay rights if elected president, so let's see some "leadership" now and demand a vote in the Senate on the gay rights bills that are pending.
And just to
ugg christmas clearance get this out of the way (for the 100th time): By criticizing these Democrats, I am not saying Republicans are better. Of course they're not. And anyone who suggests differently should have their head examined. But the question is whether our energy is better spent complaining
about conservative Republicans we'll never change or pressing
"friendly" Democrats who actually control the fate of gay rights
legislation. Even our friends in Congress are politicians first and will take the
path of least resistance. We need to make action more attractive than
inaction for them. Look no further than the anti
ugg boots on sale war movement's
unrelenting pressure and the way Democrats have responded. Only we
have the votes on our bills that they do not.
Regular readers will remember my tete a tete with "Bloggernista," who wrote on his blog, Pam's House Blend and Bilerico last week that Andrew Sullivan and I should quit sniping at HRC and focus on "the real work" of the gay rights movement: calling Senate offices to pass the hate crimes bill. Like that would have made a difference. Now I have a question for Bloggernista: When will we wake up to the reality that HRC's willingness to be co opted by the Democrats, and the Democrats willingness to play politics with our equality, is really where we need to focus our attention?
If the gay blogosphere and its supporters really want to be effective,
we'll put aside championing lost causes like Mike Gravel and join
together to press HRC and the Democrats for a vote on hate crimes by
the end of the summer, and ENDA by the end of the year. Bring our bills
to a vote! Bring our bills to a vote!
on Jul 20, 2007 1:34:04 PM:
I believe both of what Amicus suggests ought to be done. Why the reticence to introduce the hate crimes bill as stand alone legislation? Let it rise or
cheap ugg boots on sale fall on its own merits. The tactic of trying to hide it in non germain legislation makes it seem like, should the legislation pass, that it really doesn have significant support, but was passed because of the carrier bill. It always gives your opponents legislation to dig away at it if it can be shown to have strength on its own.
And why do we mess with hate crimes, ENDA, DADT piecemeal anyway? Why do we not feel confident enough to demand that sexual orientation be
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