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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
American Family Association Sends an Email Full of Lies
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
In Touch With The American Voters
What do the majority of United States Citizens think about Marriage Equality?
LOS ANGELES |
Poll: More Americans favor same-sex marriage
(CNN) – Support for same-sex marriage has received a boost, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research survey released Tuesday.
The poll indicates that more than half of all Americans believe that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should be legally valid. With 51 percent of respondents saying that same-sex marriages should be legal, it is the first time that a CNN poll has found majority support for same-sex marriage.
Full results (pdf)
Poll: Support for gay marriage continues to rise
Public acceptance of same-sex marriage has grown at an accelerating pace, with approval jumping by nine percentage points in the past two years and the nation now evenly divided on the issue, according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.
The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46% of Americans surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44% are opposed. The survey among 2,410 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
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In listening to the arguments that Republicans put forth regarding the Respect for Marriage Act (at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing), I was amazed at how little they cared about getting any new arguments. As a matter of fact, most of the eight "nays" ... their NO votes were given by proxy. They don't really care enough about the Lesbian and Gay community to even show up at the vote.
Senator Grassley from Iowa of course puts up the inevitable tired argument "traditional one man one woman marriage". He is gently, affectionately and respectfully debunked by Senator Al Franken: “We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.
After thirteen years of Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible School/College education, I did a lot of research.
My findings: The Bible Says - Homosexuality
I found a theologian who graduated from Harvard and the conservative Bob Jones University who wrote a book on reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex relationships called The Children Are Free.
Just because a person is straight, that doesn't mean that they have morals or family values. Just because a person is a lesbian or gay, doesn't mean that they have no morals or family values. This is yet another ancient argument that is proven wrong every day by decent, family oriented and loving same sex couples.
One of the most insulting arguements that was presented at the Judiciary Committee Respect for Marriage Act hearing was the following:
Senator Cornyn:
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would actually result in an expansion of federal benefits and spending at a time when we know that federal spending is way out of control and our entitlement programs are unsustainable,"
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act would actually increase the cost of Social Security that is already insolvent, more money is going out than coming in."
"No one, no one has paid into the Social Security system expecting benefits to be paid to same sex partners."
This man, this elected Senator actually believes that because a person is a lesbian or because they are gay, that they do not deserve to get federal benefits even though they have paid into it all of their lives. Um Senator, I am a lesbian and I believe that I and my family have the right to federal benefits. I have been and still do pay in to Social Security expecting that I and/or my family will benefit from it.
Senator Grassley mentioned religion. They should read their Bibles:
The poll, conducted in late September and early October, showed 46% of Americans surveyed support legalizing same-sex marriage and 44% are opposed. The survey among 2,410 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
***********************************************************
In listening to the arguments that Republicans put forth regarding the Respect for Marriage Act (at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing), I was amazed at how little they cared about getting any new arguments. As a matter of fact, most of the eight "nays" ... their NO votes were given by proxy. They don't really care enough about the Lesbian and Gay community to even show up at the vote.
Senator Grassley from Iowa of course puts up the inevitable tired argument "traditional one man one woman marriage". He is gently, affectionately and respectfully debunked by Senator Al Franken: “We need to be accurate when we talk about the history of man and woman,” noting that at one point women were chattel.
After thirteen years of Independent Fundamental Baptist Bible School/College education, I did a lot of research.
My findings: The Bible Says - Homosexuality
I found a theologian who graduated from Harvard and the conservative Bob Jones University who wrote a book on reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex relationships called The Children Are Free.
Just because a person is straight, that doesn't mean that they have morals or family values. Just because a person is a lesbian or gay, doesn't mean that they have no morals or family values. This is yet another ancient argument that is proven wrong every day by decent, family oriented and loving same sex couples.
One of the most insulting arguements that was presented at the Judiciary Committee Respect for Marriage Act hearing was the following:
Senator Cornyn:
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) would actually result in an expansion of federal benefits and spending at a time when we know that federal spending is way out of control and our entitlement programs are unsustainable,"
"Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act would actually increase the cost of Social Security that is already insolvent, more money is going out than coming in."
"No one, no one has paid into the Social Security system expecting benefits to be paid to same sex partners."
This man, this elected Senator actually believes that because a person is a lesbian or because they are gay, that they do not deserve to get federal benefits even though they have paid into it all of their lives. Um Senator, I am a lesbian and I believe that I and my family have the right to federal benefits. I have been and still do pay in to Social Security expecting that I and/or my family will benefit from it.
Senator Grassley mentioned religion. They should read their Bibles:
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Footnotes:
It deeply saddens, distresses and appalls me that our elected officials readily admit that they do not feel that gay and lesbian people are deserving of equal rights. We are Americans. We are citizens of the United States of America. We are people. We are not low life, scum sucking, free loading people looking for a hand out. We are productive citizens of the greatest country in the world. We should be treated with the same respect as our straight counterparts. "...with Liberty and Justice for ALL"
- Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
- Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18
It deeply saddens, distresses and appalls me that our elected officials readily admit that they do not feel that gay and lesbian people are deserving of equal rights. We are Americans. We are citizens of the United States of America. We are people. We are not low life, scum sucking, free loading people looking for a hand out. We are productive citizens of the greatest country in the world. We should be treated with the same respect as our straight counterparts. "...with Liberty and Justice for ALL"
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Where Are We With DOMA and the UAFA?
Let's start with the Uniting American Families Act. Sadly, it looks like we just don't have enough clout to get Lamar Smith to release it from being held hostage in the House Judiciary Committee.
The Uniting American Families Act would give bi-national same sex couples the ability to sponsor their partners/spouses. I do not believe that most of Congress, or even the President of the United States actually knows what it takes to immigrate to the United States. Their ignorance and their lack of desire to educate or research shows how little they really care about bi-national same sex couples. In my correspondence to Congress, I have been told that I shouldn't expect to be put ahead in the line for immigration. I have heard the President say that we need to wait our turn. What they don't seem to realize is that there is no line for bi-national same sex couples in which to stand. There is no legal way for our spouses to immigrate. We are pleading for Congress to understand this. In trying to explain this to some of the Congress people, I have been told basically that it is because homosexuals are not part of the nuclear family. I struggle to understand how anyone can tell me, an American Citizen, who I can or cannot love. I struggle to understand how Congress can tell me that who I love is less important; is less than who the straight people love. This page on Lawyers.com is very informative. For even more information the Immigration Equality Action Fund is an excellent resource.
We need to get this horrible, cruel, and torturous behavior changed. We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act.
Now onto the ironically named "Defense of Marriage Act" which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. There are bills in Congress to right this horrible wrong being done to the lesbian and gay couples called the Respect for Marriage Act. The wonderful Honorable Senator Diane Fienstien was recently interviewed on MSNBC and stated that although she did not feel that they have the votes to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, she would be in this for the long haul. This is small comfort for those of us who are waiting for the above Uniting American Families Act to pass.
With all of this support for Marriage Equality, why in the world does Congress continue to support the evil, discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. It is my hope that the courts will declare DOMA dead and federal marriage equality will then exist. The fight will continue for the states to pass Marriage equality for all. We are Americans. We deserve the same as all Americans...the ability, the right to be with the one that we love.
The Uniting American Families Act would give bi-national same sex couples the ability to sponsor their partners/spouses. I do not believe that most of Congress, or even the President of the United States actually knows what it takes to immigrate to the United States. Their ignorance and their lack of desire to educate or research shows how little they really care about bi-national same sex couples. In my correspondence to Congress, I have been told that I shouldn't expect to be put ahead in the line for immigration. I have heard the President say that we need to wait our turn. What they don't seem to realize is that there is no line for bi-national same sex couples in which to stand. There is no legal way for our spouses to immigrate. We are pleading for Congress to understand this. In trying to explain this to some of the Congress people, I have been told basically that it is because homosexuals are not part of the nuclear family. I struggle to understand how anyone can tell me, an American Citizen, who I can or cannot love. I struggle to understand how Congress can tell me that who I love is less important; is less than who the straight people love. This page on Lawyers.com is very informative. For even more information the Immigration Equality Action Fund is an excellent resource.
We need to get this horrible, cruel, and torturous behavior changed. We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act.
Now onto the ironically named "Defense of Marriage Act" which defines marriage as between one man and one woman. There are bills in Congress to right this horrible wrong being done to the lesbian and gay couples called the Respect for Marriage Act. The wonderful Honorable Senator Diane Fienstien was recently interviewed on MSNBC and stated that although she did not feel that they have the votes to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, she would be in this for the long haul. This is small comfort for those of us who are waiting for the above Uniting American Families Act to pass.
Congress refuses to listen to the
1. Majority of Americans who say that they are for Marriage Equality.
Congress refuses to listen to
2. Civil Rights Leaders including:
Civil Rights leader and NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond
Civil Rights Leader Dolores Huerta
Civil Rights leader Julian Bond
Congress refuses to listen to
3. Seventy organizations filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of repealing DOMA. Read the Entire Brief Here. The amicus curiae brief, filed November 3, 2011, supports the Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management case challenging the denial of federal rights and benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
With all of this support for Marriage Equality, why in the world does Congress continue to support the evil, discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. It is my hope that the courts will declare DOMA dead and federal marriage equality will then exist. The fight will continue for the states to pass Marriage equality for all. We are Americans. We deserve the same as all Americans...the ability, the right to be with the one that we love.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Traditions are for Families.
"I believe in traditional marriage being between one man and one woman...." --Eric Cantor speaking at the University of Michigan
Traditions are for holidays. Traditions are for memories. Traditions are made for memories. Marriage is a tradition I hope to have between my wife and I. (Yes I am a lesbian) We make our own traditions. Traditions are not laws. Traditions should not be made to be a law. "This is the way we have always done it" is not the reason for a law.
Just because something is a tradition, doesn't mean it is always right.
Slavery
Women Voting
Black People's Rights
Interracial Marriage
Wigs on Men in Congress
Public Hanging
Public Flogging
Branding People With Letters (The Scarlet Letter)
A Sin Against God Being a Crime (adultery)
All of these were eventually changed. If you think that God is against homosexuality, that didn't even make God's top ten list. Sins that did make God's top 10:
Lying
Adultry
Stealing
Remember that there is supposed to be separation of Church and State....not when it is convenient for the Church, but all the time.
Traditions are for families. Let my family have mine. We need to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act. We need to allow all Americans to begin to make their own family traditions!
Traditions are for holidays. Traditions are for memories. Traditions are made for memories. Marriage is a tradition I hope to have between my wife and I. (Yes I am a lesbian) We make our own traditions. Traditions are not laws. Traditions should not be made to be a law. "This is the way we have always done it" is not the reason for a law.
Just because something is a tradition, doesn't mean it is always right.
Slavery
Women Voting
Black People's Rights
Interracial Marriage
Wigs on Men in Congress
Public Hanging
Public Flogging
Branding People With Letters (The Scarlet Letter)
A Sin Against God Being a Crime (adultery)
All of these were eventually changed. If you think that God is against homosexuality, that didn't even make God's top ten list. Sins that did make God's top 10:
Lying
Adultry
Stealing
Remember that there is supposed to be separation of Church and State....not when it is convenient for the Church, but all the time.
Traditions are for families. Let my family have mine. We need to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. We need to pass the Uniting American Families Act. We need to allow all Americans to begin to make their own family traditions!
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