LGBT Rights and Politics
A Quiet Campaign for Rachel Maddow to Host "Meet the Press"
Published October 19, 2009 @ 01:32PM PT
If I were David Gregory right now, I'd certainly be looking behind my shoulders to see if I could spot any Rachel Maddow sightings.
For a few weeks now there has been a quiet, simmering push that Rachel Maddow -- one of the most popular television journalists on the block -- might be the medicine necessary to help NBC's "Meet the Press" emerge from rather slumpish ratings in the wake of former host Tim Russert's passing. That push became an outright shove this past weekend, with Brian Donovan at True/Slant arguing that while Russert successor David Gregory is a nice guy, Maddow has better news chops to take Sunday morning political television to a whole new level.
"What used to be Sunday morning’s hardest-hitting, most compelling politics show has become a little soggy," Donovan writes. "It’s nothing personal against Gregory, he does a respectable job. But Tim Russert’s shoes were ridiculously hard to fill, and most anyone would’ve been a let down. Which is why it’s time for MTP to make another change...And that person is Rachel Maddow."
Maddow, who is certainly the most prominent openly LGBT person in television news, might just be a force to be reckoned with if she were given the opportunity to shine on Sunday mornings. Her ratings at MSNBC, as of September 2009, were a bright spot for the network, and she's hugely popular with the coveted 25-54 age bracket -- those folks who will be watching Sunday morning television shows for many, many years to come. Her show on MSNBC is also the fastest-growing cable news show in prime time, with viewership up more than 92 percent from last year.
Good ratings. An ability to draw an audience and a following. Popular with a large age demographic. Yup, sounds like all the right ingredients for someone who deserves a promotion. And hey, wouldn't it be nice to finally have a woman (let alone someone openly LGBT) hosting a Sunday morning television show?
True/Slant hits one other nail on the head. With Maddow, it's not about political ideology, gender, or sexual orientation that necessarily makes her popular. It's that she's not afraid to go after the truth, whether that means targeting Republicans or Democrats.
"Maddow is ruthless when it comes to the truth. She goes after anyone – liberal or conservative – when they try to deceive the public," Donovan at True/Slant writes. "She challenges her guests to be forthright, and makes them pay when they attempt anything less. Maddow could, without a doubt, bring the fire back to Sunday morning..."
I think we'd all like to see that.
(Photo courtesy of MSNBC.)
Harvey Milk Finally Gets His Day
Published October 12, 2009 @ 10:11AM PT
Harvey Milk, the legendary LGBT activist and San Francisco Supervisor who was assassinated in 1978, has finally been given official recognition by the state of California with his own day. The bill to establish May 22 -- Harvey's birthday -- as Harvey Milk Day was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last night, capping off a whirlwind year in which Milk Day was originally vetoed by the Terminator, then the "Milk" movie exploded, then a Presidential Medal of Freedom was given posthumosly to Milk, and now, full circle, Schwarzenegger gets that Milk is an important figure for the state to honor.
Geoff Kors from Equality California noted that the honor for Harvey Milk will set history.
"The Milk Day Bill marks the very first time an openly LGBT person has been officially recognized by any state government. As a result, Harvey’s legacy and our history will be taught for decades to come and youth will learn that they have a role model who sacrified everything to make the world safer and more equal for them," Kors said. (H/T Karen Ocamb at LGBT Pov.)
What's more is that Schwarzenegger also signed into law a bill that allows California to recognize out-of-state gay marriages. This doesn't unravel Prop 8, of course, but it's certainly a welcome sign in a state where 11 months ago advocates for marriage equality were defeated at the ballot box. Said Schwarzenegger of the out-of-state marriage bill (known as Senate Bill 54):
"Following the passage of Proposition 8, there has been some uncertainty as to how California should treat same-sex couples that married out-of-state while same-sex marriage was legal in California. Consistent with the California Supreme Court’s decision that upheld the validity of those in-state marriages entered into prior to the passage of Proposition 8, Senate Bill 54 clarifies that California must also recognize as married couples that legally married in another state during the same period of time in which same-sex marriage was legal in California."
Wow. What great victories to celebrate less than 24 hours after marching on Washington. To quote Harvey Milk, "Hope will never be silent." And in these two cases, hope coupled with hard work has yielded results.
The Civil Rights Test of Our Generation
Published October 09, 2009 @ 07:06AM PT
Congressman Joe Sestak, a member of the House Equality Caucus, is a Democratic candidate for United States Senate in Pennsylvania.
When we think of the civil rights movement, we tend to think of grainy footage of marches and speeches, Selma, Ala., and the National Mall.
But our generation, too, is a part of that movement and has a critical role to play. It has been a long journey for our country, but we are now close to finally realizing our founders’ vision of a society where all are created equal and endowed with the same inalienable rights.
It’s time to end the discrimination based on sexual identity or orientation that is the only form of institutionalized discrimination still permitted in our society. That is why I am working to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and am committed to equal rights for all Americans.
On Saturday, President Obama will address the Human Rights Campaign. I hope he will use the opportunity to clearly call for the swift repeal of these discriminatory policies. We can get it done this year, and human rights should not be asked to wait.
In my three decades as an officer in the United States Navy, I lost good sailors to the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” law -- sailors that I, and the nation, depended on for their training, skills, and courage.
Over the last 16 years we’ve lost 12,500 good servicemembers to this policy. In a time of war, our national security cannot afford to lose these troops, especially high-value specialists and linguists. But more so, our military cohesion depends on honesty and integrity. How can we demand that the 65,000 of our troops who are estimated to be gay act dishonestly and conceal information from their comrades and commanders? No one who serves in defense of liberty should be forced to live a lie.
I cannot imagine denying equal rights to anyone I served with. How can anyone say, we fought and served together, we depended on one another, we risked our lives for this country, but back home you shouldn’t enjoy the rights that you defended?
That’s why I have co-sponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal DOMA and require the federal government to extend to the tens of thousands of legally married same-sex couples the more than 1,100 federal rights and benefits afforded to opposite-sex couples, including tax, pension, and benefits rights and the right to take unpaid leave to care for ill spouses. I have sent a letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the bill up for a vote and I am circulating a petition to show support.
The struggle for equality has never been easy and it won’t be today. But I am confident. This is a historic and, indeed, an exciting time for America, when we declare once and for all that there is no such thing as equality that doesn’t extend to everyone, that we hold this truth to be self-evident.
All I Want for Christmas is Gay Marriage in D.C.
Published October 07, 2009 @ 04:06AM PT
The City Council in Washington, D.C. saw a marriage equality bill introduced this week that if passed will make the District the next in line to recognize same-sex marriage. That could happen by the end of the year, making 2009 the official year of gay marriage.
The bill's passage is close to certainty -- or at least as close to certainty as anything gets in politics. Already ten city councilors support the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District, and Mayor Adrian Fenty has pledged to sign the bill.
The District's step forward for equality has some anti-gay politicians in the U.S. Congress going ballistic, among them Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah. He wants the U.S. Congress to stop debating health care, education, and War on Terror policies and get involved in the marriage debate in Washington, D.C. Maybe Rep. Chaffertz would also like every member of Congress to start doing bedroom inspections in the D.C. just to make sure only straight people are co-habitating.
Thankfully, Congress isn't showing any inclination of biting on Chaffertz's rhetoric, hinting that Congress is too damn busy working hard for their 21 percent approval rating to get involved in the marriage debate in D.C.
Or, perhaps more correctly, Congress just feels that the District can take care of its own on this issue. And if that's the case, then everyone's Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Boxing Day/Winter Solstice present this year will be another part of the country recognizing marriage equality.
The Five Things Bill Clinton Should Do to Take a Firm Stand on Gay Marriage
Published September 26, 2009 @ 09:56AM PT
Bill Clinton made a bit of history last night, when on Anderson Cooper 360, he finally admitted he was wrong to not support marriage equality while President of the United States. While not a full on retraction of his support for policies like the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the former President now admits that he was wrong to be hung up on the word marriage.
"Me, Bill Clinton personally, I changed my position. I am no longer opposed to that. I think if people want to make commitments that last a lifetime, they ought to be able to do it," Clinton told Cooper. He then cited his support for gay adoption and the fact that he grew up in a different time period and realized he needed to evolve as reasons for his change in position.
This is great news, albeit thirteen years too late to save DOMA from becoming law. Still, history is history, and this frankly is a bit of history. And the best part is that now there's time left for Clinton to take a stand for marriage equality and really help change this country. Here are five ways how he can do this:
1. Go to Maine and campaign for marriage equality. Maine, as well all know, is in the midst of a ballot initiative that could repeal the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. The No on 1 campaign needs all the support it can get to beat down this ballot initiative (vote no on 1!), and Clinton's voice could certainly help lend a hand. Poll numbers show that the race is neck-and-neck. Clinton's voice could make a huge difference.
2. Go to Washington and campaign for Referendum 71. Washington state is also in the thick of a battle to keep very good domestic partnership benefits in place. Anti-gay activists have put a ballot measure forward that could repeal these benefits for same-sex couples. Clinton's voice in Washington -- a state he carried twice with relative ease, and a blue state in almost every part of the word -- could be a huge boon for folks working for the Approve Referendum 71 campaign.
3. Lend his voice in support of the recently introduced Respect for Marriage Act. The bill, introduced in the U.S. House earlier this month by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. It would be the ultimate apology from Clinton to the LGBT world, and signify that he's not only changed his position on marriage equality, but he's also able to admit that sometimes politicians can screw up and put into law really bad pieces of legislation.
4. Endorse candidates who support full marriage equality. Clinton's endorsement powers are huge. Note the huge stink raised when he decided to throw his hat into the California 2010 Governor's race by endorsing pro-marriage equality candidate Gavin Newsom. That move is huge for Newsom, and certainly a welcome sign. It's dicey to place a litmus test on candidates, but on this issue, it's a real test of where a politician stands on equal rights. Endorsing candidates that don't support marriage equality -- if ever justified -- should be the exception, not the rule.
5. Lobby Obama. While it's great that the former President now supports marriage equality, there's still the problem of the current President believing that marriage equality isn't ready for prime time yet. Clinton might not have capacity to change the Obama administration's perogative on this issue. But it doesn't mean that Obama should be left off of the hook, either. There are ways for former Presidents to inform the politics of current Presidents. Clinton should take every opportunity to do so.
Arlen Specter is No Joe Sestak When it Comes to LGBT Rights
Published September 24, 2009 @ 08:46AM PT
In one of the more talked about primaries of the 2010 election, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is battling Rep. Joe Sestak for the Democratic nomination for one of PA's U.S. Senate seats. Specter is a Republican-turned-Democrat who for the past 30 years has approached the issue of LGBT rights as if he were walking on egg shells. Sestak, on the other hand, is increasingly becoming a bull in a china shop for equality.
Rep. Sestak has become a leading advocate to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and this week called on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to hold hearings on the Respect for Marriage Act -- the bill introduced this session of Congress to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Sestak said DOMA was discriminatory when it passed in 1996, and it's just as bad now.
"Since its passage in 1996, the Defense of Marriage Act has discriminated against LGBT Americans by excluding federal benefits from same-sex partners who have been legally married in states that recognize their marriage. As a result, married LGBT couples are not provided equal treatment under the law," said Sestak.
Specter meanwhile? He still thinks that DOMA is good policy, although he doesn't want to see a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. According to Open Left, Specter recently sent a letter to a constituent saying that he believes its premature to throw DOMA out, and supports traditional marriage.
Specter is listed as a supporter of hate crimes legislation that would expand federal protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (although he's previously voted against this), and has supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the past and is a co-sponsor of the bill this year.
But at the same time, he's also sung the praises of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, two anti-LGBT jurists.
Specter deserves some praise, but equal rights aren't something to be achieved through moderation and issue tap-dancing. The bottom line? Sestak gets that. He'd likely be a much better and stronger advocate for LGBT rights in the U.S. Senate than Arlen Specter any day of the week, and twice on Tuesday. The difference are that clear.
(Photo of Rep. Joe Sestak courtesy of AFLCIO2008's photostream on Flickr.)
150,000 Married Gay Couples Walk Into the U.S. Census Bureau
Published September 21, 2009 @ 01:54PM PT
The U.S. Census Bureau has released figures today detailing the number of same-sex couples in the United States that identify as "married," showing that close to 150,000 gay and lesbian couples report themselves as in a marriage. That's just about as big as the population of Dayton, Ohio, and an indicator that the Obama administration did the right thing in deciding to include same-sex couples among the 2010 U.S. Census head count.
During 2008, same-sex marriage was legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut and California (for about six months, at least). And as AP notes, U.S. same-sex couples also can marry in Canada and other countries that recognize marriage equality.
While these numbers are smaller than they should be (imagine how high these numbers would be if all 50 states recognized marriage equality), they're still a pretty huge sign that the LGBT population is not invisible when it comes to the subject of marriage.
All told in the U.S., there are approximately 564,743 total gay and lesbian couples in the U.S. And for that number, forget Dayton, Ohio :) That's the size of Wyoming!
