Comments on: Obama Signs Same Sex Benefits Memorandum
President Announces Extension Of Benefits To Fed. Employees' Same-Sex Partners, But Move Unlikely To Quell Gay Groups' Anger
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- Our pesident, just like anyone else, is entitled to their own beliefs as to what constitutes "marriage". While his own belief is that a marriage is between a man and a woman, he also acknowleged that commited same sex couples should be afforded the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
So... That is what we are waiting for. Which means that DOMA (and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") need to get repealed. It's time to cut that umbilicle cord tying state and religion where the issue of marriage/civil unions are concerned. - Reply to this comment
- Obama is just trying to make everybody happy. He does'nt believe in anything strong enough to take a stand. He should of been a used car salesman, bless his heart.
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- You know.. I wish that were true... really.
I tried "playing by the rules" and made a choice to live as a heterosexual... Guess what?
My marraige ended not so well. I for one, was not very happy at all... denying who I was. One thing that was very surprising was the vitriol and hate that my ex-wife spewed to her marriage councelor. Hate sever enough for both her and my marriage counselor to question my own safety and that she may attempt to cause me bodily harm. She used to be such a nice Catholic girl...
But here I am today... happy with myself in my own skin... And I'll tell you right now, this is not a choice... but who I am. - Reply to this comment
- Well, he told gays and lesbians that he didn't believe in gay marriage during the primaries. I don't know why gays and lesbians didn't believe him and are surprised now. This legislation, which does not include health insurance benefits, is nothing but a sop to the homosexual community for his anti-gay marriage agenda. Too bad, that during the primaries, you could have voted for a candidate who ACTUALLY had voted AGAINST DOMA. Oh well, you bought the whole hope thing and now you are kind of stuck with what you have for the next 4 or maybe 8 years.
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- Our pesident, just like anyone else, is entitled to their own beliefs as to what constitutes "marriage". While his own belief is that a marriage is between a man and a woman, he also acknowleged that commited same sex couples should be afforded the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
So... That is what we are waiting for. Which means that DOMA (and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell") need to get repealed. It's time to cut that umbilicle cord tying state and religion where the issue of marriage/civil unions are concerned.
- Our pesident, just like anyone else, is entitled to their own beliefs as to what constitutes "marriage". While his own belief is that a marriage is between a man and a woman, he also acknowleged that commited same sex couples should be afforded the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
- "behavior that is "Wrong". "
What are you basing your assumption on? - Reply to this comment
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- Science, Theory and Reality, The Koran, The Bible,Hinduism, Judaism,
Buddaism, etc...... The list goes on...
- Science, Theory and Reality, The Koran, The Bible,Hinduism, Judaism,
- Homosexuality is wrong. It has always been wrong and always will be.
It is a lifestyle choice, plain and simple.
It has nothing to do with gender, race or cultural background.
Giving Rights to a group that has made the wrong choice on their accord is like giving free drugs to an addict in hopes that it will make his life better. Makes no common sense.
the only thing giving any rights to this "Wrong" thinking group does, is ever increase the moral decay of this Great Nation and the Christian Foundations on which it was Built. Obama knows this, he is only making a small token, hoping that he can somehow hold on to their campaign support. Other than that he looks on this group with the same disgust and disdain as the rest of the Majority of the Country.
Just because we protect the right to choose, does not mean we condone the behavior and should make a whole set of rights for that behavior that is "Wrong". - Reply to this comment
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- You know.. I wish that were true... really.
I tried "playing by the rules" and made a choice to live as a heterosexual... Guess what?
My marraige ended not so well. I for one, was not very happy at all... denying who I was. One thing that was very surprising was the vitriol and hate that my ex-wife spewed to her marriage councelor. Hate sever enough for both her and my marriage counselor to question my own safety and that she may attempt to cause me bodily harm. She used to be such a nice Catholic girl...
But here I am today... happy with myself in my own skin... And I'll tell you right now, this is not a choice... but who I am.
- "Homosexuality is wrong. It has always been wrong and always will be."
Nope. Not "wrong"........
Maybe unseemly, maybe icky, Maybe personally distasteful. Maybe thinking about it is like rubbing a nail across a blackboard but it is NOT wrong; neither you nor the local minister nor even the Apostle Paul saying so doesn't make it so.
Go ahead and demonize homosexuality if you feel you must but regardless of what any authority claims, Homosexuality is morally neutral. It is not "wrong". It isn't even "right". It just is.
- You know.. I wish that were true... really.
- Yeah... I find myself having to hit "refresh" quite a bit. :oP
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- oh sure, thought I didn't submit the comment because I couldn't find it. Did it over and now there are 2. I still think I'm not liking this new format.
Oh well, the post was worth repeating in this case anyway. :-) - Reply to this comment
- An excellent post.
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- This is an exceptional post.
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- I don't know... you're sound rather contentious here yourself.
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- tautomer---Oh yes,how dare they clamor for equal rights.How very selfish of them.
I would be willing to bet that you don't have one gay friend or relative.Of course now you will be compelled to tell me that some of your best friends are gay.......save your breath! - Reply to this comment
- I guess we all knew that whatever he did it "wouldn't be enough". This is a very self-centered, contentious segment of the population. Next, they'll be demanding reparations and a mandatory gay studies curriculum in the high schools!
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- Next we will be asking for the same health care coverage benefits, the same Social Security benefits, the same retirement and pension benefits, the same property ownership and inheritance benefits. You know, the same things you "enjoy" as special privileges. We all pay the same taxes, serve in the same military, hold the same jobs.
Try not to be afraid of being equal and American.
- Next we will be asking for the same health care coverage benefits, the same Social Security benefits, the same retirement and pension benefits, the same property ownership and inheritance benefits. You know, the same things you "enjoy" as special privileges. We all pay the same taxes, serve in the same military, hold the same jobs.
- Please bear in mind as I write this that I am a mildy homophobic straight male who is old enough to remember the Korean War.
Obama's directive may be a tentative step in the right direction that is long overdue; or it could be a cycnical attempt to deflect frustration at an all but meaningless gesture that is more symbolic than real and helps only a small fraction of the target audience.
In either case it is not nearly enough. Laws that define marriage no matter how it is defined (as an example) are unfairly discriminatory and target gay couples as being ineligible for certain protections and rights that married couples have by default. It matters not a hoot if these laws are rooted in Christian (or otherwise) doctrine.
Many complain the homosexual community is "pushing" an agenda that is inherently immoral in the first place and those belonging to it want nothing less than full validation of their lifestyle. I have never experienced anything that could be viewed as "pushing" an agenda or lifestyle in my dealings with gays. Wanting a seat at the table is not "pushing" anything.
First off, homosexuality whether driven by genes or free choice is - in and of itself - morally NEUTRAL. No, I do not have to like it, nor does anyone else, but there is nothing "wrong" with it. And if I may be allowed to digress a little, gay s@x seldom results in an unwanted pregnancy, an important consideration in this crowded world.
Second, We have enough of a history of gay partnerships now to be able to say these are just as committed couples as are those belonging to heterosexual unions. Same hopes, aspirations, struggles, and yes same spats. It is not fair to deny these people the option of marriage if they wish it.
While better than the previous administration's absurd attempt to craft a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, I am afraid Obama's memorandum is mostly pallitive. It's not enough nor will it be until all barriers of access to our country's resources based on gender preferences are removed.
Because of who I am, I enjoy ALL the rights that Americans are entitled to as determined by our constitution. The gay community, likewise has those rights. They are entitled to the same full validation I have - and should settle for nothing less. - Reply to this comment
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- oh sure, thought I didn't submit the comment because I couldn't find it. Did it over and now there are 2. I still think I'm not liking this new format.
Oh well, the post was worth repeating in this case anyway. :-)
- oh sure, thought I didn't submit the comment because I couldn't find it. Did it over and now there are 2. I still think I'm not liking this new format.
- The only lasting change is that which has happened in baby steps... Not in great leaps and bounds.
Lets hope this truely is the begining of some real change. - Reply to this comment
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- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was NOT a baby step.
Truman's executive order integrating the armed forces was NOT a baby step.
This president is too shy and timid to lead. He may as well be setting up "Gay Only" drinking fountains and reserving a seat for us at the back of the bus.
- Which were the culmination of the baby steps that led up to them.
As I said in my initial post... "Lets hope this truely is the begining of some real change."
We can't force acceptance and tollerance down the populices throats. It needs to be earned, and it's these baby staeps that will help pave the way to that.
- I whole-heartedly disagree. Those were NOT the culmination of baby steps. They were the culmination of a hard-fought struggle during which there was NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE in nearly a century - then all at once, there was monumental change... and then ONLY after a charismatic leader shamed the establishment into doing something.
Prior to that there was a century of white politicians paying lip-service to the black community, but not really doing anything for fear of upsetting their conservative supporters. Isn't it ironic that we have an African-American president paying lip-service to gay and lesbian issues while not really doing anything for fear of upsetting his conservative supporters.
I don't expect any change from Obama in this term or the next (if there is a next term).
- You may be right.. we may not see a change with Obama, but I choose to hold a certain level of faith that we will see it started with him.
Go ahead and read... you'll see there have been many "baby steps" involved before the actual Civil Rights Act was past... http://www.congresslink.org/print_basics_histmats_civilrights64text.htm
These changes will, and are, coming.
- If it makes you feel better... go ahead and believe in him.
I would be more inclined to if his administration had not filed a friend of the court brief supporting DOMA and had asked the Supreme Court to refuse to hear a challenge to DADT.
It's one thing to pay lip-service then do nothing. It is quite another to actively pursue a policy that contradicts what you promised. Most people call that lying.
It is for this reason that I and many other people do not expect change to begin with this president. The anger and frustration stems from the fact that we had the audacity to believe his rheteric of hope. The illusion is over... he was just telling us what we wanted to hear to get our money and our votes.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was NOT a baby step.
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