Tag Archives: Democrats

Michigan LGBT Rights Ballot Initiative Falls Short Of Signatures Needed

Democrats Reintroduce The LGBT Equality Act…… AGAIN.

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A screenshot of a press release introducing the Equality Act from Rep. Cicilline and Sen. Merkley. The introduction says: U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) today announced the introduction of the Equality Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community in the areas of employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations.

Via Lambda Legal:

Today, U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the introduction of the Equality Act, bipartisan federal legislation that will update existing federal nondiscrimination laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act, to confirm that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is unlawful discrimination based on sex. The Equality Act clarifies sex discrimination laws to prohibit LGBTQ discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, and other areas, and explicitly extends sex discrimination protections to public accommodations and federally funded programs.

Lambda Legal applauds the re-introduction of the Equality Act, long past-due federal legislation which provides clear, comprehensive, and explicit protections for LGBTQ people in federal law. Coupled with President Biden’s early action applying the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County to all federal laws currently prohibiting sex discrimination, we can see true equality on the horizon. And it can’t happen soon enough: the LGBTQ community has been asking Congress for protections since Reps. Bella Abzug and Ed Koch first introduced the Equality Act of 1974, 47 years ago, and nearly fifty years of waiting is long enough. (Click the highlighted link to read the history of The Equality Act.)

Unfortunately the Republican Party’s evil puppet masters – the evangelicals – will not allow the Equality Act to pass the Senate. It’ll be filibustered there.

Eliminate the filibuster and this has a chance of finally after almost 5 decades becoming law.

Tim Curry to Join Other Stars at 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Live Stream to Aid Democrats

Tim Curry to Join Other Stars at ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Live Stream to Aid Democrats on Halloween Night.

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Dr. Frank-n-furter, Tim Curry will will join his fellow “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” cast members for a live stream to benefit the Democratic Party of Wisconsin on Halloween night according to a press release.

Other original “Rocky Horror” stars will include Barry Bostwick and Nell Campbell, as well as several others, including Connie Britton, Wilmer Valderrama, Rosario Dawson, Lance Bass, Jason Alexander, Seth Green and David Arquette, will participate in the Rocky Horror Show Livestream on Halloween at 9 p.m. CT. (10 p.m. ET)

“Rocky Horror has been changing lives for decades, and now, with this reunion on Halloween Night to supercharge Wisconsin Democrats in the final stretch, it’s going to change the world again,” said party chairman Ben Wikler. “In the final sprint of this election, we don’t need a time warp.”

As for music, performances will be provided by the Dresden Dolls, Miss Peppermint, Eiza González, Josh Gad, Ben Barnes, Jenna Ushkowitz, Rachel Bloom, Karen Olivo, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Madison Uphoff, Kalen Chase, and Rumer Willis. You do have to donate to view the livestream, which goes live at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 31, but there is no minimum amount required.

Blue Wave 2020! Don’t dream it. DO IT!

LGBT Civil Rights Activist David Mixner Endorses Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States

LGBT Civil Rights Activist David Mixner Endorses Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States

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Longtime LGBT and Civil Rights activist David Mixner has endorsed Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States in an op-ed at Towleroad.

Newsweek once named Mixner the most powerful gay man in America, and he has been a highly regarded leader in American politics and international human rights for over 40 years.

Mayor Pete’s calm disposition will enable him to quietly and immediately correct Trump’s outrageous Executive Orders, regain the respect of leaders around the world, and repair admiration and trust in American institutions. His gentleness is his power. His ability to speak many languages and intellect will reestablish our alliances and America’s place around the globe. 

Our nation needs to heal, and we must invite all Americans to share his inclusive vision.

Mayor Pete’s military service in our endless wars overseas will give him a unique perspective in foreign policy and more importantly, earn the respect of those serving currently,  veterans and  leaders at the Pentagon.  His judgement will be sound, not ideologically driven, and in the best interest of America.  Buttigieg is a powerful voice for freedom, human rights and equality.

For LGBT(Q) Americans, he has already shattered the glass ceiling. Any young LGBT(Q) person growing up can now hope to run for President of the United States.  


Image result for pete for america
Franklin Graham

Grifter Franklin Graham: Dem Presidential Candidates at PRIDE Shows America’s “Deepening Depravity”

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Via Decision Magazine:

Ten of the top Democratic 2020 presidential contenders flocked to Iowa—the nation’s first caucus state—for the Des Moines Capital City Pride Festival. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand served drinks at a gay bar; Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke sported a rainbow sweatband; and gay South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg talked openly about his coming out.

The notion that such immoral behavior clearly condemned by Scripture is now flaunted here at home and abroad reveals the deepening depravity that now vexes our country. What has happened to our great nation, whose Founding Fathers were men of uncommon character, virtually all of whom possessed a deep reverence for Almighty God and a firm belief in the hand of divine Providence?

They built this nation upon a strong foundation rooted in God’s laws. Sadly, that same moral and spiritual framework, which has held our nation together for 243 years, is now unraveling so quickly that I fear for the future of our children and grandchildren. The America that I knew as a young boy growing up in the mountains of North Carolina has changed so radically.

via GIPHY

US House Passes LGBT Equality Act, 8 Republicans Break Rank to Vote w/Democrats

US House Passes LGBT Equality Act, 8 Republicans Break Rank to Vote w/Democrats

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As you all know by now the US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Equality Act, a bill that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in housing, the workplace, public accommodations, and other settings by amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Under federal and most states’ laws, LGBT Americans aren’t explicitly protected from discrimination. Only 21 states and the District of Columbia currently protect LGBT people from housing discrimination; criminal codes that specifically identify LGBT hate crimes only exist in 20 states plus D.C.; and LGBT employees in 29 states face the prospect of workplace discrimination without explicit legal recourse.

The bill, passed 236-173 mostly along party lines with the exception of 8 Republicans who voted along with Democrats to pass the bill.

The eight Republicans who backed the Equality Act, which opponents cast as anti-religious freedom, were Reps. Susan Brooks (Ind.), Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) Will Hurd (Texas), John Katko (N.Y.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Greg Walden (Ore.).

“LGBT Americans are part of the fabric of our society and should be free to exercise the rights guaranteed to every American by the Constitution to participate fully in our society and pursue every opportunity,” Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick.

Republican Congressman Will Hurd, echoed these statements to Newsweek, saying that the “nation’s patchwork of protections for the LGBT community falls well short of ensuring life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for millions of Americans.”

The measure faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled upper chamber, where it is unlikely Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will bring the bill up for a vote. 

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LGBT Civil Rights Activist David Mixner Endorses Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States

Pete Buttigieg Warns About ‘Identity Politics’ and Urges Democrats to ‘Tear Down Walls’ That Divide Them [VIDEO]

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While I rarely post anything re;lating to HRC, Last night gay Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg spoke at the Human Rights Campaign annual gay-la in Las Vegas, warning Democrats and special social interest groups to stay away from “identity politics”  in the 2020 election.

Buttigieg said that the country is “being buffeted by tectonic change” and said the focus needs to be on “winning an era… we are preparing our country for a better life.”

Buttigieg talked about “identity politics,” saying that it was used “usually to wave away our attention from some of the things that make our lived experiences different, and the political implications of those differences.” Adding that the Trump administration has “mastered the practice of the most divisive form of such politics, peak White identity politics, designed to drive apart people with common interests.”

Said Buttigieg:

I may be part of the LGBTQ community. But being a gay man doesn’t even tell me what it’s like to be a trans woman of color in that same community, let alone an undocumented mother of four or a disabled veteran or a displaced autoworker. But being gay just like every other fact about me means that I have a story and if I look to that story I can find the building blocks not only for empathy but for the impetus to action. Because the more you know about exclusion, the more you know about belonging, and we have a crisis of belonging in this country.

The wall I worry about most isn’t the president’s fantasy wall on the Mexican border that’s never gonna built anyway. What I worry about are the very real walls being put up between us as we get divided and carved up. … And what every gay person has in common with every excluded person of any kind is knowing what it’s like to see a wall between you and the rest of the world and wonder what it’s like on the other side. … Yes, I am gay. And I am the son of an immigrant and an Army brat. And I am a husband. And I am a musician. And I am an Episcopalian, and I am a Democrat.”

Michigan LGBT Rights Ballot Initiative Falls Short Of Signatures Needed

House Judiciary Committee Passes LGBT ‘Equality Act’ in 22-10 Vote. All GOP Members Vote ‘No’

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The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved legislation that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing, and public accommodation.

The Equality Act was approved in a 22-10 party-line vote, setting the bill up for a potential floor vote.

The bill, introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), has more than 230 Democratic co-sponsors, along with only two GOP Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) and John Katko (N.Y.).

The measure prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system.

It also defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation.

The anti-LGBT Heritage Foundation, has argued that the Equality Act would force employers and workers to conform to new sexual norms and force hospitals and insurers to provide and pay for therapy against any moral or medical objections and also said it would harm families by normalizing hormonal and surgical interventions for gender dysphoric children, leading to the erasure of women by dismantling sex-specific facilities and sports and affect faith-based charities.

The LGBT community has been fighting for full federal civil rights since 1974.

Nancy Pelosi Calls Passage Of LGBT Equality Act A 'Priority'

Nancy Pelosi: Democrats Will Introduce LGBT Equality Act Next Week

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Via the Washington Blade:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Thursday during her weekly news conference the Equality Act, legislation that would enact long sought-after federal protections against anti-LGBT legislation, would be introduced next week.

As it was previously introduced, the Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, education, federal programs and credit.

The bill also seeks to update federal law to include sex in the list of protected classes in public accommodation in addition to expanding the definition of public accommodations to include retail stores, banks, transportation services and health care services.

Nancy Pelosi told the Washington Blade “we’ll see” when asked when she’d bring legislation to a floor vote, but was confident the House would approve it.

“As we go along, it’s the tempo of the floor, but it is a priority for us,” Pelosi said. “I’m very pleased because we have a great deal of outside support for it, which I hope will help us pass it in the Senate. We most certainly will pass it overwhelmingly in the House.”

The Republican controlled Senate is a different story

Man Sentenced to 20 years For Brutal Murder of Gay Man in Detroit

Federal Court Rules Democrats Lawsuit Against Trump Can Proceed

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Via The Washington Post:

A federal judge on Friday gave the go-ahead to a lawsuit filed by 200 congressional Democrats against President Trump alleging he has violated the Constitution by doing business with foreign governments while in office. The lawsuit is based on the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which bars presidents from taking payments from foreign states.

Trump’s business, which he still owns, has hosted foreign embassy events and visiting foreign officials at its downtown D.C. hotel. The decision opens up yet another legal front for the president, who is now facing an array of inquiries into his business, his campaign and his charity.

Trump is already facing a separate emoluments suit filed by the attorneys general of Washington, D.C. and Maryland that is moving forward. In addition, he is contending with the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russian interference, a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General that alleged “persistently illegal conduct” at his charitable foundation and a defamation lawsuit brought by former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos.