We need this law and I bet if anything the inbred moron in the White House will veto it. Bush is a very stupid bigoted man. I wish Republicans would stop listening to all right-wing groups that are full of bigoted nutjobs who use Republicans to spread their message of intolerance and hate. Republicans need to realize what they are doing has very real consequences for the people who live in this country.

Well wouldn't you know it,its Darien again. With his ears closed and eyes shut, Dude wake up, it was Hillary who said that she is against Gay Marriage, Edwards says, "I don't like them people" aka gays and is against gay marriage and so is Obama. The top three candiates within the DNC are close minded bigots and theydon't want gays to get married. Thats ok you keep thinking the way you do, that the real consquence!

Well wouldn't you know it,its Darien again. With his ears closed and eyes shut, Dude wake up, it was Hillary who said that she is against Gay Marriage, Edwards says, "I don't like them people" aka gays and is against gay marriage and so is Obama. The top three candiates within the DNC are close minded bigots and they don't want gays to get married. Thats ok you keep thinking the way you do, that the real consquence!

HRC and the Democratic Party leadership is helping to divide the LGBT community. This is a sad situation when the organization that pledges to fight for and only support legislation that includes protections for all LGBT individuals sells out part of the community on a bill that will be vetoed anyway. This whole deal with Rep. Pelosi and Rep. Frank is disgusting and Joe Solomenese should be ashamed of himself for allowing a huge portion of our community to be left unprotected. Right now, I am ashamed to be part of HRC we are supposed to be about equal rights, not pandering to the right wing fear of our entire community. Shame on you Rep. Pelosi, shame on you Rep. Frank, shame on you HRC and shame on you Mr. Joe Solomenese.

Sincerely,
Jenny
Dacula, GA

It seems to me that gays have more rights than most other minorities living in the U.S. now. I am glad they have equal rights but it seems like they are seeking special treatment as well.

Here is my coming out: I support gay rights but I don’t support gay marriage or any other special treatment for gays. I know many others in this country feel the same way and just like me they do their coming out at voting time so Democrats need to continue to balance this minority’s agenda with the rest of the countries if they want my (and other’s) swing vote in the next election.

So what are we going to do now? Let people marry their pets? Or their tractors? This has got to be the dubmest thing to come out of this party in a long time. I'll tell you what, though. I'll support gay marriage only if, and ONLY IF, the DNC will allow plural marriage to be added to the bill. The way I see it is that the DNC is discriminating against people who want to have more than one spouse; men and women. Why not? As a matter of fact, the government is impeding on the religious rights of these people to have more than one spouse. We can't do that in 2007!! So, we should put plural marriage on the books. You do that, I'll support gay marriage.

LOL! Special rights? Where do you get this stuff from? My Rights as they are!

I have the right to be fired because of who I am. I have the right to be denied employment. I have the right to be denied standard average typical medical coverage from insurance I pay for because of who I am. I have the right to be denied insurance at all, not for health reasons but because of who I am. I don’t have a clear right to marry a man despite legally being a woman nor the clear right to marry a woman since at one time I was legally a man. I have the right to pay more taxes because I can not clearly be married. I have the right to be denied “family” discounts because I can’t clearly be married. I have the right to have my medical history known by everyone. I have the right to pay full fees for a passport for a single year provided I send supporting medical information. I have the right to pay extra for my insurance to cover other people’s children (I have none and I can not have any). I have the right to be denied promotions based on who I am. I have the right to be denied entry to places that accept women. I have the right to be denied services provided to women. I have the right to be denied homeless shelters provided to women. I have the right to have violence committed against me. I have the right to being threatened. I have the right to pay taxes to school other people’s children. I have the right to be discarded for others while they ask me to pay for them.

I have all of these wonderful rights! Aren’t they special?

I’ve heard this “Special rights” stuff come from the religious CONservatives. There are 10 Christian Commandments. Commandments not sins! One of them is about not bearing false witness! I believe you saying that I seek “Special rights” breaks this commandment!

An American!

Jan

rushbabies,thats exactly why we need these anti hate laws,poeple like you compare human beings to "tractors" or"pets".conservatives preach "morals" "family values" but have no problem hateing people. would you teach you children such things?

peaceman - Where did I compare anyone to a pet? I didn't. I asked if we are going to let people marry dogs and cats. Where is this going to stop? Where does equality end and stupidity begin? The line was crossed, then it got blurred and then the line dissapeared. Do you want your four or five year old son or daughter going to school to read about the gay prince? I'll tell you this: I don't. And this government should not force this gay agenda on the rest of the population. If you do, fine. Just don't impose it on my family. I'll tell you that the majority of Americans don't want this and that most Americans don't want this lifestyle imposed on them by this government. National Coming Out Day isn't needed. What about National Straight Day? Is this needed?

And peaceman - I don't hate people. I hate their actions and dirty deeds, but I don't hate people. That's what I'll teach my kids.

Im gay and I am hoping that the democrats can do something about same-sex marriage

Here we go again.

Attention-grabbing rushbabies hangs out at democrats.org for attention - don't you people understand that?

Last time I checked, homosexuality could not be FORCED on anyone. If you don't support gay marriage - then don't have one. But don't deny other loving couples legal rights you take for granted.

I suppose listening to rush long enough would tend to make people think that the hate they spew is not hate at all, its perfectly reasonable logic. How else could anyone liken two repsonsible loving adults wanting to make a life commitment to each other to marrying one's pet? It is rushlogic, simple, and simpleminded.

I see the best way to deal with this that hasn't been discussed here is to get these issues out of the Federal level and allow states to vote on these types of issues. That way, everyone can vote at the state level and if you don't like the result, then move to a state that supports you! I would rather do that then have to try to change the whole country's idea - I can marry any person I want & could get an abortion if I need one in my supportive state!

I made that connection to pets for its sheer absurdity value. Indeed, marrying a pet or a tractor is absurd. Now, what about that plural marriage bill? This is a serious question. If we are to be totally equal to all we need to have it put on the books. That is a perfectly valid question. If we make gay marriage legal, why not plural marriage?

By the way. If you have read the news, you'll see that this lifestyle is being introduced at the elementary school level to very young children in parts of the country by very liberal school districts.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/04/20/parents_rip_school_over_gay_storybook/

I call that forced.

At least I'm not on "my own" web site echoing the same tripe that everyone else is saying and listening to my own voice while inflating my own ego like some of you are doing on this site. Sorry. It is what it is. Get used to it.

Forced.

Children are being "forced" to learn about the reality in America that some families consist of same-sex couples. You might not approve of this, but it does exist, and somebody thought educating children about it was important.

Is that forcing homosexuality on people? Or is that forcing children to learn? I think there might be a subtle difference there.

If you want to "force" polygamy on the rest of the country, then maybe there should be a 'polygamist movement' organized to rally for their rights to multiple-marry. If enough people are in favor of this, then it will happen.

It seems enough people are in favor of legislation recognizing same-sex couples, or we wouldn't be discussing this, would we?

That's how it works in America. People can lobby for what they feel is right despite hate mongering loud mouths spreading their fear and ignorance over the airwaves.

That's the reality, it is what is is. Get used to it.

JanAmerican, you're my hero! The issue is that the Constitution states that we are to be treated equally. I fear coming out as bisexual at work because I could be fired- even though my company has a "policy" against such discrimination, my state does not. The fact is, we are not freaks, we are human. Gender is not a clear cut, black or white state of being. If you think so, you are not seeing the real picture.

In the spirit of old-fashioned Democratic patronage, I have to ask "What do we get for our votes?" the FMA died on its own, you didn't go far to stop it. We're still second class citizens a dozen different ways in our own country, and none of you seem to eager to change that. I'm sure you'd say that the proposed bill mentioned here is supposed to convince gays to vote democratic, but given your track record in getting anything at all done, you'll forgive some of us if we're reserved or amused.

As far as the LGBT community's "participation" at the convention in Denver, it will no doubt be any different from the usual treatment we receive from the DNC - being ignored in the off-season and trotted out in time for the elections for the appearance of political correctness. The sad truth is, the DNC, and for that matter, America, doesn't know the gay community; they dont want to. They know that bashing Bush and Helms and Keyes has turned our cranks in the past, so why not keep at it? At least they've let up on Mary Cheney. See, straight democrats are stumped by such a woman. It boggles the mind that a modern American woman could live such a way. Their pursuit of Mary and her lifestyle and her alleged, inferred hypocrisy only serves to paint them the same color as the other guy, only a shade or two lighter. We know that in your hearts, the vast majority of you (democrats and the American people) don't honestly understand or respect the way we live. And that's ok, its just another fact of our lives. But don't take us for fools, not all of us anyway.

I had a really good experience with my "Coming Out Day". Though I was already out, I showed that it was okay for others to come out, and that no matter what I had my group that was always going to be there for them and provide a safe haven.

We need more people to do these things and get their voices to be heard.

I remember every coming out day at my college.

The first year there was a booth.

The second there were two.

The third there was music, booths, balloons, dancing, stickers, buttons, confetti, and stares.

I live in the south, and it hurts me to see the lgbt community treated like a bunch of perverts and sex addicts.

There's nothing wrong with the lgbt community, there's something wrong with the "straight community."

I've been spit on, hated, and rejected socially based on UNTRUE accusations of being homosexual. (I'm very comfortable with my fellow man, but not 'interested' as it were.)

In the south, anti-lgbt bigotry is the new racism. It's accepted, and even encouraged.

We must challenge the view that homosexuality is evil, or morally wrong.

As for what you get in voting democrat:
I'm a realist. Only the two major parties have real influence, and they are also the only ones "likely" to have influence in the near future. A vote for third party dilutes the liberal vote, shifting power farther right on the political spectrum than it would be if you voted for a little less than you really want.

Sure the candidates have spoken against gay marriage, but at least they think partnerships are okay.
At least they don't want a constitutional amendment.

Give it time, bigotry is not sustainable in the face of constant struggle.