LGBT Civil Rights legislation: Let's be bold
Filed by: Guest Blogger
January 13, 2009 10:00 AM
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/01/lgbt_civil_rights_legislation_lets_be_bo.phpEditors' note: Guest blogger David Mixner is former strategist and adviser to several presidential campaigns, including those for McGovern, Clinton, and Gephardt. He currently works as an activist for AIDS, LGBT rights, and wildlife. David writes from Turkey Hollow, his home in upstate New York.
After the passage of Proposition 8, it is even more crucial to look at our national agenda and see if it fits this new century and new president. For almost thirty years we have been pushing the passage of basically the same Employment Non-Discrimination Act and Hate Crimes legislation. While extremely good work has been done on both these efforts, the bills actually might be outdated now. It's time to reorganize our collective thought processes so we don't inadvertantly let our friends in the Congress and the President off the hook.
We have nothing to lose as a community to carefully and respectfully discuss what makes sense as our agenda this coming year. Just simply to pass a civil rights bill that was written decades ago, while symbolic, might not be the correct course. Clearly Hate Crimes continue to escalate in the country but quite honestly with our margin in the senate and President-elect Obama in the White House, the passage of such legislation should be a slamdunk for the LGBT community. If it isn't, then we have to seriously question our Democratic friends.
[EDIT: added picture link from original post =K]
