A President Romney would not support a federal workplace nondiscrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity, continuing to leave many workers vulnerable to rampant discrimination on the job. And under a President Romney, gay and transgender youth would likely find little help from the federal government when it comes to bullying and harassment in our nation's schools.

This analysis was based on actions Mitt Romney took as the governor of Massachusetts, as well as public statements he's made since he started running for president several years ago. The results of the analysis are in stark contrast to Gov. Romney's statement last year when he said, "I favor gay rights."


http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/lgbt/report/2012/08/28/34648/6-questions-for-mitt-romney-on-gay-and-transgender-equality/


http://dodsonandross.com/blogs/carlin-ross/2012/10/pleasevote-your-clit-election

The other side wasn't too keen on passing ENDA when they had the chance either. The whole election is just coming down to who you wanna vote against again and that sucks.

Quote from: Jaime on October 27, 2012, 11:14:51 AM
The other side wasn't too keen on passing ENDA when they had the chance either. The whole election is just coming down to who you wanna vote against again and that sucks.

Not sure I agree. This administration DID include anti-discrimination wording in the Affordable Care Act to protect transgender patients. To me that trumps any speculation about what either side would or would not do. (Though Mr. Romney says he wants to repeal part of the ACA and won't say which parts. I guess that's better than a few months ago when he said he wanted all of it gone.)

Quote from: agfrommd on October 27, 2012, 11:53:40 AM

Not sure I agree. This administration DID include anti-discrimination wording in the Affordable Care Act to protect transgender patients. To me that trumps any speculation about what either side would or would not do. (Though Mr. Romney says he wants to repeal part of the ACA and won't say which parts. I guess that's better than a few months ago when he said he wanted all of it gone.)

Well, I'm one of those poor people that can't afford health insurance, but still above the official "poverty level" because I'm single, so I'm likely going to get penalized for that. Not too keen on the act in its current form.

Quote from: agfrommd on October 27, 2012, 11:53:40 AM

Not sure I agree. This administration DID include anti-discrimination wording in the Affordable Care Act to protect transgender patients. To me that trumps any speculation about what either side would or would not do. (Though Mr. Romney says he wants to repeal part of the ACA and won't say which parts. I guess that's better than a few months ago when he said he wanted all of it gone.)

I don't think there is any such "wording" in the Act.  What you have is an after-the-fact interpretation by a Commission.   As such, the interpretation is wide open to legal scrutiny, in the Courts, as to whether that was the intent of the law.

As as we all remember, Nancy Pelosi said that "We need to pass the law so we can see what's in it" (!)

Sadly the personal presidential votes in California have no effect on the outcome of the election due to the electoral votes charade!
  At least we are spared the viewing of presidential campaign TV ads in this state!!

Tekla...well said, and my thoughts exactly

It is important to remember Susan's "Political Rule" - the discussion of specific candidates is permissible within the context of GLBTQ issues.

How and if the Affordable Care Act affects is community is fair game.  Religious bigotry is not.

Ok, as for Jaime D's claim that there was a chance for action to be done in Congress, it was only for a total of 72 days. There was no filibuster-proof senate for 2 years. It was technically 5 months, but the summer recess and the time off the senate took in some sort of weird protect in the fall cut it down to 72 days. I just found another topic of politics locked (was that you Jaime?) after Jaime said something along the lines of democrats somehow controlling Congress for 2 years. Honestly, these political discussions are infuriating sometimes.

I simply think that the US needs a complete political overhaul. Perhaps I'll move to Canada. 

Diana, your claim disregards two important considerations.  First there were moderate Republicans in the Senate, such as the Senators from Maine, who would not have blocked legislation on these issues.  The actual filibuster-proof supermajority lasted the entire Congress.

Second, NO BILL made it from the House to the Senate, regarding ENDA or DOMA.  The Democrats did nothing to advance the issue.  Nothing.  None of the Administration's apologists can explain why.

With regard to the topic of Mr Obama's comments on MTV, about declining to ever push for marriage equality, I started the thread, but apparently it was giving some of the "true believers" angst.

I completely understand the feeling, though.  When I was young and impressionable, I had to break up with psycho ex-BFs and ex-GFs.  The feeling of disillusionment is a difficult one to cope with.

Ok, I already gave my piece and the House never had a supermajority (why things couldn't get passed), while the Senate only had one for a 72-day period. I don't like the US political system, so I frankly don't care who wins. I'll just be staying out of these sorts of topics, considering that it's impossible to get people to change their views, especially those who follow party lines, be it Democrat or Republican. All parties do is keep us mad at and focused on each other rather than on the facts and those who are actually screwing things up.

Quote from: Jaime on October 27, 2012, 11:14:51 AM
The other side wasn't too keen on passing ENDA when they had the chance either. The whole election is just coming down to who you wanna vote against again and that sucks.

It's always been that way, voting for the lesser of two evils. I burnt my voter registration card after the 08 election (it didn't matter anyway since this was before I went full time and it had my birth name on it.) and I will never bother voting again. I remember when I had my first chance to vote in the Clinton/Dole race and I thought to myself: "why bother? All politicians are bought off, crooked and full of crap.".

I voted in 00,04 & 08 thinking (foolishly) that if the right person got in that things would change for the better. I realized that this is never going to happen and that the illusion of choice is just something that makes people believe they have a voice when none actually exists. It is all just a lie and that is all it ever was and will ever be.

Maybe Mr. Obama did not pass ENDA and other laws when he could have, that does not diminish his record in protecting us TG folks.

More important, Mr. Obama short comings with the GBLT community in no way come close to the open hostility and threats we have received at the hands of the republican candidates

ADMINISTRATORS: PLEASE DO NOT LOCK THIS THREAD, WE ARE TALKING POLITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL TG FOLKS

Quote from: Jamie D on October 27, 2012, 01:14:39 PM
Second, NO BILL made it from the House to the Senate, regarding ENDA or DOMA.  The Democrats did nothing to advance the issue.  Nothing.  None of the Administration's apologists can explain why.

I can explain it, they were kinda busy trying to deal with the country melting down from 8 years of GWB.

Obama said he is interested in passing a federal law about same sex marriage and Romney has stated multiple times he WILL veto anything like this that comes across his desk and fully supports DOMA. With Romney we have ZERO chance of anything positive being passed as far as LBGT rights while he is in office.  I'm willing to bet he tries to repeal the progress made in passport laws. He will make abortion illegal etc. Socially, the country will go back 30 years from where we are today.

Quote from: Stephe on October 28, 2012, 01:04:10 AM
I can explain it, they were kinda busy trying to deal with the country melting down from 8 years of GWB.

Obama said he is interested in passing a federal law about same sex marriage and Romney has stated multiple times he WILL veto anything like this that comes across his desk and fully supports DOMA. With Romney we have ZERO chance of anything positive being passed as far as LBGT rights while he is in office.  I'm willing to bet he tries to repeal the progress made in passport laws. He will make abortion illegal etc. Socially, the country will go back 30 years from where we are today.

Sorry Stephe, but that one just doesn't pass the sniff test.  The real reasons were discussed by Rep. Barney Frank's legislative aide, Diego Sanchez:

Still, it troubled some people recently when a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, Diego Sanchez, told a "virtual forum" sponsored by eQuality Giving that the votes were there in the House to pass ENDA and to defeat any Republican attempt to kill the measure with some heinous "motion to recommit."

Sanchez made his remarks in response to a question from a listener who asked for the "true reasons" why ENDA was not put up for a vote last year.

"The thing that breaks my heart the most," responded Sanchez, "is that we did have the votes this time...."

So, in 2009, Rep. Frank introduced what is commonly referred to as a "fully inclusive ENDA"—a bill that seeks to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation and gender identity."

Both the House and Senate held committee hearings on the fully inclusive ENDA, but neither committee voted on the measure. And neither the House nor the Senate voted on the measure.

"ENDA didn't come up because of two things, primarily," said Sanchez. Those two things, he said, were health care reform and the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" repeal legislation....

With Democrats controlling a majority of both the House and the Senate, as well as the White House, the 111thCongress seemed to present ENDA with its best prospects ever for passage. In late 2009, the fully inclusive ENDA appeared to have the attention of Democratic leaders in the House. Health care reform took until March 2010 but, even as late as May 2010, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was reassuring LGBT leaders that ENDA would get a vote in 2010.

Of course, the difference between a political promise and reality is political.

"Rep. Frank, along with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), introduced ENDA in the 111th Congress. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the bill in that chamber. "

http://www.keennewsservice.com/2011/02/24/enda-lost-pending-or-obsolete/

Quote from: peky on October 27, 2012, 04:46:16 PM
Maybe Mr. Obama did not pass ENDA and other laws when he could have, that does not diminish his record in protecting us TG folks.

More important, Mr. Obama short comings with the GBLT community in no way come close to the open hostility and threats we have received at the hands of the republican candidates

ADMINISTRATORS: PLEASE DO NOT LOCK THIS THREAD, WE ARE TALKING POLITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL TG FOLKS

"For us to try to legislate federally into this area [Marriage Equality] is probably the wrong way to go," Obama told MTV presenter Sway Calloway.

This is the record - the record of utter failure.

Um, that whole supermajority in both houses thing never actually happened. Also, I know that neither candidate won't do anything for TG rights because, admittedly, we are not far enough yet for pro-TG legislation to be passed easily, so if anything, attempting to pass that legislation would only slow down government. It's an unfortunate reality.

Also, I looked into it, and if you fact-check either candidate, you will find that they both lied, but Obama lied a lot less. So Laura was right in that these elections are just picking the lesser of two evils, but I don't think that should stop someone from voting because while it may not be perfect, it's better to make sure that the lesser of two evils gets in office.

Quote from: Jamie D on October 28, 2012, 02:52:22 AM
Sorry Stephe, but that one just doesn't pass the sniff test.  The real reasons were discussed by Rep. Barney Frank's legislative aide, Diego Sanchez:

Nice seletive editing " The Democratic majority in the both chambers was losing power, and nobody knew for sure what hostile language Republicans might push in a last-ditch attempt to kill ENDA. "

I hope everyone will read the whole thing, not this right wing "fox news" editing job here.

So please anyone: post where the R side has tried or even planned to introduce, pass ENDA or repeal DOMA? Maybe if the R side hadn't fought health care every inch of the way and this don't ask don't tell stuff, there might have been some time? You keep saying failure, they fail being the republicans fight these every time and we want more of them in office?

Again, please post a list of the things republicans have done to help the LBGT. I have asked this many times and never has this list been produced.

BTW here is a list Obama did do, sorry if I don't see this as failure:

http://www.equalitygiving.org/Accomplishments-by-the-Administration-and-Congress-on-LGBT-Equality

FEDERAL LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW

    Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability -- the first positive federal LGBT legislation in the nation's history
    Repealed Don't Ask/Don't Tell
    Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act


POLICIES CHANGED

    Reversed US refusal to sign the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
    Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees in 2009 and, further, in 2010
    Lifted the HIV Entry Ban
    Issued diplomatic passports, and provided other benefits, to the partners of same-sex foreign service employees
    Committed to ensuring that federal housing programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
    Conceived a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders -- the nation's first ever -- funded by a three-year HHS grant to SAG

    Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation's largest employer)
    Eliminated the discriminatory Census Bureau policy that kept our relationships from being counted, encouraging couples who consider themselves married to file that way, even if their state of residence does not yet permit legal marriage
    Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights
    Required all grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT individuals
    Adopted transgender recommendations on the issuance of gender-appropriate passports that will ease barriers to safe travel and that will provide government-issued ID that avoids involuntary "outing" in situations requiring ID, like hiring, where a gender-appropriate driver's license or birth certificate is not available
    Extended domestic violence protections to LGBT victims

[full list at link]

http://www.equalitygiving.org/Accomplishments-by-the-Administration-and-Congress-on-LGBT-Equality

Wow!!

Very nice Steph!

I'm going to save that post

Quote from: Stephe on October 28, 2012, 08:16:04 AM
Nice seletive editing " The Democratic majority in the both chambers was losing power, and nobody knew for sure what hostile language Republicans might push in a last-ditch attempt to kill ENDA. "

I hope everyone will read the whole thing, not this right wing "fox news" editing job here.

So please anyone: post where the R side has tried or even planned to introduce, pass ENDA or repeal DOMA? Maybe if the R side hadn't fought health care every inch of the way and this don't ask don't tell stuff, there might have been some time? You keep saying failure, they fail being the republicans fight these every time and we want more of them in office?

Again, please post a list of the things republicans have done to help the LBGT. I have asked this many times and never has this list been produced.

BTW here is a list Obama did do, sorry if I don't see this as failure:

Stephe, if Democrat majorities were "losing power" during the course of the Congress, it is because they were losing the support of the people.  In fact, Pelosi led the House with an iron fist, and suffered a colossal loss in the General Election of 2010.  And there is still no good reason they did not choose to pursue repealing DOMA or enacting ENDA, other than they did not feel it was in their own political advantage to do so.

Politicians are like that.

As you realize, there is a limit on the amount of copyrighted material that we can cut and paste here.  Your post looks to be way over the mark, but for the point of discussion, I will let another moderator deal with it.

Quote from: peky on October 27, 2012, 04:46:16 PM
ADMINISTRATORS: PLEASE DO NOT LOCK THIS THREAD, WE ARE TALKING POLITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL TG FOLKS

I would be happy to let this discussion continue. A reminder though, please keep it civil or it will be locked.

Admin