February 14, 2007
Kathy Belge from About.com has posted the following review of Barack Obama on Gay and Lesbian Issues.
Barack Obama and Gay Rights in Illinois: Barack Obama supported gay rights during his Illinois Senate tenure. He sponsored legislation in Illinois that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Barack Obama in the United States Senate: Every two years the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay and lesbian organization, issues a scorecard for members of the Senate based on their sponsorship and voting on key issues of importance to gay and lesbian citizens. Barack Obama scored 89 out of 100% in the 2006 scorecard. Here's how HRC rated Barack Obama:
Federal Marriage Amendment: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (S.J. Res. 1) which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and included language which could have prevented recognition of civil unions and domestic partnership benefits. The amendment failed by a vote of 49-48.
Confirmation of Judge William Pryor : HRC opposed the confirmation of Judge William Pryor to Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals because of his opposition to equal rights for gays and lesbians. Barack Ombama voted against Pryor's nomination, but Pryor was nominated in June 2005.
continue reading this article at about.com
Posted by David Mariner at February 14, 2007 04:43 AM
it was a good speech!! i 100% surrport gay marriage!!! your doing a good thing, i hope you win♥
It's great that Obama has voted well so far on this issue. It's unfortunate that he doesn't seem to believe that marriage is appropriate for same sex couples:
"I personally believe that marriage is between a man and a woman."
http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-obama_statement_on_vote_against_constitutional_amendment_to_ban_gay_marriage/index.html
"I'm a Christian, and so although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman.''
http://after-words.org/grim/mtarchives/2004/09/Sep242301.shtml
There was a time in our history as a country when people didn't believe marriage was appropriate for interracial couples, either. We've risen above that. I am sad that Obama doesn't believe that his "gay friends" are deserving of the same rights he has.
For those of you who would at this point say "but he supports civil unions, isn't that good enough?" I have one question:
Are we equal, or aren't we?
