Obama orders hospital visitation rights for gays, lesbians

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a rule that would prevent US hospitals from denying visitation privileges to gay and lesbian partners.

The president's Thursday memo said, "There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. ... Yet every day, all across America, patients are denied the kindnesses and caring of a loved one at their sides."

Gay and lesbian Americans are "uniquely affected" by relatives-only policies at hospitals, Obama said, adding that they "are often barred from the bedsides of the partners with whom they may have spent decades of their lives -- unable to be there for the person they love, and unable to act as a legal surrogate if their partner is incapacitated."

It was about time something was done about the archaic, cruel and barbaric rule barring same sex partners from hospital visitation rights.

I would simply ask anyone who disagrees with this new policy, what would you feel if you were barred from visiting your lifelong partner?

Read more at: CNN Politics

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U.S. Census Bureau Encouraging Homosexuals Couples to Identify as “Married”

The U.S. Census Bureau is ramping up its efforts to make sure homosexual couples are counted as “families” in the 2010 census, even in states where same-sex marriage has not been legalized.

While only five states and the District of Columbia officially recognize same-sex marriage, homosexual partners are being encouraged by the Census Bureau to identify themselves as “married” if that is how they view their relationships. Pro-family groups say the move amounts to a slap in the face to states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, as well as a challenge to states that have passed constitutional amendments defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

This shows the two faced hypocracy of the United States Federal Government.

Read more at: NewAmerican

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Top 10 Anti-Gay Activists Caught Being Gay!

1. Alabama Attorney General, Troy King.
2. Spokane Mayor, Jim West.
3. Richard Curtis, Washington State Representative.
4. Bruce Barclay, Republican commissioner of Cumberland County.
5. Roy Ashburn, California State Senator.
6. Larry Craig, former Idaho Republican.
7. Ed Schrock, congressman.
8. Robert Allen, Florida State Representative.
9. Ted Haggard, Pastor New Life Church - Colorado Springs
10. Richard Coughlin, Orange County Catholic Priest

Read more at: www.ranker.com

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Drag queen loses nursing job over 34-year-old arrest

In South Florida's gay community, Ray Fetcho is known as drag queen "Tiny Tina."


To the families of elderly dementia patients,he's a godsend, a compassionate caregiver. But now Fetcho is out of a job and his 35-year nursing career is in jeopardy, all because of a minor arrest — in 1976.

Fetcho, performing under his stage name, was emceeing a "Wet Jockey Shorts" contest at the Copa, a now-closed gay nightclub in Dania Beach, when undercover state agents investigating drug sales witnessed what they considered a lewd act. Fetcho was charged with a misdemeanor and paid a $150 fine.

Read more at: www.sun-sentinel.com

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Ben & Jerry's celebrates Gay Marriage in Vermont

Ben & Jerry’s is temporarily renaming popular “Chubby Hubby” ice cream “Hubby Hubby” beginning today to celebrate the start of legalized gay marriage in its home state of Vermont.

“The legalization of marriage for gay and lesbian couples in Vermont is certainly a step in the right direction, and something worth celebrating with peace, love - and plenty of ice cream,” Ben & Jerry’s CEO Walt Freese said in announcing the sugary switch.

Ben & Jerry’s, which has long backed liberal causes, plans to rebrand “Chubby Hubby” as “Hubby Hubby” for 30 days to show support for Vermont’s new law.

The move is mostly symbolic, as Burlington-based Ben & Jerry’s isn’t changing labels on “Chubby Hubby” pints sold in stores.

Spokesman Sean Greenwood said revising product labels takes 18 months, although he said Ben & Jerry’s hasn’t ruled out retailing “Hubby Hubby” in the future.

Read more at www.bostonherald.com

Also read this related blog entry http://mainstreampoliticsreturnslordvoo.blogspot.com/2009/03/vermont-goes-gay.html

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US Style Democracy in Action in Iraq

Iraq, Ground Zero for the so-called 'war on terror' is a nation where gays and lesbians live in real terror every day. This is a result of the democracy forced on Iraqies by the United States of America.

Read More at: iraqilgbtuk.blogspot.com

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Vermont Goes Gay

Gay marriage bill is passed in Vermont.

Vermont's Senate has passed a 2009 bill S-115 (An Act to Protect Religious Freedom and Promote Equality in Civil Marriage) by a vote of 26-4, paving the way for gay marriages to be performed and legally recognised in the state of Vermont and will be effective September 1, 2009.

It goes to the full House, where it is expected to pass, although supporters do not believe they have enough votes to override a veto, if Douglas where to veto it. Gov. Douglas has let bills become law without his signature.

It is good to see state legislators with vision and courage.

Source(s): shewired.com, Modern Pharisee blog


Postscript:
29/3/09

Gov. Jim Douglas has since said that he will veto the gay-marriage legislation proposal if it passes the Legislature. This will be the first time he has signaled such an intent before final legislative action on a bill.

It seems that Gov. Jim Douglas is not as progressive as the majority of his colleagues in the Vermont Legislature. The Vermont Legislature and Gov. Jim Douglas have not heard the last of this issue. Pressure will be brought to bare until this legislation has been signed into law.

7/4/09

Governor Vetoes Gay Marriage Bill In Vermont

As promised, Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont, has vetoed legislation that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state.

In his veto message to the Senate, Douglas wrote that he didn’t think that the proposed change would provide any additional rights to same-sex couples and that the state’s current civil unions provisions were adequate.

8/4/09

Woohoo ! Lets celebrate! Vermont's House and Senate voted Tuesday to override the governor's veto of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.

The Senate voted 23-5 to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto, according to the Senate office. Shortly afterward, the House overrode the veto on a 100-49 vote. The votes surpassed the number needed -- two-thirds of those present -- to override the veto.

The action makes Vermont the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriages. The others are Massachusetts, Connecticut and, as of last week, Iowa.

Source(s): The Sacramento Bee online news source, sacbee.com, article on samesame.com.au and CNN article

Also read this related blog article http://mainstreampoliticsreturnslordvoo.blogspot.com/2009/09/ben-jerrys-celebrates-gay-marriage-in.html

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West Point Goes Gay

The 38-member Knights Out group, graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., came out of the closet with an offer to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender troops.

Source: gay-persons-of-color.blogspot.com

RNC and Steele go a courting?

Initially I was heartened when I read in an article on PageOneQ entitled "Steele: GOP should reach out to supporters of gay rights, abortion", that Michael Steele the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee intimated that his party must do a better job of courting candidates and voters who support gay marriage and are pro-choice.

Alas, it seems that the courting is over and like the black widow spider after courting, Steele is about to eat us.

In an interview with conservative radio host Mike Gallagher, Michael Steele came out against civil unions! Now, we know the RNC is against gay marriage, but I would have thought that Michael Steele with his supposed conciliatory approach would have supported civil unions for gay people instead, but no, it's not to be.

In an entry on Ben Smith's blog on www.politico.com entitled "Steele on civil unions: 'Are you crazy?'", Smith posts the relevant transcript of the radio interview.

Here is the first part of the transcript.

"Do you favor civil unions?" Gallagher asked:

STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you crazy? No. Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country. I mean this isn't something that you just kind of like, "Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage." I mean, this is a foundational principle of this country. It is a foundational principle of organized society. It isn't something that, you know, in America we decided, "Let's make it between a man and a woman; oh well now, let's change our mind and make it between anyone and anyone." No. ........

And so it goes. I am as confused as ever. Does the RNC want to move forward or not?!