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Gay rights
The Associated Press

Kelly Burke, from left to right,, Evan, 21 months,  her partner Dolores Doyle and Avery, 6, play as they walk near their home in Portland, Ore.

Featured Topic | Posted 33 weeks 9 hours ago

Which presidential candidate would be best (or worst) for gay rights?

Sen. Hillary Clinton told the Philadelphia Gay News she would defend gay rights as president and eliminate disparities for same-sex couples in federal law. Barack Obama has held fund-raisers with gay supporters.

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Ben likes: Who will confront the LGBT left?

Elaine Donnelly/The Tank

e are two explanations for any dissatisfaction on the LGBT Left. Radical activists expect nothing less than extremism in the pursuit of “equality.” And liberal candidates seem to be following the example of Bill Clinton in 1992. Clinton promised to lift the ban on gays in the military, but did not emphasize that commitment in his campaign.Then-president George H. W. Bush helped Clinton by ignoring the issue. In December 1993, President Clinton advanced the gay agenda halfway by administratively imposing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which Hillary Clinton has described as a “transitional policy” toward homosexuals in the military. Military social issues that affect good order and discipline are matters of national security, which are essential in sustaining not one but two legs of an updated conservative three-legged stool: national defense, the economy, and social issues.Responses to the Human Rights Campaign survey seem to indicate that liberal activists expect their candidate, whether Clinton or Obama, to stand on a shaky, left-leaning stool. Regardless of which candidate wins the Republican nomination, he will need the help of social and national-security conservatives to get elected. To win their support, candidates should promise to confront the LGBT Left. That movement should not be allowed to threaten national security by undermining the strength of the only military we h

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Joel likes: I have a dream ... ticket

Rod McCullom/The Advocate

The Bush-Cheney years have been a petri dish of neoconservative policy, quasi-theocratic legal victories, and state-sponsored bigotry that has bred contempt and persecution for gay men, lesbians, and transgenders. The “unity” ticket could be that first important building block to address many of the queer community’s concerns. Clinton, the policy wonk, is comfortable discussing LGBT issues with gay groups and is on a first-name basis with many leading activists. She’s the more practical partner, knowing the structures and systems that could be easily maximized to achieve rights for our community. Obama doesn’t seem as comfortable talking to our groups -- at least not yet -- but brings another impressive asset: The senator talks about our issues to mainstream audiences.

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The Associated Press

John Lewis is one of several plaintiffs suing to legalize gay marriage in California.

Featured Topic | Posted 37 weeks 3 days ago

California's Supreme Court takes up gay marriage

As gay-rights groups call for marital equality and opponents warn of a public backlash, societal decay and religious conflict, the California Supreme Court is prepared for an epic three-hour hearing Tuesday on the constitutionality of the state law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

Should states have the right to define what marriage means? Should the issue be settled with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution? Or should gays and lesbians have the right to marry?

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Ben likes: A civil debate on gay marriage

Jeff Jacoby/Boston Globe

But if it's "bigotry, pure and simple" not to want same-sex marriage to be forced on American society by a handful of crusading courts, then among the bigots must be the large congressional majority -- 85 senators, 342 representatives -- who passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, confirming that marriage in the United States is between members of the opposite sex only and allowing states to deny recognition of same-sex marriages performed in other states. Then-President Bill Clinton must be a bigot too: He signed the bill into law.

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Joel likes: Marriage has always changed with the times

Lorri L. Jean/Los Angeles Times

Is there a compelling public interest in preventing loving, committed, same-sex couples from getting legally married? The clear answer is no. Ask Canada. Ask Spain. Ask South Africa. Ask Massachusetts!

The real compelling public interest is in ending bigotry and discrimination. It's being true to our nation's values of freedom, fairness, justice and equality. We cannot and should not be able to regulate what individuals think and believe. But when it comes to what the government does, it must treat everyone equally. This includes same-sex couples and their families.

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