The U. S. House of Representatives today passed the Senate version of the Respect for Marriage Act, by a vote of 258 to 169. All Democrats voted for the bill, along with 39 Republicans. After the vote, retiring Speaker of the House Nancy smiled broadly as she displayed an enrolled copy of the bill to reporters, capping her 35-year congressional career with a milestone piece of legislation.
Retired Senator Barney Frank (D-Mass.), was present at the enrollment ceremony and had high praise for Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), one of the sponsors of the bill. Both Frank and Baldwin were among the first openly gay people elected to Congress.
The bill will next be sent to President Biden, who will sign it into law - I haven't heard when, but I expect that will happen very soon.
And I have one thing to say to all the catty, ratty little creeps who are already bitching and moaning about what the law doesn't do, to wit: STFU.
Why do I say that? Because this bill is a) the FIRST TIME gay marriage has been ENACTED into federal law; and b), it is what could be passed right now, before the House gets a Republican majority on January 3rd. It has a strong legal effect nationwide; and it sends a powerful message that the Supreme Court will surely pay attention to.
I vividly recall that when I came out in 1980, the idea of "gay marriage" was pure fantasy, wishful thinking, as remote from reality as any science fiction story. At that time, there was NO protection or recognition of gay couples anywhere in this country, or in any other country in the world. No domestic partnerships, no civil unions, no marriage equality. There still isn't, over huge swaths of the earth's surface. But today in America, fifty years after Stonewall, democracy worked out beautifully.
So I am extremely grateful to all the legislators who walked this bill over the hurdles to get it passed. If you aren't proud and happy - you are a stupid, selfish, short-sighted jerk, so just go away.
You know, American history tells us that it’s been in our darkest moments that we’ve made our greatest progress, that we’ve found the light.
In this dark moment, I believe we’re poised to make great progress again, that we can find the light once more. You know, many people have heard me say this, but I’ve always believed you can define America in one word: possibilities. The defining feature of America, everything is possible.
That in America, everyone, and I mean everyone, should be given an opportunity to go as far as their dreams and God-given ability will take them. We can never lose that.
In times as challenging as these, I believe there’s only one way forward: as a united America. United in our pursuit of a more perfect union. United in our dreams of a better future for us and for our children. United in our determination to make the coming years bright.
Are you ready? I believe we are. This is a great nation. We’re a good and decent people. For Lord’s sake, this is the United States of America. There’s never been anything we’ve been unable to accomplish when we’ve done it together.
The Irish poet Seamus Heaney once wrote,
History says, Don't hope On this side of the grave, But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up And hope and history rhyme.
This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme with passion and purpose. Let us begin. You and I together. One nation. Under God. United in our love for America. United in our love for each other.
For love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear. And light is more powerful than dark. This is our moment. This is our mission. May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here, tonight, as love and hope and light join in the battle for the soul of the nation.
And this is a battle we will win and we will do it together. I promise you.
~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
For the record, a few more notable videos from last night's convention, selected by your Head Trucker. And for the benefit of my overseas truckbuddies, let me point out that these particular speakers reflect, as does the Democratic Party in general, a broad spectrum of backgrounds and viewpoints, united in working for a more perfect union of these United States, with liberty and justice for all, not merely the favored few.
Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico:
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey:
Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin:
Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg of Indiana:
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a wounded veteran, calls Trump the "Coward-in-Chief":
And Governor Gavin Newsom phones it in from an evacuation center in wildfire-stricken California:
What a fabulous week for equality. A few tidbits to add to the hooray mix:
Spaniards celebrate the ruling of the Constitutional Court that preserved marriage equality.
--Spain's socialist party brought in same-sex marriage there in 2005, and 22,000 couples have tied el knotto since then. But the currently governing conservatives tried to get the law overturned by the country's Constitutional Court. End of story: on Tuesday of this week, the court affirmed the legality of equal marriage by a vote of 8 to 3.
As always, the French do things with a certain élan - here, the dude in the bird suit at an anti-gay rally is somehow ensuring that les homosexuels will not destroy la famille, la patrie, and even le monde! It loses something in translation, but you know the drill.
--And in France, where couples have been able to pacser in civil unions since 1999, the recently elected socialist government's cabinet has approved a draft of a marriage-equality bill to be presented to Parlement and debated in January of the coming year. The bill faces a legislative battle because, curiously enough, though 65% of the laid-back French - the folks who gave the world bikinis, topless bathing suits, and cinq à sept adultery - approve of gays getting hitched, only 52% can go for adoption and child-rearing by les pédés. The far right parties and the Catholic hierarchy are throwing a huge fit, as they do here, with all the end-of-the-world talk, yada yada. But since the Socialists have a firm majority in Parliament, looks to me like marriage equality - a cornerstone of President Hollande's campaign promises - is eventually bound to happen there.
Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., waves to supporters after her victory on election night.
--Overlooked here in our own country is the news that scores of gay and lesbian candidates won state and local offices on Tuesday - 118 and still counting. Via Rex Wockner, check out the Victory Fund's full list of winning candidates all across the nation. And this old codger remembers when being openly gay was the quickest way to get yourself un-elected, and probably run out of town. Just.Fucking.Amazing.
These results are what we should have had the first time Obama was elected - but maybe he led the way and the country followed. Maybe it just had to work out that way. Whatever, it sure is a good feeling, and a new day. We are finally nearing the end of the long arc of the rainbow of justice.
I don't think anybody saw all these gay victories coming, and it still seems a little unreal - but there's no turning back from here, boys. This is the 21st century now, you bet your boots.
Ah, but hang on to your hats, fellas -the best is yet to come. Go grab something lovely to drink and settle back to watch Rachel totally unload on the Republicans and school them in Reality. I guarantee you will love it:
It's a day that marks a historic step towards the changes we seek, but I think we all have to acknowledge this is only one step. Among the steps we have not yet taken is to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe it's discriminatory, I think it interferes with states' rights, and we will work with Congress to overturn it.
We've got more work to do to ensure that government treats all its citizens equally; to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms; and to bring about that more perfect union. I'm committed to these efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in the months and years to come.
Anderson Cooper with Richard Socarides and Dustin Lance Black:
Keith Olbermann with Joe Solmonese:
Rachel Maddow with Rep. Tammy Baldwin:
Rep. Barney Frank, in an official statement, amazingly changes his mind about the matter:
It is the President’s job to try to change the law, but it is also his obligation to uphold and defend it when it has been enacted by appropriate processes. It would not be wise, in my judgment, for those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, or who sympathize with the fight for our rights, to argue for a precedent that says that executives who disagreed politically with the purpose of the law should have the option of refusing to defend it in a constitutional case. . . . after rereading this brief, I do not think that the Obama administration should be subject to harsh criticism in this instance.
And don't forget the wingnut right is still very much with us and they are eating up this story, as Pat Robertson once again goes into Jeezusbabble mode: on the one hand, LGBT people are such a tiny part of the population, they are totally insignificant; on the other hand, they are so dangerous that they are sending this country straight to destruction:
BTW - if anyone pulls this argument on you, remind them of two things. First, every nation or empire of the past has risen and then eventually fallen; nothing lasts forever in this world, and the success of nations depends on money and might, not sex. And Two, the Roman Empire, to take the most famous example, fell apart a hundred years or more after Christianity was made the state religion, and homosex was outlawed.
So much for that theory. In fact, Gibbon, who wrote the famous The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in the 18th century, still in print today, came under great criticism for that book's thesis, which was that it was the adoption of Christianity more than anything else that led to the Empire's ruin.
But back to reality, and the present day. What to do next? Seems obvious to me that the President and his White House crew are not going to do anything for us just out of the goodness of their hearts. Left to their own devices, they will do something if and when they get around to it. They felt the heat this week, and they responded with a tiny scrap of equality - and note that Hillary beat the President to the punch, over at the State Dept., by a month on that, for her employees.
The political system doesn't run automatically, throwing out good things all by itself, as you may have imagined when you were nodding over your civics textbook in junior high. Politicians may have good intentions, but that's not enough to get the job done; those intentions have to be turned into action, and that happens when they realize they have to act to keep their jobs, or their campaign funds.
So how to turn up the heat on Congress and the President? I don't know exactly, lots of other people have ideas on that, some good, some silly. But we all need to be thinking about it, and working for equality as best we can. It won't just happen, guys; we have to push and shove and dig and sweat for it, that's all too clear after this week's revelations.
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, one of the nation’s leading gay rights champions, blasted President Obama yesterday over a controversial anti-gay marriage court filing and is calling on the commander in chief to explain himself.
“I think the administration made a big mistake. The wording they used was inappropriate,” Frank (D-Newton) said of a brief filed by Obama’s Department of Justice that supported the Defense of Marriage Act.
The DOJ brief, which has touched off a firestorm of anger in the gay community, argued that states should not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states, just as states don’t have to recognize incestuous marriages or unions involving underage girls.
“I’ve been in touch with the White House and I’m hoping the president will make clear these were not his views,” Frank said.
Barney also said he thinks it would be a mistake for teh gayz not to give their homodollars to the Democratic Party.
Last week the Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of DOMA. I was profoundly disappointed by this action, particularly coming from this administration. I still take President Obama at his word that he is committed to the repeal of DOMA. I also recognize that he cannot do it alone. Congress has the responsibility on its shoulders to pass legislation that would give the opportunity to the President to keep his word and ensure that all married people, including those in same-sex marriages, enjoy the same rights under federal law.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, harmony; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may seek not so much to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
.
We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.
and welcome to the Blue Truck, a blog for mature gay men with news and views on gay rights, history, art, humor, and whatever comes to mind. Plus a few hot men. The truck's all washed and gassed up, so hop in buddy, let's go.
CAUTION: For mature gay men only beyond this point. Some posts and links may not be suitable for children or the unco guid. You have been warned.
Insert valid picture ID with date of birth now, or click here.
My Story
click photograph to read
Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical, the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act - the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reason have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?
It is a perversion if you say to me that a person chooses to be homosexual. You must be crazy to choose a way of life that exposes you to a kind of hatred. It's like saying you choose to be black in a race-infected society.
If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God.
