Category: Gay rights
Posted by Libby Spencer on Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 12:54 PMState Rep to push for equal rights
A couple of under-reported items from Tuesday's elections. I found this news heartening. Kalamazoo voters overwhelming approved a city ordinance banning discrimination against gays. More importantly, following that win, "Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, introduced a resolution to amend the state constitution to allow same-sex marriage. Voters instituted the ban in 2004, when they approved Proposal 2."
Anticipating our commenters' response, yes I remember that last week I was horrified to learn of an attempt to amend the state constitution to ban abortions. The difference is Byrnes' amendment seeks to increase the right to choose, and the abortion amendment seeks to deny women a choice over their own bodies. I don't find that inconsistent. Others may disagree and no doubt, some will.
In other little remarked news from other states, the media virtually ignored that anti-tax/anti-spend initiatives went down to defeat in Maine and Washington state on Tuesday. It seems many Americans really do understand that government has a role to play in our lives and that we are all morally bound to kick in a little for the greater good.
Also, you may enjoy this slideshow of photos taken around the country on election day.
Comments
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Libby, I triple dog dare you.
Please describe in scientific terms EXACTLY how an unborn baby is NOT an entity in and of itself but merely an extension of it's mother's body.
Equal rights...
Libby quote: "The difference is Byrnes' amendment seeks to increase the right to choose, and the abortion amendment seeks to deny women a choice over their own bodies."
Since you clearly support a person's "right to choice" over their own body, how can you also support a "public option" wherein government will dictate where / when / what medical procedures are available? Unless you believe that women only have a choice when it comes to their reproductive organs, your position contradicts itself.
Some other factoids from the anti-tax measure in Maine that Libby cites, make your own call on this one:
"Question 4 [tax measure] had some early political momentum and held a significant edge in the polls until a month ago, but it was crushed in a lopsided campaign led by municipal leaders and public-employee unions. Opponents outspent supporters 10-to-1 on television ads."
"Opponents â€" led by Maine Education Association and the Maine Municipal Association â€" ran a series of television commercials that portrayed TABOR [tax issue] as a risky measure that would cause cuts to services, such as schools and health programs. The ads began appearing five weeks ago, at the cost of $900,000."
Sounds to me like fear-mongering happens on BOTH sides of the aisle...
Source: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=294014&ac=PHnws
As far as Libby's gay marriage opinion goes, I disagree with her, but only because I think that the government has no legal right or jurisdiction to sanction or recognize the marriage of consenting adults in the first place. This would make the recognition of gay marriage moot...
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