Gay Parties

Once again SHEAm has SHAMED himself and the gays by misquoting, misstating, and misunderstanding the politics of the GLBT world. Maybe he's tired of the Warren-flap, and maybe he's right that the issue shouldn't be surprising or isn't that important. But his assertion that McCain and Obama and in fact bot major parties are the same on gay rights is simply absurd.

I 100% agree that the two major parties on the national level are not in favor of gay marriage, but that is only one small piece of the pie. By and large (and yes there are exceptions on both sides of the aisle) Democrats want to pass the employment nondiscrimination act (Republicans have blocked and filibustered it since the early 1990s); Democrats (now) want to repeal the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" which is patently unconstitutional (remember the full faith and credit clause?) while Republicans think it essential; many Republicans (including our current president) want to amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage, Democrats don't; Democrats (now) want to allow gays to serve openly in the military, Republicans don't. The list goes on and on. There are severe differences between the two parties (at large and in Congress in particular).

Will Obama do all he has said on these issues? I don't know. I certainly hoped that he would deliver on some of the issues that are popular amongst large swaths of the public, especially protecting gays and lesbians in the workplace. My main point in this Warren-flap has been that Obama is signaling that at the very least he doesn't seem to be bothered even consulting with the leadership of the gay community (even the Human Rights Campaign. Coincidentally, I echo many of SHEAm's critiques)

Am I an Obama-booster? No. Did I vote for him over McCain? Absolutely. And maybe that's part of the problem. When it comes to social issues and any of the equality issues important to the gay community there is little choice but to support the Democratic nominee in nearly any national race.