Conventions Reveal New Positions on Gay Rights

During the Democratic National Convention, I couldn't believe my (gay) ears. Big name speakers including both of the Clintons and Sen. Barack Obama publicly and openly called for gay and lesbian rights. This, from a party that all but shunned the gay community in the 2000 and 2004 election cycles.

Even the Republicans, who led the charge against gay rights in previous election years, are taking a new stance -- by ignoring gay rights altogether. Five big name speakers took the podium so far at the Republican National Convention this week, including Pres. Bush, and not a single one of them mentioned the words "gay" or "lesbian" or the hot button phrase "same-sex marriage." It bears taking a moment to remember Bush's words at the 2004 RNC: "[b]ecause the union of a man and a woman deserves an honored place in our society, I support the protection of marriage against activist judges." My ears hurt that year. Yet, this year I'm just confused. Aren't those "activist judges" busy at work in states like California, which recently struck down a ban on same-sex marriage? Perhaps last week's cries for equality caused some sort of hearing loss.

I was hearing very well last week, when new cries for equality began with Hillary Clinton on an exciting Tuesday night. Hillary mentioned gay rights in the same breath as a cause near and dear to her heart, women's rights:

To fight for an America defined by deep and meaningful equality - from civil rights to labor rights, from women's rights to gay rights. . . .

After hearing these words I could not help but think that the metaphorical ceiling of women's oppression may not be the only ceiling with 18 million cracks in it.

 

Conventions Reveal New Positions on Gay Rights
Huffington Post - New York,NY,USA