Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Why marriage equality opponents are losing - an audio demonstration.

I'm yanking this awesome exchange from Jeremy Hooper. It's from Delaware's House of Representatives hearing on the possible marriage equality law and it also demonstrates that probably one of the reasons why opponents of marriage equality are losing. Their arguments about the destruction "constitutional rights" and religious liberties" are one-note talking points which dissolve under questioning by folks who know their facts.

And this just in - the Delaware House of Representatives just passed marriage equality bill by a 23-18 vote. Now on to the Senae.

'France gets marriage equality, Rhode Island Republican caucus shocks with support' and other Tuesday midday news briefs

In less than 12 hours, the National Organization for Marriage suffered three huge blows to its worldwide crusade against marriage equality! Sweet!

1. BREAKING: French National Assembly Finalizes Passage Of Marriage Equality - Just now!

2. Rhode Island Republican Senators Unanimously Endorse Marriage Equality - The first time a Republican caucus unanimously supported marriage equality. Bam!!  

3. Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada Lawmaker, Comes Out In Gay Marriage Debate - During the debate to repeal the anti-marriage equality law in Nevada, an African-American legislator publicly comes out. Awesome! 

In other news (if you haven't passed out yet):  

AFA's top spokesman makes far-right animus perfectly clear - Meanwhile, Bryan Fischer spews bigotry in his inimitable fashion.  

Harvey: Homosexuality 'Hurts the Person Involved' and 'Hurts All of Society'- And then there is Linda Harvey who apparently needs a physical relationship more than me (if that's even possible).  

The Self-Flagellation Of A Self-Loathing Homocon - It's so sad to see a gay man turn against his own people.  

Todd Bieber Enlists Gay Comedians To Help Boy Scouts Earn Filmmaking Merit Badges (VIDEOS) - Funny!!

ENDA to be introduced, religious right geared to start lying

In a move which will send the religious right into orbit, ENDA will be introduced in Congress on Thursday:

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is set to be introduced in both chambers of Congress on Thursday, according to multiple sources, but without major changes that were previously under consideration.

The bill will be reintroduced in the House by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), the most senior openly gay member of the chamber, who’s taking over the legislation now that former Rep. Barney Frank has retired. In the Senate, the legislation will be reintroduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The lawmakers’ offices confirmed they would introduce ENDA concurrently on Thursday.

The Senate version of the bill will have five original sponsors: Merkley and lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) will be two Democrats, Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) will be two Republicans and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) will round out the quintet.

The number of original co-sponsors in the House remains to be seen. Conchita Cruz, a Polis spokesperson, said many House members have told her boss “they want to make sure that they are included” as original co-sponsors.

Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, said his organization will push for a committee vote and movement on the Senate floor for ENDA “as soon as possible.”

It's going to be interesting to watch religious right groups such as the Family Research Council spin false portents of doom about gays wanting to imprison Christians and how ENDA will lead to this happening. Of course it's not as if they haven't done this before. The following links of past religious right lies about ENDA is a hint as to what to expect come Thursday:
 
Seven ways the Family Research Council have lied about ENDA

Family Research Council getting extremely 'scary' about ENDA

Andrea Lafferty - 'Won't someone PLEASE think of the children.'

Andrea  Lafferty: ENDA will lead to the molestation of disabled veterans
 
Traditional  Values Coalition stoops to lowest level of fraud in new attack on ENDA

Religious  business owners should not have the 'special right' to discriminate

Andrea  Lafferty spins lies against transgender teachers to hurt ENDA

The  30 Dirty? Why can't the religious right stop lying about ENDA?

Religious  right groups can't make up their minds when lying about ENDA

No  wonder the Traditional Values Coalition is considered a hate group

Family  Research Council exploiting Amanda Simpson's appointment to stop ENDA
  
Family  Research Council head misrepresents credible information to hurt ENDA

Bathrooms,  Church Exemptions, and Lies: Five ways the religious right  misrepresents ENDA