Civil Rights hero John Lewis on GLBT discrimination

[Starbucks Anarchist]

EDIT: Hat tip to JoeIsOneOfUs for posting this in another thread and for his permission to make this an OP.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2003/10/25/at_a_crossroads_on_gay_unions/

From time to time, America comes to a crossroads. With confusion and controversy, it's hard to spot that moment. We need cool heads, warm hearts, and America's core principles to cleanse away the distractions.

We are now at such a crossroads over same-sex couples' freedom to marry. It is time to say forthrightly that the government's exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families. It denies them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It denies them numerous legal protections for their families.

This discrimination is wrong. We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and lesbian Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation. I've heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry.

Some say let's choose another route and give gay folks some legal rights but call it something other than marriage. We have been down that road before in this country. Separate is not equal. The rights to liberty and happiness belong to each of us and on the same terms, without regard to either skin color or sexual orientation.

(more at link, from 2003)

[LostinVA]

1. k&r to one of the most righteous straight guys on this Forum

And a man I'm glad to call friend.

:pals:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. Aww...

:pals:

[Muttocracy]

17. :)

I knew if you posted it, it would get the attention it deserved :)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

19. Good call.

:rofl:

[jonnyblitz]

12. I agree with your post.

:thumbsup:

[bluedawg12]

2. Beautiful. Frankly, I think PE Obama will come around

he's close, he certainly nows the law, now that the elections are over gay marriage rights will be seen as more realistic.

In the mean time, I always say, encourage those you love the most with your honesty. So, the fight continues.

[Veruca Salt]

3. This is beautiful and so eloquently said!

Thank you for posting this! And of course, k&r!

[baldguy]

4. See, Mr Obama? Some people get it.

[Swede Atlanta]

5. Yes....

Those like MY CONGRESSCRITTER John Lewis understand that this fight is one of the last great civil rights struggles. He recognizes that being GLBT is not a matter of "choice" like joining the PTA or KKK, but is an inherent aspect of a person's humanity. This will be conventional wisdom in 50-100 years but this man has the ability to understand the importance of this in his time.

I pray that more leaders will have this wisdom and vision but I'm not holding my breath. Obama can only do so much. I was disappointed in the Clinton's failed attempts to end the prohibition against gays in the military only to see him sign DOMA. I fear that Obama again will use the hopes of the GLBT community to promote his real agenda that doesn't include us.

I hope I'm wrong. The selection of Rick "A Gay is a Pedophile" Warren as part of his Inauguration gives me pause. I am now saying....no more support for Obama, financially or otherwise until he shows me the money....achieves something meaningful for the GLBT community. Until then he is viewed as nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[EFerrari]

7. K&R

[immoderate]

8. I would be very surprised if President Obama doesn't come around to this.

No one who understands human rights can disagree with this.

--IMM

[mondo joe]

9. He obviously knows nothing about the experience of racial minorities.

;-)

Thanks Starbucks dude for always being so right on. :fistbump:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

10. No problem.

:fistbump:

[roguevalley]

11. John Lewis is a righteous man in the way it was intended to be. Thank you for

this confirmation of something I always knew about him. And Happy Holidays to you, Starbucks Anarchist, for enlightening a few folks on a good man.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

13. My pleasure.

Happy Holidays to you, too.

[Jamastiene]

14. To John Lewis

I thank you and I salute you. :patriot:

[IndianaJones]

15. excellent SA. nt.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. Kick.

:kick:

[xchrom]

18. recommend

[polichick]

20. Now THAT'S moral leadership. :)

[QC]

21. OMG! Does Lewis have any idea how offensive this is?

:sarcasm:

[BeFree]

22. John Lewis is an American hero

'Nuff said. Lets get it done.

[Pushed To The Left]

23. K&R!

[marimour]

24. so proud he's my Congressman!

I hope to hear Obama say that one day. I feel he truly believes that privately.

[jpgray]

25. Nice.

Lewis is a genuine hero, and a class act all the way.

[MadMaddie]

26. Mr. Lewis is one of my favorite Americans

He sees this for what it is....

He has seen troubled waters before and he knows what the sneaky language is and the seperate but equal is just more institutionalized hatred.

Bless Mr. Lewis and his family this holiday season.

[D23MIURG23]

27. K&R

[Hansel]

28. Pretty clear cut.

The more leaders who stand up and say it this concise and matter-of-factly, the sooner that the BS about it not being time will end.

[JohnnyLib2]

29. Good one.

Rec.

[SeattleGirl]

30. Excellent piece.

Thanks for posting this, SA.

And another hat tip to JoeIsOneOfUs.

[HamdenRice]

31. I agree whole heartedly!

Now we need to think strategically about what it takes to get there!

[PeaceNikki]

32. This needs a kick.

I've already recommended.

[RandomKoolzip]

33. See? Now, why is so hard for the rest of Du (and the rest of this country)

to make that same connection?

Good post.

[flpoljunkie]

34. Thank you, John Lewis!