Dean: End the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

[sfecap]

I’d like to tell you about my vision for an America that includes every one of us. As President I would:


Work to ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars employment discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin. But nothing in federal law prevents an employer from discharging or refusing to hire someone because he or she is gay. I will fight for enactment of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to remedy this gap in federal law.

Strengthen federal protections against anti-gay violence. The murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming was not an isolated incident but part of persistent anti-gay violence in the United States. I support enactment of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act to help states investigate and prosecute bias crimes and to add “sexual orientation” to the list of protected categories in the federal hate crimes statute.

Give federal employees the right to name same-sex partners as beneficiaries. Major U.S. corporations, such as Boeing, Ford Motor Co., and AOL-Time Warner, have adopted human resources policies to allow employees to designate a domestic partner as a beneficiary of health and other employment benefits. The federal government should do the same.

End bias in the immigration laws. Current law authorizes family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to obtain immigrant visas, but the Immigration and Nationality Act's definition of family does not include same-sex partners. I support enactment of the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (H.R. 832) to add the term "permanent partner" to the statutory list of family members eligible to obtain immigrant visas.

End the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Last November, several Arabic and Korean linguists from the Army's Defense Language Institute were discharged for being gay despite the critical need for qualified linguists in the war on terror. That was wrong. As President, I will offer gay and lesbian soldiers the opportunity to serve our country openly.

Ensure access to affordable health care, including AIDS/HIV Services. My health care proposal ensures that all Americans would have access to affordable health insurance. This would be a major step forward for individuals suffering from AIDS, many of whom lack coverage despite the need for costly life-saving interventions. I also support increased funding for public health programs like the Ryan White CARE Act.

As President, I will fight for the civil rights for all Americans, and that includes lesbian and gay Americans.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=policy_statement_civilrights_equalrightsforall

(Policy statement....imagine that...)

[Cha]

1. Thanks! This just makes me tear up with happiness that

this is being brought to the forefront.. I remember reading about those "linguists" and was disgusted that they were "fired"!


And I'm awfully proud that Dean is doing it!

[blm]

2. That's great. Was he for it back when Kerry was advocating for it

and even Clark backed Kerry up then? You do know that Kerry was pushing for gays to be allowed to serve openly since he was first elected and really pushed when Clinton took office.

Surely Dean must have weighed in back then, since he is given so much credit for his leadership on gay issues.

[sfecap]

3. Surely you have a link to back that up...

...right?

I mean Kerry must have made a statement or two...perhaps with Gen. Clark at his side?

Maybe a speech on the Senate floor?

[JohnKleeb]

4. man I know you dont like Kerry

but he was one of the early supporters of gay rights. Look his IWR vote blows but other than that on the issues, well lets just say no DK and he votes against it you would see a Kerry avatar likely.

[sfecap]

5. OK...I don't doubt it...I just want to see some reference

where he actually stood for gays in the military. (Maybe with his buddy Wes?) I know his record is good on this issue, but blm seems to think he invented it. Just a simple Senate speech or something...

[JohnKleeb]

6. blm could be right I am not sure

On Clark I have no use for him actually but a lot of your fellow Dean supporters considered him as VP now look I dont like Clark but do you think giving Clark a hard time for once voting GOP when your person Dean in this case and yes he was I aint lying once a republican. I thought so. Kerry was likely very key in gay rights legislation. I dont know honestly but I do think Kerry is better than you think but kucinich all the way.

[BushGone04]

20. From Human Rights Quarterly

"As a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, Kerry made a distinctive stand in support of gays in the military during early '90s hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

'I think that any American ought to be able to serve their country if they are physically qualified and able," said the Massachusetts senator in a recent interview with HRC Quarterly. "There were gay people who served in Vietnam. There were gay people who served in World War II, Korea and World War I — and great acts of heroism have been per-formed by people who are gay.'"


blm already posted this farther down in the thread, but I figured I'd post it as a direct reply to sfecap's request for a reference.

[blm]

9. It was on Cspan when he testified BEFORE the congressional committee.

It raised quite a fuss. How young are you?

[JohnKleeb]

10. I am willing to bet this happened before I was born and when I was young

:) I still am young. You know although that IWR vote bugs me blm and it took a while I think Kerry is a good second choice.

[blm]

15. HEH..not you...I was talking to sfecap.

;)

[JohnKleeb]

17. I know that

20$ says hes older than me just a hunch.

[sfecap]

22. I'm probably much older than you....

..and you, too John. :-) You win the twenty...

[JohnKleeb]

23. who cares how old you two are

Age dont matter but blm has a point about Kerry. I know you dont like kerry and I know she doesnt like dean. :) you know I thought would never have to what my grandfather did and that is act as like an arbirator, but it seems Ive had to do that I guess.

[blm]

11. Surprised you don't know this since you're the one digging

for info on Kerry and whether or not he supports gays.

From Human Rights Campaign:

Kerry: For the Record
-------------------
>>>>>>
Born in a military hospital in 1943 to a World War II serviceman and his wife, John Kerry has had a lifelong affiliation with the U.S. military. As a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, Kerry made
a distinctive stand in support of gays in the military during early '90s hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"I think that any American ought to be able to serve their country if they are physically qualified and able," said the Massachusetts senator in a recent interview with HRC Quarterly. "There were gay people who served in Vietnam. There were gay people who served in World War II, Korea and World War I — and great acts of heroism have been per-formed by people who are gay."

Kerry is among the early front-runners in the bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. A Yale graduate, Kerry was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1982. He was elected to the Senate in 1984, and has consistently supported, sometimes at great political peril, civil rights for the gay community.

In addition to his support for gays in the military, he was one of only 14 senators to vote in 1996 against the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. "I thought it was rank gay bashing; it was pure political exploitation," said Kerry.
>>>>>>
Kerry says his record over the years on a range of issues sets him apart from other candidates. In 1985, he authored the Senate version of the gay civil rights bill — a measure that, if passed, would have covered discrimination in employment, housing and credit. His average score on the Human Rights Campaign's congressional scorecard, begun in the 101st Congress, is 96 percent — with a perfect score for the last four congresses.
>>>>>
"I think that tolerance is what this country is built on," said Kerry. "That's what America is about. That's our journey."

http://www.hrc.org/publications/hrcq/hrcq03sp/kerry.asp

[JohnKleeb]

12. Kucinich gets great grades from HRC too

Good for them that is Kerry and Kucinich. I would say as for as gay issues go Kerry, Kucinich, and Dean are the best.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

21. When he was running in 1996 didn't he support DOMA?

That is what I have heard but I don't know if it is true or not. I know a lot of people in Congress did, so I am not really faulting him...I am just curious.

You Have the Power!

[Malikshah]

19. Uh...

That's just ducky--but after reading his interview in the Advocate a bit back...

Don't have the link-- but maybe you can find it online via The Advocate.

BTW-- Dean gave an interview a few months prior --

Compare the two. I did-- and as a gay man I'll go with Dean's answers. More comfortable with his position personally.

Kerry's not to be scoffed at--but it's not as rosy a picture as you allude to based on the interview.

[dalsept]

7. Clark and gay rights

Civil unions and gay rights in general could be a decisive issue in key southern states. I think Clark could do a better job dodging this issue than Dean. While it is sad to say, that is really what needs to be done on this issue in the South.

[JohnKleeb]

8. interesting and welcome

well Dean's gun views may appeal to them and Clark is more your typical dem on guns. I dont care really about the two honestly they arent my choice.

[renie408]

14. I am sick and tired

of the south being talked about as if it is some kind of retard kid brother to the rest of the country. I happen to live in the south and I happen to have many gay friends, many mixed race couples for friends and none of them are exactly suffering for living here. Christ, one of the mixed race couples moved here from NYC. You do not have to dodge the issue of civil rights for homosexuals any more HERE than you do in the MIDWEST or the WEST, outside of southern California or the NORTH outside of any urban areas.

[JohnKleeb]

16. I know what you mean

[KaraokeKarlton]

18. As a Vermonter who has lived in the south, I agree

Southerners are not any different from people everywhere else other than they like brewed ice tea in mason jars and fried okra...hehe. Southern people aren't anti-gay for God's Sakes. Sure, there are some very religious people who are going to be against civil unions, but there are just as many of those people all over the country as there are in the south.

[renie408]

13. Ooooh...This is good stuff....