Time arrives to respect memorial for gay vets

[William769]

The Coachella Valley is a special place. We are the home of the oldest living U.S. president. We are the golf mecca of the country. We also are the No. 1 tourist destination for gays.
Five years ago, Cathedral City became home of America's only memorial dedicated solely to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the cherished freedoms we hold dear and enjoy today. Critics of the memorial five years ago said it "promoted the homosexual agenda and lifestyle choice." Letters to the editor said a gay memorial is like having an "alcoholic veterans memorial" or "left-handed veterans memorial." Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan., organized a protest and threatened to toss urine on the memorial.

In the past five years the California Department of Veterans Affairs has recognized the historic memorial to gays. However, state legislation (AB 1520) that could have made the memorial at Desert Memorial Park a state landmark was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Presidents Bill Clinton and Gerald Ford have written letters praising the local gay veterans who built the memorial. So did the Catholic bishop for this diocese.

http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060503/COLUMNS26/605030309/1215

Are we hated that much? The really sad thing is alot of people still don't understand why we are fighting for even basic rights that everyone else takes for granted.

[MADem]

1. I'm hoping for the day to come when being a gay vet, a black vet, a

latino vet, is about as important as shoe size. I hope to live to see the day, but damn, it doesn't seem likely, in these troubled times.

Funny how no one cares about this orientation or ethnicity shit when a draft is going on, it only becomes important when people have their hate mode on full blast. And anyone who objects to this memorial is just consumed by hate.

[mitchtv]

2. greetings from Cathedral City

I remember the controversy, that's why it is important to dump Bonnie Garcia R- 80 AD and Mary Bono R- 45CD and replace them with Ron Oden , the out gay African American mayor of Palm Springs for this distict, and David Roth , who is hoping to evict Mary Bono from her seat. This area is full of vets/ republicans, and retirees. The medicare plan will cost the pukes dearly, along with the Latino population who are concentrating on unseating both puke scum reps. BTW, how nice to see a positive post on Cat city from so far away

[William769]

3. Anytime

Sounds like a great place! :hi: