Sen. Max Baucus on Pride Month

courtesy Wikipedia

Senator Max Baucus, Democrat from Montana, wrote a great piece in the Montana Standard this week.  He has been a recent supporter of LGBT rights, voting against a Constitutional ban on marriage equality, voting to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and has supported marriage equality publicly since 2012.

We all have a role in making sure that Pride Month is not just something we check off on the calendar. “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” for all Americans is what we are called to strive for every day of the year.

His article calls for passage of ENDA, repeal of DOMA and touts recent advances in LBGT rights.

Marco Rubio Thinks It Should Be Legal to Fire Gays

photo courtesy of NY Daily News

The GOP golden boy and thirst quenching senator from Florida tells Think Progress he’s ok with people being fired for being gay.  During an interview after a Faith and Freedom luncheon today, TP’s Scott Keyes asked if the senator Supported the Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) that should be introduced later this summer.  The Act would make workplace discrimination illegal across the country.  Currently, 29 states do not have protections for gay, lesbian and bisexual employees, and 34 states do not have protections for transgendered workers.  ENDA would enforce a federal standard across all 50 states.

Senator Rubio responded that he has yet to read the legislation and that, “By and large I think all Americans should be protected but I’m not for any special protections based on orientation.”

Well Mr. Rubio, I like what Julian Bond, former NAACP chairman says on the subject:

“Gay and lesbian rights are not “special rights” in any way. It isn’t “special” to be free from discrimination – it is an ordinary, universal entitlement of citizenship. The right not to be discriminated against is a common-place claim we can expect to enjoy under our laws and our founding document, the Constitution. That many had to struggle to gain these rights makes them precious – it does not make them special, and it does not reserve them only for me or restrict them from others.”

Mr. Rubio should stop pandering to the ultra conservatives – they are fighting a losing battle, and with each passing month, as poll after poll show support for LGBT rights growing, he and his ilk will stand out as the bigots they are.

Rep. Steve King Proves America is a Christian Nation

Rep Steve King makes the compelling argument that if you accidentally run over and kill your neighbor’s dog and tell him, that is confession, forgiveness and redemption.

French President Signs Gay Marriage Law

President Francois Hollande signed the newly passed and highly controversial marriage equality bill known as “Marriage For All” act into law Saturday morning.  The first wedding will most likely take place in the southern city of Montpellier no earlier than May 29th as couples must apply for marriage licenses 10 days before they can have a ceremony.

Right-wing opposition has been fierce in France, with large scale protests that have included violence.  Despite the these protests and legal challenges, the President vows to keep the law intact:

“I will ensure that the law applies across the whole territory, in full, and I will not accept any disruption of these marriages,”

France becomes the 15th country world wide to offer full civil marriage equality.  The other countries include Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay.  Other countries, like the US, allow same-sex marriages in some but not all jurisdictions.

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