Thursday, March 19, 2009
Olympia Last Gasp to Stop Gay-Rights Bill
Posted by Dominic Holden on Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Photo by Ryan Leisinger
About 1,000 people, many arriving by the yellow busload from corners of the state, are rallying on the steps of the state Capitol Building to protest gay rights. At issue is a domestic partnership bill, which would provide all the state-granted benefits of marriage to registered same-sex couples. Backers of the “Stand Up for Marriage Rally,” the Washington Values Alliance, call the legislation “a mockery … of society's most vital institution.”
“I think the rally is probably more of an attempt by certain organizations to find a reason for being, to fill their own coffers and keep their own organization going,” says Senator Ed Murray, sponsor of the domestic partnership bill in the senate. The DP bill passed the senate last week by 30 to 18 votes; now it is in the house where the bill has more cosponsors than votes needed to pass—i.e., the bill is going to win regardless of the shrill cries on the Capitol steps. Murray adds, “They are down in polls and down in the legislature. It is not a happy time for them.”
The crowd is almost exclusively white—including many Eastern Europeans—according sources monitoring the rally from a distance. One glaring exception is African American Pastor Ken Hutcherson, head of the Antioch Bible Church. Joined by conservative state legislators including Senator Pam Roach (R-31) and Representative Matt Shea (R-4), Hutchersons’s and other speakers' rhetoric has rested largely on arguments that same-sex marriage breaks down the notion that women must be subservient to men.Photo of Ed Murray in front of the crowd by Katie Kolen
While disempowered, the crowd today outnumbers the crowd on the Capitol steps last week for Marriage Equality Day, says Josh Friedes, a spokesman for Equal Rights Washington, a group that supports the bill and organized last week’s event. Nonetheless, he dismisses the larger turnout. “The gay-rights movement is like an iceberg, because you can only see its tip. But the radical right is like an inverse iceberg where these days you can see most of its power,” he says. Anything short of turning out several thousand people, like anti-gay groups did several years ago for a rally at Safeco Field, “they have failed,” Friedes says.
In an email to potential rally-goers titled "It ain't over until its over," Larry Stickney, head of the Washington Values Alliance, told his flock: "Pastors, priests, church leaders and ministers of the faith should encourage and lead entire congregations to attend this rally. Busses [sic] should be chartered from every corner of our state." He adds, “We need YOU and others like you to stand with us as we continue to tell our legislators and the Governor to vote NO on the ill-conceived plan to legalize homosexual marriage.” WVA never concedes the bill is about domestic partnership legislation, not marriage.
“What they are trying to say is if you vote for this bill we will try to get you in November and look how strong we are,” says Friedes. “I don’t think they have that kind of strength to affect candidate election outcomes.” But, he notes, anti-gay-marriage sentiment may be strong enough to pass an initiative or referendum banning gay marriage.
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1
They honestly have nothing better to do? Like feeding the hungry or, you know, actually HELPING someone who needs it?
5
Most of the Eastern European immigrants that attend these anti-gay rallies got into the country on asylum rules that allow 'persecuted religious minorities' into the country, while gays, an even more persecuted minority generally lose their asylum cases. Most of them belong to highly conservative evangelical sects, and were converted by missionaries flooded over the iron curtain immediately after the Berlin wall fell. They often bring over their entire families, including aunts and uncles, and they are notoriously unable to provide for their large extended families. (I know this because I used to work for an organization that did social work - and they become the main client-base in the '90's.) Yep - that's right - its your tax dollars funding your oppression.
Two questions here:
1. Where are the gay missionaries to recruit? Oh that's right - its not a choice! Converting to fervent Jesus worship is a choice.
2. So what the fuck do these bigots have to complain about? If they don't like living in a society that offers them and others not like them civil rights, they can go back home.
Two questions here:
1. Where are the gay missionaries to recruit? Oh that's right - its not a choice! Converting to fervent Jesus worship is a choice.
2. So what the fuck do these bigots have to complain about? If they don't like living in a society that offers them and others not like them civil rights, they can go back home.
6
I am so glad that these eastern orthodox immigrants want to impose their beliefs on their new home..the same beliefs that made their home countries so wonderful.
7
These drains on society can show up whenever they want, unlike all y'all gay folks who have, y'know, jobs and shit. It's a lot tougher for supporters of the DP bill to show up en masse when you have to pay bills. It's gorgeous to see bigots fail, btw.
8
On the Eastern European (read: slavic) front, those are some of the most intolerant motherfuckers I have ever met. They really dislike those different from them, especially black people. A Serb who was working in our building dropped an N-Bomb on someone right in the lobby. Didn't feel bad about it either.
11
@1:
Unfortunately, for many Evangelicals, denying GLBT's basic civil rights IS perceived as "helping someone who needs it", namely helping Gays decide not to be, you know, Gay anymore. Because, in their minds "Gay" is a choice (unlike religion, apparently), and if they can only get Gays to choose not to be Gay, then they've brought them one step closer to the warm, huggy, lovin' arms of their Savior.
After all, it's what their blonde-haired, blue-eyed, Aryan-descended, English-speaking Jeebuz would do.
Unfortunately, for many Evangelicals, denying GLBT's basic civil rights IS perceived as "helping someone who needs it", namely helping Gays decide not to be, you know, Gay anymore. Because, in their minds "Gay" is a choice (unlike religion, apparently), and if they can only get Gays to choose not to be Gay, then they've brought them one step closer to the warm, huggy, lovin' arms of their Savior.
After all, it's what their blonde-haired, blue-eyed, Aryan-descended, English-speaking Jeebuz would do.
13
The Ukrainians and Russians are either Pentecostals or Southern Baptists. They are probably not Russian Orthodox.
I for one don't think it's time to sit back and be relaxed about this. The Radical Religious Extremists are well funded (Yes on Prop 8 being a recent case) and should a referendum make it to the voters the odds are likely that "Gay Leadership" will take the moral high road, ask for everyone to kiss and be friendly, talk about love and happiness, and then bend over and get royally screwed by the lies and dishonestly of the Radical Religious Extremists.
I'd love to see funds that are being donated to ERW and other GLBT orgs go to make a PSA that calls the R.R.E. just that. That suggests they are trying to destroy families in Washington, and "that if you knew there were Religious Terrorists in your neighborhood trying to destroyed your family would you stand by and do nothing?"
But these sorts of hard hitting inflammatory PSAs do only one thing, win popular votes. Gay Leadership is not there yet.
I for one don't think it's time to sit back and be relaxed about this. The Radical Religious Extremists are well funded (Yes on Prop 8 being a recent case) and should a referendum make it to the voters the odds are likely that "Gay Leadership" will take the moral high road, ask for everyone to kiss and be friendly, talk about love and happiness, and then bend over and get royally screwed by the lies and dishonestly of the Radical Religious Extremists.
I'd love to see funds that are being donated to ERW and other GLBT orgs go to make a PSA that calls the R.R.E. just that. That suggests they are trying to destroy families in Washington, and "that if you knew there were Religious Terrorists in your neighborhood trying to destroyed your family would you stand by and do nothing?"
But these sorts of hard hitting inflammatory PSAs do only one thing, win popular votes. Gay Leadership is not there yet.
14
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionar…
They're on the wrong side of history. You needn't try to make them look any dumber by pulling the snide Journalistic Grammar Card and inserting "[sic]" after (supposed) misspellings.
They're on the wrong side of history. You needn't try to make them look any dumber by pulling the snide Journalistic Grammar Card and inserting "[sic]" after (supposed) misspellings.
15
I was at the Equality Day rally last week, and we had like 500-800 people maybe.
What pisses me off is that there's so much apathy in the BLTQGLWhatever community. Everyone seems to think someone else will do it, or that there's a cabal of "A" gays out there who'll handle it. Well there's not, btw.
We can get 200,000 people to turn out for Pride, but we can't get 2,000 people to show up in Olympia when our legal rights are at stake. If that many people flooded the Capitol, the debate over gay rights would be ovah.
What pisses me off is that there's so much apathy in the BLTQGLWhatever community. Everyone seems to think someone else will do it, or that there's a cabal of "A" gays out there who'll handle it. Well there's not, btw.
We can get 200,000 people to turn out for Pride, but we can't get 2,000 people to show up in Olympia when our legal rights are at stake. If that many people flooded the Capitol, the debate over gay rights would be ovah.
16
They can pass as many initiatives or referendums as they want, but it doesn't necessarily mean the legislature has to listen to them.
17
@15, our legal rights aren't at stake. This bill was never going to fail.
Comparing Pride, something that happens in the summer and that I can attend relatively easily living in Seattle, with a rally in the middle of an extended winter, more than 2 hours away for me (I don't drive), for "equality" is not really valid. More power to the people who have the time and money to do these sorts of things, but I don't. And I seem to remember thousands of people rallying against the passage of Prop. 8, a bill that affects our brothers and sisters in another state. I'm not saying we're not complacent; oftentimes we are. But this is not an example of such.
Comparing Pride, something that happens in the summer and that I can attend relatively easily living in Seattle, with a rally in the middle of an extended winter, more than 2 hours away for me (I don't drive), for "equality" is not really valid. More power to the people who have the time and money to do these sorts of things, but I don't. And I seem to remember thousands of people rallying against the passage of Prop. 8, a bill that affects our brothers and sisters in another state. I'm not saying we're not complacent; oftentimes we are. But this is not an example of such.
18
I wish everybody coulde have been at the rally today to hear the speeches. I met several women who were there for another cause and they were so turned off by the speeches. People who are undecided about the issue of marriage equality would not want to be asscoiated with the bigotry and hate i heard expressed today nor the rigid definition of Christianity that was being espoused. The messsage I heard today was if you don't oppose marriage equality you are a bad Christian. Well the problem of course is that many Christian denominations either hasve religious marriage for same-sex couples or take no position on the issue of domestic partnerships, the bill before thelegislature.
19
I think the Gay Rights movement in Washington has been smart. They are clear that we want marriage equality but instead of trying to move a marriage bill that could be subject to a referendum as ERW's Friedes points out, the Domestic Partnership bill has popular support and the radical right would find a referendum on DP very difficult. So we must work to increase popular support for marriage equality so that the legislature can pass a marriage equality bill.
20
Mr Murray you're in for one spectacular surprise once this bill is defeated for good on the floor, I hope you got a good look at those people cause they'll be the ones laughing at the end of this whole fiasco you have sponsored. Man+Woman=Marriage, just remember that Senator.
21
hateschild, this isn't a marriage bill but a domestic partnerships bill, you ignorant fuckwad. Of course the opposition isn't really about marriage, it's about having the government endorse their disapproval of same sex relationships.
22
Another Andy @ 17,
1) I take it you weren't around when the state's anti-discrimination bill failed 29 years in a row.
2) It takes like one hour to get to Olympia, and you can carpool.
3) I asked for the day off like three months ago, and it only cost gas money.
1) I take it you weren't around when the state's anti-discrimination bill failed 29 years in a row.
2) It takes like one hour to get to Olympia, and you can carpool.
3) I asked for the day off like three months ago, and it only cost gas money.
23
And that iceberg analogy is nice but terribly specious. If the domestic partnership registry were put up to a public vote, it would fail no question.
Sadly, it's only the fact that the recession may limit contributions that we may not see an initiative pass here.
And forget about the WA State Supreme Court. Their whole attitude is "go ahead, put all the humah-sekshals in gas chambers, whattwe care?"
Sadly, it's only the fact that the recession may limit contributions that we may not see an initiative pass here.
And forget about the WA State Supreme Court. Their whole attitude is "go ahead, put all the humah-sekshals in gas chambers, whattwe care?"
24
#20
Have you heard of Seattle and King county?
The cow counties of Washington have little political clout. Go away.
All the bluster in the world does not stop the bill passing and being signed into law. Decades of political work and organizing comes to fruition.
(ERW should have had buses for last week. I have no car and it was very cold out. With a bus, I might have considered the trip.)
I do write and email and call .... whenever needed. And send checks.
Three cheers.
Have you heard of Seattle and King county?
The cow counties of Washington have little political clout. Go away.
All the bluster in the world does not stop the bill passing and being signed into law. Decades of political work and organizing comes to fruition.
(ERW should have had buses for last week. I have no car and it was very cold out. With a bus, I might have considered the trip.)
I do write and email and call .... whenever needed. And send checks.
Three cheers.
25
Do you ever bother to actually READ anything before spouting off your nonsensical caterwauling @20?
The DP legislation, which just passed the State Senate, already has more co-sponsors in the House than are required for passage.
You know, there's this thing - we call it reality. You might want to check into it sometime. I think you'll find the experience very enlightening.
The DP legislation, which just passed the State Senate, already has more co-sponsors in the House than are required for passage.
You know, there's this thing - we call it reality. You might want to check into it sometime. I think you'll find the experience very enlightening.
26
Both Andys:
Yes, apathy is a problem. How do we fight it? Suggestions please.
Yes, one can't attend every single function. How do we schedule better? Suggestions please.
Now can we all agree we need to do better. And then organize effectively TO DO BETTER?
Yes, apathy is a problem. How do we fight it? Suggestions please.
Yes, one can't attend every single function. How do we schedule better? Suggestions please.
Now can we all agree we need to do better. And then organize effectively TO DO BETTER?
27
21 I have no qualms with domestic partnerships, frankly I could care less about them but this particular bill is nothing more than a shell covering the true intentions behind the organization that Mr Friedes heads. Just like in California, your real goal is to take this to the courts arguing that your domestic partnerships are making you feel "less" so that they can grant you special made up marriage rights. I tell you this much, if Cali upholds the will of the people (as I'm certain they will) and throws away the silly case brought up by gay activists, then I will have no problems with these types of bills cause I know that future B.S arguments brought forth to courts including to the Supreme Court will be tossed away.
29
This hateful commentary against eastern Europeans is so ironic. We all know that there are LGBT folks from all over...i would hate for a gay eastern European to read this commentary.
30
As a Christian I apologize. I will be looking forward to hearing when the the bill passes the House.
33
@ 29 & 31 - Please. There has been no hateful commentary against Eastern Europeans on this thread. It's a fact that many of the Eastern Eurpoeans who have immigrated to the Northwest are religious conservatives, with extreme (or borderline radical) beliefs. Some have even been involved in gay-bashing incidents. Has anyone here said all Eastern Europeans are that way? Nope. Would gay Eastern Europeans (or tolerant, or non-violent Eastern Europeans) assume they were being lumped in with the conservative-extremist group by reading this thread? I don't see how.
34
"special made up marriage rights"? is that the same as when you call equal rights for gays "special privileges," loveschild? just trying to get clarity. if so, i already told you, please take that inflammatory nonsense elsewhere. either that, or explain how equal rights for a group you disagree with is synonymous with "special privileges."
35
I am of Slavic descent, a blond, blue-eyed, English-speaking, American born and bred, straight, married woman. My husband and I were two of the handful of people to be there opposing the "Stand Up for Marriage Rally." It was really sad to me. Many people came to try to "reason" with us and the two friendly gay gentleman that were there with their sign, and the vast majority of them were high school aged kids. One young girl asked me, "If you two are married, then why do you support gay marriage?" It's called "empathy" sweetheart, and the right thing to do. I'd like to talk to some of those kids in a couple of years, after a bunch of their friends come out, and they start to have a clue about the issues that this bill addresses, through experiencing real life, seeing first hand the horrible things that people do to each other outside of their little Sunday school. It's sick to see young people programmed to not even be able to think outside of their narrow box, and impossible to have a real conversation with someone who is A) on a religious mission, and B) not seasoned enough to comprehend the gravity of the topic at hand. Anyway, we tried to rally some troops, but I think it's true that there are just not enough people that are passionate enough about it to outnumber the religious whacks. No, I don't go to Every rally, but I was unimpressed by how few people showed up to counter them.
39
#35
I hope you are right. The young adults that spoke with you learn that life is not a cookie cutter. Surely they will have some friends come out (or maybe relatives) and have to rethink their positions regarding what the bill is doing. Thank you for being there. I made it to the equality rally, but didn't find out about this one till too late :(
just my 2 cents
aj
I hope you are right. The young adults that spoke with you learn that life is not a cookie cutter. Surely they will have some friends come out (or maybe relatives) and have to rethink their positions regarding what the bill is doing. Thank you for being there. I made it to the equality rally, but didn't find out about this one till too late :(
just my 2 cents
aj
40
Please God help gay people realize that this is the most degrading act of humanity for a man to sex another man or woman in the ANUS meant for human daily waste.
Stop the destruction of the fundamental bedrock of human family structure.
Stop the adoption of innocent children just for you to make a family (blood is thicker than water).
Children fall into adoption process due to unfortunate circumstances with their family not by choice. No mother or father in their right mind will put-up their child for adoption. It is shameful that some Gay people are building family with these unfortunate children. Help them financially not by adoption.
I hope people will come to realize that requests and laws been asked by gay people is a major threat to human race, even worse that climate control.
Stop the Gay people now from destroying the indispensable principal purpose of man and woman.
Stop the destruction of the fundamental bedrock of human family structure.
Stop the adoption of innocent children just for you to make a family (blood is thicker than water).
Children fall into adoption process due to unfortunate circumstances with their family not by choice. No mother or father in their right mind will put-up their child for adoption. It is shameful that some Gay people are building family with these unfortunate children. Help them financially not by adoption.
I hope people will come to realize that requests and laws been asked by gay people is a major threat to human race, even worse that climate control.
Stop the Gay people now from destroying the indispensable principal purpose of man and woman.
41
LOL! Cee is funny! #40. As if the vagina is some sort of pristine orifice.
Perhaps Cee doesn't know that the vagina is also a conduit for "human daily waste" as well as monthly bloody discharge.
How simplistic to believe that being "gay" or "straight" is merely about the act of sex.
Many gays don't even have anal sex. There is so much more to giving and receiving pleasure than just where to stick your appendage.
Me Tarzan. You Jane. Let's fuck.
Perhaps Cee doesn't know that the vagina is also a conduit for "human daily waste" as well as monthly bloody discharge.
How simplistic to believe that being "gay" or "straight" is merely about the act of sex.
Many gays don't even have anal sex. There is so much more to giving and receiving pleasure than just where to stick your appendage.
Me Tarzan. You Jane. Let's fuck.
42
#41:
Like I’m suppose to believe that? How about this, I want to marry two women but I will only sleep with one. If you don’t have sex in the anus and mouth, what else do you do? if not why get into relationship? so that you can be looking at each other for nothing? maybe because of tax reasons? Don’t kid me or anyone else it just doesn’t justify the means.
Think about you comparisons, ANUS and a VAGINA and that doesn’t matter where you sex? and this will be your explanation to your adopted son or daughter? This continues to show it’s all about what you want, your choice and nothing else.
I am hoping that people will start thinking deeply about this act and understanding the danger this is causing, longtime effects and the destruction it has brought to the world (AIDS).
*** People Stand Up and Stop The Gays From Their Agendas before its too late ***
Like I’m suppose to believe that? How about this, I want to marry two women but I will only sleep with one. If you don’t have sex in the anus and mouth, what else do you do? if not why get into relationship? so that you can be looking at each other for nothing? maybe because of tax reasons? Don’t kid me or anyone else it just doesn’t justify the means.
Think about you comparisons, ANUS and a VAGINA and that doesn’t matter where you sex? and this will be your explanation to your adopted son or daughter? This continues to show it’s all about what you want, your choice and nothing else.
I am hoping that people will start thinking deeply about this act and understanding the danger this is causing, longtime effects and the destruction it has brought to the world (AIDS).
*** People Stand Up and Stop The Gays From Their Agendas before its too late ***
43
#41:
Like I’m suppose to believe that? How about this, I want to marry two women but I will only sleep with one. If you don’t have sex in the anus and mouth, what else do you do? if not why get into relationship? so that you can be looking at each other for nothing? maybe because of tax reasons? Don’t kid me or anyone else it just doesn’t justify the means.
Think about you comparisons, ANUS and a VAGINA and that doesn’t matter where you sex? and this will be your explanation to your adopted son or daughter? This continues to show it’s all about what you want, your choice and nothing else.
I am hoping that people will start thinking deeply about this act and understanding the danger this is causing, longtime effects and the destruction it has brought to the world (AIDS).
*** People Stand Up and Stop The Gays From Their Agendas before its too late ***
Like I’m suppose to believe that? How about this, I want to marry two women but I will only sleep with one. If you don’t have sex in the anus and mouth, what else do you do? if not why get into relationship? so that you can be looking at each other for nothing? maybe because of tax reasons? Don’t kid me or anyone else it just doesn’t justify the means.
Think about you comparisons, ANUS and a VAGINA and that doesn’t matter where you sex? and this will be your explanation to your adopted son or daughter? This continues to show it’s all about what you want, your choice and nothing else.
I am hoping that people will start thinking deeply about this act and understanding the danger this is causing, longtime effects and the destruction it has brought to the world (AIDS).
*** People Stand Up and Stop The Gays From Their Agendas before its too late ***
44
In case you haven't heard, there is a cure for some of the apathy. Get to work. Volunteer three hours a week for a local LGBTQ org like ERW or Lifelong Aids Alliance. Find a buddy to make pact to keep each other accountable.
You also have a forthcoming opportunity to either celebrate or protest at the planned Day of Decision Rally in Seattle for the day the CA supreme court rules on prop 8. The plan is to meet at 5:30 PM at Westlake Center on the day of the decision. Not only will they be addressing California's issues, but issues that affect us right here at home. Spread the word, cure some apathy.
You also have a forthcoming opportunity to either celebrate or protest at the planned Day of Decision Rally in Seattle for the day the CA supreme court rules on prop 8. The plan is to meet at 5:30 PM at Westlake Center on the day of the decision. Not only will they be addressing California's issues, but issues that affect us right here at home. Spread the word, cure some apathy.
45
cee-why do you care what homos or lesbians do in the bedroom? Aids doesn't care about sexual preference-heteros died from it too,dumbass..and watching the news each day -u "normals" have done such damage to the world -with your endless wars,violence,crimes,economic disparity,overpopulation(see Africa) -there is no way homos(very small percentage of total population) can get a leg up on destroying humanity u guys are doing a bangup job all by yourselves..u are the one hung-up on the sex organs as you revealed- the only reason you think relationships form is for getting off-so it seems you are the one sexually obsessed. Why do people like u stay in the US or any other freethinking country striving for equality for its all its citizens? Would you not be more comfortable in a society as hateful,oppressive and narrow as you-Russia,Iran,Latvia,...ohh wait its the freedom right....to live how u want..imagine
46
This Life is not about God, Jesus, Mohamed, Budda, Krishna or any one else
This Life is about Me and You! We are the World and the Universe, With out us this World Would not have Exist, Therefore Lets PRESERVED it.
GAY PEOPLE IS BAD NEW, EXECUTE THEM AND PRESERVED HUMANITY!!!.
This Life is about Me and You! We are the World and the Universe, With out us this World Would not have Exist, Therefore Lets PRESERVED it.
GAY PEOPLE IS BAD NEW, EXECUTE THEM AND PRESERVED HUMANITY!!!.
47
This Life is not about God, Jesus, Mohamed, Budda, Krishna or any one else
This Life is about Me and You! We are the World and the Universe, With out us this World Would not have Exist, Therefore Lets PRESERVED it.
GAY PEOPLE IS BAD NEWS, EXECUTE THEM AND PRESERVED HUMANITY!!!.
This Life is about Me and You! We are the World and the Universe, With out us this World Would not have Exist, Therefore Lets PRESERVED it.
GAY PEOPLE IS BAD NEWS, EXECUTE THEM AND PRESERVED HUMANITY!!!.
49
if your gay it has been proven that there is a piece of your brain that is not fully developed so you dont have the brains to know that being gay is wrong and a sin in gods eye so you should sit back and shut the fuck up and take it in the rear like you do anyway and let the people who have a fully developed mind do the right thing !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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