Diversity Politcs 1-A Smaller Tent. Gay state workers and job candidates have lost anti-discrimination protection as a result of an order that Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher issued last week as part of the state's "Diversity Day." Fletcher replaced the 2003 employment policy of former Gov. Paul Patton with one that still bans employment discrimination because of "race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status and disability," but that deletes the earlier order's inclusion of sexual orientation (as well as gender identity). Several critics accused Fletcher, a Republican, of trying to exploit the issue to appeal to conservative voters. No kidding.
Fletcher's order came as he proclaimed in a speech to schoolchildren, "It is our diversity that gives us strength."
Diversity Politics 2-Who Is Pandering? The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force issued a report decrying efforts by "Republican leaders" to win black votes by appealing to "moral values," including opposition to gay marriage. That's a fair comment on the tactics of some (not all) socially conservative Republicans in the party's hierarchy.
But NGLTF then approvingly quotes the National Black Justice Coalition saying, "Poll taxes, literacy tests and lynching didn't stop us and I am confident we will prevail against this new tactic." Actually, it was southern Democrats/Dixiecrats that held high the banner of black exclusion, Jim Crow and segregation, but what matter facts when there is a bloody flag to be waved
Worse, NGLTF then claims that Republicans have voted against black interest by supporting Social Security reform (although private accounts would have been a better deal for blacks), and opposing affirmative action (race-based preferential treatment), raising the minimum wage (which makes it less likely underclass blacks will find entry-level jobs), federalizing education, and the budget-busting and all-round ill-conceived Medicaid expansion.
Wouldn't arguments showing that same-sex marriage is, in fact, "moral" have been more to the point?
Diversity Politics 3-Your Gay Dollars at Work.
The irascible Jeff Gannon notes
that the Human Rights Campaign both endorses and gives money to
cop-bashing Ga. Rep Cynthia McKinney, now facing a tough primary
fight against challenges who are both pro-gay and don't believe George
Bush ordered that the planes be flown into the twin
towers.