Glimpses from the Panderfest

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3 Comments for “Glimpses from the Panderfest”

  1. posted by Jorge on

    O’Rourke taking away tax-exempt status from churches… I don’t have the ability to see Twitter videos from my browser, but I’ll check.

    …..

    That was a really dumb answer to a really skewed and vague question. To be clear, Mr. Lemon asked about “religious institutions like college, churches, charities”–conflating 2-3 different types of organizations and placing the word “churches” in the middle where it was least likely to be heard. And he asked if they should lose their tax exempt status if they “oppose” same sex marriage, which is vague enough to include several different principles and practices. This question logically asked about practices ranging from employment discrimination by religious charities to politically reclusive churches marrying only straight couples and not gay couples.

    Problematic as the question was, I do not have a problem with it being asked in that way because it seems designed to engage and draw out the nuance of the person’s views, presuming a respondent of above average guile. “Gotcha” questions lead to some very interesting answers when the respondent and the audience pay attention. And there is a wide range of views on these issues–people who take either extremes (I count myself in this category) and a vast grey area.

    Warren: That is, frankly, not the headline I am looking at. The headline I am looking at, I don’t like. But I suppose you had to choose one that fit the pandering theme.

    Whatever. It’s over. The butso rans got a chance to look good.

  2. posted by Tom Scharbach on

    I was struck by the fact that “equal means equal” across the board has become normative for Democratic candidates. I came of age before Stonewall, and I can remember many, many years in the wilderness.

    I suggest that we take a look at Mayor Buttigieg’s LGBTQ White Paper, released this week. The White Paper contains detailed policy proposals.

    To a large extent, the proposals enjoy wide support from the American people. I recognize that many/most of the proposals are opposed by conservative homosexuals. I also recognize that many of the proposals would have been unnecessary if the Trump administration had not rolled back protections that existed when President Trump took office.

    I think that the tide has turned in America, and I think that the shoe is now on the foot of conservative homosexuals, requiring them to explain clearly why the proposals unacceptable.

    So instead of snarky nonsense, I think that it is time to have a substantive discussion between conservative homosexuals and left/liberal gays and lesbians about the path forward, focusing on actual proposals.

    For that purpose, Mayor Buttigeig’s proposals are as good a starting point as any. This is a list of the proposals in Mayor Buttigieg’s White Paper:

    ● Pass the Equality Act.
    ● Rescind the Trump administration’s efforts to strip protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ Americans.
    ● Ensure that every federal agency identifies discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and vigorously uses all available tools to stop it.
    ● Update the U.S. passport program to include a third, non-binary gender option, “X”, for all new U.S. passports.
    ● Ban medically unnecessary genital surgeries on intersex infants and children.
    ● Train more doctors and medical professionals on the health needs and human rights of intersex people.
    ● Guarantee that every LGBTQ+ person has access to affordable health coverage through Medicare for All Who Want It.
    ● Eliminate all barriers to medically necessary care for transgender Americans.
    ● Provide targeted approaches within women’s health programs for lesbians and bisexual women.
    ● Ensure LGBTQ+ people receive care from clinicians who are equipped to provide respectful, appropriate, and equitable care.
    ● Ensure access to comprehensive mental health and addiction services for all Americans, including LGBTQ+ people.
    ● Pass the LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention Act, comprehensive legislation that addresses key risk factors for LGBTQ+ deaths by suicide, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth.
    ● Increase funding for culturally appropriate mental health and substance use disorder services for LGBTQ+ people.
    ● Restore White House leadership on HIV/AIDS.
    ● Guarantee that everyone with HIV is, and remains, in treatment.
    ● Ensure access to PrEP for everyone who needs it.
    ● Invest in finding a cure for HIV.
    ● Guarantee access to prevention services, such as condoms and risk reduction programs.
    ● Support evidence-based harm reduction, including removing restrictions on syringe services programs and permitting states to develop safe injection sites.
    ● Decriminalize HIV transmission and reduce stigma related to HIV/AIDS.
    ● Resume U.S. leadership in international institutions, partnerships, and programming aimed at ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally.
    ● Prohibit violence, bullying, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
    ● Provide funding to help states’ education department create more safe and inclusive environments.
    ● Empower the Office of Civil Rights at the federal Department of Education to appropriately investigate complaints of discrimination by LGBTQ+ students and families.
    ● Increase funding for school-based health centers to provide mental health services.
    ● Provide LGBTQ+ inclusive lessons and health education.
    ● Prohibit discrimination against potential adoptive or foster parents and children based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
    ● Pass the Every Child Deserves a Family Act and the Do No Harm Act.
    ● Pass the FAMILY Act and ensure these protections reach all families who need them.
    ● Treat same-sex American parents abroad equally.
    ● End youth homelessness as part of a comprehensive housing agenda.
    ● Encourage family acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth.
    ● Provide federal funding for LGBTQ+ community centers.
    ● Establish funding for workforce training and apprenticeship programs that expand opportunities for LGBTQ+ people, especially LGBTQ+ youth.
    ● Advance initiatives that support LGBTQ+-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
    ● Shift federal funds to support the provision of comprehensive sexual health education in schools and to the public instead of funding abstinence-only programs.
    ● Give the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships a mandate to work with faith and community leaders who support LGBTQ+ people to provide services and ensure LGBTQ+ representation in the overall mission of the office.
    ● Vigorously enforce the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
    ● Train law enforcement and require reporting on issues specific to LGBTQ+ people.
    ● Reduce incarceration by 50 percent nationwide.
    ● Ensure that all correctional and detention facilities provide medically necessary treatment and appropriate detention conditions.
    ● Reform and strengthen the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
    ● Rescind the transgender military ban.
    ● Rescind the exclusion of coverage for surgical treatment of gender dysphoria currently in place at the Veterans Health Administration.
    ● Rescind restrictions on military service by people living with HIV.
    ● Ensure that LGBTQ+ seniors have equal access to long-term care and facilities.
    ● Review federal retirement benefits to ensure equity for survivors of long-time LGBTQ+ couples who were prohibited from civil marriage.
    ● Increase funding to help document and celebrate LGBTQ+ history and culture.
    ● Increase funding for arts and culture grants that are LGBTQ+-inclusive.
    ● Expand the representation of LGBTQ+ people and history in our National Parks System.
    ● Protect LGBTQ+ refugees and asylees.
    ● Ensure that the refugee resettlement program is inclusive of the needs of LGBTQ+ people and that LGBTQ+ refugees are placed in welcoming communities.
    ● Pass legislation that recognizes same-sex relationships from countries where civil marriage is not available or accessible for same-sex couples.
    ● Lead against persecution and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people on the global stage and encourage our ambassadors to ensure LGBTQ+ rights as human rights.
    ● Support LGBTQ+ foreign service officials and their families.
    ● Appoint officials who reflect the diversity of America.
    ● Work with the LGBTQ+ community to identify appropriate vehicles to collect greater and more useful data about sexual orientation and gender identity.
    ● Increase funding for federal research about LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and communities.
    ● Honor LGBTQ+ Pride Month every year.

    • posted by Jorge on

      So instead of snarky nonsense, I think that it is time to have a substantive discussion between conservative homosexuals and left/liberal gays and lesbians about the path forward, focusing on actual proposals.

      How about the left/liberal gays come up with the ideas, and the conservative homosexuals look for why they won’t work?

      Then switch. Conservative homosexuals come up with the idea to do nothing, and left/liberal gays look for why that won’t work. Then repeat.

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