These aren't really gay issues but just a few thoughts on the types of individuals the Republican party courts and their so-called values.

Diana Irey is running against John Murtha. Now I'm unsure of his views on gay issues, but he has been speaking out about what appears to have been war crimes committed by Marines in  Haditha. Murtha has been critical of the Marines and the handling of the war in general.

Well, Ms. Irey seems to be attempting to "swift-boat" Mr. Murtha by declaring that he is a "One-time Patriot" who "has lost his way." Ms. Irey then states that any discussion is a recruinting tool for the enemy. Hey, I'm all for the Marines having due process and their day in court, but if we learned anything from the Vietnam war, atrocities "comfort the enemy" and to cover them up or fail to talk about them doesn't help our military personnel. And she's representative of the so-called family values crew?

And, finally, there's Ann Coulter.

You gotta love someone who has made a career -- and one guesses--a lot of money for being a hate-monger. Americans are sooo gullible. What amazes me about her is her shamless and unrelenting attack on liberals, you know, people like us who made it possible for her to have a career attacking --us. Ain't democracy grand!

The latest "liberals" to feel her wrath are the 9/11 widows whose only offense seems to be that they occasionally speak out about brother Bush. According to CNN, in her new book, which I won't dignify naming, she says:

"I've never seen people enjoying their husbands' deaths so much."

The article in CNN stated: "Her criticism was aimed at four New Jersey women whom she dubbed "The Witches of East Brunswick," after the town where two of them live. They have spent the years since the 2001 terror attacks supporting an independent commission to examine government failures before the attack, and in the 2004 presidential campaign they endorsed Democrat John Kerry."

Classy. Spoken like the kind of person I would want to be identified with. The most hilarious part of this was the segment on NBC news where some right-wing nut job tried to justify Coulter's crap by stating that these women have criticized our beloved "W." So somehow they deserve this? Amazing. These are the kinds of people that are helping shape public policy.

Ann Coulter is pathetic but she sure does know how to make a buck!

Well, it was in the Post Gazette today, the so-called marriage protection amendment passed the state house and jubilant right-wing bigots all over the state are rejoicing. How very Christian.

This amendment was brought up and passed because gay/bi/transgendered folk are the last acceptable minority punching bags. We're the only group left that the right-wing haters (the same group of people that brought us the KKK way back when) can hate and discriminate against with impunity now that discriminating against blacks and jews is frowned upon.

Yes, we have to keep the world safe for the 24/48 hour marriage rights of people like Brittany Spears and Kevin Federline. The thing is, the heterosexuals are fouling their own nests without any help from the gay people of the world. We're not forcing them to get married and then divorced. Most of the gay people I know have been with their partners for at least 20 years or more. That's longer than most hetero marriages survive. And Rick Santorum and all the other so-called Christian people have yet to explain to anyone how gay people getting married will ruin their marriages. Makes you wonder about the strenth of their marriages doesn't it?

And speaking of hypocrisy to the most foul degree, one of the so-called Democrats that voted for the amendment was Ken Ruffing of West Mifflin (my partner's old stomping ground). Isn't this the same Ken Ruffing who was featured in an investigative segment a few weeks ago on KDKA? The person who Marty Griffin reported had had sixteen calls to his home for domestic troubles within the last year? And, beleive it or not, it's just too rich, while Mr. Griffin was there reporting, Ms. Ruffing had called the police on Mr. Ruffing! And he's a poster child for marriage? He has the nerve to deny me the right to marry? Hey, my partner and I have lived together almost two years and the police haven't been here yet. I guess to be worthy of marraige and family values we have alot of catching up to do.

PG Readers Weigh In

The Post-Gazette would like to hear your opinion on the issue. Please send an e-mail with your name and hometown to postscript@post-gazette.com.

A few snippets ... its really quite interesting.

The Republican Party is misguided in its attempt to become the political weapon of organized religion. It is imperative that Republicans reclaim this party from the Religious Right.

-- Amesh Adalja, Butler

My only wish for you is a litter of gay children and grandchildren, maybe then you will see how much hatred and lack of understand hurts!

-- Christie S. Jeannette

I think governor Schwarzenegger said it best: "I think that gay marriage should be between a man and a woman."

-- Matt Kurczewski, Pittsburgh

How appropriate that the PA House's work of evil (discrimination) should coincide with the date of 666.

-- Robert Arlia, Cranberry

Not taking a stand on same-sex marriage would add grease to the slide our society is already on. This slide ends in the pit of Hell.

-- Joe Afflerbach

These corrupt riff raff, aka state legislature are desperately seeking an issue that will prevent their mass execution in November. They are beneath contempt!

-- Jack W., Lewisburg, Pa.

I do not have any problem with gays. I actually have some friends that are gay.

-- Paul S.

The same people that tell the government "GET OUT OF MY GUN SAFE" are also telling the government to get INTO everyone else's bedrooms and family structures. What a bunch of hypocrites.

-- Kim, Cranberry

Quit imposing your so-called rights on America

-- Roberta P., Hopewell

 

This is heartening.  Joseph Bute of Pine took the time to write in and question Bush's pandering to special interests while serious crises abound.  This is my favorite quote:

Facing a need to overcome serious and significant differences of opinion on the fate of more than 12 million immigrants in the United States, he has time to talk about his personal faith in heterosexuality.

Actually, his personal faith in rich, white, male heterosexuality.  But that's quibbling. 

Joseph, thanks for picking up your pen and keeping the PG readers aware of how much anti-anti-gay marriage amendment sentiment there is in Pennsylvania. 

Another interesting read is from Sarah H. Springer, M.D. medical director of International Adoption Health Services of Western Pennsylvania and chair of the section on adoption and foster care at the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Dr. Springer believes that marriage amendments will hurt children. 

When legal recognition of committed couples and families is denied, children lose health insurance, inheritance rights and the rights to have their parents make medical and educational decisions for them. Children can lose the right to have a parent present for their comfort in medical settings, and can lose the protection of support in the case of parental separations, which happen sometimes in homosexual relationships, just as they do in heterosexual marriages.

Defining marriage as only between a man and a woman could deny thousands of children who wait for foster and adoptive homes the availability of willing, capable, loving parents.

She reiterates that all the scientific research shows that children of homosexual families are just as happy and well-adjusted as kids in heterosexual families. 

As Dr. Springer notes, amendments aren't going to suddenly cure homosexuals.  We won't disappear and neither will our kids.  We will be forced to exist in a second-tier status within this society which of course means so will our children.  Haven't we been there already in America?  In fact, aren't we still there when it comes to racial divides within society? 

It is important that people of good conscience stand up for what is right for all children and families.

Proponents of these amendments argue that allowing gay marriages will harm traditional families. This was the same argument used in days gone by to oppose interfaith marriages and inter-racial marriages. These claims were based on nothing but fear and prejudice, and we have learned, of course, that diversity makes all of our lives richer.

Fear and prejudice seem to be American specialities.  With the homos attacking our marriages and the immigrants stealing our jobs and tax dollars, who has time to fear a government attacking our privacy, economy and environment?  Duh!

In another stupefying example of right wing homo-hysteria, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the anti-gay marriage amendment yesterday by a vote of 136-61. 

I'll comment later when I've had more coffee and swallowed my disgust.  Here's how they voted. (PG)  I'll keep you posted on the response from PA LGBT pols. 

	HOW THEY VOTEDThe state House last night approved a bill that would outlaw same-sex marriages in Pennsyvlania. Here's how Pittsburgh-area legislators voted: Republicans -- Yes Brian Ellis of Butler; John Maher of Upper St. Clair; Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry; Mark Mustio of Moon; Jeff Pyle of Ford City; Jess Stairs of Mount Pleasant; Dick Stevenson of Grove City; Tom Stevenson of Mt. Lebanon; Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods. Republicans -- No Mike Diven of Brookline Democrats -- Yes H. William DeWeese of Waynesburg; Vince Biancucci of Aliquippa; James Casorio of Irwin; Peter Daley of California; Anthony DeLuca of Penn Hills; R. Ted Harhai of Monessen; Nick Kotik of Robinson; Victor Lescovitz of Midway; David Levdansky of Forward; Joseph Markosek of Monroeville; John Pallone of New Kensington; Joseph Petrarca of Vandergrift; Thomas Petrone of Crafton Heights; Sean Ramaley of Conway; Harry Readshaw of Carrick; Larry Roberts of Hopwood; Ken Ruffing of West Mifflin; James Shaner of Lemont Furnace; Thomas Tangretti of Greensburg. Democrats -- No Paul Costa of Wilkins; Frank Dermody of Oakmont; Dan Frankel of Squirrel Hill; Marc J. Gergely of White Oak; Frank Pistella of Bloomfield; Joseph Preston of East Liberty; Tim Solobay of Canonsburg; Mike Veon of Beaver Falls; Don Walko of North Side; Jake Wheatley of the Hill District. Frank LaGrotta, D-Ellwood City, was absent.