|
At
the
CNN
debate
on
June
3rd,
every
single
one
of
the
Democratic
candidates
for
President
said
that
it
was
time
to
join
our
ally,
Great
Britain,
and
allow
gay
men
and
women
to
serve
openly
in
the
military.
Two
days
later
at
their
debate,
every
Republican
said
they
want
to
maintain
the
status
quo
of
the
federal
government
continuing
to
discriminate
against
gay
soldiers
with
the
policy
of
“Don't
Ask,
Don't
Tell.”
When
asked
the
question,
Gov.
Mike
Huckabee
couldn't
change
the
subject
fast
enough.
Gov.
Mitt
Romney
said
there
were
“much
bigger
issues”
than
taking
a
few
moments
to
discuss
the
current
lack
of
respect
and
dignity
afforded
to
the
gay
men
and
women
who
put
their
lives
on
the
line
for
their
country.
Sen.
John
McCain
was
eloquent
when
he
defended
his
immigration
bill
by
focusing
on
the
Spanish-speaking
soldiers
who
had
died
for
our
nation
in
both
Vietnam
and
Iraq.
It's
a
shame
he
could
not
find
the
same
compassion
when
discussing
the
military
expulsions
and
forced
closets
for
soldiers
like
Marine
Sgt.
Eric
Alva,
who
was
one
of
the
first
American
soldiers
wounded
in
the
Iraq
war,
losing
his
right
leg
on
March
21,
2003,
the
first
day
of
Operation
Iraqi
Freedom.
Sgt.
Alva
revealed
in
a
news
conference
earlier
this
year
that
he
is
also
a
gay
man.
MARC
PAIGE
Fort
Lauderdale,
Fla.
Edwards’
actions
show
he’s
gay
friendly
Re:
“Edwards
uncomfortable
with
‘those
people’”
(viewpoint
by
Kevin
Naff,
June
1)
I
wonder
how
many
of
those
criticizing
Senator
John
Edwards’
comfort
level
around
members
of
the
gay
community
have
ever
even
met
him.
In
the
1990s,
as
executive
director
of
North
Carolina’s
only
statewide
direct-service
LGBT
organization,
and
a
spokesperson
for
a
national
LGBT
coalition,
I
met
John
Edwards
during
his
run
to
be
the
Democratic
candidate
for
the
U.S.
Senate
seat.
His
hearty
greeting
was
completely
absent
the
avoidance
or
hesitation
characteristic
of
what
we
call
“Jesse-crats.”
In
Washington,
I
met
with
Sen.
Edwards’
staff
about
the
hate
crimes
bill.
During
the
committee
discussion,
I
was
seated
behind
Edwards,
out
of
view,
yet
he
spoke
powerfully
and
eloquently
about
the
need
to
protect
our
community
from
violence.
Later,
I
asked
Edwards
to
lend
his
support
to
a
mostly
LGBT
group
of
D.C.
Friends
of
N.C.
who
were
mobilizing
to
support
a
Democrat
for
Jesse
Helms’
Senate
seat.
As
I
explained,
he
answered,
“Yes!”
almost
before
I’d
finished
—
he
was
already
aware
of
the
group
and
applauded
our
efforts.
He
also
took
the
opportunity
to
introduce
me
to
his
wife.
(In
my
experience,
people
who
are
uncomfortable
around
gays
do
not
introduce
us
to
their
attractive
spouses.)
Now,
I
am
greeted
warmly
by
both
of
the
Edwards’
—
usually
with
a
hug
and
peck
on
the
cheek
by
Mrs.
Edwards.
In
2004,
I
forwarded
some
information
to
the
campaign,
including
a
position
paper
urging
transgender
inclusion
in
legislation
—
especially
the
hate
crimes
bill.
A
trans
friend
later
reported
to
me
that
the
senator
answered
in
the
affirmative
to
her
questions
about
such
measures.
Another
multi-page
proposal
I
sent
via
e-mail
received
a
response
within
two
minutes,
saying
that
Mrs.
Edwards
had
read
it,
liked
it
and
had
sent
it
to
the
senator’s
chief
of
staff.
Certainly
the
Edwards’
perpetual
warmth
toward
us,
their
sincere
desire
that
we
should
have
legal
protections,
and
their
genuine
willingness
for
open
idea
sharing
speaks
volumes
over
one
out-of-context
phrase
uttered
years
ago.
KENDA
KIRBY
Washington,
D.C.
Edwards
remark
is
typical
of
hypocritical
Democrats
Re:
“Edwards
uncomfortable
with
‘those
people’”
(viewpoint
by
Kevin
Naff,
June
1)
Thank
you
for
your
article
pertaining
to
John
Edwards'
gay
comfort
zone.
You
nailed
it.
This
isn't
only
applicable
to
Edwards
but
also
to
the
entire
“accepting”
Democratic
Party.
After
all,
it
was
the
Democrats
who
gave
us
“Don't
Ask,
Don't
Tell,”
as
well
as
the
Defense
of
Marriage
Act.
It
was
also
the
majority
of
the
2004
Democratic
presidential
candidates,
including
John
Kerry,
who
opposed
our
right
to
marry.
If
I
am
not
accorded
the
same
rights
as
other
Americans,
then
don't
tax
me
at
the
same
rates.
It
was
because
of
DOMA
that
the
gay
married
partner
of
former
Rep.
Gerry
Studds
(D-Mass.)
could
not
realize
federal
benefits
at
Studds'
death.
We
need
to
hold
the
Democrats’
feet
to
the
fire.
Yes,
I
know
the
Republicans
are
just
as
bad.
The
difference
is
they’re
not
kissing
us
as
they
stab
us
in
the
back.
RANDAL
EATON
CULBRETH
Alabama
 |
 |
| The
following comments were posted by our readers and were
not edited by floridablade.com. We ask that you
treat others with respect; any post deemed offensive will
be removed. |
|
| 
