If you're queer and voted for McCain...

Your candidate may have lost but, hey, the party you supported helped vote through at least four measures that deny the fundamental humanity of you and the people you purport to love, so that's kind of a victory, right?

Thanks on behalf of queers in California, Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas for doing your part to make our lives just a little harder.

For all those who said, "I live in a red state so my vote for Obama won't count," I have four words for you:

Indiana.

North Carolina.

Virginia.

Indiana hadn't voted for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson, people.

And then there are the red states that McCain narrowly won...

North Dakota (by 8%  Bush won it by almost 30% in 2004)

South Dakota (by about 10%. Bush won it by 21% in 2004)

Texas (by 11%. Bush won it by 23% in 2004)

West Virginia (by 7%. Bush won it by 7% in 2004)

Montana (by 3%. Bush won it by 20% in 2004) Edited: Thanks to anonymous commentor who corrected me. I guess I did the math and saw a 17% difference between 04 and 08 and...yeah. No more blogging without coffee.

Now take a look at these states, especially with very low populations -- Obama lost North Dakota by less than 30,000 votes -- and tell me that people turning out to the polls and giving a damn about the value of their votes doesn't make a difference.

We can turn these states blue next time, people.

The whiny "My vote doesn't count" excuse doesn't wash anymore.

Just ask the Democrats in Viriginia, North Carolina, and Indiana.

Obama said in last night's debate, "I don't think anyone is pro-abortion."

This is the firs time I've heard a candidate articulate this, and I'm so glad he did. I have worked on behalf of reproductive rights most of my adult life. And while I am prochoice, I have never been proabortion. If I had my way, there would never be another elective abortion in this country again, because women would have the reproductive health information and resources they need to prevent unplanned pregnancies. At the same time, I don't think there should be a federal law respecting what is ultimately a personal and medical decision.

When I went to the Palin protest two weeks ago, I was greeted by signs saying things like "Adoption: The Loving Option." I agree. Adoption is a wonderful option. So is raising your child. What these people seem to miss is that these are choices. The funniest sign I saw held up by a McPalin supporter read "My mother chose me." Well duh -- she had a choice.

The right wing, anti-choice lobby paints those of us who are prochoice as cavalier baby killers. While there are some who are very cavalier about abortion, for the most part this is not true. Prochoicers recognize that the choice to have an abortion or carry through a pregnancy is an agonizing one. No one would argue that abortions are easy things to go through, or that women do not have things to process after. My best friend has had two abortions. I have watched her struggle with those choices, and even now many years later she struggles. It was not an easy choice. It has had consequences for her. But it was the best choice for her at the time, and she will tell you that even with the personal struggles she has had with those choices, she would make them the same way again. Other women might regret their abortions. But neither they, nor my best friend and women like her, should have the right to legislate what other women do with their bodies.

I cannot call those who advocate for the abolition of legal abortion pro-life. The label seems to imply that those who are for legalized abortion rights are pro-death. We are not. We are life-affirming as well -- the lives of women, the lives of children who are born into families that choose them, quality of life for all children who come into the world. You will find that those of us who are prochoice are typically also working on causes like health care, domestic violence, and the like -- things that promote life quality. Simply requiring a child to be born does not indicate that you have the quality of his/her life or his/her mother's at heart. It's not that easy. You can be pro-choice and anti-abortion as well....I know many, many people who would never have an abortion themselves, would encourage their loved ones to consider adoption or raising a child in the face of an unplanned pregnancy, but who would not advocate to make abortion illegal. The two stances -- being life-affirming and choice-affirming -- are not incompatible.

I think that what frustrates me most is the anti-choice lobby will also restrict access to sexual health information and contraception. It will not take steps to help prevent unplanned pregnancies, but will tell women what they can and cannot do in the face of such a pregnancy. This is ultimate hypocisy. Certainly, there are those who do advocate for better sexual education, but they seem to be the minority.

We cannot have it both ways. The way to unite these lobbies is to get us all excited about preventing unplanned pregnancies, providing access to healthcare for those who do choose to carry their pregnancies through, and creating a culture in which all people are cared for and given a chance at opportunity and a healthy life.

Now, that would be a pro-life stance.

An articulate response to those who say Obama and McCain have the "same position" on gay marriage, from someone who's disillusioned with them both.

And another great story, a few years old, on the broader issue. "Tolerance" = acceptance, and voting as though they are synonymous will hurt us all.

And finally my sister's personal take on the issue, which is much like my own:

I have a couple of friends who lived through the 1980's in NYC and saw AIDS kill friend after friend after friend.  They talk about how the people who died owned businesses and property with their partners who then had to battle with (often hostile) family members to buy back the share in the business or property that automatically went to those family members due to inheritance laws.  The worst stories are those about people not being able to say goodbye to their partners, before or after their death. 
 
It's not all that different now.  I have a client, who recently married his partner in NJ.  They own a weekend house on the PA side of the PA/NJ border.  He recently became seriously ill while they were at the house, and an ambulance had to be called.  Luckily he was conscious, and was able to insist on being taken to a hospital on the NJ side of the border.  He knew that if he were unable to make medical decisions for himself, his partner would be able to make them on his behalf.
 
This is why it isn't about whether a candidate is willing to call it "marriage" or not.  It's about whether or not the candidate (and the party platform!) show a fundamental belief in equal rights for everyone.  Someone who will "tolerate" you and someone who will ensure that you are recognized by the government as deserving of having your rights protected do not have "the same view."

Come on, America, gay straight or inbetween....seriously, if you cannot see the difference between McCain and Obama's stance on this issue, how do you make the really hard decisions -- like deciding whether to wash your hair with Aveda or battery acid, or whether it's a better call to eat a burger or some dogfood...cuz it's all the same, right?

After everything, I can only conclude that if you identiy as any type of queer and support the McCain-Palin ticket....you either...

Have serious self-hate issues
Are a poser (and yes  "bi-chic" bitches, I'm looking at you)
Have lived in a cave
Are seriously stupid and need to be institutionalized for your own good.

I don't get it. These people hate you and everyone like you. They'd gladly take away any civil rights you have and tell you to be happy that they'll "tolerate" you. Tolerance is not acceptance. It's crumbs that say "Take what you can get sucker, cuz we don't have to give you shit."

THESE PEOPLE HATE YOU AND THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.

If I could start revoking queer points, I soooooo would

...stop fucking with everyone I know and all of our relationships, or I will personally go out on the astral, find you, and drag your ass back direct.

And I'll bring corwin75 with me.

And you know that nobody wants that.

That is all. You may now return to your reguarly scheduled surfing.