Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Little in State of the Union for Gays
by Bob Roehr
2004-01-21

This article shared 2558 times since Wed Jan 21, 2004
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


President George W. Bush wrapped himself in the mantle of commander in chief as he kicked off his reelection bid in the State of the Union Address on January 20. Gays had little to cheer about.

Much of the domestic focus played to his conservative base. One key element was a forceful restatement of his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman and an attack on activist judges who threaten to bring gay marriage. But he stopped short of endorsing the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA).

Last year he surprised many with his African AIDS initiative. This year AIDS, both foreign and domestic, was not even mentioned. Instead Bush announced a doubling of funding for abstinence programs to prevent young people from becoming infected with sexually transmitted diseases. And he again pushed for his faith-based initiative 'so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again.'

Bush vigorously defended the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996 with wide bipartisan support and signed into law by Bill Clinton, that 'protects marriage under federal law as the union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states.'

'Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.'

While the chamber applauded, the volume seemed muted, suggesting that even some Republicans were not eager to take on this issue.

The President seemed to imply that there was to be no gay bashing in debating this issue when he said, 'The outcome of this debate is important, and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's

sight.'

Pundits could not recall when a President had ever spoken before of sexually transmitted diseases in an address to Congress. But that did not deter Bush.

'Each year, about 3 million teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases that can harm them or kill them or prevent them from ever becoming parents,' he said in proposing to 'double federal funding for abstinence programs so schools can teach this fact of life: Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases.'

Gays and lesbians who stayed tuned for the Democratic response hoping for a defense on these issues were sadly disappointed, even though it was delivered by Senate leader Tom Daschle and one of the most pro-gay members of Congress, House leader Nancy Pelosi.

There was not one word on HIV or on any gay issue even though press accounts in the days leading up to the speak noted a slight increase in domestic AIDS funding in the President's proposed budget and his intent to defend traditional marriage.

Senator John Kerry, the upset winner in the Democratic caucuses in Iowa the previous day, defended his 1996 vote against DOMA in an interview on ABC News. He called his vote a denouncement of the 'gay bashing' that took place during the Senate debate on that legislation. He was one of only 14 Senators vote against the bill. However, Kerry said that when it comes to gay marriage, 'I have the same position as the President.'

The GLBT community reacted to the evening's speech with dismay.

Log Cabin Republicans spokesman Mark Mead said that Bush 'was elected by bringing Americans together.' Supporting the FMA 'is not in keeping with this pledge...It is not necessary, it is not conservative, and we urge the President to not engage in a culture war, the same kind of culture war that doomed his father's reelection efforts.'

The organization has gone on record as saying that it would not endorse any candidate who supports the FMA.

'President Bush has proved that he doesn't care about gay families, he just doesn't,' said Dave Noble, executive director of National Stonewall Democrats. 'He's completely ignorant of the reality that gay families have existed throughout American history.'

'The bottom line is that gay Americans live in more than 99 percent of the counties in this country, and more than one million children are being raised by same-sex couples,' said Cheryl Jacques, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

She said the President also 'misrepresented the proper role of the courts in protecting rights and freedoms by criticizing 'activist judges,'' though she did acknowledge that Bush did not explicitly endorse the antigay FMA.

But Bush's rhetorical denunciation of gay marriage didn't satisfy the far right. The Family Research Council's Tony Perkins was disappointed. He said the President 'promised to help the families of America – after the bomb goes off and the damage is done.' He urged Bush to press for the FMA now.

The reaction from the AIDS community was of equal disappointment.

'Tonight's speech was a missed opportunity to continue the great work President Bush began last year,' said Marsh Martin, executive director of AIDS Action. 'To speak only about abstinence and not other scientifically accepted public health interventions for young people (and their adult parents) is a costly omission—not just in dollars, but also in lives,'

'The lack of mention of the domestic HIV epidemic simply is not acceptable. So much more is needed, and I'm not talking just about money.'

It's like, 'Where's Waldo?' – what happened to AIDS?' which was a focus of the President's address just a year ago, said Paul Feldman spokesman for the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA).

He acknowledged that abstinence is a valid part of a total HIV prevention program 'but abstinence only programs are not supported by science.' There needs to be 'a comprehensive approach to arm people with knowledge to protect themselves.'

As gay conservative Andrew Sullivan noted on his blog, '$23 million for drug testing children in schools? A tirade against steroids? More public money for religious groups? Abstinence only for prevention of STDs? Whatever else this President is, he is no believer in individuals running their own lives without government regulation, control, or aid. If you're a fiscal conservative or a social liberal, this was a speech that succeeded in making you take a second look at the Democrats.


This article shared 2558 times since Wed Jan 21, 2004
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Thailand parliament passes landmark marriage bill 2024-03-27
- On March 27, Thailand's parliament approved a marriage-equality bill by an overwhelmingly large margin—a landmark step that moves one of Asia's most liberal countries closer to legalizing same-sex unions, media ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Va. marriage bill, AARP, online counseling, Idaho items, late activist 2024-03-21
- Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills protecting same-sex marriages at a state level, surprising some, WRIC reported. The bills—passed out of both chambers along mostly party lines—will require clerks ...


Gay News

Greek legislature approves marriage equality 2024-02-15
- Greece has become the 36th country, and the first Christian Orthodox-majority one, to legalize same-sex marriage. The BBC reported that same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after the 176-76 vote that ...


Gay News

Tenn. legislators back bill that lets officials refuse to perform same-sex weddings 2024-02-15
- Defying a national ruling that authorized marriage equality, Tennessee lawmakers approved a measure that would allow public officials to refuse to perform weddings of same-sex couples, The Hill reported. Tennessee's House Bill 878/Senate Bill 596 says ...


Gay News

WORLD Marriage in Greece, UK politics, cruise death, HRC grants 2024-02-02
- The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece unanimously agreed at a recent meeting that it is "strongly opposed" to the Greek government's promised bill on same-sex marriage and adoption, Balkan Insight reported. The conservative New ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Marriage news, fighting fentanyl, anti-LGBTQ+ crimes, Grindr 2024-02-02
- The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would affirm marriage equality in the state, The Washington Blade noted. House Bill 174, introduced by state Del. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William County), passed in the Democratic-controlled ...


Gay News

WORLD Activist honored, marriages in Estonia, Madrid law, trans sports item 2024-01-05
Video below - The National AIDS Commission (NAC) recently honored Caleb Orozco—a leading figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Belize—for his instrumental contributions to the national HIV response, BNN reported. According ...


Gay News

Catholic Church allows priests to bless same-sex couples but reaffirms disapproval of gay marriage 2023-12-22
- LGBTQ+ couples can now receive blessings from priests, but the Catholic Church maintained its strict ban on gay marriage, according to a Vatican document approved by Pope Francis Dec. 18. This historic change in doctrine marks ...


Gay News

Greek government vows to back marriage equality 2023-12-22
- Despite opposition from the Church of Greece and within the ruling New Democracy, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government said it will eventually move to legalize same-sex marriage, The National Herald reported. However, no timetable was ...


Gay News

Dignity/Chicago welcomes new rule on church blessings for same-sex marriages 2023-12-18
--From a press release - Dignity/Chicago, the advocacy organization for LGBTQI Catholics and friends, welcomed the news that the Vatican's doctrinal office has officially declared it possible for Catholic priests to bless same-sex unions and ...


Gay News

New Ways Ministry: Pope's blessings approval is Christmas gift to LGBTQ+ Catholics 2023-12-18
--From a press release - MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—Statement by Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry: Pope Francis gave LGBTQ+ Catholics an early Christmas gift this year by approving blessings for same-gender couples. The Vatican ...


Gay News

Pope Francis changes policy, allowing priests to bless same-sex unions; GLAAD responds 2023-12-18
--From a press release - GLAAD: "By removing barriers to priests blessing LGBTQ couples, the Pope accurately recognizes that LGBTQ people and our relationships are worthy of the same affirmation and support in the Church, and this strengthens couples in their ...


Gay News

LGBTQ+ couple the first in South Asia to have marriage recognized 2023-11-30
- Transgender woman Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey became the first LGBTQ+ couple to have their marriage legally recognized in South Asia after they received a legal certificate in Nepal's Lamjung district on Nov. 29, The Guardian ...


Gay News

WORLD Thai marriage law, French bill, Miss Universe, IKEA, activist dies 2023-11-24
- Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the cabinet approved a draft law on marriage equality and that it would be brought to parliament during a session starting in December, Reuters reported. If the draft law ...


Gay News

Pope: Trans people can be baptized and act as godparents 2023-11-09
- Pope Francis has stated that trans people may be baptized and act as godparents or witnesses to marriage under the same conditions as any other adult—as long as a scandal does not result, according to PinkNews. ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.