Even if I misunderstood you, the fact remains that the government itself is persecuting gays
Days after the deadliest mass shooting in American history, Republicans in the House of Representatives—several of whom failed to even acknowledge the LGBT community in the wake of the Orlando massacre—effectively blocked a bill that would have ensured federal contractors can't discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.Sen. Patrick Maloney (D-NY), who is openly gay, reintroduced an amendment to a Defense Department spending bill that would have enforced a 2014 executive order protecting LGBT employees of federal contractors. The bill hits the House floor later this week, but Tuesday night the House Rules Committee decided not to greenlight Maloney's amendment.
Maloney had previously, to no avail, introduced the amendment to a Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill and then to an Energy Department bill. The previous failures of Maloney's amendment led Speaker Paul Ryan to limit which amendments to spending bills could get votes.
Maloney had hoped, in the wake of the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando Saturday, that the amendment would send a message of solidarity to the LGBT community.
“It’s hard to imagine that any act that is so horrific could lead to anything positive. But if we were going to do anything, it would be a very positive step to say that discrimination has no place in our law and to reaffirm the president’s actions in this area,” Maloney told The Hill. “Seems to me a pretty basic thing to do.”
Well, when it comes to this Congress, any "basic thing to do" is basically impossible. To reiterate what some House Democrats chanted when the amendment was first voted down: "Shame! Shame! Shame!"
Before the Committee, Maloney argued in favor of the amendment, comparing the Orlando shooting to the shooting last year at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, which led to restrictions on displaying the Confederate flag.
“Because hate has no place in our flags, in our workplace, or in our country," he said. "And it should have no place in federal law.”
Meanwhile, Committee chairman Pete Sessions offered his "thoughts and prayers" in the wake of Orlando, only to mistakenly claim Tuesday that Pulse was not an LGBT space.
"It was a young person's nightclub," he reportedly said, "And there were some [LGBT people] there, but it was mostly Latinos." Sessions's office later clarified his comments, but the only thing really clear here is the GOP's obstinacy in protecting the LGBT community and all Americans.
This is the government supporting discrimination. Or maybe they should just get a job somewhere else. That's how segregation works.
I am a straight Christian guy here and I believe gays/LGBT are Americans first. One of my friends is gay and he and few of my other friends went to go see the Dirty Heads together. All must be treated equally without judgment. We shouldn't act like teenagers and think of gays as the spawn of Satan. Stupid laws passed against our fellow citizens and persecution doesn't solve a damn thing.
When religious fanatics whether it be the Westboro Baptist nuts who slander Christianity that preaches forgiveness or those who believe in radical Islam and believe it is their duty to slaughter gays/LGBT are scum. I think this verse says it all:
Proverbs 8:34-36 " . . . ALL THEY THAT HATE . . . love death."
But maybe this will lighten the mood for all of us:
https://youtu.be/bjD_R8kWgNY
The government doesn't persecute gays. It is private individuals that persecute them. The gov't has bent over backwards lately for them. Gay marriage is now legal everywhere, gays csn serve openly in the military, transgender bathroom laws are in effect in many areas, businesses have been fined for discrimination against them. I fail to see how gays are persecuted by the government.
Originally posted by Tattoos N ScarsAnd yet gay men are still unable to donate blood, which in the wake of the Orlando shooting is pretty tragic and deeply ironic.
The government doesn't persecute gays. It is private individuals that persecute them. The gov't has bent over backwards lately for them. Gay marriage is now legal everywhere, gays csn serve openly in the military, transgender bathroom laws are in effect in many areas, businesses have been fined for discrimination against them. I fail to see how gays are persecuted by the government.
Originally posted by Beniboybling
...Which is also bad, as many of you have acknowledged.On the other hand on the topic of the US govt persecuting gays, this issue has been overlooked. 👆
There is no denying that homosexuals getting brutally killed in the Radical Muslim countries is vastly more tragic. On the other hand, the US remains one of the most gay-friendly countries in the modern world.
The ban on homosexuals donating blood may end soon.
Link says it was ruled on years ago due to fear of aids. I'm guessing they got better at screening blood, but never changed the rule.
Not sure how it's ironic though, it's not like gays need gay blood to live, any blood will do. Gays are a tiny minority in this country compared to non gays so eh, no real irony. Just an outdated law.
Originally posted by SurturThat's the story, if a man has has sex with another man in the last 12 months (it used to be if ever), they cannot donate blood. Despite the fact with modern technology, AIDS can be tested for with 99.9% accuracy within 7-10 days of it being contracted, and that as far as I know, no law exists preventing heterosexuals who have had anal sex giving blood.
I'm guessing this has to do with risk of aids?
Originally posted by SurturIt is when members of the LGBT community are unable to anything to help those victims of a discriminatory attack (many of whom I assume they are close to), because of discrimination.
Link says it was ruled on years ago due to fear of aids. I'm guessing they got better at screening blood, but never changed the rule.Not sure how it's ironic though, it's not like gays need gay blood to live, any blood will do. Gays are a tiny minority in this country compared to non gays so eh, no real irony. Just an outdated law.
Originally posted by Tattoos N ScarsMmm, that's good news. And yeah, these blood banks need all they can get.
The ban on homosexuals donating blood may end soon.
Originally posted by StigmaCertainly, I'm merely highlighting that govt discrimination is still a problem in the US (and other "gay-friendly" countries for that matter), there is work to be done and we shouldn't be complacent.
Agreed. Although we need to weight in the seriousness of both.There is no denying that homosexuals getting brutally killed in the Radical Muslim countries is vastly more tragic. On the other hand, the US remains one of the most gay-friendly countries in the modern world.