Pentagon balked on gay partner travel.

[DG]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:11pm

"Prior to the Easter recess, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced to intervene with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in order to get Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin’s domestic partner on a military flight for a congressional fact-finding trip to Europe."

This really bothers me. Obviously, I think Ms. Baldwin's partner should be treated the way other spouses are. But you know what, this is exactly the type of discrimination that many of us face daily because we aren't granted full rights and priveledges as gay people.

I'm exceptionally bothered by Ms. Pelosi just waving a wand to get one of her own treated fairly. At the very least, I would expect her to use the situation to bring to light the unfairness implicit in the situation. But I don't see that happening.
Full article.

[DG]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:44pm

And why is Tammy Baldwin remaining silent on this?

There's so much pressure put on gay 'celebrities' to speak out and be vocal about things, well she's a public official! She HAS a voice, and in the halls of power that actually DO make the difference. Barney Frank has made a statemnt - as usual - so why hasn't she? She's the one it affected!

The more I think about this, the more upset I get.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:50pm

She is doing something, at least:

Late last month, she sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in which she asked her to establish basic protections for gay and lesbian State Department employees. Among the changes Baldwin requested were equal travel rights for domestic partners accompanying foreign-service officers to their postings overseas.

[DG]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 1:57pm

Calvin - that's true. At least there's that. But it does seem to me that her steps are only in the direction from which she will benefit.

And I see she has taken on gay causes before.

I just don't like getting something taken care of for yourself, then remaining silent in the face of continued discrimination for others. It's all too 'Mary Cheney' for my taste.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 2:01pm

don't worry, dg. president obama will put donnie mcclurkin and jimmy meeks in charge of making sure that the glbt community gets exactly what's coming to it.

[DG]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 2:04pm

papa - I wish THAT was your April Fool's joke - but I know it's not.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/1/08 at 2:13pm

I think we should put Dan Savage in charge of making sure that the Republican Party gets what is coming to it.