House Equality Caucus Vice Chair Schakowsky's open letter to the LGBT community

Until they get a Senator it's useless.

DADT will never be repealed until they get a Senator and co-sponsors to write a bill in the Senate.  There is nothing in the works, despite Gillibrand's recent comments in Huff Post that shes discussing it in the weeks and MONTHS to come with Kennedy.  I asked her office when they expect something and they said the Senator has no idea.

FAT CHANCE ON THAT.

But good for Rep Jan Schakowsky that she bothered to say something at all.  And i am honestly surprised no one in that caucus had an idea that this was coming down the pike.  If the average blogger knew it was in the works why didn't the exalted elected officials know?  Were they too busy playing Congressional Baseball?  Is that why they have no time for LEGISLATING?  

The trollish sounding blogger formerly known as BURNSEY

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by: R.K. Wright @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 14:56:38 PM CDT

not sure

if you know about it, but I suspect that Gilibrand's comments were just that - comments. She'll be up for reelection next year, and it seems that Representative Carolyn Maloney is planning on running against Gilibrand (though it seems Maloney has no backing on this from any big wigs in the party). Anyway... Maloney has brought pro-LGBT legislation for a number of years now and has spoken out strongly against the Federal Marriage Amendment &c. (Maloney reps Upper East Side and part of Queens right now - lots of LGBTs.) So... until Gilibrand does something, I am seeing her actions as just courting the vote. Let's see her do something.

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by: avocado @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:22:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Agreed.

Gillibrand has conveniently now come out and said she supports repealing DADT but has chosen not to support gay rights bills in the past while Maloney has a great record of supporting LGBT rights. Maybe its just me but I think its easy to see who is just politicking for votes and who is going to take action for LGBT rights.

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by: Bsmith @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 19:48:40 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm just your average blogger and. . .

I had the brief filing deadline on my Outlookcalendar waiting for the hammer do come down. So how can an Equality Causcus of professional politicians not even knwo it was coming? Lame!!!!

Maybe they were too busy playing baseball.

Close the GayTM. Only give to candidates who have actually done something other than make promises - most are just pandering for our cash.

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by: JohnVisser @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:34:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Gillibrand's "support" was just pandering

She went against 150 of her colleagues in not supporting a bill that would have repealed DADT in 2007 (which is the complete opposite of what she just said in her recent photo op). She's in a tough spot with the primary and she's trying to placate people while giving them absolutely nothing. She's not really on our side and is not to be trusted.

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by: albanywonk @ Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 15:57:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

My Congresswoman

I haven't gotten around to writing her yet. But I will after this.

Now I am sure that many in the GLBT community that live in her district (and there are many, trust me). Because she has not addressed this steaming pile of shit that the leader of her Party has dumped on my community.

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by: kevinchi @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 14:58:16 PM CDT

9th district

has Lakeview and Andersenville, right?  Does it extend to Rogers Park?

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:00:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes

I live in Evanston (as she does) and I am in her district. I am walking distance from her office.

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by: kevinchi @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:08:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks

Before the move to Denver, I was living in Lombard, so I lose track of some other congressional borders.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:10:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes...

to both questions. It's my district. To the South it starts in Lakeview and extends North past Evanston

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by: SciFi Geek @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:19:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Jan Schakowsky is a member of PHB!

I never would have guessed!

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:28:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dear Ms. Schakowsky

I voted for a Democratic Senator from the state of Colorado and a Democratic Housemember as well as the President.  The Democrats need to stop their policy of Incremental Minimalism in their approach to progressive issues.  I will not be voting for any incumbent Democrat if the Party cannot start moving forward on a progressive legislative agenda.  If you cannot deliver, I will not be donating to any Democratic Party body

We currently have a situation where the Congress says that they will not move without the Administration and the Administration says that they will not move without the Congress.  It's time to camo up and start the battle.  

Good luck, and may God(dess) have mercy on your soul.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 14:59:34 PM CDT

HUH???

The Vice Chair of the caucus didnt know about the DOMA brief?  If she didnt, she needs to be fired because everyone else did!

Looks like total backpeddaling inho.

More BS talk and no action.

Ms. Schakowsky, were not the idiots you seem to think we are. More talk is just that. DO SOMETHING, then come back and talk. Until then, I dont want to hear how 'hard youre working towards full equality'.

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by: LoveMoby @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:00:35 PM CDT

Domestic Partner Act

Wouldn't overturning DOMA have the same effect? Then it would be a policy decision (EO?) to provide spousal benefits, I would think. Why is political capital being spent on this when it could be spent on DOMA and achieve this as well as the full range of benefits for everyone? As a federal employee, I would like full benefits for my spouse as much as the next person but I'd also like her to receive my social security should something happen to me.  

It may be the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.

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by: sandushinka @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:06:01 PM CDT

Incremental Minimalism

Deliver the absolute smallest amount possible to bring as many people back into the fold as possible without actually delivering on anything of substance.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

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by: MileHighDawg @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:12:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dear Rep. Jan Schakowsky,

Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

Or I will contribute money to replace you with someone who will.

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Claim to fame: Posted first PHB diary to be demoted

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by: cindik @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:26:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Don't blame me...

That's what this sounds like to me.

We didn't know the DOMA brief was coming.  We are submitting bills (see Baldwin and Nadler and Tauscher) but it's that terrible Senate.

We really want your money!!

See there is a group of us and we do things and you would be really impressed...if anything were actually accomplished.

And they are never accomplished.  
And I am not impressed.
And I am tired of relying on you and being subjected to blackmail every 2 years - vote for us or end up with THEM.

DNC doesn't represent me.

ATM CLOSED.

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by: Patrick @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:25:54 PM CDT

New ATM graphic

is in the sidebar:

Feel free to use.

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by: Pam Spaulding @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 16:07:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Show me the goods

and I'll show you the money.  No more should we pay up front to obtain our equal rights in the form of political donations.  The DNC is now on notice they are now on a political performance plan.  No equal rights, no political donations from the LGBT.

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by: Guy in SF @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 16:37:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Added to my FB wall...yay!

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by: Patrick @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 17:05:37 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ah heck

I posted mine on Thursday:

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/...

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by: ggw59 @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 12:09:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Will married same sex federal employees get these benefits?

I have to ask if those legally married same sex couples will be allowed to get these new benefits?  If they are married, they are not in civil unions or domestic partnerships, so how will the rights be handled in those instances?

In every state that allows it, you can only enter one union, either the domestic partnership/Civil Union or marriage.  If Feds don't recognize marriage rights how can they give a married same sex couple from Mass. any of these benefits?


The trollish sounding blogger formerly known as BURNSEY

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by: R.K. Wright @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:27:17 PM CDT

I've wondered that very same question myself .

Devil is in the detail.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:45:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Technically

In some states you can have both, provided they're to the same person.  For example, those with Vermont civil unions will be able to marry after 9/1 without having to dissolve the CU (the state won't issue any more, though).  It was similar in California while new marriages were still permitted (good thing too--think of how many fewer couples would have been married if they had had to go through the time and trouble to technically dissolve one type of partnership in order to enter into another with the same partner).

That said, I agree with your overall point of how the federal government will treat marriages.  I'm sure they haven't thought it through yet.  Off the top of my head, they may have to do something like many private employers did (and do, where there is no state-level recognition available) and have the couple submit some sort of "partnership affidavit"--ugh, yet another term.  It will definitely be simpler when we can all just marry.

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by: Gianpiero @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 02:27:17 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Dear Gay Communty: Please go back to sleep

Barney is doing a great job, follow him and your leaders, the HRC. Someday we will get equality for you, maybe expanded  rental truck protections.

Your friends.
The Dems

No thanks.
Been there , done that
Fool me once....

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:30:11 PM CDT

Hate Crimes Bill

I have been watching with interest the changes in the Senate's willingness to pass the Hate Crimes Bill.  It is difficult for me to believe that it would be stuck there if Democratic Senators believed that the White House wanted it to move.  I wonder if the Senate will now become the bad cop, so the fierce advocate can say that the problem is the legislative branch, not the executive.  This has the further benefit of diffusing the GLBT response among 100 Senators, rather than having it focused in one spot.

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by: silverkjk @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:31:02 PM CDT

i don't think it'll diffuse anything.

on the contrary, it'll intensify the response because we will get even more infuriated.  unlike obama, i can multitask.  it is no trouble for me at all to include my members of congress in what i write, calls i make and people i withhold funds and volunteer time from.  if they think they're cute and shrewd by playing cat and mouse as you describe, they'll learn soon enough that they were terribly mistaken.

i'm still waiting to hear from kerry and kenned on the concrete actions they're taking.  not a peep so far.  pathetic.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:46:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

They are trying to ignore the grassroots rebellion

That is what this scrambling is about. The loss of Sullivan, the White House's favourite gay, to our side is a huge blow and frightening to them, so they need to show some smoke and mirrors appearances of movement but in conjunction with our discredited ex leaders.

They want to do another deal with Joe praising Obama to the heavens for crumbs from the table of liberty.

I tell you Chica that no greater abomination exists than women denying their spirit of sisterhood and instead becoming the oppressor. -Rebeca, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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by: MauraHennessey @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:51:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

again

Time once again to email my Senators.  It's just unconscionable that they haven't put this into law yet !!   After all that defamatory stuff over Matthew Shepard and now this delay.   GGGrrr.

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by: Passionforprog @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 15:55:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Lame

Another laundry list.  I want a Gantt chart.

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by: DaveO @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 16:07:09 PM CDT

+1 Insightful

There is no situation so complex it can't get even worse

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by: ZoeB @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 02:58:04 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

She's my Congresswoman as well.

I live in Edgewater, right down the street from the Granville CTA Red Line station (that means nothing to most of the people here, but there you go).

That letter really is wishy-washy. Although, she'll be marching in the Pride Parade next weekend. Huzzah.

I'd forgotten about the GLBT House Caucus. Fat lot of good that has done so far.

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by: Terry @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 16:32:34 PM CDT

vote them out

As a  gay partisan Democrat, I feel completely abused.  I will only be giving money and time to those who show me what they support with their votes, not with platitudes about how they support us.  We have a fraud as President, if, as a gay man, I cannot get support from someone who says they are my "advocate" then I might as well vote in my own self interest

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by: richarddc @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 17:12:27 PM CDT

I Disagree

Jan has an excellent reputation.

I read the letter as, "here's what's going on - the good, the bad, and the ugly."

This gives us some specifics we can use to contact our representative and senators. We can use the information to push the timeline with our elected officials.

The letter exposes Obama's lack of priority on our issues and gives us the opportunity to know exactly what to push on. Jan clearly states that Obbama isn't going to push on repeal of DADT, so if we want it repealed, we need to push our elected officials to push it through.

I've already written my rep and my two no-way-in-Hell Repugnant Senators asking them to co-sponsor, push for votes, and support the legislation Jan mentions.

But, Here's What I want to know:

What is the word, obligation doing in the title of the "Domestic Partner Benefit and Obligation Act"?

Sounds like a slap in the face to me. Or, a suck-up to right wing bigots.

If you are a serial-rapist, ax-murderer, church-bomber heterosexual, you can still get married. So. what's the "obligation" part? Are they going to demand that gays enter into "Covenant" Domestic Partnerships?

I wouldn't be offended if same-sex couples could marry - exactly as everyone else can. But, you can't. So. I find it insulting for this bill to lecture you on what it means to be in a relationship.

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. -- John F. Kennedy (inspired by Dante's Inferno)

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by: oldbrit @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 17:17:48 PM CDT

obligations

I think it has to do with money. Money is obligated (in government-speak) which translates to committed in real English.

It may be the purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others.

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by: sandushinka @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 22:11:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank You Rep. Schakowsky

WE remember those who stand with us as allies, and we remember those who FAIL to do so too.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 17:44:54 PM CDT

btw I like her mentioning the DOMA brief blindsided them too, and they aren't PLEASED

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 17:46:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

btw having GOOD MANNERS to thank an ally isn't weakness

it costs you NOTHING, and will be remembered by the person you think enough of to THANK.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

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by: peteyPornpig @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 19:47:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

thank you as well

There's one thing in her statement tht bothers me, no reflection on the Hon. Representative.

... HR 1283, to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  I'm a co-sponsor.  I have good reason to believe the President will support this legislation -- but it's not clear when.

DADT repeal gets introduced in every session -- Rep. Tauscher is leaving for a Cabinet post but it can still move. But if the WH is this diffident, it doesn't augur well. He says he's for repeal, but it doesn't have the same force as "Rahm Emmanuel on line 2, Senator."

Still, I'm glad she's with us.

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by: coram nobis @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 19:36:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

here's a quarter

call some clueless gender variants who care

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by: greatwhitebear @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 18:15:17 PM CDT

Nice try

Well Jan may have good intentions, but if she is on the House Equality Caucus she should have known about the Obama plans to write the DOJ brief supporting DOMA.  It is hard for me to swallow that the Obama administration is operating in a sealed vacuum.  

This Equality Caucus should be demanding that this adminsitration deliver for review their GLBTQ civil rights action plan and be in daily communication with the adminsistration until it is revealed to them and us or more realisticly assist the administration with writing amd implementing such a plan as it is more than obvious there is no Obama plan on advancing GLBTQ civil rights.

What are these people doing in DC other than to collect a paycheck and to obtain healthcare and retirment benefits that my spouse and I don't qualify for as a legally gay married couple?

While I apprecite Jan's attempt to communicate with the glbtq community which is far more than the Obama administration has been doing, she stil comes up way short, by not bringing anything of substance to the table.  

For starters, why doesn't SHE LEAD this Equality Caucus to be the leaders who bring a DOMA destruction bill up for a floor vote? And while she is at it, why not ENDA, DADT, etc. Get a spine Jan.

Jan: Lead, follow or get the f*uck out of our way.

vanhattan

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by: vanhattan @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:10:39 PM CDT

Whoops

I see Jan is a cosponsor of repealing DADT, sorry.  

So what is the status on this bill and why is it not advancing anywhere Jan?


vanhattan

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by: vanhattan @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:14:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

the main sponsor

Rep. Ellen Tauscher was the sponsor, which was nice, but she's up for a Cabinet position now and won't be sticking around. That leaves this bill up in the air and summer recess is coming up.

Shouldn't the Speaker re-assign it or something? Hm?

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by: coram nobis @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:42:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Communication.

Good.  Now can we get the WH to be a little more forthright like this?  Regardless of the content, thanks to Rep. Schakowsky for talking to the community.

Yes we can!

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by: bluegirlbb @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 21:44:05 PM CDT

Inclusive ENDA ????

What about ENDA? None of this other crap matters if I don't have a job. ENDA should be #1. It should also be easier to pass than DOMA, which is important but probably more difficult politically. ENDA and repeal of DADT have high levels of public support. There is no excuse for delay.

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by: CarbonGirl @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 00:30:21 AM CDT

Regarding DADT

A friend (gay) in the military proposed that Obama is waiting until next year when he plans to bring troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan to repeal DADT.  His view (my friend) is that it makes it easier to do this when the majority of troops are not deployed and back at home in the US.  And it allows the Defense Department a way to define how to re-enlist personnel fired under DADT who wish to rejoin the military, like Dan Choi.

As Sean Penn said.  We have to be very patient with this President.

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by: DanFromLA @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 01:02:11 AM CDT

DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT (DOMA)

There is good and bad news but nothing that can't or won't be overcome in time.  

Um, thanks, but we knew that already.  In a generation's time your collective cowardice will be condemned for what it is.  

Get a clue!

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by: oddjob @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 08:58:47 AM CDT