President Obama Signs Hate Crimes Legislation Into Law

President Obama signed hate crimes legislation adding sexual preference and disability to the list.

While very few attacks on the disabled occur, attacks on Homosexuals are prevalent. Huey Newton was one of the first to recognize the struggle for Gay rights as akin to the struggle for the rights of all people. You don't have to be Gay to march in solidarity with them.

Thanks President Obama for fulfilling your promise to sign the legislation, now continue the fight by pushing for a repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and adding sexual preference to all civil rights legislation.

Hate Crimes Extended To LGBT

Finally, after over 230 years, hate crimes legislation has been extended to cover Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexuals and Transvestites.

Despite Republican opposition, Democrats finally passed a meaningful bill the President can sign. The "Party Of No" never wanted hate crimes legislation of any kind. However, the dragging death of James Byrd and the return of lynchings in the South shifted the tide in the early 90's.

After hundreds of deaths and thousands of beatings, some reported some not, Congress finally recognizes that these were not individuals being targeted, but an entire class of people. Modern day genocide has occured right here in America while we chase criminals in Serbia and Rwanda.

Why Republicans felt the need to oppose this bill is beyond me. Surely they realize that a significant portion of their base is made up of closet homosexuals. Their argument that existing laws are sufficient to combat violent acts is quite ridiculous. If that were the case these crimes would never occur. The threat of additional penalty and the denial of parole would make the average person think twice before attacking someone simply because of their sexual preference.

Now all Obama has to do is sign the bill, lift Don't Ask Don't Tell, and start a productive dialogue with the Gay community to ensure re-election in 2012.

The Republicans shoot themselves in the foot again.

Clinton Comes Around On Gay Marriage

Now that he is in no position to effect change, Slick Willie has come out in favor of Gay marriage.

Don't get me wrong. I applaud him for finally seeing the light, but a tepid acknowledgement in the middle of a half-hour interview is hardly a ringing endorsement.

My road to redemption began long ago.

As a kid growing up in Alabama, I had never seen, or knowingly met a gay person. One day in high school I was sitting at the lunch table with a group of friends. We were laughing and joking as usual about all the girls passing by. How fine or fat they were. If they were fucking.

This kid walked by. Everybody got quiet.

The kid next to me says, "that kid looks like a girl." Beneath his voice kinda.

The kid next to him asks, which one?"

I yell out, "that one!"

The kid turned around and looked directly at me. He looked confused, hurt, surprised. Not ashamed.

I guess it's because he had a nice ass.

Anyway, a few minutes later, he strolled by again. This time with a group of friends.

They get within earshot. He whirls. Points at me. Says, "that one!"

I understood from that day.

Even though I am still homophobic at certain levels, I am heartily in favor of gay marriage for several reasons:

First. We hold these truths to be self evident. That all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS! If gay people believe that marriage will make them happy, end of argument. Frankly, I think we have been doing them a huge favor all these years.

Second. Do you want your son or daughter to marry someone who is gay and in the closet? That's what happens when they can't marry each other.

Third. I want my son or daughter to be free from open discrimination if they happen to be gay. The laws restricting Gay marriage are the same as the laws passed against inter racial marriages. How can you have rights in one state and not another? I'll bet your dollar spends the same in both.

Thank you Bill Clinton for seeing the light eight years too late. By the way, Don't Ask Don't Tell, was a real winner!

Oh, and that kid.

He died of AIDS.