Thursday, May 21, 2009

How much do UNequal rights cost?


Following up on my last post.


(big nod to Autumn Sandeen's article on pamshouseblend.com)


When we last left GOP Chair Steele, he was declaring that Marriage Equality would cost too much... not in dignity, pursuit of happiness, sanctity of relationships, civil rights, integrity of the nation, etc etc, but in cold hard cash.


Cut to this scene in Dr. King's I Have A Dream speech:


"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."


But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice."


Back to the future...


As long as Steele is bringing up concern for costs- for the cost of health care and equal benefits to GLBT families- let's consider that DONT ASK DONT TELL is costing the taxpayers a fortune.
In just one instance, $25 million in training is being blown to kick out a decorated war hero b/c he is gay.

Also booted out:


Arab linguist Dan Choi


over 200 other service members since Obama took office, after campaigning to put an end to Don't Ask Don't Tell









5 comments:

Alise said...

Thank you!

Elwood & I were talking about this the other day, and he pointed out that Obama's LGBT constituents are a small number, but the number of people that he'll anger by fixing these things is a whole lot bigger. It's disgusting to me that it comes to that, but I think he's probably right. Sadly, these are probably going to be second term promises kept.

But the hypocrisy of whining about the cost of allowing gay marriage while supporting DADT is just astounding to me.

deb said...

Good post. Do you mind if I post the photo?

hillsideslide said...

Hey Deb!

Have at it. And, have a great weekend.

deb said...

Thanks. The photo will go up on Monday with a link to this post.

hillsideslide said...

Great- thanks!