CLINTON EDWARDS SIDESTEP ON CIVIL UNIONS in their words

[GBLTnBornAgain]

CLINTON EDWARDS SIDESTEP ON CIVIL UNIONS in their words

TO ALL WHO GET THIS MAKE SURE YOU READ THE WHOLE THING AND THE REPORTS OF SUPPORT BY BARACK OBAMA AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS EMAIL.

Senator Obama is the only candidate running for president who urges legislation that asserts recognition of all committed couples without applying an arbitrary qualification to issue a license for marriage. He believes that qualification and grants of the privileged legal rights and benefits should be applied equally, regardless of sexual orientation of the two people involved.
Senator Obama has listened and advocates equal marriage rights and benefits for all committed relationships regardless of sexual orientation. Please join me in working to elect Barack Obama as our next president.

I like Obama's approach because it doesn't set up an
opportunity for judgement and treats gay couples the
same as straight couples. The duration and stability
of a straight couple's relationship does not come into
play when their rights are determined or granted. Why
should that be any different for gay couples? Why
should some bureaucrat be allowed to sit in judgement
over whether or not a gay couple's relationship is
"long-term" before granting the rights they seek for
their legalized relationship?

The fact that both Hillary and Edwards wish to create
that opportunity for judgement of gay relationships
that isn't present to qualify straight couples's legal
rights, is the telling factor in how insincere they
both are about the issue. Now, if Hilary and Edwards
want to enact a law requiring a probationary period
for straight couples before any of their lawful rights
and benefits are granted to them, then that's great!

Check out the specific candidate statements below."

John Edwards

HRC ASK
6. Currently, only Massachusetts recognizes equal
marriage rights for same sex couples. Do you believe
the civil institution of marriage (with absolutely no
requirements imposed on religious institutions) should
be
made legally available to two committed adults of the
same sex?

Support X Oppose Comments

HRC ASKS:
If you do not believe that civil marriage for
same?sex couples should be made available to
same?sex couples on the same basis as opposite
sex couples, is there any legal construct you do
embrace
that would extend legal recognition to same sex
couples?

HRC ASKS:
If a state has taken the steps to recognize same sex
couples and their families for purposes of
state?based benefits, rights, privileges and
responsibilities (such as marriage in Massachusetts
and civil
unions in Vermont and Connecticut), should the federal
government recognize the state's legal
recognition of such couples and families for purposes
of federal benfits and tax treatment?

X Support Oppose Comments:

EDWARDS SAYS:
Yes. I believe that couples in committed,
long?term relationships should have the same
rights,
benefits, and responsibilities, whether they are
straight couples or same?Sex couples.
I support civil unions to guarantee gay and lesbian
couples the same rights as straight couples,
including inheritance rights, hospital visitation
rights, equal pension and health care benefits,
and all of the 1,100 other legal protections
government affords married couples.
I support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
provision that prevents the federal government
from recognizing same?sex relationships. Gay
marriage is an issue I feel internal conflict about
and I continue to struggle with it. However, I
believe the right president could lead the country
toward consensus around equal rights and benefits for
all couples in commtted, long?term
relationships.

HRC ASKS:
7. According to a 2004 GAO report, over 1,100
benefits, rights and privileges are provided to
married couples and their families in federal law that
are not available to same?sex couples.
Do you support extending federal benefits, rights,
privileges and responsibilities to same?sex
couples (and their children) provided the partnership
meets certain federal standards of
commitment and mutuality of interest?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Specifically, do you support the expansion of the
Family and Medical Leave Act to cover domestic
partners and their children?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support modifying the Social Security System to
pay survivor benefits to the same?sex partners
of gay and lesbian people?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support fair and equal tax treatment of same
sex couples on the same basis as married couples?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
8. Many gay and lesbian people serve in the federal
government but do not receive the same health
insurance and other employee benefits of married
couples. Do you support domestic partner coverage
for gay and lesbian employees of the civilian federal
workforce?

X Support Oppose Comments:

EDWARDS SAYS:
Yes. I support extending health care and other
benefits to the committed gay and lesbian partners
of federal employees.

Hillary Clinton

HRC ASK:
6. Currently, only Massachusetts recognizes equal
marriage rights for same sex
couples. Do you believe the civil institution of
marriage (with absolutely no
requirements imposed on religious institutions) should
be made legally available to two
committed adults of the same sex?

Support X Oppose Comments

HILLARY SAYS:
The question of marriage is one that historically has
been left to the states. I opposed
the so-called "Family Marriage Amendment" because this
issue has no place in the
Constitution.

HRC ASKS"
If you do not believe that civil marriage for same-sex
couples should be made available
to same-sex couples on the same basis as opposite sex
couples, is there any legal
construct you do embrace that would extend legal
recognition to same sex couples?

HILLARY SAYS:
I believe gay and lesbian couples should have the same
rights and responsibilities as
all Americans and that civil unions are the best way
to achieve this goal. As
president, I will work to ensure that all Americans in
committed relationships have
equal benefits ? from health insurance and life
insurance, property rights, and more.

HRC ASKS:
7. If a state has taken the steps to recognize same
sex couples and their families for
purposes of state-based benefits, rights, privileges
and responsibilities (such as
marriage in Massachusetts and civil unions in Vermont
and Connecticut), should the
federal government recognize the state's legal
recognition of such couples and
families for purposes of federal benefits and tax
treatment?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HILLARY SAYS:
I have long been on record supporting equality in
benefits and eliminating
discrimination against gays and lesbians. I support
repealing the provision of
DOMA that may prohibit the federal government from
providing benefits to people
in states that recognize same sex marriage. I strongly
support ensuring people in
stable, long-term same sex relationships have full
equality of benefits, rights, and
responsibilities.

HRC ASK:
8. According to a 2004 GAO report, over 1,100
benefits, rights and privileges are
provided to married couples and their families in
federal law that are not available to
same-sex couples. Do you support extending federal
benefits, rights, privileges and
responsibilities to same-sex couples (and their
children) provided the partnership meets
certain federal standards of commitment and mutuality
of interest?

X Support ? Oppose Comments:

HILLARY SAYS:
I support full equality of benefits, rights, and
responsibilities for individuals in
loving, stable, same sex relationships and in
principle, I would like to see federal
benefits extended to same sex couples that meet
certain standards. I would need to
examine the feasibility of implementing such a
provision and look forward to
working in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign
and others in the gay
rights community to determine the best path for
realizing this goal.

HRC ASKS:
Specifically, do you support the expansion of the
Family and Medical Leave Act to cover
domestic partners and their children?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support modifying the Social Security System to
pay survivor benefits to the
same-sex partners of gay and lesbian people?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support fair and equal tax treatment of same
sex couples on the same basis as
married couples?

X Support Oppose Comments:

BARACK OBAMA =

HRC ASKS:
6. Currently, only Massachusetts recognizes equal
marriage rights for same sex couples. Do you
believe the civil institution of marriage (with
absolutely no requirements imposed on religious
institutions) should be made legally available to two
committed adults of the same sex?

Support X Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
If you do not believe that civil marriage for
same?sex couples should be made available
to same?sex couples on the same basis as
opposite sex couples, is there any legal
construct you do embrace that would extend legal
recognition to same sex couples?

OBAMA SAYS:
I believe civil unions should include the same legal
rights that accompany a marriage license. I support
the notion that all people ? gay or straight ? deserve
the same rights and responsibilities to assist their
loved ones in times of emergency, deserve equal health
insurance and other employment benefits currently
extended to traditional married couples, and deserve
the same property rights as anyone else.
However, I do not support gay marriage. Marriage has
religious and social connotations, and I consider
marriage to be between a man and a woman. If I was
President, however, I would oppose any effort to
stifle a state's ability to decide this question on
its own. Whether it was a
Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage or a
bill like the Defense of Marriage Act, I
would oppose such efforts. I think the President
should do all he or she can to advance strong
families. Whatever the make-up of the family, it is
the President's role to provide policies and
leadership that enable the family to thrive.

HRC ASKS:
If a state has taken the steps to recognize same sex
couples and their families for purposes of
state?based benefits, rights, privileges and
responsibilities (such as marriage in Massachusetts
and civil
unions in Vermont and Connecticut), should the federal
government recognize the state's legal
recognition of such couples and families for purposes
of federal benfits and tax treatment?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
7. According to a 2004 GAO report, over 1,100
benefits, rights and privileges are provided to
married
couples and their families in federal law that are not
available to same?sex couples.
Do you support extending federal benefits, rights,
privileges and responsibilities to same?sex
couples (and their children) provided the partnership
meets certain federal standards
of commitment and mutuality of interest?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Specifically, do you support the expansion of the
Family and Medical Leave Act to cover domestic
partners and their children?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support modifying the Social Security System to
pay survivor benefits to the same?sex partners
of gay and lesbian people?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
Do you support fair and equal tax treatment of same
sex couples on the same basis as married couples?

X Support Oppose Comments:

HRC ASKS:
8. Many gay and lesbian people serve in the federal
government but do not receive the same health
insurance and other employee beefits of married
couples. Do you support domestic partner coverage for
gay and lesbian employees of the civilian federal
workforce?

X Support Oppose Comments:

MY CONCLUSIONS TO WHAT THEIR WORDS REALLY MEAN LEGALLY STANDING.

Edwards
""I believe that couples in committed, long?term
relationships should have the same rights,
benefits, and responsibilities, whether they are
straight couples or same?Sex couples.""

Edwards above statement, is the only one in the area of
civil unions i am concerned about. Because straight
people don't have to be in long term committed
relationships to get married / civil unions.
However, edwards does want to repeal the DOMA bill
that the clintons levied on us in the 90's, which is a
good thing for edwards.

Clinton says

""I would like to see federal benefits extended to
same sex couples that meet certain standards.""

""I support repealing the provision of DOMA that may
prohibit the federal government from providing
benefits to people in states that recognize same sex
marriage. ""

""I strongly support ensuring people in stable,
long-term same sex relationships have full equality of
benefits, rights, and responsibilities.""

Clintons above three statements have me very concerned
that she is side stepping in what she says so as not
to commit to anything officially.

she would amend the provisions of DOMA in certain
standards. Her husband and her were the ones who got
us DOMA which Barack has wanted to erase ever since
the clintons had it installed as law. Barack obama
and john edwards want to repeal DOMA which is good for
us.

"Obama is the only candidate who supports long-term,
same-sex relationships regardless of length of time
those couples have been together. In the
united states no heterosexual couple is ever
challenged to demonstrate length of relationship in
order to obtain the privileges of marriage.

By supporting Barack Obama, you can join me in
supporting the candidate who stands for providing
equal rights to same sex couples--with NO
qualifications."

NOTE: Lastly please send this to your friends who are either gay or lesbian or supporters so they may know the truth of these three candidates.

Anyway that is the way i see this one issue of civil unions.

I would love for you to evaluate the "rest" of these three candidates statements below. You will see how Hillary Clinton and John Edwards try to use words which give them room to squeeze out of fulfilling their commitment to all of us in the LGBT community.

JOHN EDWARDS

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/19675/0/n...fs/edwards.pdf

HILLARY CLINTON

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/19675/0/n...fs/clinton.pdf

BARACK OBAMA

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/19675/0/n...pdfs/obama.pdf

respectively yours
Danielle Clarke = Your friend at philapride 6-10-07

[pnggrad79]

I know the arguments that civil unions are not the same as full marriage rights, but at this point, at least in Texas, I would take what I can get. Right now we have nothing. Civil unions would get us some measure of equality and maybe somewhere down the road, it would be a precedence for full marriage equality. We have to be patient and take what they give us, even though it is reminiscent of the separate but equal crap they tried to push over on the African Americans 70 years ago. Historically, if history repeats itself, and in this case, I think it does, the Supreme Court will see that separate but equal is NOT equal and will do away with this nonsense. But for now, I will take civil unions over nothing. It is something and that is better than what we in Texas have now. It is a matter of time.

[GBLTnBornAgain]

If you read my conclusions you would see how clinton has sidestepped her ability to totally repeal the DOMA bill. She talks about only certain provisions. barack has wanted to repeal the whole thing in 1996 when the clintons passed the darn thing. the only reason clinton is saying she would repeal some provisions is because Barack is running. thank God for Barack that he is doing so well., otherwise clinton wouldn't be offering us anything with regards to repealing any parts of DOMA.