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vervain13I understand the same First Amendment that guarantees separation of church and state guarantees the rights of Christian conservatives to defend their views in the public square, and to seek redress of grievances through a variety of political and social channels.
In recent months, however, I have seen indications that some in the leadership of the Democratic Party, and some of its candidates for public office, are seeking the votes of Christian conservatives by suggesting there is room to compromise on reproductive rights and gay rights.
While public debates over social issues are a sign of a healthy democracy; we do not believe it is proper for politicians to negotiate away basic human rights for any group of people in the
The problem is not "abortion" or "reducing the number of abortions." The problem is unwanted pregnancies, how to prevent them, and how to support women who get pregnant in the decisions they deem appropriate. This includes access to legal and safe contraception and abortion; as well as access to health care and child care for women who choose to give birth and raise children—concepts seen as fundamental rights in other industrialized countries. Our rights, and the rights of our friends, relatives, and neighbors who are women, are not political commodities to be traded for votes.
The problem is not "gay rights" or "gay marriage." The problem is building a society where the basic human rights of all people are respected and defended. Under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, there is no such thing as "Special Rights." When some Christian conservatives claim that gay people want "Special Rights," it is a falsehood. Our rights, and the rights of our friends, relatives, and neighbors in LGBTQ communities, are not political commodities to be traded for votes.
My husband and I intend to vote in the upcoming elections in 2008, and we intend to vote for candidates who make it crystal clear that they support basic human rights for all. We will pay special attention to fellow Democrats who have through words or actions objectively undermined basic human rights for women, the LGBTQ communities, or any other group in our republic's great society.
After all that our community has been through here in Massachusetts and continues to go through in other states, this seemed a really good idea. The above pledge can be copied and pasted into the "question" box on
Continued success and better days to us all.
