These comments actually sum up my feelings about Savage’s whole campaign. It’s really a pretty damned hypocritical thing for him to do, given his history of blatent transphobia, but if it saves one life it’s worth it. It would even be nice if it got him to re-examine his own bigotry, but the cynic in me doubts it will.

1) Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – LGBT aren’t good enough to serve their country – we can’t trust you homos to behave in a civilized manner in the showers and trenches with other men

2) Defense of Marriage Act – LGBT aren’t good enough to have legal civil marriage rights and the over 1140 rights and responsibilities that go with marriage – translation: you are a second class citizen and don’t deserve equality with heterosexuals

3) 30 State Bans on Gay Marriage – ditto number 2 above

4) Utah and Arkansas ban on adoption – even domestic partners couldn’t adopt their partner’s child – not good enough to be legal parents

5) No AIDS funding from Reagan until it was epidemic – we hope all of you die

6) Children of divorcing parents not being able to see their father or mother because one accused the other of being gay – you’re a deviant and can’t be around your own child.

These are the messages that America sends to us every day, in every way possible, in the media, from the pulpit, and from government. No wonder kids are killing themselves, either outright or slowly with substance abuse.

Fortunately for me, as I got older, I grew to appreciate myself for surviving all the hate, abuse and violence visited upon me at an earlier age. Now I just live my life sans heteros as much as possible and try to help young people to appreciate themselves as much as I can (community service at the gay community center, giving to SMYAL, giving to Youth Pride, etc.).

@justsearching — when Reagan and Bush the Elder were in office, the wall of separation was a lot more robust, moderate Republicans could still get elected, and the right wing, though nasty, wasn’t openly seditious.

With the possible exception of Romney (not that I’m a fan) every serious Republican presidential hopeful these days would have been considered a lunatic fringe candidate in 1980. I am not willing to let Sam Brownback or any of his ideological brethren anywhere near the Oval Office just to punish Obama for being a jackass half the time.

The religious right poured a lot of money and effort into electing their candidates to minor, local offices before they set their sights on the big time. In the mean time, they settled for Reagan and GHWB until they could run someone like Dubya…or Sister Sarah. I think we should take a leaf out of their book.

I no longer settle for the “he’s better than the Republicans,” mantra.

That’s the mentality that has been enabling the president to fight against your rights where it counts–DOMA, DADT, MARRIAGE– and give you pretty words to ooh and aah you.

We have to be willing to make them lose power until they no longer use the LGBT community to make political points.

I am not afraid. We survived Regan and the Bushes, it cannot be worse than that.

Change takes courage!

But he’s still a great deal better than a Republican president would have been.

Obama will say anything to keep your support but he has and will continue to stab you in the back. Look at his record.

This is nothing but good PR for the elections. Where is the action?

Then do something about it.