Senator Edward M. Kennedy – A Fierce Advocate For Gay Rights

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass), the last remaining brother of the Kennedy political dynasty, died late Tuesday night at his home on Cape Cod, having finally lost his battle against a malignant brain tumor at the age of seventy-seven. Sign this Care2 pledge to honor Ted Kennedy.

A piece on Kennedy in the LA Times makes reference to his reputation as the “liberal lion of the Senate”. Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy’s roar, then, was the booming call for freedom from injustice, for better welfare and healthcare, for equal rights for women and also for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans to be treated equally and fairly under the law.

In 1996 Senator Kennedy was one of only 14 Senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act that banned the Federal Government from recognizing marriages between persons of the same sex.

Kennedy also went on to fight against a constitutional amendment that would have blocked same-sex marriages out-right, and was a supporter of the Matthew Shepard Act, hate crimes legislation that would extend federal protections to LGBTs.

Most recently, he became a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a piece of legislation that seeks to give protections to LGBTs in the work place and make it a federal offense to discriminate against them on the basis of their sexuality and gender identity. He also continued to make his support known for the current version of the Hate Crimes legislation that has now passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting committee action.

As his voting record shows, Senator Kennedy was also a staunch pro-choice advocate and had a progressive record when it came to such issues as embryonic stem cell research. He campaigned heavily for the rights of those that were disabled to receive fair treatment under the law, and was also instrumental in passing the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988, despite a Presidential veto. He was also a prominent force in HIV/AIDS reform.

Throughout his life Edward Kennedy remained a strong opponent to the death penalty which, given the tragic circumstances in which two of his brothers were killed (President Kennedy was, of course, shot touring Dallas in 1963 and his brother Robert during a Democrat presidential nomination tour in Los Angeles in 1968) may have surprised some.

Although his life was somewhat bruised by controversy, and although at times he was overshadowed by his brothers, Edward Kennedy was a man of serious political power who used that energy, and his own potent longevity, to create real change in America.

Whilst it may be that gay rights are listed as but a footnote in his achievements over the coming days, Senator Edward Kennedy’s contribution to the LGBT cause will forever be a cornerstone of gay-rights progress. He stood for gay marriage when hardly anyone else would, and now his state of Massachusetts leads today’s fight against the Defense of Marriage Act.

For this reason, and for many others, Senator Edward Kennedy is a man who will be recorded in history as a true fierce advocate, something for which many in the LGBT community will be always grateful for.

In the Senator’s own words:

“For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on. The cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

Sign this Care2 pledge to honor Ted Kennedy.

Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution License, with thanks to Muffet.

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Past Member .

2:10AM PDT on Aug 29, 2009

Oops, brain fart. OMP handles government employee insurance, not private insurers. Still moot to put them on the Public Option. They're already on one, essentially.

And the Public Option isn't poaching OPM or private insurance. It's for individuals and small companies who don't have any insurance at the moment.

It's still a pointless Red Herring argument, Gretchen. Give it up.

Jim

send a green star

1:53AM PDT on Aug 29, 2009

Gretchen, you wrote:

"This man was a self proclaimed socialists, who helped write part of the new healthcare bill, that excludes all lawmakers, they get the best hea;thcare, we get the rest."

They are government employees! The US government is the world's largest employer. The insurance industry loves the business -- and healthcare reform isn't taking goverment employees away from private insurance any more than it is from GM, IBM, Walmart or any other large employer. Use your head.

The Public Option is for unisured Americans who cannot afford healthcare -- and for small businesses who cannot afford health insurance, and thus cannot currently compete for desireable workers. That's it. All good stuff.

So please give up this stupid "red herring" argument. It's pointless.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program: thank you Teddy for being a champion of everything great about America. And thank you Massachusetts for giving us leaders like Teddy, and for Barney Frank and many others. Plus thank you Massachusetts for the template used in writing our own US Constitution (John Adams' MA Consitution).

And thank you to the Kennedy family for giving and sacrificing so much to America -- we grieve with you and hope you take solace in knowing that Jack, Bobby and Teddy will not only always be in our hearts, they will always be as much a part of our history as Washington, Adams and Jefferson.

They will never be forgotten.

Ralph C.

10:03PM PDT on Aug 28, 2009

Gretchen,
I am a Christian and a believer in God. However, I do not believe in the evil that men write and support in the name of God. Praying that a person "find God" because they are homosexual and a sinner is ignorance and the imposition of ones own beliefs on others is horrific. This has no place in a free and Democratic society. God loves everyone and does not judge "by praying for them to see His way" His way is for people to love each other no matter what they are - for, in the long run that's all that matters - how we treat one another and respect each other. If you do not respect others and what they are, then that is the true "sin". Ted Kenndey, throughout his life displayed this quality. He showed it by supporting the rights of others to be who and what they are and live in peace and equally with those not like them. That's true "Christianity."

5:30PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

...

If I was 'god' all of these so called set of religious rules would be a test just to see how far people would go to kiss my ass, just because they think they get something they desire out of it! Because lets face it - that's what most with beliefs like you do. Then I would send you all to 'hell' for not thinking for yourself at best, or for camouflaging your hate as belief in me - then those who thought for themselves and knew REAL right from wrong - who did not think that praying suddenly rids them for the TRUE wrongs that they do would be welcome to take what you BEG FOR.

I am a person of courage, I stand up for what I believe in and I know real right from wrong regardless of what 'privileges' may be given or taken away from me.

Religious belief should not influence the law, politics, equality and fairness.

5:28PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

To: Gretchen Hoshida & others of similar opinion,

Yes, my soulmate has a similar person in her family, praying for her to see that her relationship with me is not 'God's way' & for her too see the error of her ways.

I am British & one half of a same sex, bi national [British - American] couple. 10 years ago, unlike any straight couple who could just get engaged to enter and live in either nationals country, we had to fight for years to even be allowed to live in here in my home country, we even had to go to court to prove our relationship.

We are in a happy, meaningful and far more committed than most relationship. Just look at what we went through to be together thus far. This relation is praying that we wreck what we have together and cause sorrow the one we love.

Anyone who believes my relationship to be evil, is evil. So save your praying for yourself, seeing as you are so concerned about grovelling for your better place in your afterlife. Do you never think for yourself? or are all your opinions defined by your fear of loosing some sort of best seat in 'heaven'.

[Continued...]

Karen M.

2:00PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

Gayle.....your life must be a very sad life, how would you know if the homosexual life is "sad"......unless you have lived that life style?.......I say forgiveness is the key to many wonderful things in our lives.......we are not the judges.......God is......God loves everyone.......and wants help everyone.......Ted Kennedy made some mistakes in his life.....I have made mistakes in mine......none of us are perfect......My prayers are with the Kennedy family in their time of sorrow....I have prayed that God with be with them and show them peace and happiness knowing that Ted Kennedy did a lot for every walk of life here in the USA and other countries, a wonderful humanatarian. May he rest in Peace

Gretchen H.

1:57PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

This man was a self proclaimed socialists, who helped write part of the new healthcare bill, that excludes all lawmakers, they get the best hea;thcare, we get the rest.
I am a Christian and I have in my family a gay person, but I pray for this person and hope she will come to know Gods will for her life before it's over, since what she is doing is evil and against Gods law.
I feel that politicians cannot really say what they feel in this way because they want power and the office to go with it, so they
cater to the UNLAWFUL (IN GOD'S EYES AND MOST CHRISTIANS) so they can remain in control. That is my tru opinion.
We are instructed by God to love the Sinner and pray for them that they will stop sinning and turn around and in the scheme of things, hate the sin and pray for forgiveness for them.

Lisa T.

12:21PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

Ted Kennedy will be missed By everyone. He was a great man . Rest In Peace Senator Kennedy.

12:13PM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

Senator Kennedy was a great Hard working man who did a lot for this country He loved his country and strived to make it better My heart and prayers go out to his Family. Thank you Senator Kennedy for all you have done for us.You will always be missed but your legacy will live forever

Barbara C.

10:56AM PDT on Aug 27, 2009

Nothing the Senator's detractors can say about him now will take away one iota of respect from a man who did as much for the least of these. Many were the worthy he could easily have chosen to benefit instead. No doubt he heard throughout his career how little he deserved the respect of other legislators and the rest of the country outside Massachusetts, aided as the was by the heritage of his renowned family. There are as well sad memories none can forget because they are brought up again and again to excuse rude comments like those here faulting him by the few unforgiving. But his value to progressive causes in this country has been proven again and again, and will not soon be forgotten while the Kennedy name is still heard in America. It was as though he felt the need to contribute in a measure to match what the country had lost after the deaths of his brothers who had been unable to complete the service each and all had pledged. He can never be memorialized to an extent greater than deserved.