Unlike other politicians, Kennedy never wavered in his support of gay marriage, voting against the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and an anti-gay federal marriage amendment. DOMA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
In a January 12, 2005, speech at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., Kennedy said, "On the issue of gay rights, I continue to strongly support civil marriage. We cannot - and should not - require any religion or any church to accept gay marriage. But it is wrong for our civil laws to deny any American the basic right to be part of a family, to have loved ones with whom to build a future and share life's joys and tears, and to be free from the stain of bigotry and discrimination."
Just recently, Kennedy was planning to introduce a bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and he was a strong supporter of a federal hate crimes act that would protect gays and lesbians. Gay blogger Joe Jervis wrote this brief tribute to Kennedy:
"This is a tremendous loss for the nation, losing what many Americans, including myself, consider to have been the greatest elected official of our lifetimes. We salute you, Mr. Kennedy. Every gay person in America owes you our everlasting gratitude."
In a January 12, 2005, speech at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., Kennedy said, "On the issue of gay rights, I continue to strongly support civil marriage. We cannot - and should not - require any religion or any church to accept gay marriage. But it is wrong for our civil laws to deny any American the basic right to be part of a family, to have loved ones with whom to build a future and share life's joys and tears, and to be free from the stain of bigotry and discrimination."
Just recently, Kennedy was planning to introduce a bill to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and he was a strong supporter of a federal hate crimes act that would protect gays and lesbians. Gay blogger Joe Jervis wrote this brief tribute to Kennedy:
"This is a tremendous loss for the nation, losing what many Americans, including myself, consider to have been the greatest elected official of our lifetimes. We salute you, Mr. Kennedy. Every gay person in America owes you our everlasting gratitude."
Gay advocates will remember the Massachusetts senator most recently for standing behind a trans-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Bill, a cause he reignited earlier this year. In his remaining weeks in office, and despite an absence on the Hill, Kennedy and his staff was also involved in generating support for a Senate-led repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
http://www.queerty.com/sen-ted-kenne...t-77-20090826/
http://www.queerty.com/sen-ted-kenne...t-77-20090826/
Was he a perfect politician? Of course not, but God has yet to make one. Kennedy was a voice for gay America when there was no other inside the halls of Washington.
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