Pleased to report that Kentucky's 3rd District Congressman John Yarmuth will be joining 120 other members of Congress in co-sponsoring the Respect Marriage Act in this Congress. (Although the total number might be different than 120 since the mid-terms, I don't have the most recent figure handy yet.)
I learned of the Congressman's change of heart from the
following letter he submitted to the LEO Weekly:
It’s Getting Better
This month, I was proud to add my voice to the “It Gets Better” campaign — an effort to bring hope to LGBT youth who are the targets of bullying, taunting and discrimination.
The message of the campaign is clear — for these young people, the future will get better, and our nation’s commitment to equality will grow stronger. The help and support are there — in our communities, in our neighborhoods and even in our government — and a world of new opportunity is just around the corner.
As a legislator during the 111th Congress, I was proud to join my colleagues in passing some of the most significant legislation in our nation’s history to knock down the barriers to equality for LGBT Americans and do our part in making it better. We focused intently on two goals: passing hate crimes legislation and removing the military’s unfair “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy — and we succeeded on both fronts.
While politics have changed for the 112th Congress, the goals of those striving for LGBT equality have progressed. This Congress, I am proud to join my colleagues in co-sponsoring the Respect Marriage Act, which would repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and open up new doors for LGBT rights.
While so much political rhetoric focuses on creating divisions where there should be none, it’s probably hard to believe that it will continue to get better. But the message of hope is one all Louisvillians and all Americans committed to equality must continue to share with our friends and neighbors every day to make the promise of equality a reality.
John Yarmuth, Louisville/Washington, D.C.
Yeah, I'm smitten with this man right now. I kind of always knew he would do it, and I'm proud to have him as my Congressman.
Remember when Michael Handley with Kentucky Fairness Alliance told me I shouldn't be pressuring the Congressman?
LINK Lesson: Just because I'm not in your club, doesn't mean I'm wrong.
Remember when I risked getting head-stomped at the Heiner/Lally/Paul election results party in the Galt House because I wouldn't take off my Yarmuth sticker? Well, I was there to support
ONLY Hal, and God! I feel good about leaving that sticker on right now.
Yarmuth's co-sponsorship of this repeal has been a personal goal of mine since December of 2008, so of course I'm humbled and grateful. A couple of my friends have expressed to me their belief that I was somewhat responsible, and that was really sweet. I don't know if I was or not, but thank you.
Next up: Senator Mitch McConnell has a speaking engagement scheduled for mid-February through the McConnell center. Accepting ideas on how to best capitalize on this engagement to either:
1) Protest/Lobby the Senator on specific legislation. Ideas already submitted - Dream Act, mountaintop removal. There's always the Respect Marriage Act. What' s yours? (Comment below!!!)
2) Bring awareness to his incompetence, out of touchness, in such a way to garner some media in a way to effect the 2014 election. What's your ideas????
