This week the California Supreme Court ruled that the laws banning Gay Marriage in California were unconstitutional per the California State Constitution.  This was a historic day in the history the GLBT struggle for Equal Rights and in the struggle for Equal Rights for All People.

The Republicans are already trying to use this to rally their ultra conservative base to help elect John McCain and reelect some of the worst Republican Senators and Congressmen.  This was to be expected.  What was not expected was the cry from many progressives on so many blogs.

  It’s bad timing.
  It will only help the Republicans.
  It will help John McCain.
  It will hurt Democrats in the fall.
  It should have waited till after November.
  It will do the same as Gay Marriage did in 2004.

Cross posted at Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left

Trust old Bible thumping Bigot Cornyn to start talking about the National Marriage Amendment yet again on the day the California Supreme Court rules against the laws and statues banning Gay Marriage in California.

cross posted at Booman Tribune, Texas Kaos, & Doing My Part For The Left

The Obama campaign currently has 69 offices in North Carolina and Indiana staffed by high-quality, dedicated, selfless people contributing to the amazing effort to install a transparent, open executive to help our nation get back on track. Let's show them their efforts are not unnoticed.

On Tuesday, let's make sure each one of these offices receives a food delivery from a DailyKos reader. Are there a few good Kossacks ready, able, and willing to feed these brave warriors? Yes we can!

[Idea was nurtured by GN1927, this is her baby... I am just the babysitter]

On April 24th & 25th, I attended the Texas Solar Forum at the capital.  It would probably have been better to send someone with a science background to cover it but I did learn quite a few interesting facts about solar power.

A survey was done 25 years ago asking people where they thought they would be getting their energy in the 21st century.  48% of the people surveyed  said they would be using solar power.  Sad to say in Texas only .01% of power is supplied by solar power at this time.

cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left, Booman Tribune

I wrote last week about Safe Schools: National Day of Silence April 25th I would like to share a little more about the day and the rally I attended at the Texas State Capital to break the silence.

Young people across America went to school and did not speak on National Day of Silence to bring attention to the silence that is heard from teachers, parents, school administrations, elected officials, and students about the ongoing problem of bullying in our schools.

Cross posted @ Booman Trinbune, Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left

This election year is one of the most exciting ones I have ever seen in my 41 years of being involved in politics and civil rights.  There is all the buzz about the presidential campaigns, Texas being in play for the first time in decades and exciting races such as Rick Noriega for Senate and all the Texas Legislative races.  

Well, there are another set of elections that will take place in June at the Texas Democratic Party Convention and I have decided to throw my hat into the ring.

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left, Burnt Orange Report, My Left Wing)

Today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.  I still remember hearing the news and being shocked that this great man had been killed.  Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, I had heard him called many things besides great but disagreed with those who wanted to teach racism and continue the history of injustice in America.  I was just a small scared white boy but I knew things were not right.  

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left)

It has come to my attention that a Democratic County Chairperson called and asked an Obama delegate to switch to at large so they could move an Alternate delegate up.  Depending on the make up of the alternate pool in any county or  precinct, there is no guarantee that the alternate moved up to take a delegate's place would have the same presidential preference.  This is called playing a numbers game and is deplorable.  

(cross posted @ Texas Kaos, Doing My Part For The Left, Booman Tribune)

December 1st is the day to honor the memory of all the people we have lost to AIDS and say a prayer in our hearts for those living HIV & AIDS.  The world has lost so many men, women, and children to this horrific disease.  

(This is a repeat of a dairy I posted last year with  a link to my WORLD AIDS DAY 12/01/2007 Podcast.  I have nothing to add but more tears for those we have lost.)

To enjoy some music and memories listen to the Doing My Part For The Left Happy Thanksgiving Podcast.

It is Thanksgiving Day and in Austin Texas, I have a lot to be thankful for.  This past year has been a very trying year for me.  Earlier this year I lost my job, my home and the majority of my personal belongings.  Luckily for me, some great people from all over the nation pulled together to get me through the difficult times and in all reality saved my life.  They opened their hearts and even wallets to assist me in getting through one of the worst periods of my life.

Rick Noriega, Dan Grant and John Edwards 3 Great Democrats To Get Elected

The Latest Podcast from Doing My Part For The Left


Enjoy! -- refinish69

I am sick and tired of being told I should vote for someone just because they have a D in front of their name.  I refuse to vote for Blue Dog Democrats who do not represent me. If I wanted Republican Lite, I would vote Republican.  I want Liberal Democrats who believe in the people of this country and are willing to stand up for Equal Rights for all Americans.

Just look what happened this week in Congress when the wimps in the Democratic Party had to remove gender identification from Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  They didn't have the votes to pass it with the language left in because of so many Blue Dog(Conservative) Democrats who are willing to throw the Transgender Community under the bus.  Well, I am sick and tired of this attitude and I say we elect Democrats with some balls and core values that represent Democratic Core Values!!!

Hypocrites, Toe Tapping Senators, and Knee Pad Presidents Podcast

Enjoy! -- refinish69

My Latest Podcast Some good music, my rants and thoughts.

Sen. Larry Craig announced he would resign his seat in the Senate after pleading guilty in what he now calls a police sting when he was arrested for soliciting sex in a public bathroom at an airport.  He is resigning under pressure to keep from embarrassing his party, other elected officials or candidates as we head into the elections cycle.  I have to ask why Shannon Bailey president of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus has not done the same.

Today I am ashamed to call myself a Gay Democrat in Texas. I should be ecstatic after the Human Rights Campaign and Logo debate on August 9th but unfortunately that is not the case.  Oh, I am thrilled about the debate but disgusted at the lack of leadership in the GLBT Community in Texas!

cross posted at Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left, Daily Kos, Burnt Orange Report

Civil Rights Movements each have their moments in History and the GLBT Rights Movement has many.  Everyone has heard or can look up the information about the Stonewall Riots but I want to share my personal journey and the moments that stand out in my mind and heart.

cross posted at Texas Kaos, Booman Tribune, Doing My Part For The Left, Daily Kos, Progressive Historians

The Texas GOP is just as crazy as we have always known they were.

linkFormer state Rep. Talmadge Heflin, a Houston Republican who served two decades before losing a re-election bid three years ago, was hired Monday as executive director of the Texas GOP.

"Talmadge Heflin has over 25 years of conservative leadership and experience as both a leader in the Texas Legislature and a businessman," Republican Party Chairman Tina Benkiser said.

Heflin succeeds Jeff Fisher, a former Van Zandt County judge who will continue as an adviser to the party, Benkiser said.

Heflin was a state lawmaker from 1983 to 2004, including a stint as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

In November 2004, he lost by 16 votes to political newcomer Hubert Vo, a Democrat who became the first Vietnamese to serve in the Texas House.

cross posted at Booman Tribune, refinish69,Texas Kaos

MTV Logo and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation are about to make history.

On August 9, we'll be co-hosting the first ever televised presidential forum dedicated solely to questions about GLBT issues – and I'm thrilled to announce that I will join singer Melissa Etheridge and esteemed journalist Jonathan Capehart as panelists!

I'll be there representing you so I need your help.

I received this email and thought it needed to be shared.

cross posted at Booman Tribune, refinish69,Daily Kos, Texas Kaos, GLBT Democrats For Edwards

A Call to Service

Hearing a Call to Service is not just a religious thing.  I believe all True Leaders have been called to service.  JFK, Martin Luther King, Ann Richards, Molly Ivins and many more were called to service in many different ways.  The podcast is a farewell to Lady Bird Johnson and an introduction to some of the great Texans who have answered the call to service by running for office in 2008. 

Enjoy the politics and the music.