Mrs. Clinton,
Today, I read the following quote that you issued in your February 23rd speech in New Orleans:
"But I believe our task is to go forward with the agenda that all of us agree upon. That is what I have done my entire life, on behalf of civil rights and women's rights and human rights."
Really? So, Hillary, when you supported the Defense of Marriage Act during your husband's term in 1996, you were moving forward and working on behalf of human rights? At the time, you were quoted as saying:
"Marriage has historic, religious, and moral content that goes back to the beginning of time, and I think a marriage is as a marriage has always been, between a man and a woman. But I also believe that people in committed gay marriages, as they believe them to be, should be given rights under the law that recognize and respect their relationship."
Oh, I get it. It's that whole separate-but-equal principle. Great idea, since it worked so well the first time.
And, you know, I wanted to forgive you for your DOMA gaffe in light of the fact that you openly disagreed with Bill regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". But you shot yourself in the foot by proclaiming that it was an "important first step." Not only is it absurd to imply that Congress has never made a rash decision regarding human rights before, but it is a blatant slap in the face of the LGBT community to suggest that DADT was a step-up from the Pentagon's previous policies. Prior to DADT, gays and lesbians were simply not allowed in the military. DADT changed that by "granting" the right to serve in the armed forces, as long as no one knows he/she is actually gay. Wait, what was the change again? Oh, yes. That's right. With this policy, they encouraged LGBT Americans to join the military (read: recruiting ploy) while forcing them to hide their true selves and dishonorably discharging service members discovered to be anything other than heterosexual. The Servivemembers Legal Defense Network estimates that two soldiers are fired everyday (totaling over 11,000 between 1994 and 2005) as a result of DADT. Two separate groups commissioned to study the financial impact of DADT estimated that between $190 million and $363 million has been spent on investigations, trials, paperwork and recruiting/training for service members to those discharged.
To recap, gays can serve in the military as long as they aren't identified as such (which is the same as before) and hundreds of millions of dollars (that we don't have!) are being implemented to LEGALLY DISCRIMINATE against thousands of Americans that are willing to sacrifice their life for their country.
Back to you, Hillary. Can you explain to me why this is such a great step (backwards)?
No, no I will not be persuaded by the same false promises you and Bill threw about in the 1992 and 1996 election cycles that only served to result in the miserable policies we have today.
Keep with "what you have done your entire life" and fight for (straight) human rights as you see fit. Keep your lousy letter. Keep your narrow view on what can be a loving marriage. Keep it all. And I'll make sure I keep my vote.
Bitterly,
Alicia
