TXT MSGing our LGBT Equality

I'm a big fan of the Internet and think it's one of the most momentous advances in human communication since our hairy, howling, hominid ancestors developed spoken language.

Then, with Gutenberg and the invention of movable type, it became possible for large numbers of people to communicate over great distance and beyond life times, two of the greatest inconveniences in maintaining human progress.

Now, the electronic Internet takes care of distance and time, while cell phones introduce the convenience of mobility in communication.

TXT MSGing (text messaging) has caught on in a big way. It allows frequently used expressions to be condensed to acronyms and abbreviations for quick notes to be displayed in the small confines of the cell phone display window.

The American LGBT equality movement has its own list of TXT MSG acronyms that represents the core of discrimination still being directed at us, even as many countries in western Europe, the Southern Hemisphere, Canada, and Mexico have recognized the inherent right of their own LGBT citizens to the legal equality of a modern, humane society.

ENDA --  Employment Non-Discrimination Act

MSA/HCPA -- Mathew Shepard Act/Hate Crimes Protection Act

DOMA -- Defense of Marriage Act

DODT -- Don't Ask Don't Tell (Don't Pursue)

Anyone who knows he/she is LGBT should be familiar with these text letters and know the importance of having the first two passed and the last two overturned.

ENDA and MSA have passed the House where there is a Democratic majority, though full disclosure nags me to remind you that Oklahoma's lone DEMO in DC, Dan Boren, voted against our LGBT citizenship, but then he was swimming upstream against the popular tide with the minority of House GOPers.

I say against the tide because a recent NYTimes poll indicated that 75% of DEMOS and 49% of GOPers thought same-gender couples should have marriage equality or civil marriage.  Can it be anymore clear that the people are ahead, the engine is in front of the caboose.

A recent report tabulating the current roster of presidential candidates published by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force  (NGLTF, www.thetaskforce.org) shows that based on the candidates's own words, all the DEMOS support ENDA and MSA, while the GOPers have disdain or no opinion.  With DOMA and DODT the count is much the same.

But some DEMOS are dragging their feet in regard to same-gender marriage.  Only Kucinich and Gravel clearly support unequivocally full-blown same-gender marriage.

IMO, we LGBT people need to tell our candidates to get on the equality train.  Never before have our issues been so prominently in the spotlight of public view and we need to push our candidates, regardless of party, to keep the light on fairness and parity.

BTW, CUA, and THX for reading.  EOM.