Gay people may now serve openly in the military, but the Defense of Marriage Act, among others, still denies them and their families equal treatment under the law.
With far-right Republicans in the governor and attorney general offices, Virginia has become a tribune for that brand of politics — against health care, for punitive measures against gay people.
The Senate today repealed the ban on open gay service in the military. A historic and proud day, except for three Arkansas congressmen who fought civil rights to the end.
The Republicans' hypocritical reneging that killed the omnibus spending bill in the Senate yesterday has a bright side: Majority Leader Harry Reid will call for cloture votes this weekend on the DREAM Act and repeal of statutory discrimination against military service by gay people.
With support from Republicans Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe — and a couple of other Republicans still potential supporters — a filibuster-proof majority is prepared to repeal the law discriminating against gay military service.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has an "army of allies" ready to pass a DADT repeal in the House if Republicans don't prevent a stand-alone vote on repeal in the Senate.
How hard would it be for Sen. Blanche Lincoln to issue a simple declarative statement on discrimination against gays in the military and what she intends to do about it?