GLBTQ DUer's... we've lost a powerful voice today.

Even when it wasn't popular. Even when it was shunned. Senator Edward Kennedy, a straight man, was a voice for us in Washington.

Rest in peace my friend. You above all others, have earned that rest.

I loved this man. I still love his legacy.

I supported him in 1980 against President Carter in the primaries here in California, not because I disliked Carter, but because he never backed away from defending those most vulnerable.

Thank you, Fearless, for you OP.

We are torn apart in my home tonight here in Los Angeles. Devastated.

Senator Ted was a courageous advocate, a dependable voice for our GLBT community. Our friend when we had so few friends.

I'm so torn up right now.

:cry:

Have so few friends.

And now we have one less. As the OP says, one of the powerful.

One of the very, very few powerful... and fearless.

:cry:

Senator Ted Kennedy, the second most senior member of the US Senate, is an Equality Hero for his support for equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and queers.



http://www.equalitygiving.org/Equality-Heroes-Kennedy

Saturday, August 9
New York City

"What do I call you?"

Senator Kennedy absently ran his hand though his graying hair while he quizzed Bill Kraus.

"Is it just gay? Or lesbians and gays? Or gay men and gay women?"

With the Democratic National Convention scheduled to convene at Madison Square Garden in just two days, the senator's fight with President Carter was coming down to the wire. The key issue was Kennedy's move for an "open convention". If Kennedy could force a rules change to permit delegates to vote their consciences and not the dictates of the party primaries, he might be able to squeak to victory. It was his last chance. The convention's Gay and Lesbian cocktail party presented a friendly audience since two-thirds of the delegates were already committed to the senator. As a member of the Platform Committee, Bill Kraus was the highest-ranking Kennedy delegate in the caucus, and he was going to introduce the candidate. Kennedy was trying to pick his way through the etiquette of eighties politics and get the salutation just right.

"Or is it lesbians and gay men?"

http://books.google.com/books?id=v4shZxsZ14QC&lpg=PA13&ots=PBE-5TKitQ&dq=%22And%20The%20Band%20Played%20On%22%20%2B%20Ted%20Kennedy&pg=PA29#v=onepage&q=&f=true

Beginning on the bottom of Page 29, through Page 32.

:cry:

A rare man of courage.

never be another like him. We lost a true and dear friend. :cry:

http://www.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.1395713.1251298431!image/2382777834.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/2382777834.JPG
(Alex Gahl, left, and her friend Rylee Thomas, both 2, accompany
Rylee's mother April, top, of Marstons Mills, Mass., to pay their
respects to Sen. Edward Kennedy outside the Kennedy compound in
Hyannisport, Mass. (Aug. 26, 2009) Credit: AP)

...he didn't bend with whichever way the wind was blowing.

:shrug: