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How is the language of the Texas Republican
Platform attempting to "dismantle the ADA?" If there is no protection for
the specified groups in the ADA, how does amending the definition for the
purpose of "reducing abuse of the Act" discredit the ADA? Laws are often
amended to clarify the intent, especially after someone tries to use a loophole
in the law to gain an unintended advantage.
McAuliffe says, "The Texas Republican party is
changing facts in a blatantly homophobic attack against gay and lesbian
Americans." (from your 8/11/2004 quote) Sure seems like he changed
more facts in his statement than the TRP did in their platform. McAuliffe
is clearly trying to drum up gay and lesbian votes by mischaracterizing the
wording of the platform. I'm frankly sick of the term "homophobic" being
used every time someone disagrees with the lifestyle.
By the way, the ADA already has some exclusions
for transvestites, drug users, homosexuality and bisexuality. Maybe the
term "homosexual practices" in the Texas Repub. Platform
is deemed more inclusive than "homosexuality and
bisexuality." But I still don't see anyone trying to dismantle
the ADA by this language.
SEC. 508. TRANSVESTITES.
For the purposes of
this Act, the term "disabled" or "disability" shall not
apply to an
individual solely because that individual is a transvestite.
SEC. 510.
ILLEGAL USE OF DRUGS.
(a) In General.--For purposes of
this Act, the term "individual with a
disability" does not include an
individual who is currently engaging in the
illegal use of drugs, when
the covered entity acts on the basis of such use.
SEC. 511. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Homosexuality and
Bisexuality.--For purposes of the definition of
"disability" in
section 3(2), homosexuality and bisexuality are not
impairments and as
such are not disabilities under this Act.
(b) Certain
Conditions.--Under this Act, the term "disability" shall not
include--
(1) transvestism,
transsexualism, pedophilia, exhibitionism,
voyeurism,
gender identity disorders not
resulting from physical impairments, or
other
sexual behavior disorders;
(2)
compulsive gambling, kleptomania, or pyromania;
or
(3) psychoactive substance use
disorders resulting from current illegal
use
of drugs.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 4:02
PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] ADA
destruction
Perhaps my previous e-mail wasn't clear?
In no way shape
or form does the ADA protect gays and lesbians. The Texas Republican party is
attacking the ADA and trying to dismantle it bit by bit, this is one of their
tactics. By spreading the rumor that the ADA somehow protects gays and
lesbians, they further discredit the ADA and what it is meant to be. Voter who
don't even know what the ADA is, and aren't likely to investigate for
themselves, hear that it protects gays and lesbians and then they support ANY
efforts to dismantle the ADA.
Or, are people so ----- they can't
see the forest for the trees? That my friends is exactly the point. Go ahead,
support those who want to dismantle the ADA, squeeze the life out of our
measly medicare insurance coverage, and put our low-income housing at risk,
I'm beyond trying to convince this group.
River
do not know what the Democratic article
said..
Perhaps you should do some reading on your own.
Someday it will come back to haunt you if you believe everything you
hear.
River
On Sep 10, 2004, at 3:30 PM, Dana Miller wrote:
I read this "after" I sent my other reply a few minutes ago I
personally
agree with the wording and think it would clear up a lot of
red tape and
abuse of the ADA.
I
Dana and
?
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryant's"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Quad-List submission"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 8:58
PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] ADA destruction
The quoted article
says: "The Texas platform inaccurately calls for the
immediate removal of
persons with "homosexual practices" from protection
under the
ADA."
Curious, so I went to the Texas Republican Platform to see what
it does say.
http://www.texasgop.org/library/RPTPlatform2004.pdf
Page
14 of the Platform - "The Party supports amendment of the Americans
with
Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons
with
infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities,
behavior
disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress, thereby
reducing abuse of
the Act."
It seems quite different to say
"supports amendment ... to exclude from its
definition ..." than to say
"calls for the immediate removal of ..." I do
not know if there have been
attempts to use the ADA for protection based
upon homosexual practices.
There may have been. If so, supporting
amendment to exclude those from
the definition would be a means of
clarifying the intent. If not, it
would seem to be an unnecessary
amendment. But the tone of the Democratic
article was certainly different
from the tone of the actual words of the
Texas GOP platform and seems to be
politics as usual.
-----
Original Message -----
From: "Dana Miller"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "quad"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 8:22
PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] ADA destruction
I will probably start a fight here but--being gay or lesbian
is a
"lifestyle", not a disability.
Dana and
?
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "River
Wolfe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "quad"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 9:01
AM
Subject: [QUAD-L] ADA destruction
Aug 11,
2004
McAuliffe to Bush: Renounce Texas' anti-gay, anti-disability
GOP
platform
Washington, D.C. - Today Democratic National
Committee (DNC) Chairman
Terry McAuliffe called on President Bush to
renounce language in the
Texas Republican party platform calling for
unnecessary and
discriminatory changes in the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Texas platform inaccurately calls for
the immediate removal of
persons with "homosexual practices" from
protection under the ADA.
Since its passage in 1990, the ADA has
clearly stated that sexual
orientation is not a disability, and as such
is not covered under the
law.
"The Texas Republican party is
changing facts in a blatantly
homophobic attack against gay and lesbian
Americans," said McAuliffe.
"Republicans are abusing the ADA, which has
guaranteed equal
opportunity and access for millions of Americans, for
their own
political games.
"This platform does not represent the
values of Texans just as it does
not represent the values of the
American people. George W. Bush must
take a stand and renounce the
discriminatory and divisive rhetoric
coming from his own party in his
own state."
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