I’ve always supported Hillary Clinton.Through all the ups and down, all the controversies and hearings and all the struggles! Hillary always comes back fighting stronger than before. I’m always amazed how anyone who has been attacked for over 25 years can return to the Political Arena after being knocked down and get back up STRONGER than before. A true FIGHTER for the People.
I get tweets and responses from Anti-Hillary people who say they’d never vote for Hillary-end of discussion. It’s amazing to me after all the Positive-Wonderful-Equality Changes we have seen in Recent Years that any voter who cares about the people of America can make that statement.
I have been with my “NOW HUSBAND” for 26 years. Being 59 and a Gay Man and dealing with all the discrimination and bigotry, being a second class citizen without EQUAL RIGHTS for my entire life I just cannot understand how any voter with a Sense of Equality for All, Concerns for Healthcare for the Poor and Sick, Equal pay for equal work, Wanting paid family leave,Overturning Citizens United,Higher Wages, Better living conditions for all would not vote for Hillary should she become the Democratic Nominee.
I have lived in Texas my whole life. I met my “NOW HUSBAND” here. I have lived with a Pre-Existing Condition for many years and could only get healthcare through my state High Risk Insurance Pool paying 3 to 4 times for myself what a normal family pays. Only because of Obamacare was I able to finally get reasonable insurance and prescriptions that in the past had taken my whole paycheck each month.
I watched as state by state passed Marriage Equality knowing it would never happen in Texas. I call my husband my “NOW HUSBAND” because only after SCOTUS made MARRIAGE EQUALITY legal in all 50 states last June 26th could I legally marry my husband. I know some people say “Why didn’t you just go to another state and get married”. That’s a good question. My husband worked 35 years in the Texas Independent School System and paid into Texas Teacher Retirement. He could not add me to his benefits until marriage was legal in Texas for me to get any benefits. So while he was paying $300 a month for himself and his two daughters for full coverage and a $500 deductible, I was paying $600 a month with a $2,500 deductible plus a prescription deductible on top of that. Only because of the Democratic Party fighting for Obamacare was I able to afford reasonable healthcare & prescriptions until I married my husband with excellent healthcare benefits.
Only the Democratic Party will fight to keep and improve Obamacare. Only the Democratic Party fought for Marriage Equality and continues to Fight for Equal Rights that we do not have under the Constitution as just pointed out in states like North Carolina and Mississippi where Transgendered people now do not have a choice of which restroom they will be allowed to use. Only do to the work of the Democratic Party will women make equal pay to men and see a higher minimum wage.
Now the Republican Party will do anything in their power to get rid of Obamacare. They will fight to make sure there is no increase in the minimum wage. They will make sure that all Planned Parenthood funding is ended and do everything in the power to put up as many roadblocks to end abortion but also try to legislate Women’s Rights regarding their Health! I can promise you students will never see any Free College including Junior College and they will not try to assist in reducing or forgiving any student debt. Republicans will not decrease student loan rates on current or former student debt or make payments be a set part of your monthly income so a person can afford to live after college. They will fight ever passing any type of reasonable Immigration Reform. They will do everything within their power to export as many Immigrants that are currently in the U.S. illegally disregarding their children that were born here who are Citizens of the U.S. They will not be concerned at all with breaking up families leaving children to have to go into Children’s Services if they have no other family members in the United States. Republican will not raise taxes on the wealthy or cut out loopholes that would require the wealthy to pay more.
Those are just a few examples of what the Republican Party would do if Trump or Cruz were elected President. I just can’t understand how anyone can allow those things to happen just because they feel “I just can’t vote for Hillary”. I campaigned for Hillary in 2008 all the way to the Democratic Convention. I could see Obama was going to win the Nomination before the Convention. I was truly devastated that Hillary would not be our Nominee, but I knew as a Democrat I would be voting for Obama and was so Humbled when Hillary Nominated Obama to be the Democratic Candidate for President at the Convention. I watched as Hillary Campaigned for President Obama to make sure he would be our next President.
I know there are Haters that will always Hate. That’s just the way it is. But as a Gay Democrat with a Pre-Existing Condition who could not Marry or get decent Healthcare before Obamacare I have lived through the depression and discrimination during what was the worst part of my life. I know many people will understand how my situation was back then & why I am so proud to be a Democrat that would always support whoever wins the Nomination of our party for President.
My mother has passed away but I always remember so many of the things she taught me growing up that have made me a better person for learning them. My mother always lived by the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and that is how she lived her entire life; but probably my favorite thing she taught me was “Don’t judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes”. I have felt the pain of bigotry and prejudice my whole life and known that the only way things would ever improve for me would be if the people of the Democratic Party helped change the world. So I have voted for Democrats for Local,State and National positions even when it was not the Nominee I truly wanted.
Change does not happen over night. My husband and I had to wait 25 years to get married and he never thought it would happen in our lifetime. I always had faith and believed it would. Good things can happen in a World where you think they Never will. Laws regarding Wages, Gender Discrimination, Climate Change, Campaign Finance and Equality For All take time. It would be wonderful if a Newly Elected President could just be sworn in and start doing Signing Statements/Executive Orders that change everything they have promised during their campaign, but that’s just not the way it works. Change takes time-even longer if a Republican President gets into The White House.
There will be those “Bernie or Bust” voters who just won’t vote for Hillary. Just remember, when you don’t vote for the Nominee of the Democratic Party, even when it is not the candidate of your choice- Not only will Positive Change not take place but I can Guaranty You that you will actually see History Reverse itself. Women will lose Rights(of their bodies,salaries,sexism,time off work for new babies)You will see No Immigration Reform and see Massive Deportation and the breaking up of Families. You will see LGBT rights overturned and protections that currently exist overturned. In most states LGBT people can be fired or evicted for being gay and worse.
I’m 59- when I was 18 I was closeted and NEVER EVER thought I would see the changes that gradually happened get passed in my lifetime, but it takes time. It will never happen over night. And if you believe that Taking a Stand for your Personal Convictions of your Candidate and you just won’t vote for anyone else- Then be Prepared for the Results. Be Prepared to see Rights that you have taken for granted and think have always been there will Stay in Place….Because they won’t. That’s just how it is.
I am voting for HILLARY CLINTON for President should she be our Nominee. I hope you will take the time to read my story and think of friends or family who might be LGBT,of another Race, another sex,from another country and realize that your vote can Change Their Life. Not only protect the Laws and Rights that have changed in the last year to the last 50 years and longer but help make new Laws that will improve Life in America for Everyone, not just the elite. We must all vote for the Democratic Nominee for President No Matter Who It Is.