SUMMARY: "Let's treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law," says the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday released this statement regarding the 2008 Pride season:

"I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core this issue is about who we are as Americans."

"It's time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let's enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let's repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let's treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.

"We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who are working every day to achieve equal rights -- the gay couple who demands equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children, the lesbian soldier who wants nothing more than to serve her country openly and honestly, the transgendered workers who ask for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work.

"Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work we can fulfill the promise of equality for all."

Obama's website has a section directed toward his LGBT constituency (http://pride.barackobama.com/). The site features the senator's views on LGBT issues and allows visitors to search for Pride events in their area. stories related to Obama's message to LGBT Americans.

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Tammi Dee

Hooray!!! Barack Obama is the one to lead us to victory in November!!! It would be nice if he and Hillary could become running mates now. The main goal now is to get Obama elected and take back our Constitutional rights and rekindle democracy in this country after the Disastrous Fascist Republican imposed Theocracy.

The Department of Defense (DOD) now employs contractors to keep contractors in check in Iraq, under a new framework for war industry management solidified last month. Another Republican inspired disaster in the making.

Sydney, Australia - Australia, a staunch U.S. ally and one of the first countries to commit troops to the war in Iraq five years ago, ended combat operations there June 1.

The move fulfills a campaign promise by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was swept into office in November largely on the promise that he would bring home the country's 550 combat troops by the middle of 2008. Rudd has said the Iraq deployment made Australia more of a target for terrorism.

It’s good that we had a lower war related death figure last month, but even One is too high.

Tammi Dee

Fallujah, Iraq - At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure that he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked.

Add one more insult to the list; Iraqi people are being proselytized to by our Military turning the war into a true Crusade. The next logical step is to kill people for not becoming Christian. OOPS!!!! Forgive me we already are, aren’t we?

If the Neo-Nazi Christians want a Crusade let their Evangelists fight this war and bring our troops home.

Why WRIGHT is RIGHT on 9/11

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Tammi Dee