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I am no fan of the Republican Party since its
platform and so many of its members are viciously opposed to fairness for
gay people. Yet my father used to say, “You’ve got to give the devil
his due,” so here goes.
In January 2007 all eight of the Republican
state senators in Delaware voted to oppose rules permitting the Delaware
Senate’s infamous “desk drawer veto.” Only one Democrat, Karen
Peterson, joined them. The desk drawer veto allows a committee chair to
simply ignore a bill no matter how many legislators or citizens want that
legislation: no hearing, no discussion, no vote. Our several gay
nondiscrimination bills have been killed by this undemocratic maneuver.
The desk drawer veto was abolished in the
Delaware House when Republicans took that chamber three decades ago.
This January all eight Republican Senators
plus Democrats Karen Peterson and David Sokola have now sponsored Senate
Resolution 13. It calls for many open government reforms in the Senate,
including abolishment of the desk drawer veto. I applaud the Republicans
on this issue—and any Democrats democratic enough to join them.
Douglas Marshall-Steele
(Following is a copy of a letter addressed
to Gov. Ruth Ann Minner)
Dear Governor Minner:
For the first seven years of the
“Minner-Carney Administration” (to use your definition of your
administration) you always indicated your support of the
non-discrimination legislation (HB 99 and its successors); you attended
rallies in support of that; and indicated that you would support
administrative remedies which dealt with inequalities in the law which
impacted the GLBT community.
We were very disappointed that there was
nary a mention of our community in the recent State of the State address.
Though you have verbalized support for our community, we have very little
to show for your efforts, even when your promise to add
“transgendered” to your non-discrimination executive order required no
one’s action but your own.
Hopefully, your lack of specific mention of
issues of importance to us does not diminish your commitment to our
community, and you and the Lieutenant Governor will use your clout and
administrative prerogatives this legislative session to provide us with
the same rights that every other Delawarean has.
Looking forward to working with your
administration to achieve equal rights for all.
Peter Schott, President Delaware
Stonewall Democrats
I’m writing to let you know our
appreciation for the generous donation and volunteer support CAMP Rehoboth
provides every year to help make our Community Unity Dinner a reality. It
goes without saying that you cannot have a dinner without dessert and we
can always count on CAMP to provide the most delicious and festive
desserts.
Also, your crew of volunteers assists us in
so many ways. This year we served almost 400 dinners on December 2 and it
was the best party yet.
Your generous donation has become a
Rehoboth tradition that is appreciated by the marvelous cross-section of
Rehoboth organizations and individuals who participate in and enjoy this
event.
Thank you from the Main Street Board of
Directors and membership for your continued and so very generous community
support.
Kathy McGuiness
Main Street Promotions Committee Chair
The children of Burton Village would like
to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for the great Christmas
party that was made possible through the following community-conscious
businesses and organizations that donated so generously:
Arena’s Deli, Café-A-Go-Go, CAMP
Rehoboth, Casapulla’s South, Christmas Spirit, Dolle’s Candyland,
Grotto Pizza, Ibach’s, Lewes Dairy, McDonald’s, Neva’s Café, Nicola
Pizza, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Salisbury, MD, Robin Hood Restaurant,
Silk & Sands Florist, The Admiral Hotel, The Bake Shoppe, The Coffee
Mill, Toys for Tots and the Sussex Family YMCA along with Terry Rasberry
for his valued assistance in contacting Santa Claus at the North Pole.
Theresa Cardone
on behalf of the children of Burton Village
Retro Cafe and Grille, 10 Wilmington Ave.,
is proud to announce that we raised $570 over Mardi Gras weekend to be
donated to the New Orleans Public Libraries through an in-house raffle. As
a former elementary teacher, I wanted to do something to help the children
of New Orleans and that is why my partner Thom Morris and I chose the
library system as our benefactor. Last year, we sent them over $300, and
our goal this year was $500, which we easily reached thanks to the
generosity of our customers. The public libraries in New Orleans were
devastated by Hurricane Katrina and the money raised will help replenish
damaged books and supplies.
Retro also participated in the 2nd annual
Gumbo Cook-off where over 400 people sampled our gumbo. We were proud to
help out for the 2nd year in a row for a worthy cause to help
hurricane victims in Louisiana.
Jim Slusher
Retro Cafe and Grille
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