Fly the Rainbow Flag with Pride

[DanaC]

Every now and again politicians do something decent and every now and again I am able to feel some pride in my country.

Francis Maude is to show the government's commitment to the equality agenda by allowing the rainbow flag to be flown from the cabinet office in Whitehall during Pride week next month

Bear in mind this is a conservative cabinet minister, in a conservative led coalition.

Maude made a personal intervention on the eve of the two day debate on the marriage (same sex couples) bill in the commons on Monday and Tuesday this week. In an article for the Daily Telegraph he wrote of how Britain, including himself, has become more liberal since the era of Margaret Thatcher.

Maude cited his family's experience. He wrote: "For me it was also a family experience that shaped my outlook. It was not by any means unique but it was a formative experience. My brother Charles, who was gay, died from AIDS in 1993.

"Society was a far less accepting place for gay men such as him. I think how much better his life would have been had there been greater acceptance of publicly acknowledged stable same-sex relationships. In the two decades since, much has changed. But I think this additional step, of extending marriage to all, is important both symbolically and practically. And it is something which most – though I appreciate not all – gay men and women want.

The push for gay marriage was an interesting move on Cameron's part. Maybe it will soften the image of the party amongst those unhappy with some of their other social policies. But maybe it will tear the party apart as the right-wing defect to far right fringe parties (UKIP). Such a big risk that I am left thinking there might be real belief and conscience behind this one.

The prime minister spoke passionately in favour of gay marriage on Wednesday after the bill had completed its initial commons stages. He told the Today programme on Radio 4: "There will be young boys in schools today, who are gay who are worried about being bullied who are worried about what society thinks of them, who can see that the highest parliament in the land has said that their love is worth the same as anyone else's love and that we believe in equality. I think they will stand that bit taller today and I am proud of the fact that that has happened

That's a sentiment I can get behind.

[Lamplighter]

"There will be young boys in schools today,
who are gay who are worried about being bullied
who are worried about what society thinks of them,
who can see that the highest parliament in the land
has said that their love is worth the same as anyone else's love
and that we believe in equality.

I think they will stand that bit taller today and
I am proud of the fact that that has happened

That's an epitaph worth carving on any anyone's tombstone

[piercehawkeye45]

Agreed. Here is how Minneapolis responded to legalizing gay marriage in Minnesota:

[Lamplighter]

Is there such a thing as a "lighting engineer" ?
If so, my compliments... he/she/they did a nice job
... regardless of the reason.

And my compliments to Minnesota for their decision
... regardless of their crazy-lady politician.
.

[Griff]

That is nice.

[glatt]

I like that a lot. I want to know how they change those light bulbs. It looks like it would be extremely difficult to access them there, but they aren't going to do something like this unless it's pretty easy.

[Lamplighter]

Indeed...

My Dad was a life-long electrician for General Motors in California.
It a scary part of his job to climb up the old water and radio towers
to change the (flashing red light) bulbs that warn low flying aircraft.

Things were not nearly as safety-minded 50+ years ago, and he would
start dreading the work the week before he had to climb again.
But, he lived unharmed all the way to his retirement in the 60's.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by glatt

I like that a lot. I want to know how they change those light bulbs. It looks like it would be extremely difficult to access them there, but they aren't going to do something like this unless it's pretty easy.

From the top, over the side, either with a bucket truck or one of those bridge inspection thingys.

[Sundae]

My first thought when seeing those "bucket trucks" was of a hot man scratching at his betty swallocks with a salad fork.

Sorry, it really was.

How ingenious is mankind though.

[BigV]

the rainbow bridge?

really? that's ... unfortunate.

sure is pretty though and I fully support the cause for celebration.