So yet another Democratic debate without a single question about LGBT rights

[dsc]

in a country in which those citizens can be fired from their jobs, evicted from their apartments, denied a whole host of rights in over half the states, having over half the population. We are now 6 for 6 in this regard.

[virtualobserver]

1. I would have expected more from PBS

[EndElectoral]

2. Very little about climate change as well or the environment. Surprising in a PBS Dem Debate.

[artislife]

3. I kind of get the feeling

that they think marriage equality takes care of everything.

They are wrong of course, all groups of people are way more than one single issue.

Here is hoping they get with it. We all have spent way to long being boxed in by simplistic labels of concern.

[m-lekktor]

5. some establishment gay groups think the same in regards to

marriage equality takes care of everything. They have even shut down or want to (the Victory Fund in New York for example). Marriage and the Military, you can't find two more conservative "institutions" than that (((ASSIMILATE))) but that is a whole other big topic for anything day.

[dsc]

11. the victory fund was all about marriage though

and thus shutting down was legitimate. They completed their mission.

[m-lekktor]

13. well I remember people having a fit about it that is why i mentioned it.

I don't pay much attention to any of these mainstream gay groups anymore to be honest.

[Arazi]

4. Agreed.,And climate change

Can't believe these are still un-addressed

[brooklynite]

6. Allow me...

Q. Do you support the protection of Civil Rights (including marriage rights) and oppose discrimination for the LGBT community?

A. Yes

[dsc]

8. I think a more productive question is what executive powers would you use to bring about

those rights since the Congress won't be passing such a law anytime soon? Would either one treat schools and state governments as federal contractors for the purpose of the one Obama recently promlogated about employment discrimination? Would title 1 money be withheld from schools which prohibit GSA's or require trans students to use bathrooms that aren't the ones they wish to use?

[brooklynite]

10. The Executive can't...

...outside of policies affecting Federal agencies, which I suspect are already in place.

[dsc]

12. obama already issued an executive order banning discrimination among federal contractors

similar to the one FDR did in the 1940's for African Americans

[jberryhill]

16. ...and which had what effect on schools?

[dsc]

17. none which is my point

but I don't see why under the same type of legal theory an executive order like this couldn't be expanded to included government and schools.

[jberryhill]

19. Because they are not contractors

And waving a magic wand at the word "contractors" will not make them contractors.

[dsc]

21. schools and governments purchase stuff from the government all the time

and provide services to the government for which they are paid. Would it be a stretch? Yes. Would it be upheld, maybe? Why not try.

[jberryhill]

24. I bought a souvenir at a national park...

...that did not make me a federal contractor.

But more importantly, schools do not provide services to the federal government pursuant to a contract under which the schools are paid.

A federal contractor is a person who:

(1) Enters into any contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof either for—

(i) The rendition of personal services; or
(ii) Furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment; or
(iii) Selling any land or buildings;

(2) If the payment for the performance of the contract or payment for the material, supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part from funds appropriated by the Congress.

...and for clarity it is the rendition, furnishing, or selling to the federal government.

You can't change a statutory definition by executive order, and if your school had a contract with the federal government, where was this contract kept?

[PyaarRevolution]

14. Executive action.

You could easily make it clear that contractors won't get a piece of that government money if they don't follow anti-discrimination measures. That could make quite an impact.

[dsc]

15. Obama did that just recently

but my question to them would be would you expand the definition of contractor to include government and schools?

[dana_b]

7. they all seem to stick to the same topics

over and over. It's ridiculous and LGBT issues should definitely be addressed. We've heard their views on Wall Street, war, the economy - move on!!

[tk2kewl]

9. It may be because the establishment's candidate will come off poorly when compared to her opponent

[NurseJackie]

18. This is important to me as well.

I hope we are able to hear more about this with direct questions and answers from our candidates.

[bigwillq]

20. Kick (nt)

[boston bean]

22. I agree, we need to have some debates that actually focus on something other than wall street and

foreign policy.

We need to get into some nitty gritty.

Last debate Hillary's campaign complained no questions on this were asked.

I was hoping for a better set of questions.. but you are right we did not get them.

[firebrand80]

23. IMO, moderators tend to focus on areas where

They think there will be the most disagreement.