Cheryl Jacques Addresses Democrats

Cheryl Jacques was allowed to address the Democratic National Convention yesterday with the following prepared speech, an endorsement of Kerry and Edwards from her Human Rights Campaign. (The Mayor of San Francisco was not allowed to speak.)

“I'm Cheryl Jacques, and on behalf of my partner Jennifer, and our beautiful twin boys Timmy and Tommy, I'd like to say how proud I am to be back in my home state of Massachusetts - where I had the privilege of serving in the State Senate for more than a decade.

“America has often been called a great experiment.

“What began with a revolution against tyranny right here in Massachusetts hastransformed into an evolution of progress.

“Progress is not a ceiling to reach. It is an infinite frontier.

“Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans share the dream - the dream of a better, stronger and more united America.

“We protect our country. We die for our country.

“That's why we seek the right to serve openly and honestly in our armed forces - to defend our freedoms and the rights of all American families.

“We see a health care crisis that can be alleviated through more personal responsibility.

“That in part is why we're working for marriage equality - so we can do what families do best - care for each other in sickness and in health.

“We want a fully fortified battle against HIV and AIDS that spares this generation the ravages of the last.

“We want to ensure that violent hate crimes are aggressively prosecuted.

“We are optimistic.

“We are innovators.

“We envision new technologies, cures for diseases, and better products to enrich people's lives.

“We work hard.

“We contribute to our communities.

“We pay our fair share of taxes.

“We simply ask that we're never fired because of who we are.

“Today in 36 states in this country - in 36 states - it is legal to fire the star employee simply because the boss thinks he or she is gay.

“That is wrong. That is wrong!

“There are some who criticize our American dream and that is their right.

“This flag on my lapel shields me from neither criticism nor dissent.

 

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