Marriage discrimination inspired one of the most mainstream public figures in the country to come forward for equality this week: Jeanne Phillips, aka 'Dear Abby.'Phillips, who offers advice through her widely syndicated column, said, "I believe if two people want to commit to each other, God bless 'em. That is the highest form of commitment, for heaven's sake."
Abby (as she prefers to be called), the daughter of the original 'Dear Abby,' made the comments to a reporter in relation to a "Straight for Equality" award she's to receive from GLAAD. Abby says she isn't planning to devote a column to her statement about gay marriage -- which is too bad. She has a strong record for addressing gay issues in a positive way in the advice she doles out to everyday Americans who read her, however, making her a powerful and respected voice in raising awareness of gay issues to the mainstream.
In the AP article about this which ran on AOL (and which has more on the story here), a poll shows some interesting but not too surprising reactions to Abby's gay-friendly stance: Readers were split fairly evenly on her comments, with a slight majority in favor of her position that gays should be allowed to marry.

It's no secret that gay rights can't be won by the efforts of gays alone -- we need straight allies who are in public life, as well as everyday citizens on Main Street, USA, to be at our side during this fight. What's inspiring is that many of our straight friends realize that when fairness and equality are threatened or denied to some, it affects everyone, not just the immediate victims.
In the video below, Abby speaks about empathy for others and warns against judging others. Now that's some good advice.

...I'm pickin' favorites and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Allison Robertson, the guitar player for The Donnas, is my favorite Donna, super SUPER hot, and ya know, my guitar hero. Second to Jonny Lang of course cause it's just not human the things he can do with an axe. The 
Imagine the profound message that is sent when visitors see these items laid out among the most iconic objects of American identity. A circa-1965 picket sign that says "First Class Citizenship for Homosexuals" sits in a room that includes the hat Lincoln was wearing the night he was killed, George Washington's uniform, and the "whites only" Woolworth's lunch counter from Greensboro, North Carolina. And don't even get me started on the fact sharing the stage with Jackie Kennedy's inaugural gown and Dorothy's ruby slippers is a 1968 political button reading "Gay Is Good," a phrase coined by Frank Kameny.
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