Yesterday Mitt Romney tweeted his admiration for pioneering astronaut Sally Ride, first American* woman in space, in honor of her passing.
Many replied in agreement, but a few found this to be a hypocritical sentiment as Ride was partnered for 27 years with a woman in the type of relationship which Romney has repeatedly said he does not believe should be allowed to marry.
And so a campaign was born to raise awareness about the issues surrounding marriage equality. In their own words, people are replying to Romney regarding the death benefits reportedly being denied Ride’s partner, which have previously been bestowed upon widows of astronauts:
If you support equal rights for same-sex partners, let Mitt Romney know! This is what’s so cool about social media, it’s a way for voters’ voices to be heard, publicly, on issues such as these, where everyone’s voice is equally powerful. We can do this respectfully, calling attention to the issue of same-sex marriage equality, and have our voices heard!
*Correction: Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, she was preceded by Valentina Tereshkova
Photo: AP/Nasa file photo
About Joanna Schroeder
To be fair, Mitt Romney is not…nor has he ever been…in any position to influence who gets federal benefits. If you want to criticize someone for failure to act on that, criticize President Obama. He could issue an executive order immediately which would provide federal benefits to the surviving spouse of anyone in a gay marriage. And if he didn’t have the gumption to do that, then back when the Democrats had complete control of congress, he could have at least gotten one of his fellow Democrats to introduce a bill providing federal benefits to a surviving gay spouse. But he did nothing.
Rather unfair and downright hypocritical to criticize someone for something he’s had no control over, while saying absolutely nothing about the person who DOES control it. That’s “despicable and grotesque”, don’t you think?
Great points Lakeisha.
I think the point is more that Romney is against same-sex marriage which would, if it were made legal everywhere in the US, make federal benefits available to all spouses. But you’re absolutely right that we should also be asking our President to enact such spousal benefits to life-partners of any gender.
I think people feel less vehemence toward Obama because he has come out in favor of same-sex marriage, and that is a major part of this battle. Whereas if Romney were elected, he would continue such oppression.
But one needs to ask, must you be in agreement with everything someone does or is in order to admire their accomplishments? Can he respect her for her accomplishments while disagreeing with her lifestyle choice?
This woman was a fricking genius. A PHD in physics from my alma mater is no joke. We need to celebrate her life. It is distasteful that so many want to make her death about gay marriage.
You know, IDBY–and I want everyone to get ready because I’m about to agree with IDBY—I see where you’re coming from!
I agree, we should remember her for being one of the greatest thinkers of our time. She was not only highly intelligent, she was a pioneer. I cannot imagine what it must’ve been like to walk into an industry where there had truly never been another woman, and achieve her goals despite having no model of a woman having done so. It’s pretty amazing.
I think a lot of people *are* giving that element of her life a HUGE amount of attention. I don’t think that means we can’t also talk about this, however.
Here’s the rub. Sally ride did not press the issue of gay marriage as far as I know, so piggyback politics at the time of her death is not OK in my book. In other words we shouldn’t be talking about the issue on her back.
Hey IDBY, I have a thought.
You should write an article that we will publish that is about either how you feel about this campaign piggybacking on her death OR just a tribute to her life and her heroics.
That would be great, and would make a real difference.
If I can find the bandwidth It’s gonna be a tribute, writing a whole article complaining about piggybacking… is also a form of piggybacking.
Was Romney governor of Mass. when they legalized gay marriage or am I getting my timeline wrong?
He was! However it wasnt anything he did that made it so. Same sex marriage was made legal when the state supreme court ruled it unconstitutional for marriage to be only for het citizens.
Also… How about that Massachusetts socialized medicine?
Gay marriage AND socialized medicine?? And it hasn’t sunk into the ocean??
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!
Haha, RIGHT?!
I think I can safely comment here about marraige equality, no?
This issue certainly affects same sex couples but far moreso poly persons, who not only can’t legally marry and therefore recieve death benefits, but they continue to get convicted of felonies and imprisoned for even living as if they are married. They get thrown into jail and have a permanent criminal record. For getting married. Seriously?
Everyone who supports and fights for marriage equality should be incensed at this outrageous discrimination and bigotry.
Joanna: I don’t believe Sally Ride was the first woman is space.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentina_Tereshkova
Dude, if that wiki is right, you’re correct!
And what’s more, almost every single news outlet is wrong…
http://articles.cnn.com/2012-07-23/us/us_sally-ride-dead_1_california-space-institute-first-american-woman-lives-of-seven-crew
That’s sort of crazy. I will amend this post to reflect that she was the first American woman in space.
Reading that link (not even what it links to) leaves me believing John is correct. After all, why does the article name say “first AMERICAN woman”?
How deserving she is of the praise she gets is also a matter of (a href=”http://www.debbieschlussel.com/52082/sally-ride-was-pushed-ahead-of-more-qualified-male-astronauts-bc-she-was-a-chick-feminist-lesbian/”>question for some, given her connection to NOW and their push for affirmative action in the space program. Note: this is not a very reserved opinion piece.