Today, upon news that Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, had passed away, Mitt Romney called her one of America's "great pioneers."
I have a question for Romney, a question shared by others:
Are you satisfied, Mitt, that Ride's partner of 27 years, Tam O'Shaughnessy, will be denied federal benefits because of the Defense of Marriage Act?
Are you happy, Mitt, that the partner of a woman you today described as "a profile in courage" will not be afforded the same benefits as those who are, shall we say, less worthy profiles in courage?
Are you beaming, Mitt, now that the partner of the first American woman in space -- about whom you said, "Ride inspired millions of Americans with her determination to break the mold of her time" -- will not receive the federal benefits received by millions of others?
We know the answer.
Which is why we must continue, with determination, to break the mold of our time -- the mold of homophobia and anti-gay bigotry that continues to treat segments of our population as less than equal.
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