= new reply since forum marked as read
what you can and can't say in your own forum? 
I was a long term mod on DU2 and have to say we really worked at objectivity and fairness within the guidelines we were given. As did DU's administrators. DU3 grew out of that period in many ways, if I understand it correctly. Now we have a community jury system. I support that - a random selection of active DUers to review an alerted post. Alerted being the key function.
Results vary, obviously. Some don't sit well with me, some do. Figure that it's the same for most other DUers.
I think it's an on going aspect for DU. And I know Admin is looking at the whole process.
(personal aside) "Pocket of homophobes" in re: DU2 mods kind of stung. I'm gay and never got that sense working with the moderator teams.
No, shame is a better word. They should be ashamed of possessing such bigotry. I've been posting more often here lately, and I'm beginning to think genuine liberals aren't the majority here after all. Especially given this revelation. One would think after eight years of mocking Bush and the ultra-partisanship of the Republicans it would be easy for us to remain consistent in our defense of civil liberties across the board. It should be a source of immense pride that we're willing to be the champions of LGBT rights. That we're determined to rise above dogmatic traditions and prejudices.
Guess we still have a lot of work ahead of us. Pity these people couldn't just slink over to the tea party, I'm sure their medieval platform would be much more agreeable. 
it seems general oversight of LGBT matters round these parts are more and more erring on the, shall we say, "laissez faire" side. Anything from homophobic commentary to outright anti-gay vitriol? Hands off! LGBT response to said, perhaps sprinkled with a little vim and vinegar, justifiably so considering the homophobic verbal spew as of late? Censor! Hide! Delete!
I lament that this country has no major Social democratic parties a la Western Europe or Canada where gay rights have become cemented party platforms in this modern age. The generally center to center right Democratic Party is, on it's most "liberal" of days more akin to a moderate Christian democratic party you find in other countries. Unfortunately, it is the only electable channel in this country for left of centers, liberals, progressives, social democrats, and so on. Being such a huge, "catch all" party, any liberalism, progressivism and the rarer social democratism is heavily diluted by the multitudes of center righters, and right wingers (I am using standards found in most of the rest of the world since our "conservatives" would usually pass for far right to extreme right elsewhere and our "moderates" and moderate dems would pass for right wing elsewhere) and thus the party platform "if it can be called that" on LGBT is porous and anything but cemented.
Instead, you have plenty of "Democrats" who seemingly view gay rights as an inconvenience. Not necessarily opposed to it, but would prefer it didn't rear it's head all the time. "Aren't you people ever satisfied?? Can't you just wait until after the election?? Must you be so selfish??"
And then, on occasion, there are members who are just plain homophobic, unapologetically so. Oh, and don't even get me started on folks who like to race bait the LGBTs here.
Sigh 
