In late November, a judge ordered Obama's administration to enroll a lesbian federal employee's partner into their health benefits program. With 30 days to comply sprinting by, it appears they won't act on the order.
The administration already has a long history of defending anti-LGBT laws it says are discriminatory but must protect because their "job description" tells them so. However, openly gay Director of the Office of Personnel Management John Berry, who ironically is going along with the administration and told Blue Cross/Blue Shield to not extend the benefits to his fellow gay citizen, says he nor Obama have the authority to follow the judge's order. Huh? He spoke at the International Gay and Lesbian Leadership Conference Saturday.
I guess they're simply hoping that Rep. Tammy Baldwin's Domestic Partnership Benefits & Obligation Act succeeds so that they won't have to take responsibility for anything. That's a rather cowardly strategy in my opinion. And I would bet that the legislation won't pass by the time the 30 days are up. So what is the administration going to say then?
But here's some actual good news. Openly gay Reps. Baldwin and Jared Polis, "said they are also confident that the House will include in the annual military spending bill next year a provision to repeal the law that bans gays from serving in the U.S. military. All the measures face a harder time in the Senate following the death of longtime ally Sen. Edward Kennedy, but Baldwin and Polis said they remained optimistic Senate leaders would."
“I’m hopeful we will see those three pieces of legislation make it all the way, or damn close,” said Baldwin, referring to the Domestic Partnership Benefits, DADT and ENDA.
Office of Personnel Management director John Berry, the Obama administration’s highest ranking gay appointee, told the conference that the president strongly supports the trio of gay rights measures.
Including transgender workers as part of the legislation to ban job discrimination and lifting the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gay service members may especially meet opposition in Congress, Berry said. But he said that with a Democrat in the White House and Democratic majorities controlling the House and the Senate, victories were “within our grasp.”
I hope they're right. There's been a lot of anger recently about ENDA stalling in congress.
Everyone keeps saying, "Wait for 2010." Though I applaud Baldwin and Polis, their Democratic colleagues better come through on their promises, because with the Don't Ask Don't Give campaign growing momentum, and the recent betrayal in the New York state senate by the Democrats there, they better be doing everything they can to get these pieces of legislation through, or they just may find LGBT citizens supporting their primary opponents.
So do you remember that hefty statement that's being prepared by U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference which will condemn same-sex marriage? Well, the conservative evangelicals saw this and decided they wanted something similar for themselves.
More than 150 Christian leaders, most of them conservative evangelicals with a smattering of traditionalist Roman Catholic bishops, issued a joint 4,7000-word declaration Friday called “The Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience." It reaffirms their opposition to abortion and marriage equality and pledges to protect religious freedoms, referencing Martin Luther King Jr.'s "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail" as a call to civil disobedience.
Signatories include 15 Roman Catholic bishops, including New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl; Focus on the Family founder James Dobson; National Association of Evangelicals president Leith Anderson; seminary leaders, professors and pastors.
“We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence,” it says.
Even more, “We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”
But you see, this is exactly what they want. Though it's far from the truth that they'll be forced to do any of these things (hence, the separation of church and state the protection of religious freedom), they want their followers to the believe the end times are nigh, which encourages drastic actions and behavior. (Remember the Bush years? He led them into what they were hoping was their Armageddon - it just ended up being the trap that is the Iraq War.)
Craig von Buseck of the Christian Broadcasting Network (click at your own risk) compares the Manhattan Declaration to the Declaration of Independence, claiming just like the colonialists fighting the English, they have been pushed far enough by the "anti-family" and "anti-religious" movement and their religious freedoms are threatened to the point of necessary action.
"Today, Bible-believing Christians find themselves in an eerily similar situation as the activist Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the U.S. Federal Government move swiftly to deny religious liberties, and impose a radical anti-family, anti-Christian agenda upon the people of America," says von Buseck.
"Christian leaders today have arisen to echo the words of the colonial patriots, 'You have pushed us far enough. We will be pushed no further.'"
Ah, but see, these Christians are themselves guilty of breaking the vows of marriage and committing a multitude of other sins. Some of them have even had "relations" with members of the same sex. But they have a way around that, writing in the manifesto:
"We confess with sadness that Christians and our institutions have too often scandalously failed to uphold the institution of marriage and to model for the world the true meaning of marriage. Insofar as we have too easily embraced the culture of divorce and remained silent about social practices that undermine the dignity of marriage we repent, and call upon all Christians to do the same."
So they confessed, they're absolved and are now free to strip the rights of others away in the name of their faith.
Oh, and they also rely on the old adage that allowing same-sex marriage will allow legalized polygamy and incest.
"We understand that many of our fellow citizens, including some Christians, believe that the historic definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is a denial of equality or civil rights . . . the assumption that the legal status of one set of marriage relationships affects no other would not only argue for same sex partnerships; it could be asserted with equal validity for polyamorous partnerships, polygamous households, even adult brothers, sisters, or brothers and sisters living in incestuous relationships. Should these, as a matter of equality or civil rights, be recognized as lawful marriages, and would they have no effects on other relationships? No. The truth is that marriage is not something abstract or neutral that the law may legitimately define and re-define to please those who are powerful and influential."
This does make sense. It really does. My not having a choice about my sexual orientation, something that the American Psychological Association confirms that I cannot change, but my conscious decision to be with only one person in a monogamous relationship is equivalent to a man or woman making the conscious choice to have more than one partner - They can't control themselves! They MUST have more than one spouse! They were born that way! So therefor must be legally recognized!
As for incest - c'mon, really? I do feel awful for those who have been abused in such a way or have fallen for a family member or are the shunned offspring of such a union, but comparing my relationship to these damaging circumstances is offensive.
But I'm not saying anything new here. And neither are they. All they're doing is trying to rally their troops and recapture the glory of their Bush years. We all know well they don't like it when other opinions are voiced as loudly as theirs and are actually considered!
The New York Times says, "They want to signal to the Obama administration and to Congress that they are still a formidable force that will not compromise on abortion, stem-cell research or gay marriage. They hope to influence current debates over health care reform, the same-sex marriage bill in Washington, D.C., and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation."
"They say they also want to speak to younger Christians who have become engaged in issues like climate change and global poverty, and who are more accepting of homosexuality than their elders," the Times continues. "They say they want to remind them that abortion, homosexuality and religious freedom are still paramount issues."
Which is ironic. Because they believe God gave us the Earth to take care of, Bush their hero is from an oil family, oil and the burning of oil causes global warming, global warming is effectively destroying the planet and could ruin the very world God bequeathed to us, but priorities people! DON'T LET THE GAYS MARRY OR WE'LL BECOME EXTINCT!
But I know full well not all Christians, Catholic and Protestant, feel this way. Many support marriage equality, encourage health care reform and believe that President Obama has our nation's best interests at heart. These I view as true Christians, who love their neighbor as themselves. These are true people of faith.
These manifesto Christians are political mongers desperate to stay relevant and to keep their political power. And all I have to say to them - "Oops, your hypocrisy is showing."
This is a few days old but definitely worth posting.
Savage refers to an email from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) sent out to all supporters directly before elections, urging them to get involved in a number of issues, but failed to mention any of the LGBT ballot initiatives attempting to take away rights.
Even more infuriating, they sent an email to some Mainers asking them to go to New Jersey to help the Democratic Gov. John Corzine win re-election. He did not. And the DNC did not ask them to vote No on Question 1 nor volunteer for the NO campaign.
America Blog has been covering the issue extensively, even having it out with the DNC Treasurer Andy Tobias. It's an interesting development during a time when the LGBT population is growing more and more disillusioned with President Obama.
Since it's appearing that the DNC did in fact urge its supporters to act but left the gays out in the cold and that President Obama is continuing to avoid specifically naming our issues to avoid the fray, the passage of Question 1 in Maine is only going to deepen this divide.
Earlier on Unite the Fight I reported that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley sued the federal government for discriminating against legally wed, same-sex couples because it did not extend federal marriage benefits upon them.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), under the Obama Administration, has responded with a filing in court claiming the federal government cannot be forced to extend such benefits and cites the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as its reason.
The Obama administration agrees the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is discriminatory and wants it repealed, but says it has an obligation to defend laws enacted by Congress while they are on the books and can be reasonably defended.
The law "does not prohibit gay and lesbian couples from marrying, nor does it prohibit the states from acknowledging same-sex marriages," according to the court filing by Assistant Attorney General Tony West.
Massachusetts, the filing continues, is trying to claim individuals have a right to federal benefits based on marital status.
"There is, however, no fundamental right to marriage-based federal benefits," according to the 36-page filing.
DOJ spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler went on to tell the AP that any state "can allow gay and lesbian citizens to marry and can make its own decisions about how to treat married couples when it comes to state benefits."
"Massachusetts is not being denied the right to provide benefits to same-sex couples and, in fact, has enacted a law to provide equal health benefits to same-sex spouses," she said.
Like I and many others have said before, precedent has shown that an administration can choose not to defend a law that it believes to be unconstitutional (Reagan, Bush, Clinton). And since Obama does believe it is unconstitutional, I do not understand why he and his DOJ can say in one breath, "We don't like this law but we're going to defend it."
Let's top this off with quoting America Blog: "...this White House has already refused to enforce laws it didn't like - on immigration and medical marijuana - so don't lecture us about how you had to side with the religious right because of your respect for the rule of law. We simply weren't important enough."
Obama has stepped it up more lately, such as passing hate crimes legislation. I'm grateful. But this is such an affront to what the Supreme Court has already said is a fundamental right.
In his blog post "Maine, Obama and the LGBT Community", longtime activist David Mixner called Obama and his administration out on their lack of involvement and support for the LGBT population and their efforts to win equality in Maine.
. . . President Obama and his team were zero help in this critical battle and in the last week might actually have hurt us. That is a fact.
Despite repeated pleas for assistance from this community from the start of the campaign, he chose to ignore every opportunity to grant us such relief. At the recent Human Rights Campaign dinner he never said the word "Maine" once. The most we were able to get out of the White House office of communications was that he was opposed to such efforts. Try weaving that into a powerful ad or robo-calling!
However, practicing benign neglect was not the end of it. This past week, Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States in the state of Maine said that this administration had no position on the ballot measure. Read that sentence again carefully. Our nation's chief law enforcement officer and the president's hand picked choice said that the issue was just not that important to this administration!
-----
You have to be totally operating on blind faith if you believe that President Obama and his team cannot make a difference. Tragically if we lose closely, that defeat almost can be laid at the steps of the White House for their refusal to stand by our side in the battle for freedom. The Holder remark basically gave those Obama supporters and non-white voters permission to vote against our freedom. The Attorney General let them know that Obama didn't care one way or another so why should those voters change their votes? He gave their votes respectability which was devastating for our side.
Let's focus on the task at hand and GET OUR SUPPORTERS TO VOTE TODAY!
No matter where you live, you can help both Maine and Washington contact supporters and urge them to vote! You can do it from home! (And if you live in California, here are some more opportunities to help!)
Today marked a historical occasion when President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act which included the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
"The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, praised President Barack Obama today for signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law," said a press release issued by HRC. "The new law gives the Justice Department the power to investigate and prosecute bias-motivated violence where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability."
"This law honors our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short because of hate," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Today's signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality. Although this is a major step in fighting the scourge of hate violence, it is not the end of the road. As a community, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to changing not only laws but also hearts and minds. We know that hate crimes not only harm individuals, but they terrorize entire communities. After more than a decade of advocacy, local police and sheriffs' departments now have the full resources of the Justice Department available to them." Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors said, "We are thrilled that President Obama has signed this fundamental piece of legislation, which ensures that the federal government will fulfill its obligation to protect all people of this nation, including LGBT people. We applaud the President and Congress for joining California in standing up against violence based on hate. We are especially grateful to Assemblymember Pedro Nava who authored the hate crimes resolution this year, former Senator Sheila Kuehl who authored the original California Hate Crimes Law and the LGBT Caucus and legislators who supported the numerous hate crimes bills and resolutions passed in California.”
HRC produced a tribute to the Dennis and Judy Shephard for their tireless work the last ten years to get this legislation passed and signed into law.
The amazing Kerry Eleveld, the Advocate's White House correspondent, asked the White House for a statement on the discriminatory referenda taking place in Washington state and Maine.
“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and as he said at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, he believes ‘strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.’ Also at the dinner, he said he supports, ‘ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.’"
UTF readers already know that, though I applauded President Obama for speaking at the HRC fundraiser and reiterating his support for LGBT rights, I was critical of the fact that it was just a repeat of his campaign promises.
This new statement reflects the same tactics and doesn't mention Washington or Maine directly. Obama's been clear that he supports civil unions and not particularly marriage equality, so direct reference would be rather difficult for him to pull off without ramifications to him. Though of course I would love it if he had.
Due to time constraints, Co-Director of the National Equality March Robin McGehee was unable to deliver her full speech, a plea to President Obama. The Examiner calls it the best speech at the march.
Thanks to Robin, Unite the Fight has the full speech posted below.
Representative Barney Frank – you may say that Marches don’t matter, I say, you are out of touch in the seat of power you are clearly enjoying, while we the people, know all too well that our brothers and sisters are dying from the self-hate, self-violence and hate crimes that come from a community and government that will not honor our right to live free and equal. And, we are here, to use our first amendment right to speak out against this injustice.
But, today, I bring a message to President Obama. Mr. President, I have dreamed of the day you would serve in the White House since watching you speak at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. When you spoke the words, “we are not a straight American or a gay America, but the United States of America”. I fell in love with your persuasive rhetoric of inclusion and change. From that moment, I promoted you, I defended you – even choosing to campaign against a woman to become the first President of the US. And, now, I wait. Wait as people have claimed that we must give you time. Wait as I have watched you have time to overturn policies set in place by the Bush Administration and not use that same urgency to save my friend Lt. Dan Choi from discharge or to save my family from suffering the harms of discrimination.
Wait, while former Vice President Dick Cheney offers words of acceptance for same-sex marriage. But, we are past the point of wondering if you know how to speak about the rights we deserve. This is not a CliffsNotes test on what you know about LGBT struggles. It is time to take action, and speak against the discrimination that could happen in states like Maine and Washington, and possibly the District of Columbia, and happened recently in the state of California, and could happen again somewhere else.
I know that you are proud that you and the First Lady invited LGBT families to participate in the Easter Egg Roll at the White House, but I have to be honest and say, while our families are still not treated equally, claiming that ticket feels much like claiming a ticket for the back of the bus.
I need you to know that I am the type of mother that would just as much continue walking, than claim a promissory ticket that is never going to bring about real change.
Please, do not forget, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Pansexual, Intersex and others in this country’s movement were promised the same magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence that Dr. Martin Luther King spoke about just across this mall.
I believed you in 2004, I believed you in 2007 – I will even be honest and say that I even fell in love with your beautiful persuasion last night as I watched you speak on CNN at the HRC National Dinner. But, we are past the point of wondering if you know how to speak about the rights we deserve. I know you can identify our struggles. You should receive an A+ on the cliff notes version of being able to identify the rights we are denied. But I want evidence that you are a FIERCE advocate for my children and for the LGBT community. I am tired of waiting – I want to know WHEN.
I have two young children that deserve the same dignity that Martin Luther King's children dreamed of in 1963. I am the type of mother that will raise my children to worship a president [holds up drawing one of her children did of President Obama] that they believe in ... and I am begging you, President Obama, to listen to the people that are speaking to you today, from the streets of activism to the suites of activism. We do believe in you. And I want you to produce the courage to change the weight of the fabric of this country that has been built to discriminate for far too long.
So, with all due respect President Obama and Representative Frank, I hope that you will think twice before using rhetoric that harms the souls of those that suffer the reality of our country’s discriminatory policies towards LGBT people. I still have hope, not because of beautiful dreams of equality, but because I find a group of committed individuals coming together to make change – very inspiring, galvanizing and powerful and MAYBE you should have come to our family reunion on the West Lawn, just to see how that feels.
President Obama needed to convince me of a lot in his speech at the HRC dinner tonight. I needed to be convinced that he had a plan, that he truly understood what was at stake for all of us in the LGBT population, and that he was aware that there possibly isn't as much time left to get actions accomplished as he may think.
What I heard convinced me, again, that President Obama sure knows how to deliver a powerful speech, and though I didn't hear a timeline for a Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal, and though I didn't hear him call out Maine or Washington State and express explicit support for their fights against anti-LGBT referendums, I did choke up. I choked up because I heard a sitting president say, "I'm here with a simple message. I'm here with you in that fight."
So why do I feel disappointed?
Obama declared "there are still laws to change and hearts to open" and described discrimination as "painful and heartbreaking." He added that "We cannot and will not put aside issues of basic equality" and that he is standing with us against those "who would enshrine discrimination into our constitution."
The president has been very aware of the criticisms launched against him, that the incremental approach for LGBT rights is not enough anymore. I've been among them. We may not have another term, and even more pressing, we may not have as friendly of an LGBT Congress after next year's election as we do NOW.
"I appreciate that many of you don't feel that progress has come fast enough," he said. "It's important to be honest amongst friends . . . It's not for me to tell you to be patient . . . I will say this. We have made progress and we will make more."
After acknowledging that we are impatient, after admitting that progress has been slow, after ignoring Maine and Washignton state, he stuck to a theme of incremental progress without a commitment to any timeline, gave himself credit for allowing gays and lesbians to play with Easter eggs on the White House lawn and then dressed it all up in beautiful language hoping yet again to distract us from the fact that the speech lacked any real content.
". . . do not doubt the direction we're headed and the destination that we will reach." But how will we get there? Convince me I shouldn't doubt!
In addressing ENDA, Obama said, "Nobody in America should be fired because they are gay." But where are we on getting this passed? Like Obama's Deputy Campaign Manager Steve Hildebrand said on CNN after the speech, "you don't just wave a wand" and the legislation hits the president's desk.
In regards to Don't Ask Don't Tell: "While some may wish to identify you by your sexual orientation or by your gender identity, you know and I know that none us want to be defined by one part of what makes us whole . . . You are soldiers, you are neighbors and you are friends, and most importantly, you are Americans who care deeply about this country and its future.
"We are moving ahead on DADT. We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped up to their serve this country. We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage . . . when we're fighting two wars.
"I'm working with the Pentagon its leadership and members of the House and Senate on ending this policy. I will end DADT policy."
When? Who knows. Yet again no sign of leadership on the repeal.
The Hate Crimes bill has made impressive progress passing the House but faces an uphill battle in the Senate. But Obama believes "This bill is set to pass and I will sign it into law."
DOMA: "I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act." But just as Congress has reached out to you, President Obama, on direction on how to proceed with repealing DADT, where's the direction on repealing DOMA?
"Are we a nation that can transcend old attitudes? Can we embrace our differences and look to the hopes and dreams that we equal and all of us deserve the same?"
I believe that you believe this, President Obama. I believe you when you say, "My commitment to you is unwavering." But with commitment comes action. With leadership comes direction. You have made history for being explicit in your support for the LGBT population.
Sean Bugg on SiriusOutQ's coverage said, "If you aren't a wonk or activist clued in to the messy politics going on behind the scenes, this speech is a huge home run of support from the President of the United States."
I guess I'm an activist (or wonk).
You asked us to keep the pressure on you. So here it is: Be a leader. Lead. Because in these times, a beautiful speech isn't going to cut it. We don't need a cheerleader. We need a President.
TWITTER RESPONSES TO SPEECH:
"Not a rerun speech as a sitting president. Unfortunately, those were quite brave words. That's why we fight so hard!"
"The money quote in that speech was Obama giving himself credit for letting the homos roll easter eggs at the white house!"
"I think it was a good speech... wish he'd give more detail though."
"Definitely a rerun speech by Obama. With a few more memorable rhetorical flourishes. Moving but no real movement."
UPDATE: Solmonese has issued a statement further explaining his weekly update email blast.
I’ve seen some reactions to my weekly message, that I gave the President a free pass not to fulfill his campaign promises until 2017.
Here’s something from what I wrote that the authors didn’t include in their pieces: “I predict great things coming out of our work with this President, but that does not mean that I am satisfied today. Our community cannot be satisfied so long as DOMA is on the books and an inclusive ENDA is not.“
I am not satisfied. HRC is not satisfied.
------
Do I believe we’ll have a good track record by 2017? Yes. But the President can’t deliver on his promises alone. It will take all of us working together.
Many other blogs objected to Solmonese's statement because they misinterpreted him as saying that we had to wait until 2017.
I know that's not what he's saying. What I'm objecting to is the assumption that Obama will still be president with a Democratic Congress to accomplish what needs to be done by 2017. That's a HUGE assumption.
All we know is that NOW we have an ally in the White House with a Congress that's more open to LGBT rights than any we've had in years. It's stupid to assume that this will last.
It takes quite a bit for me to say, "Well, they were stupid." But HRC president Joe Solmonese, or whoever his ghost writer is, accomplished in ripping that phrase out of me.
On the weekend of the National Equality March, who's loudly broadcasted mantra is to demand full federal equality in all 50 states NOW by pressuring congress and President Obama, Solmonese emails out a weekly update a day in advance of Obama's speech at HRC's black tie fundraiser, telling everyone to be patient and wait until January 19, 2017, the purported end of Obama's administration, before making judgments on progress.
It shouldn't be difficult to see why the president of the United States speaking to the nation's largest LGBT rights group is a good development for LGBT people. But at this point in time, it is hard for many among us to see. The substance of the feeling is this: he promised us the world, and we gave everything we had to elect him. But what has he done?
I've written that we have actually covered a good deal of ground so far. But I'm not going to trot out those advances right now because I have something more relevant to say: It's not January 19, 2017.
That matters for two reasons: first, the accomplishments that we've seen thus far are not the Obama Administration's record. They are the Administration's record so far. If you ask "is that all" my question to you is "is that all you think we're going to push for?" It isn't.
------
I am sure of this: on January 19, 2017, I will look back on the President's address to my community as an affirmation of his pledge to be our ally. I will remember it as the day when we all stood together and committed to finish what Senator Kennedy called our unfinished business. And I am sure of this: on January 19, 2017, I will also look back on many other victories that President Barack Obama made possible.
Joe at America Blog has said of the email, "...this is not the kind of thing a gay civil rights group writes - it's the kind of thing a White House badly in need of political cover writes for you."
Dan Savage at SLOG says, "HRC has lost its mind: the head of the Human Rights Campaign suggests that gay people really shouldn't criticize Barack Obama because 'it's not January 19, 2017.'"
I'm not dense. I know that the Obama isn't done. I know that he could possibly have until 2017 to get work done. He may also have until only 2012. He also may lose the Congress to Republicans NEXT YEAR and never regain it, resulting in getting NO legislation passed. So if we really examine REALITY, Obama may have less than a year to get any shit done, and so far, he's done diddly squat.
I'm usually pretty supportive of HRC, I think they've done amazing work, but I also think they've lost their way and are now in the back pocket of an administration willing to sell out some of its major supporters for political points. And unfortunately, HRC has now become accomplices.
When faced with opposition, (remember the Bush years?) major LGBT organizations are effective. But when faced with a so-called allied administration, they become lazy and look for the big bucks.
UPDATE 4:29 pm PST: It appears in an update to Kerry Eleveld's piece in the Advocate that she too has been told that Obama plans to discuss the coming weeks and months. But she's heard he'll address the hate crimes bill as well.
A reliable source who wishes to remain anonymous gave me a tip about the content of Obama's speech at the HRC dinner tomorrow night.
Obama will announce a push to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2010.
Obama intends to say something about the Maine marriage equality battle.
The newly appointed openly gay ambassador-designate to New Zealand, David Huebner, will be in attendance.
No word of any mention of the Matthew Shepherd Act or ENDA.
At first glance, this may not seem to have a "wow factor", but if you think it over, it could have far-reaching consequences.
First, the importance of the speech itself lies in the fact that Obama is only the second president to address a major LGBT organization after Clinton, who spoke at an HRC dinner in 1997.
Second, to announce he supports a repeal of DADT in 2010 will be the first definitive time-line given by the president and his administration on his DADT campaign promise since he took office. It will also give the LGBT population a benchmark to keep him accountable by.
Third, if Obama clearly states that he is against discrimination of LGBT citizens, promotes equality and denounces the actions of the Yes on 1 campaign in Maine to strip gays and lesbians of their right to marry, not only will this have a major impact on voters, but it will be a killer soundbite for the NO on 1 campaign to use in tv and radio ads. (A game piece that unfortunately, the No on Prop 8 campaign failed to use last year while the Yes hacks used Obama's stance against marriage equality to manipulate voters.)
An article released today by the Washington Post claims that the speech will mainly focus on incremental advancements as progress. However, one can hope that the White House is listening to the loud criticism from the LGBT population who say, "We've heard that before. What else you got?"
One sign that will indicate either way will be what Obama's speech contains at the HRC dinner. Will it be full of rhetoric and empty platitudes that has thus far mired his monologues on LGBT rights, or will it actually contain calls for action with specific next steps for both the Administration and Congress? According to an article in the Washington Post, "A Democratic source familiar with the White House's thinking on the speech said Obama will stress incremental advancements as evidence of progress."
Incremental. There's a whiff of inaction in that statement.
But who knows, maybe having just won the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama may be inspired to be the leader everyone believes him to be.
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today that C-SPAN will cover President Barack Obama's remarks at the organization's 13th Annual National Dinner live this Saturday evening.
On the Michelangelo Signorile radio show The Gist, Rep. Barney Frank discussed the National Equality March, calling it "useless."
Signorile's site reports: "I literally don't understand how this will do anything," [Frank] said. "People are kidding themselves. I don't want people patting themselves on the back for doing something that is useless." Besides, he says, "Barack Obama does not need pressure." He says we should model ourselves as lobbyists on "the National Rifle Association." He says people should not come to Washington and should stay home and lobby their members of Congress. "Nobody in Congress even knows they're there, he says, and he is not attending the March: He is going to California to raise money for himself and other Democrats.
If Frank would take a second and actually read what the march is about and what its agenda entails, he would realize that the people attending aren't just there to make a scene. They're there to be trained on how to lobby their representatives at home and to organize themselves in all 435 congressional districts. A big goal, yes, but it can be accomplished.
I have a lot of respect for Frank, but these comments just show how little time he's taken to read up on what his own community is up to. In the very least, he shouldn't discourage people to take a stand for themselves.
He's missed the mark here. Usually I don't agree with people who say Frank should shut up more often, but in this case, I would have to concur.
Key March Information
David Mixner has provided a great service by gathering key information about attending the march, saying "Quite honestly I don't have a damn idea on how many will attend but do know that it appears to be a weekend filled with substantive events for almost any person's desire. Just go to the events link and get the full picture."
Bill O'Reilly Questions Why Gays Are Protesting Gays on Eve of March
Bill O'Reilly discusses with activist writer Wayne Besen the planned picketing by LGBT groups and activists outside of Saturday's HRC dinner where President Obama will be giving a speech.
Andy Thayer, the LGBT activist who successful ran the Stop Dr. Laura campaign, is now focusing his attention on President Obama, and in particular, his appearance at the HRC dinner on the eve of the National Equality March.
A press release:
Pro-LGBT Picket of Obama This Saturday Moved from White House to HRC Gala
In reaction to the announcement yesterday that President Obama will address a black tie fundraising gala of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on Saturday, October 10th, organizers of a pro-LGBT picket originally scheduled for that night at the White House have instead moved the picket to the site of the HRC gala. The picket will begin at 6 PM in front of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, on the northeast corner of Mt Vernon Place NW and 9th Street NW, Washington, DC.
While the picket organizers will be participating in the Sunday, Oct. 11th Equality March, they charge that the march organizers have been going easy on the Obama administration and the Democratic Party in general. Barack Obama was long on pro-gay promises during the campaign, they say, yet short on delivering on them once he took power in late January.
“The time for talking is over,” said Andy Thayer of the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network (www.GayLiberation.net), one of the two organizations sponsoring the picket. “This President promised to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), he promised to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, he promised to pass the pro-LGBT Employment Non-Discrimination Act and a whole host of other things. Instead, he’s delivered on nothing while embracing anti-gay bigots Rick Warren and Donnie McClurkin. The last thing we need is more flowery rhetoric in front of rich, self-effacing gays and lesbians dressed up like penguins.”
The picket is cosponsored by the Dallas-based direct action group, Queer Liberaction (queerliberaction.moonfruit.com), a group which played a leading role in organizing an effective community response to the violent police raid on a Fort Worth bar. ”The Obama administration has likened LGBT relationships to incest and bestiality,” said Queer Liberaction co-founder Blake Wilkenson. “He cited his ‘Christian beliefs’ for the reason why he now opposes equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. He refuses issue a stop-loss order to prevent purges of lesbian and gay soldiers. If we are going to get real change out of this White House, we need to make demands of this President. As the great anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass put it, ‘Power concedes nothing without a demand.’”
For more information about the Saturday, October 10th pro-LGBT picket of President Obama, contact the Gay Liberation Network at LGBTliberation@aol.com or 773.209.1187, or Queer Liberaction at LGBTliberaction@gmail.com or 214.679.6321
More information can also be found at the Facebook event for the picket.
Others are just as equally non-plussed. GOProud, a group broken off from the Log Cabin Republicans, quickly issued this video:
However, I'm not so sure how I feel about this picket. I'm literally on the fence. On one hand, I say "Go for it!" The president needs to realize that his inaction will not be forgotten and will continually be called into account. On the other, unlike the last picket I attended when he actually decided NOT to act on LGBT rights in a very specific way, Obama hasn't done anything as specific lately. Sure, he's sitting on his hands playing politics, but that's not anything new. (Though the Stonewall Democrats thinks he's done a great job. Go figure.)
I guess I'm looking for a specific ask from this picket line to be voiced for the president to hear. At the last picket in Los Angeles, Obama made a remark in his speech at the fundraiser that he wasn't sure what promises the picket was holding him to.
I think Michael Jones said it well at Change.org. We don't need another empty speech from the president. We've head plenty, thank you very much. What we need is for him to make his speech at the dinner worth while for all. I say we ask him for a simple sentence:
"I support marriage equality in Maine."
Whether you think he will or not is besides the point. You'll never know if you don't ask. I say the picketers should be asking for this endorsement from President Obama loud and clear.
That will be a picket I can join.
Image from Los Angeles picket outside DNC fundraiser.
The New York Times' Caucus Blog broke the news today the President Obama will be speaking at a HRC dinner this Saturday, the day before the National Equality March.
Mr. Obama’s appearance on Saturday at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, represents a significant show of support for gay rights at a time when many prominent gay and lesbian activists have been questioning the president’s commitment to their issues.
------
His appearance will mark only the second time a sitting president has spoken to the Human Rights Campaign. The first time was in 1997 when Bill Clinton spoke to the group. That was the first time a sitting president had ever addressed a gay rights organization.
"Eleven months after his election, he has failed to deliver on any of his commitments to gay Americans, but even worse has been his refusal to engage around these issues . . . What he needs to do now is engage and deliver,"Socarides told the AP. "Spend some of his political capital on ending the gay military ban, a hugely symbolic issue. And with no intellectually sound arguments left against it, come out squarely for gay marriage equality."
HRC President Joe Solmonese has responded, saying "We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has called upon our nation to embrace LGBT people as brothers and sisters. It is fitting that he will speak to our community on the night that we pay tribute to his friend and mentor Senator Edward Kennedy, who knew that as president, Barack Obama would take on the unfinished business of this nation — equal rights for the LGBT community, and for every person who believes in liberty and justice for all."
Lady Gaga, the case of Glee and others will be at the dinner.
I've been told numerous times that I'm the happy-go-lucky type. Always smiling, easy to please and patient. I don't get angry that easily. I have a long fuse.
I would like to think this bit of news is welcoming for me. But for some reason, it isn't.
Should I be appeased that Obama is interrupting at the last minute his pre-planned golf game to speak at a black tie dinner with celebrities in tow? Hosted by an organization that has let Obama off the hook one too many times?
Should I be happy that this historical president, who promised so much during his campaign including being our "fierce advocate", but who hasn't lifted a finger for LGBT rights since he's stepped into office with a Democrat controlled Congress, won't even bother to make a short appearance in front of a historical gathering of the LGBT grassroots the next day?
Small though the mention may be, President Obama's inclusion of LGBT families in his Family Day Proclamation is sure to put the proverbial bee in the bonnet of "protect the children from gay indoctrination" conservatives.
"Our family provides one of the strongest influences on our lives. American families from every walk of life have taught us time and again that children raised in loving, caring homes have the ability to reject negative behaviors and reach their highest potential. Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things. Today, our children are confronting issues of drug and alcohol use with astonishing regularity. On Family Day, we honor the dedication of parents, commend the achievements of their children, and celebrate the contributions our Nation's families have made to combat substance abuse among young people."
Thank you for honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom Award. Harvey was my friend and teacher. In the 30 years since he was assassinated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have attained a handful of rights in a handful of states, but we are still second-class citizens.
Your historic election gave us hope that change can happen, and now tens of thousands of LGBT people, along with our straight allies, are taking action to demand it. On October 11 we will march on Washington in support of a single goal: full and equal protection for LGBT people in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.
Equal rights are not a "gay" issue. They are about our shared human rights: safety in our schools and jobs, equitable healthcare and housing, and protection for our families, to name a few.
I compare our National Equality March with the Civil Rights March of 1963. Martin Luther King had a dream; we have a dream too. We share Dr. King’s belief in the dignity and equality of all peoples, and his commitment to non-violence. And we share his faith that justice will prevail.
We do not expect to achieve our goal overnight. Our struggle for equality has taken many years, and much hard work remains ahead. The nation is preoccupied with economic hardship and war. But you have given us hope that civil rights remain on this nation’s agenda. The time is right for us to call on our fellow Americans, our elected leaders, and you to reaffirm our shared commitment to civil rights.
With hope in our hearts, we invite you to join us on the west lawn of the Capitol on October 11th. We ask you to take the microphone and renew our faith that Washington will work with us, and not against us. We urge you to remind the world that we are welcome members of this nation. We invite you to stand with us in pride.
Sincerely, Cleve Jones Co-Chair, National Equality March
Posts
In late November, a judge ordered Obama's administration to enroll a lesbian federal employee's partner into their health benefits program. With 30 days to comply sprinting by, it appears they won't act on the order.
