Obama Supports Gays and Lesbians, Quietly

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/08/15/obama_supports_gays_and_lesbians_quietly.html


Obama Supports Gays and Lesbians, Quietly


President Obama "has quietly used his powers to expand federal rights and benefits for gays and lesbians, targeting one government restriction after another in an attempt to change public policy while avoiding a confrontation with Republicans and opponents of gay rights," the Washington Post reports.

"Among the changes: Gay partners of federal workers will now receive long-term health insurance, access to day care and other benefits. Federal Housing Authority loans can no longer consider the sexual orientation of applicants. The Census Bureau plans to report the number of people who report being in a same-sex relationship. Hospitals must allow gays to visit their ill partners. And federal child-care subsidies can be used by the children of same-sex domestic partners."

"Individually, none of the changes is especially dramatic. But taken together, they significantly alter the way gays and lesbians are viewed under federal law."

WaPo article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062104709.html
Obama uses powers to expand federal rights, benefits for gays and lesbians

[Tesha]

1. Obama supports the Democractic platform, but quietly.

Wouldn't want to offend any "centrists".

Tesha

[nofurylike]

60. you really think this is about "offending" someone or not? repukes

want to go back to the days of killing us, raping us, mutilating us, torturing us, firing, evicting, taking chidren away from us, with absolute impunity. you know, as it still was up until so very, very recently? and as much of it still is, except for where dem's all around the country fight and work constantly to eke out rights we are entitled to. dems. always dems.

being cautious in a country that readily overturns governments based on things often as immature as how queer-friendly they are, is in fact, protecting us.

[NJmaverick]

2. K & R

[boppers]

3. Kayandarr! eom

[sandnsea]

4. Quietly? There's been a media event every single time

Who kept it quiet? Not the White House.

Why do people put up with this shit?

[jaxx]

5. These changes make a big difference to those who haven't had them.

K&R

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[babylonsister]

7. 'You people?' I'm just posting an article; that's kind of what is

done around here. Then people comment, hopefully rationally. :eyes:

[jaxx]

8. You're saying none of the changes matter?

Not a partner being able to go to the hospital instead of being banished? Not getting FMLA for their family? Not the Matthew Shephard bill? None of those good enough?

And who had done what before now? I want to be sure to give the kudos where they belong.

[ThomCat]

11. We're saying they are token changes, meant to impress the

easily impressed.

They are no substitute for real advancements towards equality and real civil rights.

When we see ENDA passed, DODT ended first by executive order and then by law, DOMA overturned and marriage equality achieved in all 50 states, and Obama actually lending his bully pulpit to help achieve it, then we can talk.

On all the real big issues, so far he's letting others do all the work and all the fighting. The most he's doing is quietly signing bills after others have done all the fighting. His political muscle could make a lot of things happen.

[jaxx]

14. Who are "we" talking to?

Words like "token changes" and "the easily impressed" are supposed to mean something? Those changes are towards equality and real civil rights. And they weren't afforded to the LGBT before.

[dionysus]

23. once again crapping on something good.

:nopity:

[Whisp]

44. it's called progress, Thom. Moving forward in the right direction.

I can't really believe some of this fuming malcontented tripe here. really.

[terrya]

47. "malcontented tripe"??

We're talking about our civil rights. And yes, this is what this is all about.

I guess one person's equality is another's "malcontented tripe"

[Whisp]

49. no, most here who call Obama a homophobe or worse

are certainly not interested in talking.

[nofurylike]

62. "we"? not. are you young? as in too young to really know how

far those rights take us from what has been, and from where repukes will take us if we don't get it that eking progress is miraculous in this country, and those particular rights are a sea change from what has been?


no, you do not speak for any homogenous "we."


* edit tiny correction

[mitchtv]

55. most of the gains were Presidential orders

except the hate crimes( the only legislation) The rest will be bounced when a repub getes in , within a week. Nothing substantial has been done

[ThomCat]

9. Exactly. Changes that are "Nothing Dramatic."

All low impact changes with no political risk, affecting very, very few people, and never anything that could affect the entire LGBT community as a whole.

He refuses to commit to anything that would be a big ticket item because that would be too much of a commitment. It might offend somebody IMPORTANT. Clearly we aren't important.

He has been hoping we would be happy very small changes. Baby steps that can disappear at any time. God Forbid we ever actually get civil rights.

You know, across the board rights that apply to everyone and can't be taken way.

That's why he hasn't been willing to lend his political weight to overturning DOMA, or passing ENDA.

That's why he hasn't issued an executive order ending DADT. It would then create a HUGE AMOUNT of congressional pressure to pass a damned law already to make it permanent, and we'd immediately see that the military can damned well deal with LGBT people in the military without any problems.

That's why he supports Civil Unions instead of Marriage Equality rights. Separate but Unequal is fine with him.

No, we're supposed to believe that Obama is a "Fierce Advocate" for our rights. So quietly that the only people happy with his changes are his eternal fans who cheer everything he does, but certainly not the LGBT community.

But what does the LGBT community know about judging whether or not we are getting our our own rights? We should listen to straight people who are professional Obama Fans.. Obviously they are more objective and know better than we do. :eyes:

[Exilednight]

10. Insert .......

adjective here, verb here, Bush/Cheney. That's going to be the response.

[ThomCat]

12. That always seems to be the false choice they offer, doesn't it.

:(

Instead of offering to help us light a fire under Obama's feet to achieve real LGBT rights, like real allies would, we are told to shut up and support whatever scraps Obama is willing to toss us, or else we're electing the next Republican. x(

[Exilednight]

13. That's all they have left .............

"Real Change" left the building on the day he took office.

[mitchtv]

56. it was only a two minute prayer

No thanks either for his comments on Gay marriage when prop8 was overturned. God forbid we get a congratulatory message, instead a reminder that he doesn't approve

[jaxx]

16. Oh brother.

[Whisp]

45. agreed.

[nofurylike]

63. "help us light a fire"? how much actual activism do you do to

light those fires?

how much work do you do to make sure your local and state governments make, and your own US sens and reps support - vote for - the change you expect?
honestly, please.

because i feel as if you, and some others here, underestimate the risk we face in becoming overtly fierce about getting every single right we are entitled to, immediately.

we have gotten very far incrementally. and when we try to go further faster, those so-called allies just simply happen to never actually show up for the hard work of it. you know, the supposed progressives on here who claim to support us, but geewhiz, don't expect them to actually lift a finger outside of on their keyboard.

incrementally is immeasurably better than what has been and what would be without the increments.

[KakistocracyHater]

67. yet he promised he would represent US at the table, among the lobbyists

& special interests.........

[LostinVA]

20. agreed

[VMI Dem]

15. I won't comment on the wisdom of this bullshit.

[terrya]

17. No one isn't saying these aren't good things.

They are.

But this administration has defended DOMA in court....in sometimes insulting language.

ENDA...the Employment Non-Discrimination Act...is stalled in Congress. I wish President Obama had called for passage of ENDA during the SOTU. ENDA isn't exactly a new piece of legislation....it's been introduced and voted on in Congress for over 20 years.

And DADT repeal, frankly, has been botched. Does anyone REALLY know if DADT repeal will actually happen? With 100% certainty?

A while back I read Jonathan Alter's book "The Promise", about Obama's first year in office. In the book, the senior advisers like Rahm Emmanuel kept making the point that pushing for DADT repeal, and other issues related to the GLBT community was a "distraction". Yes, health care reform, Wall Street reform, climate change legislation, the economic stimulus...they are vitally important. Vitally. But at the same time....goddammit, our equality isn't a "distraction". As a gay man, a gay American wanting my civil rights...I am NOT a "distraction". We are NOT "distractions". I wish this White House would understand that.

[babylonsister]

19. Yes someone is, terrya. Read this thread.

If Emanuel said your rights are a distraction, then he's an asshole (yea, I know many people already think/know that).

I want all rights available to everyone like myself available to the GLBT community, please know I do. And I recognize your frustration.

I just posted this to share a sliver of positiveness with hopes your futures will get even better, to the point where it's no longer an issue and you are an American, period. That's the goal, and I do have optimism it will be reached, even as frustrating it surely must be now.

[terrya]

21. These are positive things, babylonsister

And I appreciate you posting them. Thank you.

We could be at a turning point for GLBT equality right now. The Prop 8 ruling. The ruling on DOMA in Massachusetts. A CNN poll showing that a bare majority now supports marriage equality in this country. I so want this President to help push this along. He can be on the side of history.

[babylonsister]

22. Thank you, my friend.

I do think Obama wants to do the right thing, and do think we'll see it before long. For you, a huge :hug:!

[Safetykitten]

18. Is there any other way? Don't want to frighten people.

[vaberella]

32. Ugh, get a grip. The point is the media didn't even talk about it to make it loud. n/t

[dsc]

24. first the article is a couple of months old

I don't think any gay person has said Obama hasn't done anything for gays but we are saying he hasn't done alot. I think we should have gotten ENDA by now, and that we probably would have had he fought publicly for it.

[babylonsister]

25. Thanks, I got the WaPo link from today's

article from politicalwire, didn't realize it was a few months old. It still applies but I guess it was a slow news day.

And yes, more will be done, he has tried, more needs to be done.

[dsc]

26. I wouldn't depend upon that wire service for speedy news

Honestly I think the biggest problem with Obama and gay issues is that it literally takes all hell breaking loose to make him do anything. Much of what he did he did either last June or this June when he had to face gay audiences. Seeing him raise these issues during say a state of the union speech would have been nice.

[babylonsister]

27. I am sorry he doesn't think this is worthy of a SOTU.

I might not have realized it either if not for DU. I still think he will do the right thing, or do what needs to be done to accomplish that.

I don't think he is your enemy, unlike dimson, who never did anything. Or did he, and I'm just not aware of it?

[dsc]

28. Bush did very, very little

He did appoint an openly gay ambassador and he did sign the law ending the ban on HIV people travelling to the US (the ban was offically ended after Obama promulgated regulations) and he signed a financial law that specificly mentioned gays. Other than that, Bush was a disaster. I think it is fairer to compare him to Clinton who I think was, for his time, a bolder advocate that Obama is now. I wish Clinton had been more sucessful and one of the chief reasons he wasn't was the loss of Congress in 94 and the fact we thought he had time. We are trying not to have a repeat of that mistake.

[babylonsister]

29. I do remember when the (rethug) social issues were either

abortion or gays; that was during *'s ill-gotten terms. I think this country has moved on, or else a black prez makes for better fodder.

Either way, we are all more aware now, and the youth don't find either an issue; that's a good thing, and will benefit LGBT rights in the long run.

There are a lot of liberals who will fight with you; I know you know that. :hug:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

34. Uhm, I'm pretty sure YOU have made that claim. (nt)

[dsc]

35. put up or shut up

either a link or an apology.

[QC]

46. Don't hold your breath while you wait. n/t

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

48. I've gotten neither in the past from you, so you'll get none. (nt)

[dsc]

50. when have you asked for a link

again, I would like one.

[nemo137]

30. I don't know how much good it is, done quietly.

I'm generally on the more pro-administration side of the site, and I don't deny that these are good things, but whatever combination of personal timidity and political calculation is staying the Obama administrations hand is less than optimal.

[vaberella]

33. Point is, the media slept on this---that's why it's quiet.

Most people don't know anything about what the Admin is doing in regards to the LGBT community because the media has been sleeping on it and most think he's done nothing. This is why the author used "quietly."

[dsc]

51. No it is quitely because he has chosen to never speak of it

other than in pride months or to gay audiences. That is his choice but you can't then turn around and blame the press of it staying quiet.

[mitchtv]

57. The Gay media is not quiet

If something gets said or done it's reported

[vaberella]

31. Hardly quiet, the media just doesn't care if it's not DRAMA. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

43. The media does not cover gay stories that are positive

This is why Obama's campaign promise of using the Bully Pulpit for these issues was so appealing, the media is of zero help, the news media that is. Entertainment division, doing much better, but news, on gay stories? No, allies need to shout them from the rooftops, or they will go unheard.

[quiet.american]

36. K&R - thanks for posting, Babylonsister.

These are welcome changes.

[Scurrilous]

37. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Sheepshank]

38. I can see advancement for sure in civil rights for all

and I also understand it's not fast enough for many.

I agree that not one more day should pass when there is not equal rights for all.

The unforutnate reality is that anything this big, has almost always been done in increments...and I'm thinking of MLK and civil rights. The incremental changes, the tiny chinks cut out of the dam wall are frustratingly small and seemingly insignificant. But they whole dam isn't destroyed in tiny chinks...Those chink are cumulative to a point when the whole damn things gives way.

It's gonna happen...and I strongly feel it's going to happen soon, but not without continued poking and prodding and chinking along the way. It'll be a day to celebrate for sure!

[Kahuna]

39. A lot of people seem to think that the civil rights struggle for AAs were

accomplished over night. :eyes:

[Metric System]

42. And a lot of other people seem to think that the gay rights movement is a recent development.

[Kahuna]

68. As far as it being an out of the closet, mainstream movement. it is.

If I am wrong about that, please enlighten me. Because in all my 56 years, I have not witnessed a mainstream movement until post the Clinton presidency. But if I'm wrong, post evidence of a mainstream movement. I'd love to know.

[Metric System]

72. Link, although I'm not sure if our definitions of mainstream are the same:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_movements_in_the_United_States#History_of_the_Movement_in_the_United_States

[Hekate]

40. K and R and a line of DU Rockettes for NO DRAMA OBAMA

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[POAS]

41. Turning around the ship-of-state

takes time and perseverance. This is another step in the change I voted for. It's not the end of the journey to be sure but definitely moving the country in the right direction.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

52. Its time for his voice to come out of the closet then!

[joe black]

53. so quietly you can barely hear him.

[asdjrocky]

54. Here's what he says out loud-

"You know, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman", but we should ignore his words, right?

[mitchtv]

58. How can you ignore them

when they are quoted by our enemies?

[asdjrocky]

59. Who are our enemies?

I really want to know.

[Dr.Phool]

64. He is us, obviously.

[asdjrocky]

69. That made me laugh, thank you! nt

[nofurylike]

61. k, sorry too late to r. thank you for posting this, babylonsister! nt

[Cherchez la Femme]

65. Oh, so WaPo is GOOD now?

Huh. Who woulda knew?

BTW, it is my understanding that these great things are only for Federal employees -- a smidgen of the LGBTQI population.

[cordelia]

74. + 1

[Sapphocrat]

66. So quietly, I'm going deaf from the silence.

And, with all due respect, BS, these two items are ancient news -- and completely irrelevant to the urgent needs of your common, garden-variety homo who isn't a federal employee, and who doesn't give a flying fuck about the U.S. Census when, say, his or her partner is dying and the couple has neither marriage rights nor health insurance, nor any guarantee the survivor will have claim to their home...

In other words, neither of those things makes a damned bit of difference to most of us, and we'd fare a lot better if Mister O would find his Fierce Advocate Voice and actually use it. Even half the volume he used when going balls-out on healthcare reform would be nice. Hell, one one-hundredth the volume, and we'd probably all throw ourselves to the ground in tears of gratitude.

'Til then, no big whoop. And the WaPo piece is one big puff.

[Touchdown]

70. +1

I get sick of straight people lecturing me on how great im being supported. I can tell what's going on perfectly myself, is always less than I'm being told.

"But sit down and shut up, homo! Uncle Obama is doing great things for you. Ancient Chinese Secret!"

[NorthCarolina]

71. He does? Oh joy...he finally supports marriage equality...just does so "quietly"

Except for those cases where he openly says he is against it of course. :eyes:

[Touchdown]

73. Obama to gay people: Ancient Chinese Secret!

[Subdivisions]

75. Bread crumbs in a nation that continues to withhold the bread from a

segment of our population hungy for nourishment.