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Wayne Besen
PO Box 25491
Brooklyn, NY 11202
Tonight, Obama delivered a powerful and eloquent speech. Obama is a sitting president and pretty words are substance, by the virtue of his office. He is a Nobel prize winning, worldwide figure who gave his imprimatur to gay relationships. This should not be underestimated or easily dismissed.
I hope these moving and stirring words spur Congress to action - as soon as possible. We must continue pressuring the president and Congress until we are no longer second-class citizens. It is crucial that we push forward and voice our dissatisfaction with the status quo until all state sanctioned discrimination is abolished as expeditiously as possible. A few key points:
1) Obama went above and beyond rhetoric to an outright, ringing endorsement of our relationships. This will drive the right wing nuts to the point of distraction.
2) Obama provided Republicans with all the video footage they need to slam him on gay issues when he runs for reelection. So, he might a well just work to pass laws - to get the glory in exchange for the attacks to come.
3) He said he WILL abolish Don't Ask. That was a direct promise as president - not a candidate.
4) As a former community organizer, Obama seems to recognize our role is to keep pushing forward. Without adequate pressure, nothing will get done.
Obama bought himself a half-hour in the hourglass, but until we are free and have the same rights as our neighbors, our community will not and cannot remain satisfied.
15 Comments:
I wasn't so enthralled by what he said, not much different than what he said during the campaign. With NO mention of a time-plan to repeal DADT as a priority on his agenda to enact equality legislation, I suspect we'll not see any change before 2012, both wars and the economic downturn conveniently taking precedence, ergo "delay".
Hate crimes legislation that he has yet to sign, exempts religious cult leaders from the law allowing them to make homophobic statements to denigrate us and in some cases incite violence towards us as a result, the very antithesis of the legislation he's about to sign into law. Why should they get a free pass and be above the law?
As for DOMA, he may say he wants to overturn it, but you won't be hearing him say he'll support marriage equality, he made that quite clear during the campaign for fear of upsetting his religious cultist constituents, their beliefs and rights trump ours, first and foremost.
Pessimistic? Yes, that's the reality.
posted by Anonymous, at
10/11/2009 11:26 AM
Obama is full of it. All he delivers are words and not actions. I am really not looking for this man to do anything substantial in the way of following up on his campaign promises.
posted by Merlyn, at
10/11/2009 7:52 PM
Let's give the man a chance. 10 months in office and we expect it all wrapped up and given to us with a purple bow. My anecdotal experience is that very few of our LGBT community are actually personally involved in this civil rights quest, yet we whine when we don't get what we want immediately. I will be deliriously happy if we get DADT repealed soon. Then its on to other things. Step by step, heart by heart, law by law is how I see us really making progress. Thank you Wayne for your stupendous efforts on all of our behalfs!
posted by Paul Douglas, at
10/11/2009 10:55 PM
4) As a former community organizer, Obama seems to recognize our role is to keep pushing forward. Without adequate pressure, nothing will get done."
Oops, spoke too soon, you pajama wearing, cheetos stained, "left of the left" internet fringe freak. It does no good to lick Obama's arse, he despises anyone who has the temerity to expect him to keep his campaign promises. And those uppity, ungrateful homos most of all. Get used to it.
posted by Johnny, at
10/12/2009 12:52 AM
The economy, two wars, neither are going to be resolved before 2012, expect NO repeal of DADT before then, if ever. The time is never right for the Dems, even if we weren't at war or in this economic mess, do any of us really believe we'd be any further ahead? I don't. Eight years from now, they'll be saying the same thing even if the wars are over and the economy is booming, "the time isn't right".
posted by Anonymous, at
10/12/2009 8:56 AM
Here is a part of the President's speech to the HRC. "My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians -- whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman." I am one of those persons (in fact the majority of our nation) that will never see relationships between two men or two women who say they are homosexual as being "admirable." They are very real but not admirable. To me relationships between two people of the same sex that are loving, caring, trothful and without sex are admirable. The President can tell you and the 3,000 people at the HRC banquet that this is what he predicts in this country. It will be over my dead body if this ever comes to pass.
posted by Sherry, at
10/12/2009 12:45 PM
"It will be over my dead body if this ever comes to pass."
I suspect, Sherry, based on the direction of this country, that you will not live to see a ripe old age.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
10/12/2009 11:55 PM
So Sherry, admirable relationships would include those enjoyed by Ensign, Sanford, Vitter, among many other right wing hypocrites and a few democrats, bigots and adulterers who have sex outside their marriages while holding up the sanctity of marriage bullshit? Why aren't you concentrating on them for a change instead of seeking out gay blogsites to rant? I hope you don't live to see the change that is coming, enjoy the few days that you have left and get a life.
posted by Anonymous, at
10/13/2009 8:37 AM
Wow, freakish comment by the Sherry person there, couldn't deal with it last night. A little scary, perhaps? Meant to intimidate? Is Sherry working on her Vogue bomb belt pattern as we speak?
However, the larger truth about the dead bodies is that we are in large part going to secure our rights as an earlier more bigoted generation passes away and is replaced by younger more open-minded people.
posted by Cacau, at
10/13/2009 9:49 PM
Sherry, get over yourself. To the impure all things are impure. You are one of these bigots who come here hoping to shock us and maybe convert us to your way of thinking. Not gonna happen.
I have been married for over two years to a wonderful woman and I just DARE you to say something smarmy about our marriage. We love each other, ask nothing of anyone but to leave us in peace so that we can enjoy married life. We want the same things most married couples want--to be treated decently and with some respect.
You may not be with us very long with your attitude. The day is coming when we WILL have marriage equality. You will be left in the dust of history. Oh and you were the one who said "over my dead body", not me.
Why must you people be constantly hateful? Let people live. What Wayne, myself, or anyone else here choose to do is none of your damned business. If we want to marry, we will. Keep your nose in your business and worry about your own relationship with the Almighty. That should occupy most if not all your time.
Oh and who the hell are you to tell us if our relationships should include sex or not? We don't give a toss if you like or respect our relationships--just stay the hell out of our way and don't try to deny us our civil rights.
Sherry? Newsflash... No gay person gives one hoot what you think. Now go take your dump elsewhere. Your stench is annoying.
posted by Spouse Walker, at
10/19/2009 8:28 PM
