President Obama will be hosting a reception at the White House this afternoon, at 3:30, honoring LGBT pride month. But there's still a sentiment among gays that he hasn't yet delivered what he promised on the campaign trail, and some in attendance (at least a couple leaders of gay rights groups will be there) are skeptical of his administration.
The administration's stance on the Defense of Marriage Act--which the Department of Justice recently defended--and a lack of progress on Don't Ask, Don't Tell lie at the heart of their frustrations.
Change has to come through Congress, and there's been some progress
there with hate crimes legislation moving in the House and seeing a
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing
last week. But gay rights activists are looking for the White House to
fast-track those policies through the legislative branch.
"There are a lot of sore points, and so it will be interesting to see
what happens this afternoon, whether the president is going to have
something significant to announce, or whther this is going to be a nice
little reception, or what they hope is a nice little reception," Lambda
Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, an invited guest, said.
Cathcart said no one will be looking to give Obama a rough time, but
that politically involved attendees are generally hoping to leave
feeling good about the administration.
"I hope they don't waste this opportunity, because it's theirs to win or lose," Cathcart said.
If they are really angry at Obama,they should not attend. It is an honor to get to go to the whitehouse. If they don't want to go, let some other group who worked hard to get him elected go. This complaining when we are at the beginning of the 6th month, in the middle of healthcare legislation, seems extremely selfish to me. I certainly do not recall Obama saying it would be the first thing he would tackle as president. It will probably be the most divivsive thing he has to do as president, repealing DOMA. It is obvious he hates the culture wars, as I do.
I hate culture wars too; it saddens me that being gay places me in the middle of one that began before I was born.
Agitating for gay rights is not selfish, least of all because advocating for those who supported him, and to my mind for the right thing, will expend some of Obama's political capital. Heath care reform will benefit a great many people in America (possibly you, I don't know), so will advancing gay rights (again, you may be directly affected, I don't know). Further, I think one could plausibly all Americans will be poistively affected by both. But to argue that changing America for the better is a zero sum game is false from a practical standpoint and the height of cynicism. It is clear that you care about healthcare reform, and would privilege it over advancing gay rights; (by your indictment, not mine) that's selfish.
Many people who are upset by Obama's actions, or lack thereof, are not going to the White House. Some who want more action are accepting the invitation. They will take advantage of the rare opportunity to interact with our President and speak their mind, a right of all Americans.
It is an honor to go to the White House, but arguing only those in lockstep with the President should accept such an honor, is akin to saying "Get out of America" to those who might seek to change our nation.
I think this reception is a step in the right direction. Perhaps he'll layout his vision on how he will deal with LGBT issues.
That said- you're right that President Obama never promised a specific timeline for LGBT issues (or for that matter a whole host of issues). There seems to be an assumption that because he hasn't delivered in his first 5 months that he's 'breaking' a promise. This what happens when we live in a country dominated by the 24 hour news cycle and blogs that are dominated by knee-jerk hyperbole and hissyfits.
"he'll layout his vision on how he will deal with LGBT issues."
Robert Gibbs has already said there would be no substantive announcement made at this reception, so it seems unlikely. I hope I am surprised.
Sorry, I left out your "Perhaps" - I was not purposely changing the context of your quote.
I don't know when the HIV travel ban announcement may come, but that's a step in the right direction, wouldn't you agree?
I do agree, it's been almost a year since Congress voted to lift the ban.
This is wrong. There is an assertion that because his lackeys, acting under his authority, have taken direct action to oppose essential gay rights (e.g.: defending DOMA) in the first 5 months he has broken a promise.
Obama has an agenda. He cannot do everything for everybody at once I understand. He may have votes for health care reform that he would not if he went right after repealing DOMA. So, let's assume he is going to get there eventually.
"He may have votes for health care reform that he would not if he went right after repealing DOMA. So, let's assume he is going to get there eventually."
Even if the first part of your sentence is true, which it may not be. Why, why should we just assume he'll get around to it? Furthermore, are gay people just less important, something to be gotten around to?
We're not all "activists" and I really wish, for once, media folks could simply say that many, many gay Americans are frustrated with Obama's tone deafness on the entire subject of equal rights. We're living our daily lives under his disgusting inability to man up and defend equality, even with words.
Legislative action would be nice. But you know what would be nicer? Having a President so many of us supported apologize for his own Justice Department calling our relationships similar to incestual ones. Or even having a President use more confident language in asserting his belief that civil rights for all citizens are important.
It's the pure shell-shocked nature Obama takes to gay rights that is so frustrating.
And I really love how people call these frustrations "complaining" or "whining" -- you try paying taxes to a government that actively discriminates against you at every turn. You would be more than annoyed.
Obama has failed to lead on civil rights and it hurts all of us.
President Obama isn't going to be the LGBT's MLK.
He isn't being asked to be, but it would be nice if he could stop being their Orval Faubus.
According to some estimates, 1 in every 10 people is gay.
Any gay person will tell you that they did not choose to be gay. If they are still alive, I'm sure the Gay Germans in 1930's/40's who were rounded into Hitler's concentration camps would tell you they did not choose to be gay. Who would choose that?
In the US, this population is the last unprotected minority group that receives systematic discrimination by the Federal government, and sadly, people like Cat are unflinching when confronted with this embarrassing, ugly, horrific fact.
Cat, the only thing that is selfish is your attitude toward the pursuit of civil rights equality for gay Americans.
If systematic discrimination were directed at you, if your marriage were compared to incest and pedophilia (as Barack Obama compared my marriage to), then I'm sure you too would be mad as hell. But, I do understand where you are coming from...your viewpoint exemplifies the me-first mental condition that pervades American society and which any gay person knows all too well.
Luckily, as polling research shows, these kinds of discriminatory attitudes are changing for the better, especially among younger Americans. With persistence, it will be simply a matter of time before gay Americans achieve full equality. That's all gay people want...nothing extra, just to have the same right as everyone else: to marry the love of one's life. Historically, any movement for civil rights and social acceptance has been an uphill battle. Complacency achieves nothing.
Gay Americans are angry and will not take being marginalized as Second-Class citizens anymore.
I'm very glad that Barack Obama is finally being held accountable for the promises he's made to the LGBT community. He MUST articulate a well thought, heartfelt, viable public policy on the issue other than his half-baked statements and promises for a few crummy benefits that arise out of damage-control from DOJ memos that compare my marriage to incest and pedophilia.
Simply Shameful and Disgusting.
Why are people still surprised when politicians don't follow through on their campaign promises? How self-deluded are we?
Those who are surprised are likely deluded. I feel immense disappointment, can you spare me that in this cynical age?
Adrian mistakenly writes:
--With persistence, it will be simply a matter of time before
--gay Americans achieve full equality.
What in the world are you talking about!!? Gays have the same marriage rights as normal people. You are welcome to marry someone of the opposite sex in any state of union. What could you possibly not understand about that???
Normal people are not allowed to marry the same sex and neither are gays.
We all have the same rights as it stands...