Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Obama insists he’s a gay ally
I’m going to give President Barack Obama points for nerve. When asked by NBC’s Brian Williams if gays and lesbians, who want to get married, have “a friend in the White House,” Obama looked in the camera said yep, emphasized his commitment to civil unions, noted marriage was a state issue that was not the providence of the federal government, and talked a little bit on how he would fight discrimination.
Man he’s good. Sure that answer is going to make most of the folk here apoplectic but he wasn’t talking to us. His words were for the dwindling majority of American citizens freaked out not only by gay marriage but anything to do with the dignity of gays and lesbians. Essentially told them discrimination on sexuality is wrong and like them he would prefer unions.
As a politician, Obama understands the tenor of voters and same sex marriage might be the thing in New England and Iowa (hello Hamer family!) but it is DOA in Texas and Georgia. Texas voters might look at New Hampshire with skepticism for its gay marriage legislation, but citizens of the Lone Star State are not going to blame Obama and are relieved (i.e., more likely to vote for him) when he says the federal government isn’t going to make states jump on the gay marriage express.
Is this helpful to anyone here? Nope. Would it be nice to have a president who was for same sex marriage? Sure, but when we were having that debate, the people who supported marriage equality had NO shot at winning the White House (and please Clintonistas: don’t leave any stuff how your lover’s best friend’s hairdresser knows for a fact that if she had won Hillary would have come out for marriage rights).
None of this means that suddenly we should be happy with Obama. I would repeat that but what’s the point? Too many of you are already writing comments about how I’m throwing the community under the bus. When it comes to gay rights, Obama is following a trend the Democratic Party is known for. Talk a lot and do less. We are all adults and that should not surprise; however, if you are already yelping how your vote will be going to Gavin Newsom in 2012, riddle me this. If Obama is punting on gay rights, why nominate a Republican for the secretary of the Army who favors changing DADT?
Let’s push Obama to do better, but let’s not forget that he has other political realities (voters) outside of our concerns and he might have to take a circuitous route to get where we want. Doesn’t mean we should wait patiently. That would be silly. It does mean thinking long term.
PS: And maybe the problem really isn’t Obama. As former LOGO correespodnet Jason Bellini reported, it could be us.
Umm, Mr. McDonald, this country was “founded” (not “settled”) by a bunch of wealthy intellectuals who whose strong belief in “deism” would be castigated as downright blasphemous by today’s fundamentalist Christiams. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism).
Or, the problem could be your flawed thinking. A fierce advocate for equality would lead with courage, honesty and be right on the issue of marriage equality. Obama is wrong and continues to peddle civil unions and the states. Not only are we not asking for civil unions, they are unequal and give no Federal benefits and responsibilities.
You sir and your blindness sicken me. You think Obama can do no wrong? You are no better than one of the Bush sheep. One learns nothing from silence. Take the black movement for example – or have you forgotten? Step outside your box because your pussy just peed in it!
Mike in NYC. How ironic it is that the UCC(United Church of Christ); of which I am a member and which is itself a direct descendant of the Puritans, is one of the least Puritanical denominations in America. We support full marriage equality for EVERYONE. I guess our little witch hunts from the days of Salem taught us our lesson about discrimination. We were the first mainline denomination to ordain a black clergyperson, the first female clergyperson and the first gay clergyperson as well. The UCC invites anyone who has become disillusioned with the religious community to check us out. My particuliar church in Tampa, FL is really progressive and extremely socially active on every subject imaginable. Not only do we support full spiritual and civil marriage equality but we voted unanimously to not perform civil marriages until gay and lesbian couples are given full state and federal marriage rights, INCLUDING the name.
Not bad for descendents of the Puritans!
I think it’s disgusting that a man with President Obamas knowledge of the Constitution, a man whos parents wouldn’t have been legally able to be married when and where I was born, could think it just to continue this American Gay Apartheid.
You’re the only person with a brain at 365gay. Sometimes I turn to this site and think I accidentally typed 365selfloathing.com. And then I read something like this and I’m in better place…
And the only thing obama is a friend to is political expedience. There’s no benefit to speaking out for gays and lesbians. So why would he bother? He’s the worse kind of politician. He doesn’t actually care about anything other than making his place in history. What about that speech at Buchenwald?! What hypocrisy. Obama: You can start ‘ending hate’ by taking a strong stand in support of equality for gays and lesbians.
I am not enthralled with Withers tone, but he basically is saying why put a friendly President as “point man” as that is the guy who gets shot first if you have ever been on a military patrol!
In the end, if DOMA goes down this term and immigration equality goes through a Democrat congress, what huge gains we have made.
As the number of states who permit gay marriage increases, aren’t we talking about a “trojan horse”. Just as “Will & Grace” got so many Iowan’s to see no threat from gays, married gays in states who permit it will slowly change perceptions as well.
Marriage is a state right after all and it is up to the states to get it right. The Feds will get in line eventually, lets see if Hillary follows through on benefits for same sex partners in the State Department.
He can insist he’s the Queen of Mars for all I care.
Until I see something in the way of ACTION he’s just another disengenuous political opportunist who has thrown us under the bus after we helped him win an election.
I hope he knows that only works once.
I listened to Mr. Obama’s speech to the Muslim world yesterday with awe and envy. It almost literally brought tears to my eyes for it’s eloquence and daring, because I know he fully intends to follow up those words with action. In fact, he already is.
But, how I long for a speech where he takes the world stage and brings such ferver and uses such emphatic words of inclusion, tolerance and legitimacy for the full recognition of rights and protections for all LGBT people of this world – and then follows up on those words with like action. Oh, and it’s okay, Mr. Obama if you’d like to practice such a speech before a joint session of the Congress of the United States along with appropriate actions for a not so insignificant segment of the U.S. population who supported you with their hard earned dollars and their even more precious trust and hopes.
John Richardson, really? You are going to dump Obama because he is trying to unify a divided nation by including someone who may oppose your views? You’re about as close minded as the ones who want to deny gay Americans their civil rights, and the right to marry. You might as well have voted came up with the DOMA and voted “No” on ENDA.
I think the problem is us. Obama had some eloquent words of uniting a divided nation, with lots of problems, and we’re expecting too much from him too soon. Because he is president he doesn’t have a totalitarian rule, we live a in democracy, where people are going to have to a difference of opinion, which could slow or delay the process of reaching equality. It seems as though we are only in the beginning stages of this journey to equality, so please, be patient. I trust Obama, full-heartedly, and i ask that you do the same.
Please do not be fooled by Mr. Obama’s comments about being our ally. He is not. I will say it again…when he utilized a homophobic “minister” at the inaugural, he told you how he really feels about us.
Michelle is the key…a gay man dresses her. It is time to ask her to support us fully. And also if she understands that her designer would like the “rights” she and her husband enjoy. And then ask her to help us get the support of her husband for our equality. Until we remain in their face, the dems are not going to act.
Sorry, that last comment re “fierce advocate” should have been direct to Gerry Fisher.
Todd: It was Obama who described himself as a “fierce advocate for gay rights.” Nice phrase, but not back by any action. And actually by no real ferocity either.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton signed DOMA into Law on Air Force ONE. A couple months prior to the second term election. We were not sent to the Back of the Bus. We were Thrown UNDER the Bus for the second time in 3 years.
I have not let Pres. Bill Clinton off the hook for DOMA and DADT. Set us back +/- 20 years. Hope President Obama isn’t the latest politician that once in office, does weird political Math and ” Stabs Us ALL ” in the back contrary to prior sentiments. No more HOMO-cide please. Atleast none of us mistook ” George W ” as a friend and we progressed not expecting White House help ( ie: MA and courts ).
It is my prayer that Mr. Obama will show strong decisive leadership. DOMA just runs contrary to US Constitution. Same rational that overturned the remaining laws banning inter-racial marraiges in June 1967.
I’m afraid to keep Def Sec Gates and other dinosaurs happy, he may punk out and do more HOMO-cide.
A Great lesson in leadership, In 1948, President Harry Truman unequivically racially integrated ALL military branches. To this day, their are still some racists in the military, as elsewhere. We are still far stronger for Mr. Truman’s unequivical leadership. We will be way better off as a nation when DADT which runs contrary to the military honor (truth) code is history. Modern militaries such as UK, Canada, Israel and others . . . have proven that DADT rational is a total myth. Will there be change pain ? Of course Everything involving growth has growing pain.
Mark H. * Long Beach, CA