Subscribe to Breaking NewsEmma Ruby-Sachs: Why we should be critical of Obama
Thanks for checking out my very first post on 365gay.com. I’m new to the website, to blogging in general, but not to politics, or the very satisfying game of pointing out just how enraging the American landscape can be, especially if you’re gay.
I’ve spent the last three years in law school and before that I was writing and working with a law firm (there’s a theme here). I’m really excited about spending some time talking about legal issues facing the gay and lesbian community.
But since the election is in full swing and we have a debate tomorrow, I think a little talk about Obama is appropriate.
I was helping a friend of mine move out of Hyde Park this past weekend and found myself around the corner from Barack Obama’s house. As we pulled over by the side of the road a secret service agent immediately arrived to investigate. We chatted (what with us being a couple of non-threatening girls in a tiny car) and as we left, I asked the agent to take good care of the Obama family. I was gushing, truly, blushing and everything.
The thing is, I’m a little in love with Obama.
I’m not completely blinded of course. Many of his policies, economic and social, frustrate me (I’m always hoping the Democratic party will dump the privatization of essential services), but what I really should be mad about is his utter refusal to step up and support gay marriage.
Many say it’s political suicide) to support marriage for gays and lesbians (that’s almost a bit of street cred for all of us – we are that risky) and the last thing I want is an aging Republican in office, but do I really have to adore the man that thinks I’m not quite as good as him and his wife?
So today, despite my crush, I’ve decided that I will be mad at Obama for not standing up for full rights for gays and lesbians.
Sure, his thirty second sound bite on Ellen sounded very progressive and Biden said last week that he supports my right to visit my partner in the hospital. Biden, especially, emphatically purported granting marital rights to gays and lesbians who choose to commit. Still, the word marriage will be reserved for heterosexuals.
Why the anger? Because our government is telling us that we are not like them. They are hoping to write that distinction into law. And even though in the near future same sex unions and marriage may grant the same rights, at any point, changes can be made that put same sex couples at a disadvantage all over again.
Of Course Nikki, McCain is protecting marriage from gay people. Obama has to get elected first before he will be free to do anything. We have to trust Obama’s voting history. We can certainly depend on McCain’s record as well.
Isn’t it great living in America where other peoples belief systems affect my civil rights . I’m 57 and feel abandoned by my country. It is frustrating that politicians and uneducated clergy can teach hate in the name of “Christianity” and other religions or morality. We must vote with the supreme court in mind and vote in favor of intelligence. We must at least vote for the pair that can pronounce nuclear. I refuse to vote another “nuke-u-lar” politician. We see how far that has gotten us! got us.
We have a conundrum for politicians. Crystal and I are legally married in Texas, but Crystal is transgendered (m2f) and as we beging the transition… I wonder at what point the state will seek to revoke our marrage license? She is looking more female and sometimes strangers call her ma’am. Will legal name change, or gender change on the birth certificate cause them to question our marriage status? What about hormone treatments? Will they wait till she can live full time as a woman?(like when two women show up at a tax office to file as “married filing jointly”) Or will they wait to see if we can ever afford the operation? How do they define “man” and “woman”? Is it defined by the body we live in?…The primary or secondary sexual organs?
Unfortunatlly our culture seems to think at least subconsciously that the marrage license makes having sex legal, which is a joke among consenting adults. More important to “marrage” is the comittment to care for each other “for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health etc” what ever changes may come. When people want to make that kind of commitment our laws should support and protect them.
I agree with Ruby-Sachs. I am an avid “Obama Mama” and I have devoted several hours canvassing neighborhoods for him, however, he needs to stand up and legalize gay marriage. He implied at the democratic nat’l convention that he would, but I want to hear him say it(or better yet, DO IT!). That being said he is by far the better candidate when it comes to GLBT rights. If you don’t believe me, check out McCain’s official web site. He calls himself “protecting marriage”. Riiiight. I’m sure my grandparents’ 60 year marriage is at stake if a man marries another man or a woman marries another women.
Who are you and why should we care?
This site used to be a great source of gay and lesbian news. Now is it just a glorified blog with little objective reporting. My advice, go to Philadelphia Gay News (http://www.epgn.com).
Y’know they are for equal rights for the queer community. It’s called Civil Unions. The only difference between Marriage and Civil Unions under an Obama/Biden Admin. are simple symantics–and as far as I’m concerned that’s fine by me. Getting worked up over calling it Marriage is a bit time wasting consider the plethora of other issues that concerns this wonderful country of ours at the moment. I have no doubt that in time that same-sex Marriages will be a moot point especially among the younger generations coming up today. I mean, correct me if I’m wrong but Interracial Marriage was at one time against the law, and it’s only been legalized for the last 60 years.
As a man of color, Civil Injustice isn’t lost on me, I really just look at this as one more stepping stone ultimately towards the greater good.
Gerry Fisher,
Your point is right on, and has been my thunder for a long time.
There are so many LGBT persons out there that just don’t get the point.
One has to get their foot in the door before you can sell the pots and pans.
I thought most gay people were smarter than that.
Barny Frank some time ago was chairing a commity that was trying to get Federal Protections for gays some time ago in housing and jobs etc. but because the language did not trans gendered and cross dressers there was a group of gays that screemed from the mountain tops, saying it’s all or nothing.
Barney Frank tried to explain that if cross dressers were included at this time in history, he would have a very hard time convincing the more open minded other congresmen to vote for it. Can you amigine these congress men going back to their districs next election cycle and, hearing their right wing contenders for their jobs screaming from the hill tops saying there you go folks, now you have to hire and rent to every and any FLAIMING DRAG QUEEN IN YOUR PROPERTY AND IN YOUR BUSINESS.
Because the LGBT community could not understand that, and the effort went down in flames.
The LGBT community has to understand that a half of a loaf of bread at a time is still better than no loaf at all.
The rights and public acceptence we have fought for, and are just now realizing came to us a SLICE at a time. (Please pass the butter)
Barack and Michelle Obama belong to the United Church of Christ which has supported same-sex marriage for years. I am certain that, personally, so do they. Nonetheless, no one could be elected to the Presidency after announcing that point of view. Given that reality, I would certainly rather accept Barack’s compromise policy than find us dependent on McCain and the Embarracuda. That would be disastrous! It’s that simple.
Yeah, what Jenna said!
I agree.
While I agree with a lot of the commenters that it’s not necessarily practical or strategic to trash Obama over marriage when he’s our best shot, I disagree with a lot of them on two points.
First, the Obama/Biden ticket is the most agressively pro-equality ticket in our nation’s history. There is no comparison to McCain/Palin, regardless of the fact that neither ticket supports marriage equality. Check out Stonewall Democrat’s comparison of the tickets on issues of equality here:
http://www.stonewalldemocrats.org/node/129
Second, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the progressive netroots to lean on the Obama ticket. Holding our leaders accountable is kind of the whole point of the progressive blogosphere. As long as we keep our primary goal in mind– electing the most pro-equality ticket possible– there’s no reason not to pressure that ticket to be more supportive of our community.
Congrats, E.R.S.! You’ve got a winner of a new column. I love to see columnists who can garner such an array of responses.
I’m glad you’re here!
Trace – You really should get some medication for this misplaced nastiness of yours.
I think this is a fien introduction and I look forward to more posts by Emma.
I know exactly how you feel – every time Biden or Obama open their lying mouths about the right to marry, my blood pressure rises.
It shows lack of leadership and lack of courage – it’s true that the fundies hate gays and will vote against them every chance they get, but they are going to vote for McCain anyway.
They aren’t fooled by the “I’m against marriage but for some rights” platitudes of Obama and Biden any more than we are.
No one is fooled – all that happens is that they continue to perpetuate religious right talking points (marriage is a “sacrament”, marriage is up to the “churches”).
When you consider that one of Obama’s claims of competence is that he taught Constitutional law, and that he admits that it was illegal for his mother and father to marry in many states, it reveals a politician who will deliberately lie in order to win an election.
Of course I’ll still vote for him because McCain is much worse, but I don’t share the general enthusiasm for him and I think GLBT citizens will be very disappointed by his presidency.
Promises are easy, action is hard – if you remember Clinton and his promises you should know what to expect from Obama.
How about ditching both the crush and the rage? How about just selecting the better candidate.
Pounding on Obama for gay marriage is like putting your nose up against a tree while the forest burns down. Let’s get him elected, simply because he’s capable and better than his opponent. Then, let’s get on his case to shift his stance on gay marriage. Less emotion…more strategy.