Subscribe to Breaking NewsVanasco: Is Obama backing away from gay promises?
The White House has narrowed its list of gay civil rights promises on WhiteHouse.gov and is no longer calling for a full repeal of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military or of DOMA.
Blogger Joe.My.God. broke the story about the website changes; John Aravosis has a great rundown of the differences and the new language.
The new civil rights page mentions Obama’s support for an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and adoption rights for gay couples, plus his opposition to a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. It also says: “He supports changing repealing [Thanks to Dan for noting that WhiteHouse.gov just changed the language this evening! - JV] Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security.”
Which is quite different than his spokesman’s unequivical statement in January that Obama would repeal the ban:
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs is asked: “Is the new administration going to get rid of the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy?”
Gibbs answers: “Thaddeus, you don’t hear a politician give a one-word answer much, but it’s ‘Yes.’”
This small online list is also considerably different than the lengthy one that appeared on Inauguration Day, which included a call to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, plus this quote from Obama:
“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”
– Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Joe notified NGLTF. This is their response:
Hi Joe,
I wanted to let you know that Rea Carey contacted the White House directly about the issue today after you alerted us to your post. Rea was told that they are changing the White House Web site to turn it into a more governance-focused site to reflect progress, as opposed to a campaign and transition site. They said they have taken out many such points throughout the site (not just on LGBT policy issues) as part of this changeover, and are apparently modifying the site over the next few weeks.
We will be keeping an eye on it, but if you see changes before we do (or a lack thereof), please let us know. And thank you for calling this to our attention.
Warm regards,
Inga Sarda-Sorensen
Director of Communications
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
This is the response John Aravosis received from the White House:
“As is the case with most websites, periodic changes are made to WhiteHouse.gov. Recently we overhauled the issues section to concisely reflect the President’s broad agenda, and will continue to update these pages. The President’s commitment on LGBT issues has not changed, and any suggestions to the contrary are false.”
Hmmm. Maybe we’d believe that his commitment hasn’t changed if we actually saw some action on our issues, instead of almost complete avoidance.
What happened to the Obama at the Logo Visible Vote ‘08 Presidential forum in this video?
Obama made a call for hate crimes legislation, great. And yes, he’s facing big issues – the economic meltdown, two wars, now a retiring Supreme Court Justice. But in his first 100 days, he was somehow able to make it easier for women to sue for equal pay, lift Bush’s ban on stem cell research, lift the traveling restrictions for Cuban Americans to Cuba, and protect two million acres of wilderness – while still not doing anything of significance on gay rights.
Obama is a good president. But gays are clearly not his priority.
Shocked! I’m simply Shocked!
Is it now that I say “I told you so?”
We are not pushing the Democrats or Obama hard enough. We have to bitch at them, we have to MAKE them support us and stop feeling guilty for doing so.
If we don’t, and the right is pushing harder, the compromise will come down on the right.
BREAKING NEWS!
Whitehouse.gov again says that Obama supports “repealing” don’t ask don’t tell. It looks like the site really is in transition, there have been changes just today.
Jennifer makes a strong case that Obama has moved on other social issues and for other oppressed groups, just not for LGBT people. Let’s make phone calls, send emails and letters to the Obama administration and to Congress – respectful ones. A politician will often say, “I was so moved by so-and-so’s story that I decided to support the such-and-such act.” When have you heard them say, “I was so intimidated by so-and-so’s rant…”?
Not really surprised about the backtrack… I would be more than happy to see the “full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and adoption rights for gay couples”… and let us eventually win full marriage equality in the US Supreme Court. I think the civil unions (and possibly adoption rights) could be accomplished without a huge backlash. Trying to get a repeal of DOMA at this time may not be a good idea. Time will tell. So far, Hate Crimes looks good.. hopefully, ENDA and repeal of DADT in the near future.
Jim said : Trying to get a repeal of DOMA at this time may not be a good idea.
What? Because it’s unpopular? I am not as forgiving as you are. He shouldn’t have stated he was for the repeal of DOMA if he didn’t mean it.
As much as us gays like to think we should be at the top of the president’s priority list, we aren’t, nor should we be. The country has a lot bigger fish to fry.
It is a sad prospect, Bill, but unfortunately I would have to agree. It is difficult to sway public oppinion when most are preoccupied with other issues. It just means we have to work that much harder to make our voices heard.
I am with Trace on this one.
I didn’t vote for Barack HomophObama, I voted for Cynthia McKinney.
I don’t like gloating, it gives me NO pleasure to be right about HomophObama. I believe all of you were lied to and duped, not only by HomophObama itself but by the gay “leadership” who led you off a cliff like the mindless lemings you are. Instead of playing devil’s advocate for Obama, you should call him and express your disgust at him at 202-456-1414 and let him know you want him to support ABSOLUTE equality, which includes marriage equality, passing SONDA, lifting the ban NOW, and an end to his playing politics bullsh*t.
If he wants to help the economy, end discrimination right NOW and gay people will increase spending cos they’ll feel secure in their jobs. If states want economic stimilus, legalize marriage equality, this will increse tourist dollars, cake makers, hotels, liquor stores, jewelers, etc. Gay rights are good for the economy, and neglecting gay rights is bad for the economy. When gay people lose their jobs in this economy, leisure spending and luxury item purchases go down. HomophObama and congress need to talk to fortune 500 companies and they’d hear about how gay people are an economic godsend and that when we’re happy, we spend.
Here we go again with the BASH OBAMA crowd!
I agree with Bill. We need to stop bitching about how Obama is “avoiding our issues”. The man has been in office 102 days and has done more to restore our credibility here and abroad. He has also moved very quickly on trying to resolve this economic crisis and fundamentally alter our country for the better.
Equality will be at hand, but it would be just plain selfish and unrealistic of us as a community to just expect everything to be changed with the wave of a magic wand!
Our time will come. Stop bitching!
There are no surprises here for anyone who witnessed the “Gay debate” between Obama, Clinton, and Edwards.
It was clear at the end of that debate that both Obama and Clinton would only be better than a Republican for Gay people in that they would “do no harm”.
It’s foolish to expect Obama to do anything for us at all.
That’s not to say we should keep pushing like the Dickens. Sometimes you put salve on the mosquito bite just to make it go away while you deal with your bleeding ulcers…
(yech, sorry…)
bill and all,
are you kidding?!?!
there are always going to be “bigger fish to fry” in america. that is why we must all stand up and DEMAND full rights NOW! we may not have the chance in three years if obama is voted out of office in favor of a republican.
It is always the right time to stand up for human rights. I will not give another dime to the Democrats if they fail to see this soon. Polite refusals in the end are the same as rude refusals …
It must be nice to have Gay issues the only ones you have to worry about in life. It’ not excuse for Obama and his administration but on a personal level, getting married is not a priority.
Speak for yourself Johnny boy.