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Loading ...Obama to give HRC keynote
10.05.2009 2:17pm EDT
From an HRC press release:
(Washington) The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, announced today that President Barack Obama will deliver the keynote address at the 13th Annual National Dinner on Saturday, October 10th, in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy will also present the first-ever Edward M. Kennedy National Leadership Award to Judy and Dennis Shepard. The award is named in honor of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), a champion in the fight for LGBT equality.“We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has called upon our nation to embrace LGBT people as brothers and sisters,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “It is fitting that he will speak to our community on the night that we pay tribute to his friend and mentor Senator Edward Kennedy, who knew that as president, Barack Obama would take on the unfinished business of this nation – equal rights for the LGBT community, and for every person who believes in liberty and justice for all.”
The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The dinner is sold out. Read the NYTimes story on the speech.
Or how about speaking up AGAINST Prop. 1 in Maine?
Or to Approve Ref. 71 in Washington State!?
If President Obama is for “One Man, One Woman” then Approve Ref. 71 in Washington State should be a done deal, since that is only about domestic partnership rights!
Where’s the “Change You Can Believe In!” that I and my husband voted for in 2008!?
WOW, what could this man possibly have to say to the gay community? Can he tell us that he believes that Marriage is Between One Man and One Woman? Maybe he’ll tell us that he is not sure that it’s not the right time to repeal DADT? Could he possibly say that we need to wait a bit longer on DOMA? Could he make his first comments on the Prop 8 Vote?
The options are endless!
I am confident the President will do his best to assuage our fears by making us all understand how the timing isn’t quite right for our equality. If we all just have a little more patience…
I hope that LGBT activist Lane Hudson is going to be in the audience and then when President Obama starts talking about LGBT civil rights, he can yell out “YOU LIE!“
I hope that Obama uses this occasion to actually do something. I like hearing him talk, but when his talks are not followed by action, they begin to seem hollow. This would be a good time to announce the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and his unqualified support of marriage equality or at least his opposition to the referendum in Maine.
I look forward to hearing President Obama at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner. It is my hope that Obama delivers a message of hope followed by solid action. Today is the day for full equality.
This is an excellent opportunity for our community to be heard by the President about those issues important to us.
I don’t really think its appropriate for someone like Obama to give the keynote address. I think we should pick someone that has ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY. more than just lip service that is…
I call this a missed opportunity to show us the “fierce advocate” he represented himself to be during the campaign. He could have used the occasion to address the nation about LGBT rights. He could have addressed those participating in the march – a broader slice of our communities. Instead he opts for speaking to a limited group of rich fundraisers, largely out of the public eye.
I never was very convinced by his talk of being our advocate, but I’m disappointed and despairing nonetheless.
And don’t anybody try to feed me that “2nd term” stuff. I don’t need yet another set of promises to be broken.
He is still telling his Justice Department to fight against lawsuits for gay equality. He also hadn’t done anything positive to repeal DADT or DOMA. I will not be voting for him in the primary or the presidential election if both DADT and DOMA aren’t repealed by then.
Other commenters:
They’re pretty close to passing the Matthew Shepard Act.
i just wish he would do what he said he would do and so far nothing at all (nothing)
He needs to give his speech on Sunday during the rally for Equality Across America vs. at a high priced dinner which regular folks have not a chance to attend.
yes these two are just perfect together all talk and no action
These two are perfect for each other. A gay organization and a President that cannot get any pro-LGBT legislation passed. FEH on both of them.