A message to you from President Barack Obama

[Rick336]

From the White House:

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA




Rick

[Poetic Awakening]

I must say, I had high hopes for President Obama. I could never really decide between McCain and Obama before the election, but that was a time when I had little access to news and information other than CNN or Fox during lunch and dinner (which was usually muted). I can see a few things that looked good then, and have taken a slightly different turn now. Especially with the government spending, though some could say they saw that coming.
I hope in some areas he is still capable of doing some good that will ring true of that 'New Hope' idea he was elected under. But I think for him to make it through his term and not be hailed as a catastrophe will also do for now. Here's to the future, and may things change for the betterment of all mankind, and not just the rich, predominately white, homophobic and "American" politicians.

[BenL]

Originally Posted by Rick336

From the White House:

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION
[snip]

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

We certainly never saw this coming out of the previous White House. He ain't perfect, but he's a sight better than what we're used to.

[tdogg]

Thanks for the 'month' President. Now please pass the ENDA, get a hate crimes bill passed, and repeal DADT and DOMA. That will be a true reflection of caring about GLBT people.

[nmwolfboy]

Too bad he doesn't have a Presidential magic wand which enables him to make all the changes we want. We're still going to have to make the changes happen ourselves. It's nice to have a President who most likely will not oppose our efforts.

[Alecto]

God help me, I agree with Andrew Sullivan:
he's pretty much restating his campaign promises. I've said it before about him and I'll say it again: when he starts showing leadership to actually ACCOMPLISH any of these things, then he gets a shiny gold star. In the meantime, I'm unimpressed.

IN fairness, I'm also not only unimpressed but full on disgusted by Bill Clinton coming to the equality party late. Maybe I'm just grumpy (I have been way moody lately) but...ugh.

[tymejumper]

Originally Posted by tdogg

Thanks for the 'month' President. Now please pass the ENDA, get a hate crimes bill passed, and repeal DADT and DOMA. That will be a true reflection of caring about GLBT people.

I'll believe it when I have actual proof and not just words that he will make us equal.

[tdogg]

Wolfboy, a lot of us are working our asses off for equality. But we don't have the power that Obama has to get things rolling in Washington. We are writing, calling, rallying, demanding, outreaching, etc. But until someone in Washington writes up some bills to get these things done, it ain't gonna happen.

I would be happy to write a bill to repeal DADT and DOMA. It wouldn't take me long. But whatever I came up with wouldn't be a consideration for Congress or the President. It's time to stop putting GLBT issues on the back burner. It is time for Obama to stand up against discrimination. He was silent on election day when Prop 8 barely passed, stopping marriage equality. He was silent when the CA Supremes chose to uphold Prop 8 and thereby keep discrimination in the constitution. He has come out and said DADT will probably be on hold for a couple years. He hasn't addressed DOMA. ENDA and a hate crimes bill I think may be in the works but the process is certainly no ball of fire.

I appreciate that Obama has a lot to do. More than we can comprehend. But I for one am done with being put on the back burner until kindgdom comes, because there are too many other priorities. So, we have a month. I'm elated. But I'll believe in real change when I see real change happening. Don't get me wrong, I'm still behind the man I voted for (after Hillary was out). But I'm waiting for change that I still have yet to see much of. At least in many issues that are important to me.

[peoplegottabefree]

i met pres. obama here and prague and got to shake his hand. at the point it was an amazing feeling...still high on post election hopes. first lady was just as amazing of a person also when i met her here in prague...however, now i feel a bit let down to say the least. i am tired of teh gay community being a place that politicians, including pres. obama, run to when they want to appear progressive and especially when they want our vote, but when the reality of everyday politics sits in, they and he go back to bed with the conservative Christian right. if they don't get back in bed with them they at least always seem to sacrifice the rights of the few (GLBT) for the "good" of the many. i like the president and was excited to meet him, but i for one and damn tired of being sacrificed for the good of the many. to hell with the good of the many...what about the good of the GLBT community? sacrifice the good of the many and give the few (GLBT community) our rights and then i will believe you mr. president.

[Daniel]

But I agree with Tdogg.

There isn't a word about DOMA or HATE CRIMES legislation in this document. Disappointing!

We expected more from Obama. But you know what? When I saw him squirming in his chair at the LOGO event, I knew what the deal was gonna be. He may be Ok with gay people personally, but he isn't the fierce advocate he says he is and we'd like him to be.

We're gonna have to do this ourselves!

[Daniel]

So- Obama thinks that the federal government should stay out of gay marriage. Then why not work for the repeal of DOMA? But he's not doing that apparently.

Obama had his campaign pledge or repealing DOMA off the White House website.

He is still sticking to Civil Unions and the world is changing around him. Six states now have gay marriage.

Separate is not equal. And for a black man to argue that it is is pure politics. Either that or he really is stuck on this issue because of his religious beliefs.

[Rick336]

Gay groups grow impatient with Obama

From Yahoo News ----> http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/23328

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by tdogg

thanks for the 'month' president. Now please pass the enda, get a hate crimes bill passed, and repeal dadt and doma. That will be a true reflection of caring about glbt people.

i agree.

Gennee

[tdogg]

Originally Posted by Daniel

So- Obama thinks that the federal government should stay out of gay marriage. Then why not work for the repeal of DOMA? But he's not doing that apparently.

Obama had his campaign pledge or repealing DOMA off the White House website.

He is still sticking to Civil Unions and the world is changing around him. Six states now have gay marriage.

Separate is not equal. And for a black man to argue that it is is pure politics. Either that or he really is stuck on this issue because of his religious beliefs.

This is not change that I can believe in.

[u-dog]

At the risk of getting jumped ... I'm going to defend the President. I think he is doing EXACTLY the right things in exactly the right order. However, let me be clear from the outset that I am NOT arguing that the LGBT community should sit down, shut up, and be patient. In fact, I think that it will help the President immensely if the GLBT community makes as much noise as possible and puts as much pressure on the political process as possible. However, thats not what I primarily want to post about.

I think that Obama is the most politically savvy president that we have had (on the left) for a LONG time. To appreciate this you need to take a step back and look at the breadth and range of what he is trying to accomplish.

1. Save the economy (banking/finance/auto industry/recession/etc)
2. Save the world from Global warming (change minds as well as policies)
3. Extricate the US from one pointless war and win one necessary war.
4. Make peace in the Middle East.
5. Repair American image everywhere in the world but especially the Islamic world where terrorists are manufactured.
6. safeguard reproductive rights
7. safeguard civil rights (torture/patriot act/etc)
8. expand civil rights to GLBT folks
9. completely rebuild from scratch a health care system that doesn't work for a third of Americans.

This is a large agenda and every item on it requires an investment of political capital to accomplish. Only some of them will yield additional political capital to be invested elsewhere.

If Obama had waltzed into the Oval Office the first day and overturned DADT that would have COST him lots of political capital that would not then have been available to accomplish ANY of those other goals. It would not have generated any additional political capital except the goodwill and gratitude of the GLBT community and its allies. Those are good things to have, but in the big scheme of things it won't buy him a lot of what he wants to buy.

ON THE OTHER HAND. If Obama attacks one of bigger problems and makes significant strides forward (organizes a camp David type meeting between Israel and Palestine -or- ends the recession -0r- gets healthcare reform bill out of the congress -or- gets GM out of bankruptcy -or- gets US out of Iraq) then he has MORE political capital to spend on the OTHER stuff -- like full civil rights for GLBT folks.

My point is simply this: When you are trying to do EVERYTHING, success depends on doing it in the right order. Foundation first, walls second, roof last. Any other order results in total failure. This doesn't mean that the GLBT community should let up the pressure for change. Not at all. Just don't burn bridges between the community and the President. They may be useful later.

I believe that Barak Obama has the potential to be not only a GOOD president but to be a truly GREAT president. When we look back and history looks back ... we want to be seen to have been on his team.

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by u-dog

I think he is doing EXACTLY the right things in exactly the right order. However, let me be clear from the outset that I am NOT arguing that the LGBT community should sit down, shut up, and be patient. In fact, I think that it will help the President immensely if the GLBT community makes as much noise as possible and puts as much pressure on the political process as possible.

I believe that Barak Obama has the potential to be not only a GOOD president but to be a truly GREAT president. When we look back and history looks back ... we want to be seen to have been on his team.

I agree.

Rick

[Daniel]

U-dog- While I agree that the President has a lot on his plate, I'm afraid I don't understand your logic.

The argument that there is something called political capital is erroneous. Case in point: Don't Ask Don't Tell. It's within the President's power to sign a stop-loss order which would cost him zip, nada, nothing. *

And let's look at peace between Israel and Palestine (a would-be Palestine actually). Every President since Truman has been trying accomplish this.

What domestic capital do you think Obama has to spend?

And as far real capital is concerned, Obama already spent that in the banking fiasco with a three trillion stimulus.

Healthcare? I'm as eager for it as everyone else is. However, while the pundits are yammering on camera, no one has articulated how is it going to be paid for. As such, I think it's going to take a lot more than 'political capital'.

Lastly, I fail to see how a vote for gay rights is a vote against anything- or anyone- else.

I really do think we should get over having saviors of any kind- Obama included. About time we all come out and saved ourselves. Be the change we seek. Now. Isnt' that the point of this forum?

Glad you think that we should keep making noise.

*this whole point may be moot if the rumors coming out of Washington turn out to be true- that is- backroom deal making. http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/t...?blog_id=25666

[tdogg]

I hope you are right U-dog. I also agree somewhat with what Daniel is saying. At least in regards to DADT, fine and talented military personnel are being discharged for no logical or good reason, we are losing the very people we desperately need in this time of many wars, and good and fine individuals are having to remain in the closet. It's not fair to our soldiers and it's not fair to the GLBT community. I know, not everything is fair. But these find enlisted personnel are hiding or facing the probability of losing not only their job, but all the benefits that should be granted to them.

It is unacceptable. All in due time is way too long for those who have suffered under DADT.

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by tdogg

I hope you are right U-dog. I also agree somewhat with what Daniel is saying. At least in regards to DADT, fine and talented military personnel are being discharged for no logical or good reason, we are losing the very people we desperately need in this time of many wars, and good and fine individuals are having to remain in the closet. It's not fair to our soldiers and it's not fair to the GLBT community. I know, not everything is fair. But these find enlisted personnel are hiding or facing the probability of losing not only their job, but all the benefits that should be granted to them.

It is unacceptable. All in due time is way too long for those who have suffered under DADT.

I hope I'm right too, tdogg, because everything you have said is absolutely true. BTW, did you catch Colbert's show from Baghdad night before last? He did a routine on DADT. It didn't sound to me like all those laughing troops were losing sleep over the idea of serving with gay people. Go figure.