"I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. That is why I support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, and the passage of laws to protect LGBT Americans from hate crimes and employment discrimination. "
These words written last year to LGBT Democrats by then presidential candidate Barack Obama ring empty for many today. Here's a breakdown of what the Obama administration has done since January 2009.
- DOMA: This week, Obama's Justice Department defended DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) in federal court with a brief that compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. The New York Times pointed out that Obama should defend the current law in a less hurtful way, while putting pressure on Congress to repeal it.
- Benefits: Under pressure yesterday, Obama extended benefits to the partners of gay federal workers. But he still fell short, leaving open questions about which benefits would be granted and when the benefits would be granted.
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Since Obama's been in charge, 253 gay service members have been discharged due to the policy, and the commander in chief hasn't put pressure on Congress or the military to repeal it.
- Hate Crimes: The Matthew Shepard Act, which would extend federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identify, is still sitting in committee in Congress.
Should Obama do more to uphold his campaign promises of equality to LGBT Americans, or can that wait until more pressing issues are resolved?
Fornarina
Butterfly
Calvin Klein
I'm not the man's biggest fan by any means, but it's been five months. He has 43 more in which to get it done, and he has bigger fish to fry right now.
1Like I said yesterday...give the man a break!
People are so impatient. I believe that he supports the things he says he supports, such as repealing DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"...but there are a lot of politicians who will BLOCK and SLOW such actions from passing. Obama can believe all he wants, but once it gets to Congress, or into the red tape of DoJ, or having to at least pass muster with opposition, it's pretty much out of his hands. Things have to be negotiated, and some other issues may have features taken away in exchange for letting certain actions pass. Some people will do whatever it takes to stop actions from passing.
Sure, putting "pressure" on Congress and the DoJ will appease the public, but it won't get anything done any faster.
The Civil Rights Act didn't come overnight. Neither did women's suffrage.
Also, during campaigns, candidates have to provide plans to EVERY constituent group. This doesn't make them liars, but it's a quick rundown of what they will attempt to do while in office. Obama's still got 3.5 years! *He* never said that by the end of the year he will have completed every *single* campaign promise or task - that's just what the media and the fanatics expect.
2i agree that these issues are very important but being part of the lgbt community, i personally can wait. there are some life and death issues that have to be addressed right now
3There are bigger concerns out there right now (and I'm all for more gay-rights, so don't get me wrong).
4just because Obama is a nice guy doesn't mean he's not like every other politician -- he's got to talk the talk to get elected!! come on people! he'll get to it, or he won't, and in 2012, we can decide if we want someone new.
5He has time to keep his promises. There are more important matters that need to be addressed first. The man can't do everything in just a few months.
6It has only been 5 months and I feel that there are bigger issues... (I am all for gay rights as well). I just hope that he didn't make empty promises.
7like others said it's only been 5months,give him time...
8there is a difference between giving him time to work on these promises, and putting up with actions that are damaging and offensive, such as the language used in his administration's brief defending the defense of marriage act that connected gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. i will wait and see what he ends up doing, but there are certain things there are just no excuses for.
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