John: It seems to me that fair-minded people need a fast way to get Obama's attention civil rights for GLBTs, including marriage equality. You rocked with dearmary.com Organizing on the street takes time; what about setting up an e-campaign, something designed to go viral?
Let's act and channel the outrage.
Seansmith
· 5 months ago
Yup. This is definitely what I want to see.
I'm very very grateful for the coverage by people like John, Joe and Pam (Spaulding), but now it's time for the next step. Since our national lobbiest are too busy having dinner and high-fiving each other when one of us walks down the street and makes it to the other side alive, it's imperative for our net/grassroots leaders to start up a coalition to fight for our rights.
MichaelS
· 5 months ago
Here is the contact info for the leaders of the DNC's Gay and Lesbian Leadersip Council from its own web site:
For more information about the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council, please contact:
Thomas Petrillo Finance Director PetrilloT@dnc.org
What are we waiting for? Their mailboxes should be inundated with our outrage and our firm commitment to withhold ALL contributions going forward until this President lives up to his campaign promises and UNDOES THE DAMAGE TO GAY RIGHTS THAT HE'S ALREADY DONE (i.e., retract the DOMA filing).
Money - or the withholding of it - is the only thing that will get their attention.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
My letter to the DNC:
Dear DNC:
I am absolutely fed up. I am a gay man who has donated time, money and energy to the Democratic Party, and am actually my county's vice chairman in Oklahoma. I am also on the executive board of the Democratic Party Veterans Committee for congressional district 2. I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen in my own country.
The recent DOJ defense of DOMA where cases of incest and underage marriage were used to defend this outrageous law is the last straw for many of us. Also, the argument the government needed to save money by refusing to recognize our equal rights is not the change I envisioned. I am close to resigning from the Democratic Party, but I've decided to wait and see if the outrage filters up to the tone deaf Obama Administration, and Obama finally does something for our community. So far, we have seen nothing but assurances we have a "fierce advocate" while Obama makes dismissive jokes at our expense. The question of equality for our community is not a joke.
It is a shame our LGBT community has to fight tooth and nail for what should rightfully be ours without question. You will find our community's patience has been tested and it is not endless when it comes to these issues. To be told to just "wait" is not acceptable.
I've decided not to resign from the party but in the meantime, I am going to do the bare minimum. I will no longer be raising or donating money until I see some change I can believe in.
The bare minimum I want to see is ENDA passed and DADT ended. The American people are ahead of the administration in wanting DADT to be ended and it is a security threat to be kicking out LGBT servicemen simply because they are being honest about their sexual orientation. I want to see the administration make positive statements about DOMA and take positive steps towards its repeal. If I see ENDA passed and DADT ended, I will know the Obama Administration is starting to actively work towards our equality.
Sincerely,
Timothy Beauchamp Vice Chairman Delaware County Democratic Party - Oklahoma
Christopher Holcombe
· 5 months ago
Good job Timothy. It's Christopher Holcombe from FB. Keep up the good writing. Proud of you my brother. Keep the pressure on.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
Hey, thanks Christopher! Glad u are here, as well.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
I'm writing them RIGHT NOW. Thanks for the info.
walterhpdx
· 5 months ago
Something has gone on, because I found that address - gllc@dnc.org - a few hours ago and sent an email to it, requesting that the fundraiser be canceled. The email bounced. Methinks that we have SOMEONE'S attention at the DNC if they're turning off email addresses!
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
I just wrote the DNC:
Dear DNC:
I am absolutely fed up. I am a gay man who has donated time, money and energy to the Democratic Party, and am actually my county's vice chairman in Oklahoma. I am also on the executive board of the Democratic Party Veterans Committee for congressional district 2. I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen in my own country.
The recent DOJ defense of DOMA where cases of incest and underage marriage were used to defend this outrageous law is the last straw for many of us. Also, the argument the government needed to save money by refusing to recognize our equal rights is not the change I envisioned. I am close to resigning from the Democratic Party, but I've decided to wait and see if the outrage filters up to the tone deaf Obama Administration, and Obama finally does something for our community. So far, we have seen nothing but assurances we have a "fierce advocate" while Obama makes dismissive jokes at our expense. The question of equality for our community is not a joke.
It is a shame our LGBT community has to fight tooth and nail for what should rightfully be ours without question. You will find our community's patience has been tested and it is not endless when it comes to these issues. To be told to just "wait" is not acceptable.
I've decided not to resign from the party but in the meantime, I am going to do the bare minimum. I will no longer be raising or donating money until I see some change I can believe in.
The bare minimum I want to see is ENDA passed and DADT ended. The American people are ahead of the administration in wanting DADT to be ended and it is a security threat to be kicking out LGBT servicemen simply because they are being honest about their sexual orientation. I want to see the administration make positive statements about DOMA and take positive steps towards its repeal. If I see ENDA passed and DADT ended, I will know the Obama Administration is starting to actively work towards our equality.
Sincerely,
Timothy Beauchamp Vice Chairman Delaware County Democratic Party - Oklahoma
Õ¿Õ
· 5 months ago
You're one of the few people I love in this world.
rickwla
· 5 months ago
I just sent this letter to the president. I suggest that everyone who's posted or read a comment here do the same. They need to hear from us. ------ Dear Mr. President, I have been following closely your administration's plan for full civil rights for the countless LGBT Americans that supported your campaign with time, energy, and lots of money.
I am completely offended by your lack of any action or concrete steps to advance the many promises that you made to us during your campaign. I kept hoping that sometime in June, gay pride month, we would finally see some action.
The Department of Justice's brief filed in the DOMA case on 6/12/09 was the most insulting and demeaning work I have seen in a long time. It was a complete betrayal of the gay community. It was homophobic in the extreme and something I would have expected of the previous administration.
The LGBT community is up in arms about the contents of that brief and the very need for DOJ to be defending DOMA. We are not stupid. We know that you had a choice in defending this odious law given that many constitutional scholars, including Laurence Tribe, believe at least some sections of DOMA are clearly unconstitutional.
You took our money, time, and votes and made what are now clearly empty promises. The few statements that we have heard from your administration since the brief was filed have only made things worse since the claims are disingenuous in the extreme. The damage this has done to your relationship with this highly political community is great.
It has been made worse having happened during gay pride month and on the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, a court decision that made the marriage of your parents legal across the country.
We expect leadership from you and your administration. We do not expect bland statements that any progress on our issues is strictly up to Congress or that you must defend all laws, even though we know that DOJ has already decided to not defend other laws since you took office. (e.g., marijuana laws in states that have legalized its medical use).
We expect to see you take concrete steps this year regarding DOMA, ENDA, and DADT. We will not accept more promises. We will not keep silent any longer. We will not support your administration if you do not take steps to correct the damage that has already been done to the LGBT community.
You are the leader of the Democratic party and you need to lead on all Democratic policies, especially those related to civil rights given your historic presidency.
We need to see you address directly the issues that the gay community supports. The DOMA brief needs to be withdrawn. If you do not directly address this whole mess soon, there may be no hope of ever regaining our support. We will support progressive candidates at the local, state, and national level rather than Democrats.
mjf
· 5 months ago
I completely agree with you. I have informed my local, national democratic party and the White House that if they intend to ask me for ANY donations something must be done on DOMA, ENDA and DADT. I think it is very important to be really vocal about how disappointing this administration has been regarding GLBT issues. If we do not act as a squeaky wheel, this administration will do nothing more than string us out and then ask for more money and support. It is time the Democratic party earn our trust, support and money.
jeffg166
· 5 months ago
This is change I can't believe in. It's the same old same old. Obama is losing me fast.
AdmNaismith
· 5 months ago
Just how little is Obama tryingto get away with, here?
A gay Ambassador? How does that help? So the Ambassador gets a cushy, hight paying job; but how does that help me defend myself against my homophobic neighbors?
They already trotted out their token gay guy, and he made the Administration look like pikers.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
well, if the gay ambassador is gay and has a non legal partner, that would be one gay they could give federal benefits to.
Now my questin would be if the feds give fed benefits to gay partners in non legal relationships, couldn't gay partners in non legal relationships who don't work for the government sue them for the same payment of benefits?
Trev
· 5 months ago
How about full equal rights?
Tossing us bones at this point is extremely offensive.
I think this horse is already out of the barn. Anything he does now short of real, meaningful action is just empty pandering.
Hope was a lie.
Paul Sousa
· 5 months ago
Love it! Do they really think we're going to back down now? Obama's silence on LGBT issues has been deafening. Public pressure and criticism is apparently the only way to have his administration speak out and work for our civil rights. The White House should know that we won't be backing down and will be coming twice as hard. Heck, this is just more reason to speak out.
Scott
· 5 months ago
I want the Justice Department issues to be fixed, and if that means some people over there get fired, so much the better. There should be no more defenses of indefensible policies, whether anti-gay or anti-civil liberties.
I want to see open enthusiasm out of the White House. There should be heartfelt congratulations every time another state wins marriage equality, and a statement of expectation that there will be many more in the days to come.
I want a concrete plan of action, and I want follow through. There can be no more waiting for crumbs and living on promises. I want to know and believe that the Obama Administration wakes up each day thinking about how best to help us.
This administration has been awkward at best and reactionary at worst about the whole agenda, even where they were strong during the campaign. They can make up for it by doing twice as much as they would have otherwise. Get on the stick, people.
That's what I want.
Here it is.
· 5 months ago
Phone Numbers The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500
I'm sickened at the extremely partisan brief that was submitted last Friday in support of the Defense of Marriage Act as well as by the frankly dishonest claim that has been made by people in the administration that the DOD, as a matter of procedure, has to submit filings in support of the law of the land, whatever a given administration's position on the law in question. This is untrue: exceptions have been made to this procedure by every administration since the Carter administration including (already) your own. My question is why the administration seems to find doing the right thing so hard on gay marriage ? On the tactical side of the equation you are making a major political miscalculation: opposition to gay marriage is on the way to becoming about as cool as opposition to pre-marital sex. On the intrinsic side of the equation I see no rational argument in opposition to same sex marriage. I'm not gay but civil rights are everyone's concern just as surely as they were when the Supreme Court ruled in Loving vs. Virginia, a case you're probably familiar with. I add that the way you've dealt with gay issues after promising to be a "fierce advocate" for gay people indicates a cynicism and lack of character that are all too familiar in politics but which I'm very sorry to see manifested in you. I get the impression that you don't lack the courage to stand for something but that you value your carefully manufactured reputation for centrism above basic civil rights. That's frankly disgusting.
MichaelS
· 5 months ago
This is such bullsh__. He can improve relations with one quick gesture - admit the DOMA filing was a mistake, retract the filing, and fire the Justice official responsible for it (or if he can't be fired because he burrowed in from the Bush administration, exile him to a dark corner, it happens all the time). Cowardice. Fear of tackling the tough issues. The worst possible trait a Dem president can show.
nicho
· 5 months ago
No more calls, please. We have a winner!
Valentinefrey
· 5 months ago
Absolutely zero chance this was under the radar. This wasn't cowardice, this was vanity. He's sacrificing civil rights at the altar of his centrist image.
ChrisSF
· 5 months ago
That is exactly what they should do.
Õ¿Õ
· 5 months ago
I'm sick of writing fucking emails about stupid shit. I want to do something.
LAM
· 5 months ago
Interesting that you should say this is all so 90's. Do you suppose Rahm Emmanuel is working through his wounds sustained during the Clinton years? Is he calling the shots on equal rights legislation?
John Aravosis
· 5 months ago
Rahm gave Pelosi the same advice on the Hill when the Dems first took over. Stay away from the gay stuff.
shell
· 5 months ago
I am straight. I will admit it -- I thought exactly as Obama thought most Americans would think. (Well, non-homophobes, that is.) When the gays started getting mad (before his hate-filled memo), I thought they should just give him a chance, just wait a while -- he will get to it. I see I was wrong.
I am telling you this so you will see how Obama thinks he can get away with this. (I know John and Joe already know, but others might not.) I am in at least one majority in America -- I am non-gay.
Yes, it made me mad when he brought on a religious wacko at his inauguration. And it really made me mad when he hired the fox to guard the henhouse (on financial issues). But this report you showed is really bad. Actually, it is unbelievable.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 309 Hart Senate Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 9 am to 6 pm (202) 224-2152 - ph (202) 228-0400 - fx CHICAGO 230 S Dearborn St. Suite 3892 Chicago, IL 60604 8:30 am to 5 pm (312) 353-4952 - ph (312) 353-0150 - fx SPRINGFIELD 525 South 8th St. Springfield, IL 62703 8:30 am to 5 pm (217) 492-4062 - ph (217) 492-4382 - fx MARION 701 N. Court St. Marion, IL 62959 8:30 am to 5 pm (618) 998-8812 - ph (618) 997-0176 - fx http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
GET EM ALL!!!!
Õ¿Õ
· 5 months ago
This country is so fucked up. It's like Iraq. Now that we're in there with troops dying bankrupting ourselves, but we can never admit a mistake was made and something might happen or something. Same with DOMA and DADT. I say "we" but I never had anything to do with any of it because I'm not stupid.
Goddamn get out of of Iraq and end DOMA and DADT. Do it.
Blueflash
· 5 months ago
Obama's promise to get out of Iraq was ludicrous and was yet another red flag (or should have been) as to his trustworthiness - as if he didn't know it's about oil (among other things) and that the US wasn't going to just abandon fourteen huge military bases and the biggest embassy under construction in human history.
nokkonwud
· 5 months ago
Sorry. I'm not accepting crumbs anymore.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Who does he think we are, Hansel and Gretel? We do not need crumbs anymore. ;-)
FNReedie
· 5 months ago
A fierce advocate -- some some rehashed milquetoast. Call me when we get a candidate who will support us.
Repeal DOMA & DADT, pass ENDA.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
exactly.
RainbowPhoenix
· 5 months ago
We had one in the primaries, but for some reason we didn't get behind him.
Walter H
· 5 months ago
This is exactly what I've been saying to my friends. Why should we "settle"? Why should we just take a small scrap and walk away, pretending that we are full? Civil rights are FULL rights, not just a sliver. Did Loving v. Virginia result in the government going, "Well, how about we throw this out, and we'll let a few high profile blacks marry some whites"? Or "Well, how about we let just black people older than 60 ride anywhere on the bus, but you others better stay back there". No.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
FULL EQUAL RIGHTS NOW.
An_American_Karol
· 5 months ago
It is way past time..
Diogenes
· 5 months ago
Bingo, Aravosis! No settling for smiles and pats on the head. Just flat-out equality. If you accept incrementalism, the increments will just keep decreasing in size, until you're gaining rights one person at a time.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
I would like to add one thing that I want to see from Obama to the list.
I want a public apology for Obama INTENTIONALLY making gay equality the butt oj jokes at both the Annual Correspondant's dinner and at the fund-raiser in CA on the day the CA supreme court decision was announced.
If he was forced to apologize for an unintended joke about Special Olympics on Leno, then I expect an apology for the intentional jokes.
I am no better, but also no worse than a member of Special Olympics.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
and, at the end of the apology, I would like him to FINALLY admit that according to the constitution no one's god is legally allowed to be in the "mix" of any civil matter.
nicho
· 5 months ago
How about a "phone-in stonewall." Streets protests in the US are very difficult, especially for a gay population that's scattered across the country. But, how about shutting down the White House and Congress by phone and fax.
If every gay person in the US -- on the same day -- called the White House and their members of Congress to complain, faxed them, and/or emailed them, it would virtually shut the government down for the day. Their systems couldn't handle that level of calls. They would get the message.
No spamming. Nothing abusive. No threats. Just exercising your right to contact the White House and the Congress -- unless we don't have that right either.
Just pick a day -- get the word out -- and do it.
dcmsufan
· 5 months ago
My friends and I booed the Obama float at DC Pride Saturday and from the reaction of others around us, you'd have thought we were from the planet Mars. Very few of our Gay Brothers and Sisters are as connected and informed as the readers of this and other excellent blogs. We MUST continue to speak out and spread the word about the damage that is being done to our cause by Obama and his Administration.
We have loud forceful voices that must be heard. The right knows how to flood Congress and the Administration with calls, emails and letters. Gay people MUST get it together and be heard. Most of the people reading this blog probably have already done this. We need to work to get the other folks out there who aren't so politically active to do the same.
No more breadcrumbs, Mr. President, Madame Speaker. NO MORE!!!
Not another penny to ANY Democrat until they take us seriously and work to enact what they promised. Not one freaking penny.
postdamnit
· 5 months ago
No Gay Rights, No Gay $$
Every gay person should stand behind this.
SissyBear
· 5 months ago
"No Gay Rights, No Gay $$"
I put that on my DCCC survey I mailed back this morning.
Doctor Boyfriend
· 5 months ago
How about remove 1/2 of DOMA? How about DODT? Yea, these concessions are worthless.
I will not give a cent to dems, until either DOMA is repealed or DADT. ENDA is fairly useless in my mind.
pat
· 5 months ago
give to the progressives.
pick a cause back a senator.
treebark
· 5 months ago
I voted for Obama in the general but did not like him as I felt he stands for NOTHING, that everything can be compomised. He's a slimy snake oil salesman, and at the end of the day you get snakeoil. I will sit the next pres election out! Can't vote for a rethug or Nader, but never gave a dime to Obama and never will. He's a very hollow candidate. there isn't one issue he is passionate about.
NAVDOC3rdMAR
· 5 months ago
Here are the latest toll free numbers for the Capitol Hill Switchboard: 800-828-0498, 866-338-1015 or 866-220-0044.
Call and let your voice be heard. SEMPER FI!
Here it is.
· 5 months ago
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Office of the Speaker H-232, US Capitol Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-0100 http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Emma
· 5 months ago
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They're tone-deaf. When intelligent people go stupid they really take it to ridiculous extremes.
Here it is.
· 5 months ago
Majority Leader of House and Senate
Cong. Steny H. Hoyer House Democratic Majority Leader H-107, The Capitol Washington D.C. 20515
All of Senator Reids Offices,Blow the phone lines UP with the calls!!!
Lloyd D. George Building 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 8016 Las Vegas, NV 89101 Phone: 702-388-5020 Fax: 702-388-5030
Carson City 600 East William St, #302 Carson City, NV 89701 Phone: 775-882-REID (7343) Fax: 775-883-1980
Washington DC 522 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202-224-3542 Fax: 202-224-7327 Toll Free for Nevadans: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)
Reno Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse & Federal Bldg 400 S. Virginia St, Suite 902 Reno, NV 89501 Phone: 775-686-5750 Fax: 775-686-5757
Jophus
· 5 months ago
Sorry Obama, you can't buy my civil liberties.
The idea of a gay ambassador is interesting. These are solid ideas, thanks for the change. I'll take those on top of my birthright.
SouthernYankee
· 5 months ago
I would say why can't the gays have all three options?
Jophus
· 5 months ago
Wow, ok this is festering inside of me now. God help him if makes these options public. I wasn't offended at first, but now, 5 minutes later I'm fucking furious.
The fact that he is offering stuff to make us feel better, means he knows that fucking deserve our rights. He is saying, hey I'm a giant pussy and fags aren't worth fighting for.
Yeah thats right Obama. A queen just called you a pussy!
Mike_in_the_Tundra
· 5 months ago
Not enough! The dems will get no financial support from me or my partner. I will make an exception for my congressman, Keith Ellison. I really feel he has our backs.
ryan
· 5 months ago
Give these things time. We want Obama for both terms, not just one. I agree that we need equality, but it can't happen overnight. We don't want to marginalize people that may vote for Obama in 2012. We have a gay friendly leader in the White House, he will deliver when it's time. Just a thought.
Gridlock
· 5 months ago
When it's time? When is that? How do you know when that is? Do you have a bat-phone to the oval office?
How are you determining when "it's time" exactly. What sort of factors are you using in this grand calculation?
is "when it's time" comparable to "if and when Obama feels like it?"
Sorry, our freedom doesn't revolve around someone else's clock, and we're not risking it on someone who MIGHT move on it, at some undefined point in time in the future, if at all.
What the hell kind of argument is that.
T
· 5 months ago
It will be "time" when there is no personal political fallout for our wimpy, leadership-less president.
So if you re-elect him you MAY get something...that is, unless the next Democratic presidential candidate needs more right wing support too...
LM
· 5 months ago
Re: "We want Obama for both terms." Speak for yourself. I'd rather be screwed by a Republican who doesn't court our vote and take our money, than by a Democrat who does. Honesty counts for something.
An_American_Karol
· 5 months ago
Sorry, but fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice and I'm the idiot.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Actually, this is the best time to fight back. Him running for a second term gives us enough leverage for us to be potentially damaging to him when he runs. I'm sure he would want the campaign for reelection to go smoother and without protesters and other things happening in the papers to take away from him. If he has already won, what leverage would we have. He will be in his second term and the pressure to do what is right will not be there. Make him worry a little about his chances of a second term, that is where the our power is.
eclare
· 5 months ago
"We don't want to marginalize people that may vote for Obama in 2012."
You mean like LGBT folk and their straight allies? Because they're doing a pretty damn good job of marginalizing us.
Jophus
· 5 months ago
Doesn't Michelle Obama have a responsibility to be pressuring her husband to do what is right? She looks like the type of person who has the ability to help.
tng
· 5 months ago
All of that sounds good except for "and an openly gay cabinet appointee wouldn't hurt either". I don't want a cabinet member appointed just because he is gay. I want the most qualified cabinet members, regardless of their sexual orientation. The token identity politics thing is so 2004.
Xtopher
· 5 months ago
Thank you! While I've agreed with most everything else around here, the whole "give the gay a job just because he's gay" thing is really irking.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 5 months ago
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was quick to say how important it was to have another woman on the Supreme Court. Even Republican Latinos stepped up to say it was about time to have a Latino voice on the court too. Do you think Sotomayor's appointment was identity politics? Is it possible to overdo the purity schtick?
Jophus
· 5 months ago
So there is gay interest in the room. Not for the vanity.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
these kind of statements sound like you don't believe a qualified gay could be found for a cabinet position.
Do you honestly believe there only exists ONE MOST QUALIFIED person in the entire country for each cabinet position and Obama has so far managed to find each one of them?
Do you honestly believe LaHood is the MOST qualified person in the country to head up transportation. Or, is he qualified and also a republican?
Or, do you believe there actually IS NOT A QUALIFIED gay person for any cabinet position.
Landon Bryce
· 5 months ago
It is the failure of Barack Obama to appoint openly gay people to significant positions in his administration that has doomed its ability to deal appropriately with our issues. There should never again be a Cabinet that does not include at least one open member of a sexual minority, just as there will never again be a Cabinet that does not include women or African Americans. That Obama did not understand the historic significance of our absence of that table and feel that that was an inequity worth addressing says more than anything else about how wrong his understanding of LGBT issues. He has no trouble appointing people who openly oppose equality for gay people (Tim Kaine for one) and has not given us an opportunity to argue against him. We do not have his ear, or his interest.
Blueflash
· 5 months ago
If he does these things it will only confirm my suspicion that he intends to do nothing substantive and we can look forward to every Obamabot waving it in our face and telling us we're behaving like spoiled brats.
K in VA
· 5 months ago
Definitely not enough: It's too late to throw us a few crumbs when nobody's looking.
Oh, but of course DP benefits for federal employees would be very nice ... but, thanks to DOMA, they'd have to pay heavy income taxes on those benefits that are free to their straight married coworkers. And, yes, that includes federal employees in the states where marriage is happening now.
Try again, Obama. And how about doing something up front, and not sending your top gay guy to do backstage interviews at a Pride event.
Terry
· 5 months ago
Hey John~I thought you were the guys that was smitten with Barrack. Funny about politicians in Washington. Say one thing do something else...Always has been and probably always will be the same. There is really no change going on. It is the same old, same old story. Just remember, Life goes on my friend.......
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Does this mean one can't criticize a person one has voted for? It is unfair to try and point fingers at people for supporting a person who, not unlike a carny, used the "bait and switch" method to get our votes. We are allowed to speak up, he is not doing what he said he would do. Yes, I voted for him as well and I will continue to criticize him every time he pulls one of these stunts. There is a very good chance I will not vote for him again unless he does right by us and shows it very soon.
texcubsf
· 5 months ago
I don't know a single gay man here in SF that's not mad at Obama, and refusing to give him more money or support.
Trev
· 5 months ago
I've followed this closely over the weekend and I'm shocked at the consistency and relative unanimity of the reaction. If Obama thinks this was a dust-up, he's made a huge error in judgement. It looks a lot more like the final straw.
But even more interesting is the growing silence among the "settle down you're overreacting" crowd. There are still a few vocal idiots out there but it seems that this time it has sunk in. The anti-gay diarist at Dailykos got an earful on Friday and things have been very quiet over there since then.
No, I think this time it's for real. No rights: no $$$, no votes.
texcubsf
· 5 months ago
I agree, and as far as the people I've talked to are concerned, yes, this was the last straw. Obama will need to do more... a LOT more.
I like the line: No rights: no $$$, no votes.
Seansmith
· 5 months ago
About the "pipe down you damn gays" crowd you're absolutely correct. I believe they finally realize that we're not going to shut up because this time, reading that diary by Adam B, I could discern from his words and others in that mob that they felt no longer could they vocally leave us in the shadow of their straight privileged.
Reading all of the gay and straight allies' comments towards the "progressive privileged" on display there was a very illuminating era over the frame of a couple dark days.
Dan T.
· 5 months ago
These "crumbs" should have been implemented in the first two weeks. Implementing them now is nothing but a slap in the face.
WHYN0T
· 5 months ago
Crumbs is all you're going to get from this administration. I warned y'all before the election what this guy is all about.
erip
· 5 months ago
Great post John.. Fuck federal benefits for gay people. Seems like there's two worlds in washington. Theirs and ours. In their world they discriminate to keep their jobs, but offer a perk to gays in their own world. While nothing happens for the rest of the community. Not one more dime donated is my motto. I got a phone solicitation last week from the DNCC, my response: Call me back when i see something done to further gay rights.
The notion that we should wait is BULLSHIT!!.. Obama seems to have no problem multitasking wars and the economoy, but just can't seem to do anything to keep his promise as a "fierce advocate" for the gay community. DADT is still being used to discharge vital resources. Hate crimes is an empty geture. Lets keep our wallets shut and our mouths open, letting it be known what's important to us. Action not empty gesture
nicho
· 5 months ago
"Fierce advocate?" I'd settle for "advocate." Hell, at this stage, I'd settle for not kicking us in the nuts.
Phoenix_Rising
· 5 months ago
An ambassador? Benefits for federal employees who don't work for Hillary?
Please don't suggest that I'm supposed to settle for this crap, which affects a handful of the most privileged gays, as a substitute for my rights. That's insulting.
I'm married. My state knows it. More to the point, my state's Democratic Party knows it.
I'm being pragmatic when I say that if the national party wants to roll back my rights to 1997 levels, they can try asking Saddleback Church members for the next $4600...my checkbook is closed.
JPSJP
· 5 months ago
This is why we need new gay leadership, too: Let's give we fed employees rights. That'll pacify the little people--you know: the VOTERS. Oh, and while we're at it, give some big donor a party appointment (so he'll encourage his other big wealthy friends to keep giving us money) http://mtmbloglife.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/que...
marieburns
· 5 months ago
BFD. If I understood the story correctly, Hillary Clinton extended family benefits to gay employees of the State Department a couple of months ago, so it's about time the rest of the federal government caught up.
Second, Obama's appointing an openly gay ambassador -- & other gays -- is not some kind of breakthrough. It's merely a function of there being more & more uncloseted gays.
"Something on hate crimes" could just be a vow to actually enforce laws on the books; if the Bush administration's record of (not) prosecuting hate crimes against gays is as abysmal as was its not prosecuting crimes against abortion providers, then actually enforcing the laws is just due diligence, not heroic championing of persecuted groups.
I see that the 80-year-old Republican former NY State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has come out in favor of gay marriage. Why are GOP heavies like Bruno & Cheney out in front of the most left-wing Senator in the history of the world (or whatever it was Republicans called Obama during the campaign)? Something is seriously wrong here.
Unfortunately, it's not even as good as you portray it at State. Sec'y Clinton merely extended some family benefits to same-sex partners of overseas foreign diplomats that are currently granted to other family members, like diplomatic protection while overseas, language classes, and moving allowances. No health insurance, and no benefits whatsoever for the thousands of State Dept. civil servants in the US. I know first-hand, my partner is a State Dept. civil servant, and we get nothing, nada, zilch.
pat
· 5 months ago
fix DADT.
the DoD is 50% of discretionary spending, DoD is a massive employer of people, DoD is the heart of the red economic engine. If we can have Gay officers, NCO's, and then more Gay DoD staff, we will have far more visibility into DoD processes and decision making.
I remember in the early 80's seeing a film where they had as a sidebar a dinner with all the black flag officers. I look forward to in 5 years a dinner where it's all the Gay flag officers.
Obama can fix DADT by using presidential authority as CinC. Then he can ask Congress to fix the law, just as an aside.
That is leadership.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Haiku for the Obama Administration (#211):
Oooohhhh. Aaaaahhhh. Felt SO good. . . He massaged us like a pro. Where's the "happy end"?!
nicho
· 5 months ago
I always kind of figured we'd be date-raped by Obama, but I was really hoping we'd get dinner first.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
Haiku for the Obama Administration (#212):
Honey, he's so "fierce"!! He's throwin' shade all over The damn place, bitches.
nicho
· 5 months ago
Barack Hoover Obama -- headed for a one-term wonder.
KarenMrsLloydRichards
· 5 months ago
3. Ambassador to some teen-tiny place like Nauru or Pitcairn Island.
nicho
· 5 months ago
Saudi Arabia
Butch1
· 5 months ago
With our luck, that would be the appointment.
Jophus
· 5 months ago
Oh wow. I totally misunderstood gay ambassador.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
I believe they mean an ambassador to the gay community, not an ambassador to a foreign country who is gay.
Bethie
· 5 months ago
yes, let's talk about gay benefits at state or across the federal level. This is pretty bloody useless if you remember that the Bush administration drummed out any gay that was in the fed gov. I have a brother that works at State and he would never admit that he was gay because administrations change and you never know if you will be on the other end of a witch hunt. So unless you are fairly high profile and not rank & file, you often won't admit that you are a gay employee.
Indigo
· 5 months ago
What do I want? Equal rights! Let me stand that on its head so the privileged can understand it: I want the abolition of special privileges for heterosexuals.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
They have always has the "special rights", no us.
Blueflash
· 5 months ago
Just sent an e-mail to glamor boy (didn't call Mr. President that though) through WhiteHouse.gov demanding he keep his his promises to us - above all the repeal of DOMA and DADT and not to try to buy us off with inconsequential nonsense like proclaiming June national GLBT month (isn't also national strawberry month?) or ambassadorships. I'll be buying stationery today in order to send him a real letter and letters to my senators and representative too.
Yeah, it's clear the White House handed them those two "legal experts." Other legal experts, like folks who actually worked in the Oval Office, say they're full of shit. http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/choice-to-de...
MichaelS
· 5 months ago
The other thing that's unforgiveable is, even IF the arguments that they had to defend DOMA were true (which I do not concede), there's a huge difference between weakly defending it and the full-throated, biased, and hate-filled defense they actually provided. They could have said "We do not believe this law serves the interest of the US or its citizens and believe it should be repealed, but as long as it is the law it should be enforced." That would be hateful enough but MAYBE justifiable under their arguments. But they went far, far further.
It will be interesting to see if any future interviewer will have the balls to ask Obama why he felt obliged to make the specific arguments he did in defending DOMA, in light of his previously stated beliefs during the campaign.
Matt Blissett
· 5 months ago
I am disappointed, even as a straight man, I think that this could be resolved and well within his powers as President
nctodc
· 5 months ago
A few things:
1. John Berry has an interview with The Advocate that's worth looking at and, I imagine, responding to, as it addresses a few of these issues. All due respect to your well-connected friend, I'm going to take Berry's on the record word on what the administration's plan is.
2. I know people love to claim victory when they can, but let's be real: any action on hate crimes legislation, in particular, won't be a response to pressure--this won't be the first time the Senate passes (assuming it does pass) the hate crimes bill attached to a defense measure.
3. It's not at 180 on federal employee benefits if the DOJ's position on DOMA is NOT the White House's position.
One of the most frustrating things about the response to this issue is that progressives, who have long eschewed the White House's involvement in the DOJ (as happened during the Bush years)...are now saying that the White House is responsible for what comes out of the DOJ. How is that a consistent argument?
Moreover, if the White House did share the opinions enunciated in that despicable brief, why would they have authorized the State Department to extend equal benefits to gay diplomats? I mean, if you believe that the that the DOJ brief represents the administration's view then the White House isn't doing a 180 on the issue, they've done a 360...in five short months...AMAZING!
I'm not telling anyone to wait on their rights--I'll be out there protesting with you to get them--and I'm certainly not defending the brief, nor saying the Justice Department took the proper position...I just want someone to make a better argument about why this is someone's fault outside of the DOJ.
John Aravosis
· 5 months ago
Multiple problems with what you just wrote. Let's examine them.
2. Maybe the White House doesn't agree with DOJ? Huh? Is Obama president or isn't he? The Attorney General works for the President of the United States, period. What is this notion that Obama has suddenly become powerless to tell his own staff what to do? As we proved yesterday beyond a doubt, the White House has the power to tell DOJ to do whatever it pleases, and it does on court cases having an important political or social element. http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/choice-to-de...
3. I'm getting awfully tired of Obama apologists on the left writing that the "only" problem we had with the Bush administration was that they told their government agencies to do things that we didn't agree with. Sure, we certainly didn't like that Bush appointees did conservative things - but that's their job, and they won the election, they get the right to screw us on every issue we care about.
What we most objected to was that they broke the law while doing it. Torture is a war crime. Domestic spying without a warrant is illegal. Signing statements do not give you the right to break the law. That's what we were talking about. We weren't upset with Bush because he told the DOJ what to do, and somehow now the lesson is that our president should tell his own Attorney General what to do. That's not just simplistic, it's bizarre.
4. Why would the White House have authorized State dept benefits but then compared us to pedophiles in the brief? Because it's all a cute little game of trying to mollify us with breadcrumbs while publicly showing mainstream Amurika that they dont' really like them there gays.
The White House knew a long time ago that the DOMA cases were coming this month. We told them. We told DOJ. And for other reasons I can't publicly share, I'm telling you for a face - the White House and the DOJ knew this was coming. There is no "they didn't know" or "they didn't agree." He's the president. He doesn't get to pull a "gosh, it's out of my control." It's all in his control
nicho
· 5 months ago
To be more precise, we were angry with Bush for firing US Attorneys who wouldn't engage in politically-motivated prosecutions and abstain from prosecuting Republicans.
People keep comparing that to telling a staff attorney in the DOJ what the administration's policy is on a particular issue. It's a totally phony comparison.
Those two things aren't even remotely related. US Attorneys traditionally have a great deal of independence and are not supposed to be political agents. Staff attorneys are supposed to do what they're told.
ChrisSF
· 5 months ago
Amen. It doesn't really matter whether the ultimate decision maker on the brief was the Attorney General or the President. Either way it's despicable, gratuitous and way over the top.
Blueflash
· 5 months ago
Why would they authorize benefits to gay state department diplomats and defend DOMA at the same time? Maybe because the first was easy and required the expenditure of zero political capital.
nctodc
· 5 months ago
Perhaps, but that wasn't really the issue: if the Obama administration believed that straight taxpayers shouldn't pay benefits for gay employees--if that was their position--then the change at the State Department was done in opposition to the White House. Given the process required to institute such a change, I find that impossible to believe.
timncguy
· 5 months ago
and today we learned from a comment above, that they didn't REALLY extend FULL benefits to state department employees after all. They gave some limited number of benefits to the partners of employees that are actually stationed in a foreign country. Nothing more.
cloudphreak
· 5 months ago
I believe the new "benefits" that domestic partners of State Department employees will get do not include health / life insurance, etc. It is limited to housing and relocation benefits when the employee is stationed outside the US; the domestic partner can now accompany the employee like any other spouse.
John Aravosis
· 5 months ago
Now that's a very good question.
Butch1
· 5 months ago
#3 We were lied to by the White House spokesperson that the president has sworn an oath to support the laws. Well if the DOJ is arguing that the DOMA, DADT are law, how is the White House and its administration going to vary from that? At least that was their excuse for continuing their bigotry and discrimination.
MadProfessah
· 5 months ago
I agree that the things mentioned here are the BARE MINIMUM that Obama can do to stop a huge Pink Riot from Teh Gays in 2010 and 2012 elections but we should not be dismissive.
Benefits for domestic partners of federal employees is a HUGE deal. There are 1.9 million federal employees. A rough estimate of 1% enrolling as same-sex domestic partners would be about 19,000 about the same number of married same-sex couples in California. As long as you let heterosexual access the DP benefits as well, there's no conflict with DOMA.
I completely agree that Obama needs to do something SUBSTANTIVE VERY SOON on DADT and/or DOMA. As far as I am concerned ENDA is a majority Congressional Democrats issue and that's where the pressure should be.
In order to be a fierce advocate he needs to move past the LGBT milestones of the 1990s.
ChrisSF
· 5 months ago
I agree federal employee benefits is a huge deal, especially since DOMA makes it complicated. I am not sure how they can reconcile that with the awful things they say in the DOJ brief. I am thinking the right hand doesn't really know what the left hand is doing.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
Better yet, Obama Administration, stop treating us like a "battered wife." Stop beating the shit out of us and you won't have to come back to us begging for forgiveness and telling us you love us, you REALLY do with something as insignificant as "roses."
Here it is.
· 5 months ago
Yes,but im going to tell you,just like Tina Turner did to Ike in Whats Love got To Do with it,the only way she stopped him was that she FOUGHT BACK!!!
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
Amen to that!
Butch1
· 5 months ago
Bravo!! We are way beyond the time where we just accept the crumbs they throw at us and that we are supposed to be so grateful for even the crumbs. Our votes were as equal as any others to vote him into office and we expect him to honour ALL of his promises to us. Anything less, is unexceptable, we want real equal rights.
RobertSanDimas
· 5 months ago
Is anybody here going to D.C. in October? I can't get much specific information about the march other than the dates, the 10th and 11th. Give me some links if you have any. My partner and I want to go.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
I'm done with marching. What has "marching" got us?
timncguy
· 5 months ago
thinking about possibly announcing something this month..blah, blah, blah.
weren't we already PROMISED in May that Obama would be doing something in June to coincide with pride and Stonewall that was going to AMAZE us?
Was that the inconsequential pride proclamation? The proclamation that contained a "call to action" that specifically EXCLUDED Obama from taking part in any of the action?
How about if Obama wants to woo back teh gays, he actually start doing what he promised. Start up the FIERCE ADVOCACY.
How about Obama come aout and admit the DOJ had no legal requirement to file that brief. Especially filed with the vile crap that was in it?
K
· 5 months ago
I'm all about gay rights and the gay agenda on Capitol Hill.
But, unless you have lived with your head in the sand Obama has got some serious concerns to deal with before he can fiercely advocate for any group specifically. He's a little busy trying to ensure that our country doesn't crumble around us because of irresponsibility of Americans. Considering gay people fall into this class as well, maybe he's trying to save your house or livelihood before he can advocate for your rights.
cowboyneok
· 5 months ago
Hmmm... what is Mr. Obama going to say if we get "hit again" because someone like Lt. Choi didn't TRANSLATE ARABIC in time to get the human intelligence necessary to prevent another attack? I can hear it now, "I was trying to protect the sensitive feelings of our heterosexuals in the military when I discharged people like Lt. Choi. I'm sorry we got hit again..." ???!!! How tough would it be to do something positive on DADT when the American people are FOR doing something because they understand its a matter of NATIONAL SECURITY and we need "ALL HANDS ON DECK" to prevent the next attack?
John Aravosis
· 5 months ago
Yeah, except that doesn't explain why he compared us to incest on Friday.
Seansmith
· 5 months ago
Please, this President has been multitasking from day one and still is while I'm typing this. Nobody's asking him to hand us the world in a day, all we're asking for is action. Especially action that doesn't demean and dismiss our very lives.
If he were handling every other problem under the American sun but was still, at the very least, advocating for our rights, genuinely congratulating us on our biggest state-by-state victories in history, telling us he hasn't forgotten about us, not inviting homophobic pastors to historic days in all of our lives, not comparing us to child rapist, and being that 'fierce advocate' he so ferociously proclaims to be, maybe then we'd be ok with the state of "gay rights and the gay 'agenda' on Capital Hill."
ChrisSF
· 5 months ago
I do not buy the reasoning that says these things are mutually exclusive. I can drive, talk on the phone and eat a McMuffin all at the same time. I bet the President can do more than one thing at the same time too. Certainly the DOJ's DOMA brief could have been made much less aggressive at zero cost to Obama's other agenda items.
banshiii
· 5 months ago
here, here!
sgo
· 5 months ago
So are active military members considered federal employees?
ChrisSF
· 5 months ago
LOL! A whole new way to get kicked out under DADT.
Chris
· 5 months ago
No. Civil service laws do not apply in military personel. There are some civil jobs in the pentagon and such but those people are "civilians" not military and are not subject to DADT.
jimhungsf
· 5 months ago
Enough with the lame reassurances that Obama will fulfill his promises to LGBT constituents eventually. If the problem is that he's busy with higher priority issues, the LEAST he could do is order the military to stop expelling gay service members until DADT is shot down, and don't have the DOJ defend DOMA. There is no justification for these outrageous actions.
And anyway, why should our equal rights be a secondary issue? That's unutterably offensive! I want my campaign contributions to Obama and the Democrats refunded. And until they start dealing affirmatively with LGBT issues---NOT ANOTHER NICKEL!!
Õ¿Õ
· 5 months ago
Let's do something.
jasonut29
· 5 months ago
ENDA is not even a carrott anymore...its coming and it is expected HELLO has this administration lost all of its mind? For me nothing short of multiple actions will save ANY creditablily to this administration. I know its only been 5 months BUT all that's done is lies, smart ass jokes, ignoring and now DOJ screwing us. I'm done...no more money, no more excuses.
DougStamate
· 5 months ago
"Rahm gave Pelosi the same advice on the Hill when the Dems first took over. Stay away from the gay stuff." John Aravosis down thread. I'm certain that the uproar over the DOMA brief has reached the White House; has it reached the President? Or just "staffers" and "friends"? Is Mr. Emmanuel responsible for preparing the Daily Briefing? Its contents? How they are emphasized? As CoS how much influence does Mr. Emmanuel have on prioritizing the White House's planning on how much support the President gives to pending legislation ("We just can't afford to spend influence on this, right now")? Or on whether to support even the introduction of any legislation? There are also the following two things: 1) if AAGs are appointed and this person is removed because of the contents of the DOMA brief, Republicans will spend the next month (or more) denouncing the firing of an AAG for, not only not being "politically correct", but also at the insistance of teh gays! And, of course, 2) while all this bloviating from the Republicans is going on, the administration will be forced to respond to those attacks, rather than concentrating on getting the legislation that is already pending through Congress (and keeping those DINOs ready and willing to jump ship anyway, on board). And those are the two things that the "White House" staff (whether elected or appointed) is probably most worried about right now. That the Obama administration does not hold LGBT civil rights at the highest priority level, I readily agree. Nor would I argue that there are not members of the administration that wish we would just go away (Mr. Emmanuel seems to be one and he's CoS; how do you get around HIM?). That anyone believes the filing in the DOMA case represents the policy of the administration, however, is something I find (derisively) laughable. The White House should simply issue a statement that, while the administration will support and enforce the laws enacted by Congress, it believes that DOMA should be repealed and that the contents of the brief are not the position of the administration. Word can be spread in the DoJ that any support of DOMA or DADT is to be perfunctory and that the DoJ is simply supporting these laws until Congress repeals them. That, I think, would handle the worst of the present problem. We are still left with getting the administration committed to the actual introduction and full-hearted support for the repeal of DOMA and replacement of DADT in this legislative session or, most likely, the next. I would actually take the setting up of the DADT "commission" as a good sign since, unless it's stacked with homophobes, a positive report would strengthen the already innumerable arguments for replacement of DADT. As well as give a lot of wishy-washy Congress members an out at election time. DOMA itself is unconstitutional (if straight marriages are given "full faith" across state boundaries, why not gay marriages?) and should be ruled so, whether it gets legal support from this or any administration. I have a feeling that between Mr. Emmanuel and the administration's generally tepid support, we are going to have to "make" President Obama do what we want. How?
All Comments
Let's act and channel the outrage.
I'm very very grateful for the coverage by people like John, Joe and Pam (Spaulding), but now it's time for the next step. Since our national lobbiest are too busy having dinner and high-fiving each other when one of us walks down the street and makes it to the other side alive, it's imperative for our net/grassroots leaders to start up a coalition to fight for our rights.
For more information about the Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council, please contact:
Brian Bond
Executive Director
gllc@dnc.org
Thomas Petrillo
Finance Director
PetrilloT@dnc.org
What are we waiting for? Their mailboxes should be inundated with our outrage and our firm commitment to withhold ALL contributions going forward until this President lives up to his campaign promises and UNDOES THE DAMAGE TO GAY RIGHTS THAT HE'S ALREADY DONE (i.e., retract the DOMA filing).
Money - or the withholding of it - is the only thing that will get their attention.
Dear DNC:
I am absolutely fed up. I am a gay man who has donated time, money and energy to the Democratic Party, and am actually my county's vice chairman in Oklahoma. I am also on the executive board of the Democratic Party Veterans Committee for congressional district 2. I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen in my own country.
The recent DOJ defense of DOMA where cases of incest and underage marriage were used to defend this outrageous law is the last straw for many of us. Also, the argument the government needed to save money by refusing to recognize our equal rights is not the change I envisioned. I am close to resigning from the Democratic Party, but I've decided to wait and see if the outrage filters up to the tone deaf Obama Administration, and Obama finally does something for our community. So far, we have seen nothing but assurances we have a "fierce advocate" while Obama makes dismissive jokes at our expense. The question of equality for our community is not a joke.
It is a shame our LGBT community has to fight tooth and nail for what should rightfully be ours without question. You will find our community's patience has been tested and it is not endless when it comes to these issues. To be told to just "wait" is not acceptable.
I've decided not to resign from the party but in the meantime, I am going to do the bare minimum. I will no longer be raising or donating money until I see some change I can believe in.
The bare minimum I want to see is ENDA passed and DADT ended. The American people are ahead of the administration in wanting DADT to be ended and it is a security threat to be kicking out LGBT servicemen simply because they are being honest about their sexual orientation. I want to see the administration make positive statements about DOMA and take positive steps towards its repeal. If I see ENDA passed and DADT ended, I will know the Obama Administration is starting to actively work towards our equality.
Sincerely,
Timothy Beauchamp
Vice Chairman Delaware County Democratic Party - Oklahoma
Dear DNC:
I am absolutely fed up. I am a gay man who has donated time, money and energy to the Democratic Party, and am actually my county's vice chairman in Oklahoma. I am also on the executive board of the Democratic Party Veterans Committee for congressional district 2. I am tired of being treated like a second class citizen in my own country.
The recent DOJ defense of DOMA where cases of incest and underage marriage were used to defend this outrageous law is the last straw for many of us. Also, the argument the government needed to save money by refusing to recognize our equal rights is not the change I envisioned. I am close to resigning from the Democratic Party, but I've decided to wait and see if the outrage filters up to the tone deaf Obama Administration, and Obama finally does something for our community. So far, we have seen nothing but assurances we have a "fierce advocate" while Obama makes dismissive jokes at our expense. The question of equality for our community is not a joke.
It is a shame our LGBT community has to fight tooth and nail for what should rightfully be ours without question. You will find our community's patience has been tested and it is not endless when it comes to these issues. To be told to just "wait" is not acceptable.
I've decided not to resign from the party but in the meantime, I am going to do the bare minimum. I will no longer be raising or donating money until I see some change I can believe in.
The bare minimum I want to see is ENDA passed and DADT ended. The American people are ahead of the administration in wanting DADT to be ended and it is a security threat to be kicking out LGBT servicemen simply because they are being honest about their sexual orientation. I want to see the administration make positive statements about DOMA and take positive steps towards its repeal. If I see ENDA passed and DADT ended, I will know the Obama Administration is starting to actively work towards our equality.
Sincerely,
Timothy Beauchamp
Vice Chairman Delaware County Democratic Party - Oklahoma
------
Dear Mr. President,
I have been following closely your administration's plan for full civil rights for the countless LGBT Americans that supported your campaign with time, energy, and lots of money.
I am completely offended by your lack of any action or concrete steps to advance the many promises that you made to us during your campaign. I kept hoping that sometime in June, gay pride month, we would finally see some action.
The Department of Justice's brief filed in the DOMA case on 6/12/09 was the most insulting and demeaning work I have seen in a long time. It was a complete betrayal of the gay community. It was homophobic in the extreme and something I would have expected of the previous administration.
The LGBT community is up in arms about the contents of that brief and the very need for DOJ to be defending DOMA. We are not stupid. We know that you had a choice in defending this odious law given that many constitutional scholars, including Laurence Tribe, believe at least some sections of DOMA are clearly unconstitutional.
You took our money, time, and votes and made what are now clearly empty promises. The few statements that we have heard from your administration since the brief was filed have only made things worse since the claims are disingenuous in the extreme. The damage this has done to your relationship with this highly political community is great.
It has been made worse having happened during gay pride month and on the anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, a court decision that made the marriage of your parents legal across the country.
We expect leadership from you and your administration. We do not expect bland statements that any progress on our issues is strictly up to Congress or that you must defend all laws, even though we know that DOJ has already decided to not defend other laws since you took office. (e.g., marijuana laws in states that have legalized its medical use).
We expect to see you take concrete steps this year regarding DOMA, ENDA, and DADT. We will not accept more promises. We will not keep silent any longer. We will not support your administration if you do not take steps to correct the damage that has already been done to the LGBT community.
You are the leader of the Democratic party and you need to lead on all Democratic policies, especially those related to civil rights given your historic presidency.
We need to see you address directly the issues that the gay community supports. The DOMA brief needs to be withdrawn. If you do not directly address this whole mess soon, there may be no hope of ever regaining our support. We will support progressive candidates at the local, state, and national level rather than Democrats.
A gay Ambassador? How does that help? So the Ambassador gets a cushy, hight paying job; but how does that help me defend myself against my homophobic neighbors?
They already trotted out their token gay guy, and he made the Administration look like pikers.
Now my questin would be if the feds give fed benefits to gay partners in non legal relationships, couldn't gay partners in non legal relationships who don't work for the government sue them for the same payment of benefits?
Tossing us bones at this point is extremely offensive.
I think this horse is already out of the barn. Anything he does now short of real, meaningful action is just empty pandering.
Hope was a lie.
I want to see open enthusiasm out of the White House. There should be heartfelt congratulations every time another state wins marriage equality, and a statement of expectation that there will be many more in the days to come.
I want a concrete plan of action, and I want follow through. There can be no more waiting for crumbs and living on promises. I want to know and believe that the Obama Administration wakes up each day thinking about how best to help us.
This administration has been awkward at best and reactionary at worst about the whole agenda, even where they were strong during the campaign. They can make up for it by doing twice as much as they would have otherwise. Get on the stick, people.
That's what I want.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD
Comments: 202-456-6213
Visitors Office: 202-456-2121
Do what you need to do.
I just sent them this:
I'm sickened at the extremely partisan brief that was submitted last Friday in support of the Defense of Marriage Act as well as by the frankly dishonest claim that has been made by people in the administration that the DOD, as a matter of procedure, has to submit filings in support of the law of the land, whatever a given administration's position on the law in question. This is untrue: exceptions have been made to this procedure by every administration since the Carter administration including (already) your own. My question is why the administration seems to find doing the right thing so hard on gay marriage ? On the tactical side of the equation you are making a major political miscalculation: opposition to gay marriage is on the way to becoming about as cool as opposition to pre-marital sex. On the intrinsic side of the equation I see no rational argument in opposition to same sex marriage. I'm not gay but civil rights are everyone's concern just as surely as they were when the Supreme Court ruled in Loving vs. Virginia, a case you're probably familiar with. I add that the way you've dealt with gay issues after promising to be a "fierce advocate" for gay people indicates a cynicism and lack of character that are all too familiar in politics but which I'm very sorry to see manifested in you. I get the impression that you don't lack the courage to stand for something but that you value your carefully manufactured reputation for centrism above basic civil rights. That's frankly disgusting.
Cowardice. Fear of tackling the tough issues. The worst possible trait a Dem president can show.
I am telling you this so you will see how Obama thinks he can get away with this. (I know John and Joe already know, but others might not.) I am in at least one majority in America -- I am non-gay.
Yes, it made me mad when he brought on a religious wacko at his inauguration. And it really made me mad when he hired the fox to guard the henhouse (on financial issues). But this report you showed is really bad. Actually, it is unbelievable.
I am glad you are fighting it.
Office of the Majority Whip . H-329 . The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515 . Phone (202) 226-3210 . Fax (202) 225-9253
http://democraticwhip.house.gov/index.cfm?p=Sen...
WASHINGTON, D.C.
309 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
9 am to 6 pm
(202) 224-2152 - ph
(202) 228-0400 - fx
CHICAGO
230 S Dearborn St.
Suite 3892
Chicago, IL 60604
8:30 am to 5 pm
(312) 353-4952 - ph
(312) 353-0150 - fx
SPRINGFIELD
525 South 8th St.
Springfield, IL 62703
8:30 am to 5 pm
(217) 492-4062 - ph
(217) 492-4382 - fx
MARION
701 N. Court St.
Marion, IL 62959
8:30 am to 5 pm
(618) 998-8812 - ph
(618) 997-0176 - fx
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm
GET EM ALL!!!!
Goddamn get out of of Iraq and end DOMA and DADT. Do it.
Repeal DOMA & DADT, pass ENDA.
I want a public apology for Obama INTENTIONALLY making gay equality the butt oj jokes at both the Annual Correspondant's dinner and at the fund-raiser in CA on the day the CA supreme court decision was announced.
If he was forced to apologize for an unintended joke about Special Olympics on Leno, then I expect an apology for the intentional jokes.
I am no better, but also no worse than a member of Special Olympics.
If every gay person in the US -- on the same day -- called the White House and their members of Congress to complain, faxed them, and/or emailed them, it would virtually shut the government down for the day. Their systems couldn't handle that level of calls. They would get the message.
No spamming. Nothing abusive. No threats. Just exercising your right to contact the White House and the Congress -- unless we don't have that right either.
Just pick a day -- get the word out -- and do it.
We have loud forceful voices that must be heard. The right knows how to flood Congress and the Administration with calls, emails and letters. Gay people MUST get it together and be heard. Most of the people reading this blog probably have already done this. We need to work to get the other folks out there who aren't so politically active to do the same.
No more breadcrumbs, Mr. President, Madame Speaker. NO MORE!!!
Not another penny to ANY Democrat until they take us seriously and work to enact what they promised. Not one freaking penny.
Every gay person should stand behind this.
I put that on my DCCC survey I mailed back this morning.
I will not give a cent to dems, until either DOMA is repealed or DADT. ENDA is fairly useless in my mind.
pick a cause back a senator.
candidate. there isn't one issue he is passionate about.
800-828-0498, 866-338-1015 or 866-220-0044.
Call and let your voice be heard. SEMPER FI!
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100
http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Cong. Steny H. Hoyer
House Democratic Majority Leader
H-107, The Capitol
Washington D.C. 20515
All of Senator Reids Offices,Blow the phone lines UP with the calls!!!
Lloyd D. George Building
333 Las Vegas Boulevard
South, Suite 8016
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-388-5020
Fax: 702-388-5030
Carson City
600 East William St, #302
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: 775-882-REID (7343)
Fax: 775-883-1980
Washington DC
522 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542
Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans:
1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343)
Reno
Bruce R. Thompson
Courthouse & Federal Bldg
400 S. Virginia St, Suite 902
Reno, NV 89501
Phone: 775-686-5750
Fax: 775-686-5757
The idea of a gay ambassador is interesting. These are solid ideas, thanks for the change. I'll take those on top of my birthright.
The fact that he is offering stuff to make us feel better, means he knows that fucking deserve our rights. He is saying, hey I'm a giant pussy and fags aren't worth fighting for.
Yeah thats right Obama. A queen just called you a pussy!
How are you determining when "it's time" exactly. What sort of factors are you using in this grand calculation?
is "when it's time" comparable to "if and when Obama feels like it?"
Sorry, our freedom doesn't revolve around someone else's clock, and we're not risking it on someone who MIGHT move on it, at some undefined point in time in the future, if at all.
What the hell kind of argument is that.
So if you re-elect him you MAY get something...that is, unless the next Democratic presidential candidate needs more right wing support too...
You mean like LGBT folk and their straight allies? Because they're doing a pretty damn good job of marginalizing us.
Do you honestly believe there only exists ONE MOST QUALIFIED person in the entire country for each cabinet position and Obama has so far managed to find each one of them?
Do you honestly believe LaHood is the MOST qualified person in the country to head up transportation. Or, is he qualified and also a republican?
Or, do you believe there actually IS NOT A QUALIFIED gay person for any cabinet position.
Oh, but of course DP benefits for federal employees would be very nice ... but, thanks to DOMA, they'd have to pay heavy income taxes on those benefits that are free to their straight married coworkers. And, yes, that includes federal employees in the states where marriage is happening now.
Try again, Obama. And how about doing something up front, and not sending your top gay guy to do backstage interviews at a Pride event.
Just remember, Life goes on my friend.......
But even more interesting is the growing silence among the "settle down you're overreacting" crowd. There are still a few vocal idiots out there but it seems that this time it has sunk in. The anti-gay diarist at Dailykos got an earful on Friday and things have been very quiet over there since then.
No, I think this time it's for real. No rights: no $$$, no votes.
I like the line: No rights: no $$$, no votes.
Reading all of the gay and straight allies' comments towards the "progressive privileged" on display there was a very illuminating era over the frame of a couple dark days.
Not one more dime donated is my motto. I got a phone solicitation last week from the DNCC, my response: Call me back when i see something done to further gay rights.
The notion that we should wait is BULLSHIT!!.. Obama seems to have no problem multitasking wars and the economoy, but just can't seem to do anything to keep his promise as a "fierce advocate" for the gay community. DADT is still being used to discharge vital resources. Hate crimes is an empty geture. Lets keep our wallets shut and our mouths open, letting it be known what's important to us. Action not empty gesture
Please don't suggest that I'm supposed to settle for this crap, which affects a handful of the most privileged gays, as a substitute for my rights. That's insulting.
I'm married. My state knows it. More to the point, my state's Democratic Party knows it.
I'm being pragmatic when I say that if the national party wants to roll back my rights to 1997 levels, they can try asking Saddleback Church members for the next $4600...my checkbook is closed.
Let's give we fed employees rights. That'll pacify the little people--you know: the VOTERS.
Oh, and while we're at it, give some big donor a party appointment (so he'll encourage his other big wealthy friends to keep giving us money)
http://mtmbloglife.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/que...
Second, Obama's appointing an openly gay ambassador -- & other gays -- is not some kind of breakthrough. It's merely a function of there being more & more uncloseted gays.
"Something on hate crimes" could just be a vow to actually enforce laws on the books; if the Bush administration's record of (not) prosecuting hate crimes against gays is as abysmal as was its not prosecuting crimes against abortion providers, then actually enforcing the laws is just due diligence, not heroic championing of persecuted groups.
I see that the 80-year-old Republican former NY State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has come out in favor of gay marriage. Why are GOP heavies like Bruno & Cheney out in front of the most left-wing Senator in the history of the world (or whatever it was Republicans called Obama during the campaign)? Something is seriously wrong here.
The Constant Weader at www.RealityChex.com
the DoD is 50% of discretionary spending, DoD is a massive
employer of people, DoD is the heart of the red economic engine. If we can have Gay officers, NCO's, and then more Gay DoD staff, we will have far more visibility into DoD processes and decision making.
I remember in the early 80's seeing a film where they had as a sidebar a dinner with all the black flag officers. I look forward to in 5 years a dinner where it's all the Gay flag officers.
Obama can fix DADT by using presidential authority as CinC. Then he can ask Congress to fix the law, just as an aside.
That is leadership.
Oooohhhh. Aaaaahhhh. Felt SO good. . .
He massaged us like a pro.
Where's the "happy end"?!
Honey, he's so "fierce"!!
He's throwin' shade all over
The damn place, bitches.
Let me stand that on its head so the privileged can understand it:
I want the abolition of special privileges for heterosexuals.
Time to get a clue....
It will be interesting to see if any future interviewer will have the balls to ask Obama why he felt obliged to make the specific arguments he did in defending DOMA, in light of his previously stated beliefs during the campaign.
1. John Berry has an interview with The Advocate that's worth looking at and, I imagine, responding to, as it addresses a few of these issues. All due respect to your well-connected friend, I'm going to take Berry's on the record word on what the administration's plan is.
2. I know people love to claim victory when they can, but let's be real: any action on hate crimes legislation, in particular, won't be a response to pressure--this won't be the first time the Senate passes (assuming it does pass) the hate crimes bill attached to a defense measure.
3. It's not at 180 on federal employee benefits if the DOJ's position on DOMA is NOT the White House's position.
One of the most frustrating things about the response to this issue is that progressives, who have long eschewed the White House's involvement in the DOJ (as happened during the Bush years)...are now saying that the White House is responsible for what comes out of the DOJ. How is that a consistent argument?
Moreover, if the White House did share the opinions enunciated in that despicable brief, why would they have authorized the State Department to extend equal benefits to gay diplomats? I mean, if you believe that the that the DOJ brief represents the administration's view then the White House isn't doing a 180 on the issue, they've done a 360...in five short months...AMAZING!
I'm not telling anyone to wait on their rights--I'll be out there protesting with you to get them--and I'm certainly not defending the brief, nor saying the Justice Department took the proper position...I just want someone to make a better argument about why this is someone's fault outside of the DOJ.
1. I'm well aware of openly gay OPM director John Berry's blockbuster interview with the Advocate. We wrote about it yesterday:
http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/top-gay-in-a...
It was a disaster.
2. Maybe the White House doesn't agree with DOJ? Huh? Is Obama president or isn't he? The Attorney General works for the President of the United States, period. What is this notion that Obama has suddenly become powerless to tell his own staff what to do? As we proved yesterday beyond a doubt, the White House has the power to tell DOJ to do whatever it pleases, and it does on court cases having an important political or social element.
http://www.americablog.com/2009/06/choice-to-de...
3. I'm getting awfully tired of Obama apologists on the left writing that the "only" problem we had with the Bush administration was that they told their government agencies to do things that we didn't agree with. Sure, we certainly didn't like that Bush appointees did conservative things - but that's their job, and they won the election, they get the right to screw us on every issue we care about.
What we most objected to was that they broke the law while doing it. Torture is a war crime. Domestic spying without a warrant is illegal. Signing statements do not give you the right to break the law. That's what we were talking about. We weren't upset with Bush because he told the DOJ what to do, and somehow now the lesson is that our president should tell his own Attorney General what to do. That's not just simplistic, it's bizarre.
4. Why would the White House have authorized State dept benefits but then compared us to pedophiles in the brief? Because it's all a cute little game of trying to mollify us with breadcrumbs while publicly showing mainstream Amurika that they dont' really like them there gays.
The White House knew a long time ago that the DOMA cases were coming this month. We told them. We told DOJ. And for other reasons I can't publicly share, I'm telling you for a face - the White House and the DOJ knew this was coming. There is no "they didn't know" or "they didn't agree." He's the president. He doesn't get to pull a "gosh, it's out of my control." It's all in his control
People keep comparing that to telling a staff attorney in the DOJ what the administration's policy is on a particular issue. It's a totally phony comparison.
Those two things aren't even remotely related. US Attorneys traditionally have a great deal of independence and are not supposed to be political agents. Staff attorneys are supposed to do what they're told.
Benefits for domestic partners of federal employees is a HUGE deal. There are 1.9 million federal employees. A rough estimate of 1% enrolling as same-sex domestic partners would be about 19,000 about the same number of married same-sex couples in California. As long as you let heterosexual access the DP benefits as well, there's no conflict with DOMA.
I completely agree that Obama needs to do something SUBSTANTIVE VERY SOON on DADT and/or DOMA. As far as I am concerned ENDA is a majority Congressional Democrats issue and that's where the pressure should be.
In order to be a fierce advocate he needs to move past the LGBT milestones of the 1990s.
weren't we already PROMISED in May that Obama would be doing something in June to coincide with pride and Stonewall that was going to AMAZE us?
Was that the inconsequential pride proclamation? The proclamation that contained a "call to action" that specifically EXCLUDED Obama from taking part in any of the action?
How about if Obama wants to woo back teh gays, he actually start doing what he promised. Start up the FIERCE ADVOCACY.
How about Obama come aout and admit the DOJ had no legal requirement to file that brief. Especially filed with the vile crap that was in it?
But, unless you have lived with your head in the sand Obama has got some serious concerns to deal with before he can fiercely advocate for any group specifically. He's a little busy trying to ensure that our country doesn't crumble around us because of irresponsibility of Americans. Considering gay people fall into this class as well, maybe he's trying to save your house or livelihood before he can advocate for your rights.
If he were handling every other problem under the American sun but was still, at the very least, advocating for our rights, genuinely congratulating us on our biggest state-by-state victories in history, telling us he hasn't forgotten about us, not inviting homophobic pastors to historic days in all of our lives, not comparing us to child rapist, and being that 'fierce advocate' he so ferociously proclaims to be, maybe then we'd be ok with the state of "gay rights and the gay 'agenda' on Capital Hill."
And anyway, why should our equal rights be a secondary issue? That's unutterably offensive! I want my campaign contributions to Obama and the Democrats refunded. And until they start dealing affirmatively with LGBT issues---NOT ANOTHER NICKEL!!
I'm certain that the uproar over the DOMA brief has reached the White House; has it reached the President? Or just "staffers" and "friends"? Is Mr. Emmanuel responsible for preparing the Daily Briefing? Its contents? How they are emphasized? As CoS how much influence does Mr. Emmanuel have on prioritizing the White House's planning on how much support the President gives to pending legislation ("We just can't afford to spend influence on this, right now")? Or on whether to support even the introduction of any legislation?
There are also the following two things:
1) if AAGs are appointed and this person is removed because of the contents of the DOMA brief, Republicans will spend the next month (or more) denouncing the firing of an AAG for, not only not being "politically correct", but also at the insistance of teh gays! And, of course,
2) while all this bloviating from the Republicans is going on, the administration will be forced to respond to those attacks, rather than concentrating on getting the legislation that is already pending through Congress (and keeping those DINOs ready and willing to jump ship anyway, on board). And those are the two things that the "White House" staff (whether elected or appointed) is probably most worried about right now.
That the Obama administration does not hold LGBT civil rights at the highest priority level, I readily agree. Nor would I argue that there are not members of the administration that wish we would just go away (Mr. Emmanuel seems to be one and he's CoS; how do you get around HIM?). That anyone believes the filing in the DOMA case represents the policy of the administration, however, is something I find (derisively) laughable.
The White House should simply issue a statement that, while the administration will support and enforce the laws enacted by Congress, it believes that DOMA should be repealed and that the contents of the brief are not the position of the administration. Word can be spread in the DoJ that any support of DOMA or DADT is to be perfunctory and that the DoJ is simply supporting these laws until Congress repeals them. That, I think, would handle the worst of the present problem.
We are still left with getting the administration committed to the actual introduction and full-hearted support for the repeal of DOMA and replacement of DADT in this legislative session or, most likely, the next. I would actually take the setting up of the DADT "commission" as a good sign since, unless it's stacked with homophobes, a positive report would strengthen the already innumerable arguments for replacement of DADT. As well as give a lot of wishy-washy Congress members an out at election time.
DOMA itself is unconstitutional (if straight marriages are given "full faith" across state boundaries, why not gay marriages?) and should be ruled so, whether it gets legal support from this or any administration.
I have a feeling that between Mr. Emmanuel and the administration's generally tepid support, we are going to have to "make" President Obama do what we want. How?