Obamarama
So resk has pointed out to me that while I was quick to express my outrage here about Obama's choice of Rick Warren to speak at the inauguration and my decision to stop supporting both him and the entire Democratic Party, I have been silent here about the fact that I have come around on this issue.
I am still angry, and moreover confused, that Rick Warren was chosen to speak at the inauguration. He is not just an opponent of gay marriage, he has broadly condemned all homosexuality and compared it to bestiality and sexual abuse of children. He is a sick and dangerous motherfucker. I expressed my outrage as did many of my fellow advocates and activists, though we knew there was no real way Obama could back out of his choice and save face. But what surprised me was the invitation of Gene Robinson, openly gay bishop, as a speaker. There was some hoopla about Robinson being left off the HBO broadcast, but I am not convinced that it was deliberate bigotry, and he was included in other broadcasts.
Overall, it was a smart political move and I was pleased to see it. A friend asked me - didn't I just think it was pandering? To which I answered - hell, yes, it was pandering. And it's about damn time someone decided we were valid American citizens worth bothering to pander to.
Now, what really amazes me is the new whitehouse page. Have you seen it yet? Have you read the section on civil rights (where my link leads)? resk sneered a little at my enthusiasm, asking if I really belived it, but I think that misses the point a little. I mean, the official page of the white house ... of the United States of America's federal government ... has clear, dedicated language about the civil rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Americans. In fact, I will paste it here, under a cut:
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
This, in and of itself, is amazing. This is a huge accomplishment for the LGBT movement and our allies. I think we should all be proud, and yes, I am back in Obama's corner.
I am still angry, and moreover confused, that Rick Warren was chosen to speak at the inauguration. He is not just an opponent of gay marriage, he has broadly condemned all homosexuality and compared it to bestiality and sexual abuse of children. He is a sick and dangerous motherfucker. I expressed my outrage as did many of my fellow advocates and activists, though we knew there was no real way Obama could back out of his choice and save face. But what surprised me was the invitation of Gene Robinson, openly gay bishop, as a speaker. There was some hoopla about Robinson being left off the HBO broadcast, but I am not convinced that it was deliberate bigotry, and he was included in other broadcasts.
Overall, it was a smart political move and I was pleased to see it. A friend asked me - didn't I just think it was pandering? To which I answered - hell, yes, it was pandering. And it's about damn time someone decided we were valid American citizens worth bothering to pander to.
Now, what really amazes me is the new whitehouse page. Have you seen it yet? Have you read the section on civil rights (where my link leads)? resk sneered a little at my enthusiasm, asking if I really belived it, but I think that misses the point a little. I mean, the official page of the white house ... of the United States of America's federal government ... has clear, dedicated language about the civil rights of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Americans. In fact, I will paste it here, under a cut:
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
- Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
- Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
- Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
- Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
- Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
- Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
- Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
- Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
This, in and of itself, is amazing. This is a huge accomplishment for the LGBT movement and our allies. I think we should all be proud, and yes, I am back in Obama's corner.