Obama gives an inspiring speech tonight to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Obama shows why he's a Peace Man. Obama will end Don't Ask Don't Tell, which will allow gay people to serve freely in the military. He'll also soon be signing the Hate Crimes bill (introduced 10 years ago) in honor of Mathew Shepard.
Obama jokes: "It's a privilege to be opening for Lady Gaga:"
On October 11, meet at the Human Rights Campaign building, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, at 11:00 a.m. The march will take us through D.C. and end with the National Equality March Rally. The march begins at 12:00 p.m.
Joe Solomnese gave a pretty darned good speech too:
The Obamas hosted a reception at the White House for LGBT Pride Month. About 300 people were supposed to attend, many very skeptical about Obama's stance on gay issues. Obama made a proclamation on LGBT Pride month here. Obama reaffirms that he plans to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell (full video):
Updated with video and this: Obama says he will work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). "I believe it is discriminatory. I believe it interferes with state's rights. And we will work with Congress to overturn it."
The gay community is seething. Some are even making the same arguments that the right wing have made against Obama, saying that he's empty rhetoric. It's kind of disappointing to me that the gay community has resorted to these kinds of tactics (I'd rather see nastiness left to the right wing), but they've been under seige, so I understand their impatience. They're calling Obama a "Bertha," saying that he doesn't really care about gay rights at all:
According to the Theory of Berthas, a Bertha is skilled at giving people a sense of camaraderie, of support, of solidarity. Berthas excel at sounding committed to the things that matter to you but never giving any concrete ways in which their help will manifest. Berthas smile and receive respect from those around them for doing nothing but talking about what a good person they are – not actually doing anything.
And then, when your back is turned, they actively work against you and talk about how badly you dress.
While our Executive Bertha might not be sighing our wardrobes, he’s certainly fulfilling the Bertha profile. Expertly. And it’s our responsibility as a community to expect and demand more.
Obama’s statement called for the “promise of equality” to be fulfilled for LGBT people, but nothing he’s done since he’s entered office has moved us closer to that goal. DADT is still here. DOMA is still here. He was silent on marriage equality victories. He was silent on Prop. 8. He continues to hedge his bets with the marriage issue and supports civil unions. He touts the appointment of gay candidates to Senate-appointed positions as his big gay rights victory.
It’s nice. But it’s not enough. It’s not even in the ballpark. Gay365
Obama has been slow to address gay rights but I don't think he's abandoned the community. I think Obama will address gay rights soon.
So extending federal employee benefits to same sex couples may be an olive branch. Today at 5:45 p.m., Obama will sign the memorandum.
