We will not give up, and we are not done. Time to join the impact again, this time to support the repeal of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). This federal law, supported in one of his more craven moments by then-President Clinton, specifically allows states to refuse to recognize gay marriages or civil unions from any other state. It is even considered a failure by its hard-right author, B1-Bob Barr, on purely libertarian grounds (Barr's recent editorial in the LA Times here). Barack Obama is on the record as opposing DOMA: you can joint a petition campaign and encourage him to live up to what he said. (Am I being too cynical that I suspect he won't?)
This weekend, on 10 January, once again JoinTheImpact is facilitating peaceful protests around the country against DOMA. See if there is a protest in a city near you, and join the impact.
Hey, no one said this would be easy. No one said we would win soon. We can't give up and we are not done.
8 comments:
Am I being too cynical that I suspect he won't?
No, you aren't. I suspect the economy is going to take up practically 100% of this guy's time, and he's never been a huge supporter of LGBT rights. I bet most of his support is due to such being a low-key "standard" for Democrats, not to any fire in his own belly.
Hmmm. While of course I support the repeal of DOMA, I'd really like Obama's FIRST (two) "Gay Agenda" items to be
1) Signing a (Trans-inclusive!) ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act): critical, in this economy, and
2) Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (because it's Ob-freakin'-scene! to ban gays from the military, while we're fighting two wars. Not to mention Insane!!!)
The above two actions, will make it SAFE for more LGBTs to Come Out . . . which will in turn make queers less scary, and more supportable (e.g., in marriage!).
Just my 2c.
JCF... well, you may well be right on, but let us join with those that do ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING in EVERY way right now to keep the message in tact.
Right?
the logical order in which to do this (which is as JCF suggests) is not the way it happened. Right now the momentum is with marriage. Ergo, marriage is what we go after.
I am not unaware that one of the (many) reasons for this is that marriage affects many of the "affluent" GLBT, those of us with comfortable professional lives, unworried by ENDA and unaffected by DADT. On the other hand, we are in many respects the least "threatening" of the GLBT because "they" already know us. Though they are often shocked to find out that the person they know casually from the PTA or the soccer team or the office is "one of them". So maybe it is the right order after all.
I don't know. Lemons, lemonade?
IT
(the word is "obimb")
Right now the momentum is with marriage. Ergo, marriage is what we go after ... marriage affects many of the "affluent" GLBT, those of us with comfortable professional lives, unworried by ENDA and unaffected by DADT ... So maybe it is the right order after all.
I'm not sure either, IT.
Today, in my local (Detroit area) gay rag, I read a FURIOUS screed by a black lesbian, ragging on "the white gays' obsession w/ marriage", over all other issues (she cited the recent murders of 3 black drag queens in New Orleans, which I have to admit that *I* hadn't heard about either).
Obviously, IT, I understand why *to you*, marriage WOULD naturally be the most important issue...
...but my political consciousness teaches me to be flexible, and go after MULTIPLE goals (marriage seeming to be more of a state-by-state thing, at present).
DOMA needs to be overturned: no 'bouta doubt it.
But at the same time, the *ssholes who say "We don't hate you---we JUST don't want you to re-define marriage!": maybe we can USE that, to let them assuage their GUILT (Rick Warren, anyone?), by getting ENDA passed and DADT overturned, first?
[While California, New York and Connecticut LGBTs push for marriage in their own states---where it's possible. I don't see the current US S.C. upholding ssm in Mississippi, for example, even *when* DOMA is repealed! :-(]
Well anyway, that's what I think: I've already posted (to that Change.gov site) about my desires for (ASAP!) ENDA passage/DADT repeal (Cue the "Am I being too cynical that I suspect he won't?" disclaimer >:-/)
It shouldn't be either/or, JCF, it should be ALL. We are in complete agreement about that.
Obama wrote in an open letter to the GLBT community,
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide.....as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. ....I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)..... I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system...... Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans.
Fine words. I am not confident they will go further.
IT.
BTW JCF you bring up an important point, our GLBT brothers and sisters of color have concerns and needs that are too often invisible to people like me, sadly. I have hopes that our community is rediscovering its purpose and that is NOT limited marriage, it is ONLY about EQUALITY. For all of us, regardless of color, regardless of whether G-L-B OR T!!!!
IT
OT/please go over to Cany's and give her some love; her dog Hopi is no longer with her.
IT
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