In His Own Words: What Obama Promised The Gay Community (VIDEO)

President Obama surprised and disappointed many this past week when his Department of Justice defended the Defense Of Marriage Act in court. Daily Kos' Jed Lewison has compiled clips from the campaign in which Obama forcefully advocated equal rights for gay Americans and stated his support for strong civil unions with all the benefits of marriage. Watch:

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Comments

[dimes]

I am so tired of all the promises that go no where, by ALL politicans. I thought the president would have done more from what he was saying BEFORE the election. i am a lesbian and a federal employee. I want to legally marry my wife. We had our own private ceremony just for ourselves.

health benefits, hospital visits, tax returns, wills, custody: every issue that straight couples deal with. I am so tired os still being NO and being treated like a second class citizen.

[Michael Shanley]

Anyone looking to educate themselves on our struggle should read this...

http://www.enderminh.com/minh/civilrights.aspx

[Michael Shanley]

HISTORY LESSON - For my African-American friends.

Let's be clear, the struggles of the Gay community have been fought longer than the civil right struggle African-Americans have fought for equality In the USA. Fact. You can trace your beginnings back to the rounding up and transporting of slave labor to the North American Continent. The gay struggle has been propagated since the beginning of human existence. So let’s be clear the gay right movement, being treated as slaves ourselves in history and as always as a second class citizen isn’t a US of A phenomenon, it been this way for us throughout world history. Your history doesn’t pre-date our own.

[ez duz it]

Disciple1: RE your post on 02:22 PM on 06/15/2009

You write, “YOUR situation is determined by CHOICE of lifestyle.” Furthermore, you say, you “vehemently take issue with is the GLBT segment comparing their legitimate struggle with the unalterable and unavoidable social wars that have to be fought by those who are defined by NATURAL circumstances and that did NOT choose to be who they are.”

You do me the unintended disservice of failing to define any of your terms, such as “your situation,” “choice,” “lifestyle,” “legitimate” and “natural” in an operational sense. Nor do you evince substantiated arguments to support your statements. Depending on whether one elects to employ them in philosophical, theological, political or scientific contexts, these terms tend to have manifold, and often specific as well as nuanced meanings. Your ambiguity makes it fundamentally impossible for me to address an adequate response.

Finally, you state, “We progress FORWARD by way of dispassionate discourse and reasonableness--not unbridled emotion and hyperbole . . .” However, you confuse me when say you “vehemently take issue with is the GLBT segment . . . ” Does this vehement objection to which you lay claim fall in the category of “dispassionate discourse and reasonableness,” or “unbridled emotion and hyperbole”?

---------

A word of encouragement to the LGBT community:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

[Disciple1]

We are a nation of LAWS, folks. Obama MUST uphold DODT because it is LAW! Why don't those of you who say the President has turned on you understand that basic premise of a democratic society? CONGRESS must change the statute, not the President! Certainly he can cajole and influence lawmakers, but if there is no WILL in that body to alter the status quo, it WILL NOT HAPPEN. Remember also that the political reality of all this INCLUDES the fact that there is a CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY in SCOTUS that would no doubt have a role to play in all this. Also, please stop equating your current plight, i.e., lack of universal recognition of same-sex marriage, to that of the sordid history of racial discrimination in this country. Do you even WANT to recall that it took about 400 years of despicable treatment at the hands of the majority race for Black people to win the right to intermarry? My Gay friends, why do you believe YOU deserve "overnight" deliverance from this nightmare?

[Ernie Lijoi]

Upholding a law is different than needlessly defending it with right wing talking points that equate homosexuality with pedophilia and incest.

The defense of DOMA was completely unnecessary and a slap in the face to many of the constituents who supported him.

You are masking your own homophobia underneath a string of self-serving rhetoric.

Gay people have been waiting just as long as black... and now longer.

But even so, this upheaval isn't the result of impatience, it is the result of impatience. It is the result of a man taking actions that completely contradict the platform he ran on and stole votes on.

[Ernie Lijoi]

oops typos last line should read

But even so, this upheaval isn't the result of impatience, It is the result of a man taking actions that completely contradict the platform he ran on and stole votes on.

[ez duz it]

Dear Ernie:

I heard your sadness, worry, frustration and anger. Many of us feel similar emotions. One sees on these pages faceless people who try to discount, denigrate and attack us. For me, the best thing to do is to ignore them. They are not interested in dialog. They merely want the perverse satisfaction of seeing the hurt they cause others.

Try your best not to be hooked by them. Instead rise above them. One of my favorite quotes is by Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

I also heard your intellect, deep caring and capacity to love. The points you make are lucid, succinct and emotionally honest. I am so sorry you may be facing such immense challenges such as your partner’s failing health as well as end of life and survivorship issues. No doubt, the love that brought you together will sustain you even in the dark times. Give yourself permission to be tired, but never give up the fight to have your love as a couple be just as protected by Federal law as that of an opposite sex couple!

Stay strong, friend! Fight the good fight! We SHALL overcome!

“What is to give light must endure the burning.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

[Patricia84]

It took 400 years for black people to earn the right to "intermarry" because slaves couldn't get married, period. They were properties, they couldn't have wives, children and so forth. Actually they use to breed them in Maryland, Virginia and both Carolinas just like you breed horses, one male for 10 females. It wasn't mere discrimination, slaves weren't human, period.

Now, if you wanted to talk about marriage between black and white people, please note that 1) it was different from one state to another 2) the definition of white people have varied (to include J-e-w-s, Italians and Arabs and then exclude Arabs ....), 3) saying that it took 400 years for Black people to win the right to so-called interr.acial marriage gives the silly impression that all these time there was a struggle for Black people to finally be able to marry white, which for some reason sound creepy.

As for the gay community using the parallel, it is an analogy to another historical situation that bears resemblance with a current one. It is about how the society perceive/d both claims and also the false debate around marriage/civil unions that reminds folks of old Jim Crow.

Last but not least, I see no reason for someone to suffer discrimination longer because other had to suffer it longer, this is a quite revolting logic. The goal should be to eliminate all discrimination, no matter or short.

[Patricia84]

I obviously meant, no matter how short.

[Disciple1]

Please do diligent research before spreading such blatant lies, i.e., "..because slaves couldn't get married, .." Actually, most slave-owners encouraged their slaves to marry. It was believed that married men were less likely to be rebellious or to run away. Some masters favored marriage for religious reasons and it was in the interests of plantation owners for women to have children. Child-bearing started around the age of thirteen, and by twenty the women slaves would be expected to have four or five children.

[Michael Shanley]

You forget your history, gays have also been a slave source for other cultures...some could even argue we are slaves now given how much more money we as individuals contributed based on the right denied us to marry that others are afforded.

[ez duz it]

Oops, I clicked "Post a Comment" rather than "Reply" as a response to your comment. Nonetheless, I did want to speak to your entry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/in-his-own-words-what-oba_n_215352.html?show_comment_id=25697462#comment_25697462

[Ernie Lijoi]

Reading through these comments is just plain depressing.

It's amazing how easy it is to express homophobia through a thin veil of political rhetoric.

"I'm sick of this issue"
"This is not a civil rights issue"
"Blacks had it worse"
"Be patient"
"Stop whining"

I am a human being, not a political tool. If my partner dies I will be forced to sell my house because I can;t afford the inheritance tax. If he is hospitalized I can be denied access. I am not protected by a federal discrimination act. I have seen my friends beaten in the street for holding hands. I have had rocks thrown at me as I marched for equality. I could go on and on and on...

but that would be whining wouldn't it? You're tired of hearing it aren't you. Or it wouldn't be as bad as what African Americans suffered (Oh there's a good argument. It's not as bad so suffer through it and shut up).

There is a great injustice going on. Human beings are suffering as a result. I am one of them.

And my suffering is being reduced to empty talking points.

I have no patience left. And I'm embarrassed that I, after all these years of being a second class citizen, had the audacity to feel hope.

[Patricia84]

Ernie, I'm sorry for all you had to go through. I personally never had to suffer such blatant discrimination - if you except the fact that I am a woman and as such is expected to fill some expectations that I take pride in not giving a d@mn about - so I won't say I feel your pain. The whole argument about who suffered more is of course one of the silliest ever and really sad when you come to think of it. It is like building some sort of hierarchy where none should exist. It is akin to debates about which genocides - the Rwandan, the Herreros, the J-e-w-s, the Huron or the Oglala - was worse. It is irrelevant. Genocide is genocide. Just like discrimination is discrimination and should not be tolerated.

[Kassandra]

Well, if congress needs to change that law, let's see Obama whip for it like he's whipping for more war and the IMF.
So, far, I haven;'t seen him "whip" for anything but that.
And now this:
Stay the Course - Krugman
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/opinion/15krugman.html?th&emc=th

[Tom95134]

I agree 100%. Obama's DOJ could have just sat on the sidelines and kept it's mouth shut instead of defending DOMA. As to getting Congress to change the law, that too needs LEADERSHIP and President Obama should be providing that Democratic Party leadership.

[Tyler-Durden]

i am sorry for those citizens who feel they've been let down by Obama's campaign promises on this particular subject.

I hope all of you who are unhappy about this will take to organizing to influence your Congressmen. Remember, it really isn't the President who creates law, its Congress.

We need change in Congress. They care about one thing first, keeping that seat. Secondly is the lobbyist money. No seat, no money.

So if enough people contact their rep to threaten that job security, you'll see some change. This is the only way. Otherwise, FIND A BETTER PERSON FOR THE JOB, AND GET THEM ELECTED.

WE NEED TO SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN WHO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC, not corps.

[Trevor Seitz]

Call you local Democratic Party headquarters and start pushing for a 2012 Presidential Primary. while you are opn the phone with them let them know that you will be giving to the local independent Congressional candidate for both State & National platforms.

They have to learn that their words have meaning and lies have consequences...

[Daniel Torluemke]

Gays need to be patient. lifting DADT is much more involved that you think. Obama has never supported gay marriage. He did not lie to you.

[joemondo]

But he did say he opposed DOMA, and is now arguing for it in very offensive ways.

[FilthyHarry]

His justice dept lied when they said they HAD to support DOMA. It just isn't true.

[Tyler-Durden]

i no longer agree. The patience we are supposed to be exhibiting is for what: TO OVERCOME THE POLITICS IN WASHINGTON. The game they play in wasting time, bickering, and spending our money on themselves while collecting zillions in lobbyist cash.

I'm sick of it.

No more lobbyist money. Change can happen quicker than it is. I understand it's been 6 months now, but in terms of DOMESTIC policy, there is NO REASON why anything that is in the best interest of the public cannot happen within a few weeks. THIS IS B.S.

[Chonfi]

Obama campaigned on a lot of issues; can anyone mention at least one of the many promises he made and that he has already fulfilled since he was sworn in six months ago?

By now, it should be obvious to everyone that Obama had no idea what he was saying throughout his campaign. It's obvious to me that Obama considered being President of the United States of America an on-the-job training opportunity. Throughout his campaign he made it sound so easy to tell people that it didn't take much to make a difference once he moved in to the White House. He even went as far as -- shame on him -- to say that he had taught his two daughters about right and wrong and that he had also discussed it with his wife.

Let us hope that by now Obama has learned that it may be acceptable for anyone to fool people in the privacy of their own home and that it is not acceptable to fool those who put their trust and hope and elected him.

Playing Charades is just a game, Mr. President, not the way to run the United States of America.

[Patricia84]

OK. There are a lot of sensible comments here about the issue but is the contempt for "breeders" really necessary? Also, why are some gay men so harsh towards women? We are the ones most likely to accept the fact. We are the ones most likely to genuinely befriend gay men - and I do not mean as an accessory. We are the ones most likely to do our best to support the LGBT community. Not to mention that we love our yaoi, QAF and other generally gay-themed entertainment and have so many things in common with gay men, starting with the obvious appreciation for the male anatomy. So why the hatred? Why is misogyny so alive and well even with gay men? It is puzzling.

[Tanyars5]

As much as gay people want to be "out of the mainstream" they are children of American culture. American culture is racist, sexist, and all the other ist's. They are not different than the larger culture.

[AProudLiberalDem]

American culture is not racist, sexist, and other ist's. There are individuals who are, but they do not represent the culture. There are people like you who like to propagate the lie and try to demean and bring hate toward our culture. All of you are breeders of hate.

[PghDemocrat]

I think there is strategy to what President Obama is doing. He can not fix our country in six months. As important as equal rights are to our society, if Obama pushes this agenda now he could lose the votes and support he needs to broader issues like the economy and healthcare.

Allowing this issue to fester so to speak is good politics. The White House is firing up the left and allowing this to be a grassroots movement instead of top down governing. By getting those passionate about this issue stepping up and taking the lead - making their congressman listen to them, holding rallies and protests, pushing legislation and working the media, the White House will have a much easier passing or repealing legislation later on.

I still believe President Obama intends to make good on his promises. He just plans to do it in his own way and his own time.

[obseyes]

No offense PghDemocrat but your argument sounds like the excuses my aunty would make for me every time I was in trouble. I don't have a problem with the "gay reaction." Lincoln went through the same thing with african americans before the civil war. What I have a problem with is how low some of them get. They act like "well this guy sure ain't doing nothing he promised, I should've gone with the other guy." So my answer is well please do. If there's one thing I loved about Bush it's the way he showed people how they get what they vote for. I know your pain but the minute you threat me with being loud and demeaning to get what you want, my reaction is well don't vote for him in 3.5 years. So maybe he can't do anything about it, maybe he won't, maybe he lied to the gay community, maybe he's secretly and slowly making good on his promises... We don't know. What I know is you don't kill your own soldiers when they lose a battle if you don't want to lose the war. Demonizing Obama or other democrats (and republicans) because they haven't put your issues on top will get you what you want next time around... a republican as good as Bush. PERIOD!

[Deja Peterson]

sorry, but with every thing going on, gay issues are secondary issues.

[PlaceboStudman]

They are secondary issues for YOU. They are life and death issues for some of us

[Tyler-Durden]

gay citizens are dying because they cannot get married?

[Michael Shanley]

Nothing new here...

[ImaSpeakonit]

What bothers me about all of this is...people act like with the stroke of President Obama's pen...granting them everything they desire...m­iraculousl­y...everyt­hing would automatically change! That is so beyond naive, it's ridiculous!

Change is not going to happen until we as people, start changing our hearts and changing our minds! As wonderful as President Obama is...he can't do that for us!

If he repealed DADT right this minute, there would still be those that discriminate against gays in the military and probably more visually and vocally so!

The same goes for same sex marriages...just because the laws change...doesn't mean the people will!

If you don't think so...go and actually talk to some of the Black people...you're claiming think they have a lock on civil rights!

[SD Indy]

The problem with this however, is that until the policy changes take place, the government is doing nothing but standing in the way!

I take him at his word when he told us to hold him accountable (or was that empty rhetoric?)

Discrimination is ALWAYS going to be an issue in this country. It doesn't matter what the group is, it will exist nonetheless. HOWEVER, the government is NOT in the business to discriminate against any one group, or at least it is not supposed to, unless of course you're gay.