White House Staffers Concede "Frustration" On Gay Rights

Think Progress:

Last night, Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta moderated a panel at the American Constitution Society convention that included Lisa Brown, the White House staff secretary, and Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Biden.

Podesta asked the panelists about the concern that President Obama is not doing enough on gay rights, to which the crowd offered hearty applause. Podesta referenced a recent legal brief filed by the Obama administration which argued in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that Obama has said he would like to overturn.

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[policyhack]

Clinton signed Don’t ask, don’t tell (DODT). His endorsement of same-sex marriage may portend a growing confidence among Democrats and moderate Republicans to finally address equality for same sex couples and open service for gay and lesbian soldiers. Admittedly, Clinton is less constrained by the election calculations that encumber Congress and the President when it comes to divisive social issues. Nevertheless, Clinton has always possessed a keen sense for the shifting center of American politics. I hope he’s right.

http://axisofreason.com/2009/07/14/bill-clinton-supports-same-sex-marriage/

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Obama cartoon from queerty.com
http://www.queerty.com/in-the-white-house-nobody-knows-youre-a-dog-20090619/

[oafishcad]

We need healthcare reform more than we need gay rights. Hell, we need lots of things more than we need gay rights. I need lunch more than gay rights. So what? We still need gay rights. Man up Obama, Keep your effin promises. Besides, from what I see real healthcare reform ain't gonna happen with President Obama anyway. He compromises away real reform for bipartisanship any chance he gets. Truth be told, I didn't support Obama (or Hillary) in the primaries because I thought they'd be too willing to keep on keepin on and not really change anything for the better. I got caught up in the Obamatheusiasm during the general election and worked for his election and donated money. I'm very disappointed with him, except on foreign affairs where he's done better than I thought he would. Domestically he keeps compromising with the folks who almost destroyed America acting like their viewpoint is actually valid, even though it's been proven a failure. Please President Obama, prove to me that I was wrong to think you'd govern too conservatively.

[ez duz it]

The DOD's Defense of DOMA, p. 47 of 54:

IT SAYS: “To deny federal recognition to same-sex marriages will thus preserve scarce government resources, surely a legitimate government purpose."

I READ: The Federal Government will not recognize the marriage of same-sex couples, even though they pay Federal taxes to subsidize government benefits which financially benefit married opposite sex couples.
-------------------
People talk about same sex couples being denied 1st and 14 Amendment rights. I agree with their objections.
-------------------

QUESTION: What about the 13th Amendment . . .

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Read the full text at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/16355867/Obamas-Motion-to-Dismiss-Marriage-case

[ez duz it]

QUESTION: The Congress and the DOJ imply in DOMA that Federally unrecognized same sex couples must involuntarily serve the Federal Government to subsidize Federal marriage benefits to opposite sex couples . Why?

SUGGESTION: Maybe we should change the name from DOMA to DOSA: The Defense of Slavery Act.”

[LooktotheLeft]

Talk to your Senators, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell, Mr. President. They're frustrated with g*ay issues as well

[TomInJax]

The only frustrations they have is not being able to taste of the young pages on their staffs.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

http://colfaxrecord.com/detail/91429.html When Same-Sex Marriage Was a Christian Rite

"Prof. John Boswell, the late Chairman of Yale University’s history department, discovered that in addition to heterosexual marriage ceremonies in ancient Christian church liturgical documents, there were also ceremonies called the "Office of Same-Sex Union" (10th and 11th century), and the "Order for Uniting Two Men" (11th and 12th century).

These church rites had all the symbols of a heterosexual marriage: the whole community gathered in a church, a blessing of the couple before the altar was conducted with their right hands joined, holy vows were exchanged, a priest officiatied in the taking of the Eucharist and a wedding feast for the guests was celebrated afterwards. "

If you were unaware of this history (I was not) it is a good read.

[ez duz it]

Hi, We-Are-The-Ones:

"Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality" was a book by John Boswell I enjoyed quite some time ago. Thanks for bringing it back to mind.

[CigarGod]

Very interesting read.
Thanks.

Have a cigar!

[mergina]

You concede frustration on gay rights huh? You all S(*(K.

[PlaceboStudman]

wow, this place has turned into an echo chamber. Looks like all the usual suspects got bored and took their balls home LOL

[AbbieXHoffman]

For those who think gays have are so unorganized and don't understand this is a struggle look here and a thoughtful leader and LEARN about how this MOVEMENT didn't start when BO got elected...it has been going on a long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwdd_wf6LrI&NR=1

[Jtt]

National Equality March
October 10-11, 2009

Our single demand:

Equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

Our philosophy:

As members of every race, class, faith, and community, we see the struggle for LGBT equality as part of a larger movement for peace and social justice.

Our strategy:

Decentralized organizing for this march in every one of the 435 Congressional districts will build a network to continue organizing beyond October. ( http://www.nationalequalitymarch.com/ )

I guess soon we should start putting together a Huffpost contingent.

[HesDanTheMan]

Here's an interesting article entitled; "1500 animal species practice homosexuality".
It's a very interesting article.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2006/10/23/20718.aspx

[We-Are-The-Ones]

It would blow people minds to learn that "Lions are also homosexual. Male lions often band together with their brothers to lead the pride. To ensure loyalty, they strengthen the bonds by often having sex with each other."

ha

thanks for the link

[ez duz it]

A great retort to the fundamentalists who say LGBT love is "unnatural." Thanks for the link.

[CigarGod]

Thanks, Dan.
Have a cigar.

I've often heard bits and pieces of this, but never all gathered together like this.
Valuable information.

[Jtt]

"Dude, you ain't go no movement. You've got a bunch of whiners who wouldn't know a decent strategy if it slapped them in the face."

This is probably the most insulting thing said tonight. After stonewall, after AIDS no liberal minded person would ever say something like that. It also underhandedly promotes violence against GBLT.

This person is the opposite of a civil rights supporter.

[Jtt]

Circa 1960 liberal sensibilities of "gays" isn't cutting it anymore. This is our time, and our movement. We will win this with or without this administrations help.

[HesDanTheMan]

Jtt, we have to consider the source of who said that. I would expect nothing differenct from her!

[joemondo]

The number of posts that do nothing but insult, denigrate and mock the very people whose equality they claim to support is very telling.

[joemondo]

Some people, I'm sorry to say, act like cultists when it comes to Obama.

Any criticism, and accountability, and they go to the same place all fundamentalists do when they think their religion is challenged.

One of the extremes they go to is to generalize, as in claiming all gays are of one opinion, when in fact gays have many opinions.

More sad yet is the straw man they concoct, accusing gays of an extreme position that they can't even document a few gays saying, much less all gays.

[CigarGod]

Yes. You can see that behavior practiced here.
Well said.
Have a cigar.

[NCYvonne]

Gays say: "Obama must make gay marriage and repeal of DOMA and DADT his biggest priority and anyone who doesn't agree h@tes gays and is a h-phobe."

[Disuberence]

Incorrect people say: "Gays say: "Obama must make gay marriage and repeal of DOMA and DADT his biggest priority and anyone who doesn't agree h@tes gays and is a h-phobe."
"

[AbbieXHoffman]

clap clap clap

and they say that to try to quell the movement.

[NCYvonne]

Incorrect: GAY people say "Obama must make gay marriage . . . ."

[Disuberence]

So since I am late to the party, how much "black" vs gay did I miss today?

[CigarGod]

Just a couple regulars.