Obama's Big Gay Speech

If I were advising President Barack Obama, I would tell him to pay as much attention to the ornery jeers from protesters outside the Human Rights Campaign's October 10th Washington dinner as the cheers coming from inside the ornate ballroom.

"The last thing we need is more flowery rhetoric in front of rich, self-effacing gays and lesbians dressed up like penguins," said Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network, who plans to picket the event.

The cross mood expressed by Thayer is indicative of the restlessness felt by the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender grass roots in the early stages of Obama's presidency.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) deserves a heaping helping of praise for furnishing a primetime platform for Obama to impart his message. But, the President and HRC must realize that the stakes are even higher than the price of the steaks served in the ballroom of the black-tie affair. While no one will likely yell, "you lie" in the middle of his remarks, there will be a collective sigh if all we get is a pretty speech.

Let it be known that the GLBT community is no longer interested in being pals with the powerful or having the famous tell us we are fabulous - unless it leads to action. If the goal of this evening were simply to provide an interesting dinner guest, Meryl Streep or Michael Moore would have sufficed. What we want from Obama, however, is a fighter working to set us free. We need signed paper in the form of laws, not paper-thin promises and illusive signs of hope. Unless a concrete vision is offered at this event, Obama's speech will sink like concrete in the Potomac River.

I would also advise Obama that it will be considered a letdown if the centerpiece of his talk is to offer a push for hate crime legislation. Americans of all political stripes are generally in agreement that it is wrong to beat or kill gay people, so this is legislation that requires a bare minimum of political capital. There are presently laws on the books that punish perpetrators of such crimes, so some form of redress already exists. (Although, hate crime laws are still important to ensure justice is consistently served)

At a bare minimum, the president should vow to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) by the end of the year, which would prohibit hiring and firing on the basis of sexual orientation. Currently, it is legal to fire a person if he or she is gay in the majority of states.

The President should forcefully condemn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits married gay couples from receiving federal benefits. It would be wise, as well, for Obama to use this opportunity to make a compelling case, as only he can, for scrapping the disastrous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which humiliates gay service members and harms military readiness.

Gay activist David Mixner raises a good point when he says that Obama should oppose a ballot measure to overturn the freedom to marry in Maine.

"It is inconceivable to me that the hosts would allow him to attend the dinner without a solid commitment that he will oppose the hate filled initiative in Maine. That would be unacceptable," wrote Mixner on his website. "How exciting would it be at the HRC National Dinner to have the president in a timely and unequivocal way put the power of the Presidency behind our historic and epic struggle in Maine?"

The day following the HRC event, thousands of GLBT people will stream into Washington for the National Equality March. Obama will be greeted like a conquering hero or a sweet talking zero depending on what he says the night before at the podium. I just hope his handlers are keenly aware that the crowds that mass are expecting some bills to pass.

The administration should be concerned about the growing perception that the president is all talk and no action. During the primaries, Hillary Clinton portrayed him as a slick salesman who could not follow through on his grandiose promises. In the general election, John McCain said Obama was an empty "celebrity" who would not deliver.

Standing on principle for GLBT equality would go a long way in diffusing and dispelling this still potent line of criticism. It is important to act now, considering Saturday Night Live aired a skit last weekend outlining Obama's unfulfilled promises, including "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Let's hope that Obama does not mirror the usual banquet food at such events, looking great on the menu, while turning out to be a rubber chicken. A milquetoast presidency will likely mean he's toast when he runs for reelection. He can either be history by appeasing a far right that will never support him, or do what is morally right and make history with an unforgettable speech at the HRC dinner.

 

 

Follow Wayne Besen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Truthwinout

Comments

[DontTreadOnMeRainbow]

We have a long road ahead of us, but we cannot give up. We will win this fight, state by state, vote by vote, until we have the right to marry anywhere in our country (yes, this is our country too..), but we must start by standing firm and making our position known.

This symbol is the perfect way to show that position and start a conversation. During the Revolutionary War, the colonists, fed up with unfair treatment and a lack of rights, adopted this as a warning to England that they would not be walked all over without protest.

Benjamin Franklin suggested the rattlesnake, saying, "She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage." We have adapted this symbol to our cause in the same spirit as our founding fathers.

To see the symbol go to www.DontTreadOnMeRainbow.com.

[ianmcc]

"The administration should be concerned about the growing perception that the president is all talk and no action. During the primaries, Hillary Clinton portrayed him as a slick salesman who could not follow through on his grandiose promises."

While Obama was NOT my first choice in the primaries (Kucinich was), I did vote for him in the election. I am starting to feel hard pressed to do it a second time, (R) whack-jobs like Palin getting in be darned, unless Obama starts to put forth some teeth to his agenda. He really IS starting to come across like an empty windsock full of pretty speeches and little else for the everyman.

[PlanetSpinz]

The problem is not what President Obama has NOT done, the problem is what he has done:
1. Discharged more than 420 lesbian and gay Americans from the Armed Services.
2. Blocked Sen. Gillebrand and Alcee Hastings from moving forward to repeal Don't Ask Just Kick the Gays Out & Replace them with Felons and Fascists.
3. His administration filed briefs with SCOTUS to block hearing cases on Just Kick the Gays Out, arguing that this policy is good for military unity.
4. Changing the White House web page to complete repeal to "repeal sensibly".
5. Blocked SCOTUS from hearing a case on Discriminatory Offensive Marriage Attack, equating marriage equality with men raping their daughters (incest and pedophilia).

If I could advise President Obama about his speech, I would suggest he promise to stop blocking repeal of Just Kick the Gays Out and the Discriminatory Offensive Marriage Attack, and to promise to stop discharging gay and lesbian Americans from the military until the unconstitutional law is repealed. I would suggest he stand up to the heterosupremacist tyrannical theocRATs like the ones who voted for him and against marriage equality in Arizona, Florida and California, and who plan on continuing their tyranny in Maine.

[langej]

"Let it be known that the GLBT community is no longer interested in being pals with the powerful or having the famous tell us we are fabulous - unless it leads to action."

Well, get them!

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

I've been trying to think what Obama could say to make the March positive instead of angry
The HRC dinner isn't going to generate the press the March will. Anyone know if Barney is speaking at the March?
I couldnt care less what Rahm does, he seems like all hype no action, on too many items already.
If I was asking a favor of Obama I think I'd ask Michelle and he go through their celebrity friends list, and kick off a campaign in Maine event with celebs manning phones doing commercials anything they can do to help. Announcing a realistic time schedule for repeal of DADT and inclusive ENDA, after having signed the hate Crimes Bill is the best we can hope for PUBLICLY. But getting help in Maine privately or with a slight nod publicly, could shift Maine in our favor.
I and many like me just don't want to be lied to, or told to shut up and wait. Barney is coming WAY too close to that statement and it will really anger the March if he says it.

[MarkVA71]

I can't even listen to him speak anymore. Everything rings hollow.

[BryanTheRegOps]

Co-sign

[Pyrum]

Yep. I like listening to him about as much as I liked listening to Bush. So much for "change."

[uneeda]

ditto

[ianmcc]

QFT

[WithoutAnyRegrets]

Mr. Besen you ended up making my point with your response. This Presidency is not just about gay people. It's not just about any one group of people. Ask yourself, what is the tax levied on us all by the folly in Iraq? What is the tax levied upon us all by the bailout, by Bush's tax cuts, by deregulation, by prolonged inactivity in Health Care Reform and immigration reform? Do you really believe yours is the only high ground and your injustice is the only injustice?

I would love to see federal action taken on racial profiling and police bruality. We are far more overdue on this issue, as far as I'm concerned, than any other progressive issue. But I also have perspective enough to understand that this issue is unlikely to receive priority in the grand scheme of things - even with a Black man as president, even in the aftermath of Skip-Gate, even after more than 40 years of Civil Rights struggle. It seems we will have to be patient a little longer as well.

I have no vested interest in seeing you or anyone else denied equal access to benefits provided by the local, state, or federal government. But I see no percentage in mandating a showdown with a President friendly to your cause, because he dares to address issues that affect us ALL first. It may be repugnant to you, but you actually DO have to be patient. We all do.

[cminca]

"But I see no percentage in mandating a showdown with a President friendly to your cause, because he dares to address issues that affect us ALL first."

After actively soliciting the LGBTQ communities vote and money, the President has been actively UNFRIENDLY to the community and our causes. He has spent time and energy promoting opposition to the LGBTQ community, and then acting surprised by their reaction.

[BringmeReason]

Well in all fairness, we didn't approach the President, he seeked our support and money, and in doing so made himself friendly to our cause, something Bush didn't' even dear do. Expectations are high, of course, since there has been few presidents short of Clinton that took the time to address our cause, so excuse us if we're a little anxious to see results. Usually what happens is, if he doesn't handle this situation now, and no one is asking for a quick fix, but at least to set something in motion, if that doesn't happen then he will be bombarded with various other issues which probably means our cause will be pushed under the rug for perhaps the next president. This is ridiculous, he made it seem as though our issue was a must, now even health care reforms doesn't seem a top priority to him; why so many empty promises?

[WithoutAnyRegrets]

Mr. Besen,

Hopefully you are still around (or at least checking the comments in this thread). Yesterday we had the following exchange:

Without Any Regrets says: "I'm going to speak bluntly here - all this caterwauling is counterproductive. The great dangers facing us right now as a country is not DADT (Don't Ask Don't Tell) or Gay Marriage. Healthcare reform affects us ALL - gay, straight, rich, poor, left or right."

Mr. Besens says: "The New York Times said last week that being gay costs a person between $40,000 and $400,000 in a lifetime, because of extra tax burdens and costs. So, I'm going to speak bluntly here. Unless you plan to pay my "gay tax," don't talk to me about priorities. If you want to focus on health care, lobby to abolish the gay tax and then we can all have more time to focus on healthcare. I'm sick of supporting your family without you supporting mine. I hate to break it to you, but your family is not more important.­"

I'm going to respond in a separate post (as I understand it there is a 250 word limit per post so it wont fit here along with the recap)

[mitsu]

This is wonderful!

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

It will be awkward for many attending the HRC event, and I wish a copy of Obama's planned remarks was available before the event. If it's going to be a speech saying be patient, and dozens of excuses why nothing is getting done....It­'s not fair for the leaders gathered there, to be put in the position of being POLITE to that. Obama has to know the people at HRC have to go face those Marching,, and those demonstrating.

[octopi]

I don't really care how Hillary or McCain portrayed the President. What I care about is how he keeps deflecting vast inequity between LGBT people and straight people in America with ineffectual speeches and disingenuous comments (like his Brian Williams "fierce advocate" comment). If he stands up there and says gays should be allowed to marry just as straights are allowed to marry, it would make me proud. Otherwise, why waste time speaking when he could be working on other things.

[carsntrucks]

It's always nice to hear the acceptance and tolerance crowd advocate Obama spitting in the faces of the majority of people who disagree with them.

[oblogdeeoblogda]

If I were advising President Obama - I would tell him to PUSH the Repeal Doma legislation now that the vehicle via Jerold Nadler's RMA has been introduced. That would clear up so much and pave the way for the rest of the important legislation. His speech should contain positive move forward elements - that is specifics. He should say what he is going to do and set a time table. The problem is that the LGBT organizations have failed to unify under one banner of priority. Why? Because each is serving their own mission statement at the expense of our community. We keep following waiting for the next non profit to do something. Non-profits do fantastic work, but they have to stay alive and the fund raising is often in conflict to the interests of LGBT community as a unity; a. because it is competitive and b. because it is self serving. Where is our leader? We need a leader... not a bunch of runa arounds scartching the backs of donors....

[ntrepid]

oblogdee, Harvey was murdered, Harry Britt worked that angle as long as he could. Tom Ammiano is trying to make headway, Mark Leno just wants to get laid... guess you're right. We don't have a voice to unite us. As long as we have the glaring disparity in our community, nothing will happen. Currently, we have these big money shills in HRC, Log Cabin folks, and the radical remnants of Act-Up and the Faeries. We all need to just come out, stay out and let people see we are no different from them. We ALL work, support our families, contribute and strive for the best. Sadly, you are right. There is just too much division within our ranks. BTW, I wish the whole "bi" sector would just go away. They do NOT belong under our umbrella.

[joyce2]

I think we can see the GOP and the people that helped pass Prop *,the Church of ladder day saints posting here trying to cause division between people a few are out right compliant in saying it,Personally I think the civil unions passed in many states need to be modified and improved,but marriage is up to the people in each state.I take civil unions to mean a signed commitment between two consenting adults.I believe that they should be allowed the same privileges as married people as far as insurance,medical rights and any other things married people are entitled including using each other as dependents.

[FirstShirt]

Enough of this waste of time. If they want to get married, let them do it. I'm a republican and I really don't care. If they get married, the divorce lawyers will have a new population of client.

[EbonBear]

Bravo! I'm British. Here' we have legalised same-sex marriage in all but name and the Bar Association is rejoicing. Finally, a whole new group of people to draw up pre-nups and divorce papers for!

[BryanTheRegOps]

Economy booster