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News & ArtsThursday, April 30, 2009
Homo "I'm a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans."
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Apr 30, 2009 at 1:13 PM
On inauguration day the Obama administration launched the White House's new website. Gays and lesbians disheartened by Obama's selection of Rick Warren—an anti-gay bigot (and a liar)—to give the invocation took comfort in the prominence given gay rights on the new White House website. Obama's gay rights agenda was listed under "civil rights," another nice signal (which I praised on Salon this week), and not under "gay rights," as if gay rights were somehow separate and distinct from civil rights. The Obama administration committed itself to repealing DOMA, DADT, supporting adoption rights for same-sex couples (which took a big hit on election day), and supporting HIV prevention efforts. Well that was then.
Hey, President Obama! Where did that famous list of commitments to LGBT rights go on your website? Within five minutes of Obama's swearing-in, a heavily detailed list of eight promises to us were posted: repeal DADT, support ENDA, expand adoption rights, etc. There's no mention of DADT or adoption rights or HIV prevention anymore, here's the two sentences that remain: "President Obama also continues to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage."
Joe links to what's on the White House website today versus what was posted on the White House website on inauguration day.
When Obama was criticized for selecting Warren he responded by saying that he was a "fierce advocate" for gay rights. WTF, Mr. President?
4
Well, considering the whole thing (across all issues) has changed and has gone from a list of priorities to a list of accomplishments and vague directives, I wouldn't be surprised if they decided "hey, instead of priorities, let's talk up whatever we do like we smashed barriers", so anything that's a work in progress or isn't a basic policy position is probably going to vanish.
ENDA is still up there since it's a work in progress. Everything else? Ehhhh.
ENDA is still up there since it's a work in progress. Everything else? Ehhhh.
5
Might it be possible that the White House site is going to highlight issues as they become an immediate focus of the administration, rather than make a long wish-list that never changes? (I noticed that "curing cancer" is not listed under Health Care, but that doesn't mean President Obama doesn't want it to happen.) Under the Civil Rights tab right now are things that are currently being discussed, such as anti-discrimination laws and expanding hate crimes legislation. Once there has been action on these issues, I predict new ones will take their place.
6
Isn't this post a bit disingenuous, Dan? Obama has abandoned gay rights? Did anyone actually contact them to see if the priorities have changed or would that prevent another rousing round of "thrown under the bus?" I really don't see how you can assume this means Obama is no longer pursuing gay rights goals simply because of a change in the white house website.
8
"The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Law" is going to be signed. He signed on to the U.N. charter for gay rights. This is a man with enormous challenges. I can imagine his every waking hour taken up by important and crucial decisions. I trust him. Not that the pressure should not be kept on him, but come on. He's on our side and he's moving things forward for us.
11
I don't think he's on our side at all so much as he's not set against us. Will he veto any legislation? No. Not at all. Would he lift a finger for it before it hits his desk? Nope...
13
OBAMA THREW US UNDER THE BUS AND NOW SAVAGE IS CRYING HIS CROCODILE TEARS JUST LIKE HIS MOVIE WELL IVE GOT NEWS FOR MR SAVAGE DYKES OF SIZE, SELF-ACTUALIZED QUEERS AND RADICAL FAIRIES WERE THROWN UNDER THE BUS YEARS AGO BY THE STRANGER THE RPLACE MAFIA AND THE GENOCIDEAL GENTRIFICATION OF TRADITIONAL QUEER SPACES ON THE HILL SO I DONT FEEL SORRY FOR SAVAGE IN FACT I THINK ITS FUNNY AND ILL LAUGH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE LOAD US ON THE CATTLE CARS AND SEND US TO THE CAMPS
14
@6 "another rousing round of "thrown under the bus?"
I love that song! Come on everybody, sing it with me:
Another one thrown under the bus ...
No takers?
I love that song! Come on everybody, sing it with me:
Another one thrown under the bus ...
No takers?
15
Dan, do you realize the differences between the realties of campaigning versus GOVERNING? If you can't understand the difference in what it takes to get elected and what it takes to get things done, then you're even more politically ignorant than I thought. You have to give these things time. The economic crisis, war on terror, etc. are gonna priorities for now. You're just gonna have to be patient and stop posting combative rhetoric that nobody with half a brain would believe.
20
the Civil Rights page when from a list of agenda items to a sort of progress report.
i'd have preferred they kept the list and placed the progress report on another page. but people really do read too much into this stuff.
we have enough enemies and the list of those who hate us is long enough. why do people insist on seeing enemies where they don't exist?
i'd have preferred they kept the list and placed the progress report on another page. but people really do read too much into this stuff.
we have enough enemies and the list of those who hate us is long enough. why do people insist on seeing enemies where they don't exist?
21
If this is a shift in communication strategy and not indicative of a shift in commitment to LGBT issues by the adminstration then it's poorly considered and quite tone deaf.
I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for now, but to miss the deja vu quality of this experience and castigate people for the concerns it provokes isn't reasonable.
WebNerd 1: "Hey, I've got a great idea! Now that we've been *so clear* about our commitment to civil rights for LGBT people, let's get rid of most of it and get out our next wave of messaging."
WebNerd 2: "Yeah, I'm sure that LGBT Americans won't think that we're abandoning them and their families, even though every progressive administration in recent memory has failed to deliver on similar promises."
I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for now, but to miss the deja vu quality of this experience and castigate people for the concerns it provokes isn't reasonable.
22
Dan, nice language in the Salon piece. Trying to out do Perez?
Grow up, if you are addressing the President; even hypothetically.
Grow up, if you are addressing the President; even hypothetically.
24
Yawn. A website is not a policy position. And -- I know it seems unlikely, but bear with me -- there are a few other things going on in the world right now.
Every poll shows rapid and positive change on the rights front. Like #8 said, Obama signed important legislation and subscribed to a UN charter. Yes, more progress would be nice, but the guy's been in office just over three months. And he's facing two foreign wars, a huge financial crisis, and now this flu thing. His stated goals include meaningful health care reform.
Maybe, just maybe, expecting huge dramatic action instantly is a little unrealistic?
Every poll shows rapid and positive change on the rights front. Like #8 said, Obama signed important legislation and subscribed to a UN charter. Yes, more progress would be nice, but the guy's been in office just over three months. And he's facing two foreign wars, a huge financial crisis, and now this flu thing. His stated goals include meaningful health care reform.
Maybe, just maybe, expecting huge dramatic action instantly is a little unrealistic?
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