Blogs Jan 20, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Comments

1
See?!?! What the fuck were you worried about!?!?!
2
The White House's agenda items are listed alphabetically. Though I suppose anyone could have word-crafted the item headings to prevent A's and B's, making Civil Rights fall in line first. The Obama team always seems to be 10 steps ahead of everyone, so I wouldn't doubt it. We'll see.
3
What the fuck were we worried about? Well...

Obama made all these promises during the campaign. What we're worried about is that they were just promises, and that his desire to jump into bed with Warren after the election was a sign that President Obama would, like so many other politicians before him, not actually make good on his promises to gays and lesbians.

And... so far... we have a list on the White House website listing his promises. We don't actually have any action on any of these -- nor do we expect action at this stage, of course. But this is a good sign.

And despite this list, and its prominence, I would like to retain the right to remain worried -- and vigilant -- until we see action and results from the new administration.
4
I'm sure we all remember how we felt when Bush included a few of these items in his own agenda and didn't act on them. The disappointment still stings, since we're promised these things in every administration and by every president and they never do anything for us.
5
Hopefully this will prevent a shit attack should the gay marching band not make the networks' inaugural coverage.
6
Talk is cheap.

I'm going use the "deed based" standard for this administration.

It doesn't matter what they say, how much they say they love us, how much they say respect us. It matters what they accomplish.

The deed balance has begun. Obama is one gay-negative deed (Rick Warren) in the red. Due to the fuckup with the gay bishop dude, this deed has not been nullified as of yet. After two gay-positive deeds, Obama will be on his way to what I hope will be a net gain.
7
Yeah, yeah, Warren got to give a speech. I've yet to hear a quote from it. Now, the Global Gag Rule will be gone in a flash, and you'll see just how much President Obama cares about the religious right's agenda.
8
That's some good stuff right there.
9
Here's a hint - don't ask don't tell except for lesbian pilots who are more accurate than male pilots is ... gone.
10
I'm sort of thinking Obama's okay with letting the gays get angry enough so they hold him to the fire and apply enough political pressure that he has no choice but to enact this agenda. I wouldn't put it past him to make that kind of calculation.

If having to listen to Rick Warren's blustery, inarticulate yelling of a prayer this morning is the price we pay for a more engaged, oppositional, politicized gay community, then I think that's great.

Let's stay uppity.
11
I'm scared but nervous.
12
Retain the right to be worried, and to remain vigilant, because wisdom is proven right in action.

"For lesbians and gays to win the war against injustice and discrimination you must remember these lessons from Dr. King and the civil rights movement that he led. First, stay vigilant. At all times, know who your enemy is and what your enemy is doing. Second, never let up pressure. You must never rest in your work to gain and protect your rights as American citizens. And third, don't get impatient. It will be a long, arduous struggle, but truth is on your side. You will prevail." Rev. Dan H.
13
Talk=cheap. Appointments and proposed legislation mean more.
14
I realize this may take some individual effort on everyone's part, and certainly will not be as easy as hoping Obama does the right thing, but why don't you all use up some of that nervous energy by writing your elected officials on a regular basis stating you desire for civil rights for the LGBT community? It certainly would be more productive then bitching on the internet.
15
@14 is correct:

Most of these "promises" will require legislation or Congressional approval to integrate them into law or to undo previous discriminatory statues. Executive power only goes so far.

Obama isn't Santa Claus nor does he possess magical legislative powers. We can't cross our arms and sit back and say "okay, gimme my rights." Democracy is about showing up (and a lot of us campaigned for Obama, or showed up to vote--though in a smaller percentage for Obama than we did for Kerry, it should be noted). The Civil Rights gains for Blacks didn't happen passively--folks of all colors worked hard with their legislators and community leaders to get the gains they got.

Want the above Action Items turned into real rights and actual laws? To quote RuPaul, you betta work....
16
Did everyone hear this:

"The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."


Did he actually say this?? This seems . . . hugely important. I don't want to be hopeful. But this is . . . extremely important.
17
I heard it.
18
I know it's a bit early in the game, but so far Obama has done the things he said he would do. I mean it's only day one and he's already united America more than it's been in the last... ever. Maybe it's superficial, but I do think it bodes well. It seems to me that in at least giving the appearance of listening to all sides, he's made people on all sides more willing to listen to (and trust) him, even if they don't necessarily agree with everything he's done/is going to do.

So, long story short, he says he's including everyone, and he displayed that today. He says he's going to move forward for civil rights, I believe him. Keep being uppity for sure. I can't believe more members of the LGBT community WEREN'T being uppity before, but I'd give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
19
I'm willing to both give him a chance to do whatever he can in his position, and volunteer locally.
20
@6 -Yeek, what about the fact that he also included Rev. Lowery at the Inaugaration? Lowery has been pro-LGBT rights for a long time. Doesn't he count in your tally?
21
20. What did you think of this part of Lowery's speech:

we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.


"When white will embrace what is right." What the hell does that even mean?

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