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Hope, impatience after Obama gay rights pledge
For many of the gays and lesbians marching for equal rights Sunday in San Francisco and Washington, President Obama's pledge of support provoked hope and frustration.
David R. Baker (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/10/2009)
They hoped that the president would follow through on his promise, made in a speech at a gay-rights fundraising dinner Saturday, that he would end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
But they said they were frustrated that Obama hadn't done more for them already, especially on the "don't ask, don't tell" ban. Ending the ban was one of his campaign promises last year.
"I have hopes Obama will do it, for the people who want to serve," said Nell Barnes, one of hundreds of same-sex marriage advocates who marched across the Golden Gate Bridge Sunday morning. Like others, she showed some impatience that Obama hadn't acted already.
"It's interesting to me that a man who comes from an oppressed race doesn't just do it, with a swipe of a pen," said Barnes, 43, of Fresno.
Bundled against San Francisco's morning chill, marcher Drew Wilhite called the president's speech to the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. - and his vow to end "don't ask, don't tell" - a great start.
"I'd like to see it happen faster," said Wilhite, 26, of Fresno. "But I understand that social change takes time."
In Washington, thousands of gay-rights supporters marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that Obama keep his promises to the community. Rainbow flags and homemade signs dotted the crowds filling Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.
The San Francisco event, organized by Marriage Equality USA, was low-key by comparison. Gay-rights supporters gathered at Crissy Field under a cold, gray sky to listen to speeches before setting off across the bridge.
A few wore t-shirts promoting the cause - "love is love," read one - but more wore fleece. Organizers estimated that 500 people joined the march.
For the San Francisco marchers, the main objective was overturning Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California.
Many said they were willing to cut Obama some slack, saying they understood the difficulty he faces in fixing the economy, extending health care to the uninsured and tackling global warming. But their patience has limits.
"Equality can't come fast enough," said State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, after a speech to the marchers. "At the same time, the president inherited a complete mess from George Bush. But he need not be shy about taking action."
Lydia Perez of Modesto wanted Obama to resuscitate the economy first. She depends on her spouse, Anita Perez, whom she married nearly a year ago, for health insurance. But Anita works for the Stanislaus County government, and every report of another government cutback makes Lydia worry about layoffs.
"He's got a lot of battles ahead of him," said Lydia Perez, 37, speaking of the president. "And I think we're just a drop in the lake of issues he has to deal with. ... I know he'll get to us, but I do worry more about the economy."
Hope, impatience after Obama gay rights pledge
For many of the gays and lesbians marching for equal rights Sunday in San Francisco and Washington, President Obama's pledge of support provoked hope and frustration.
David R. Baker (San Francisco Chronicle, 11/10/2009)
They hoped that the president would follow through on his promise, made in a speech at a gay-rights fundraising dinner Saturday, that he would end the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
But they said they were frustrated that Obama hadn't done more for them already, especially on the "don't ask, don't tell" ban. Ending the ban was one of his campaign promises last year.
"I have hopes Obama will do it, for the people who want to serve," said Nell Barnes, one of hundreds of same-sex marriage advocates who marched across the Golden Gate Bridge Sunday morning. Like others, she showed some impatience that Obama hadn't acted already.
"It's interesting to me that a man who comes from an oppressed race doesn't just do it, with a swipe of a pen," said Barnes, 43, of Fresno.
Bundled against San Francisco's morning chill, marcher Drew Wilhite called the president's speech to the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. - and his vow to end "don't ask, don't tell" - a great start.
"I'd like to see it happen faster," said Wilhite, 26, of Fresno. "But I understand that social change takes time."
In Washington, thousands of gay-rights supporters marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that Obama keep his promises to the community. Rainbow flags and homemade signs dotted the crowds filling Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.
The San Francisco event, organized by Marriage Equality USA, was low-key by comparison. Gay-rights supporters gathered at Crissy Field under a cold, gray sky to listen to speeches before setting off across the bridge.
A few wore t-shirts promoting the cause - "love is love," read one - but more wore fleece. Organizers estimated that 500 people joined the march.
For the San Francisco marchers, the main objective was overturning Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California.
Many said they were willing to cut Obama some slack, saying they understood the difficulty he faces in fixing the economy, extending health care to the uninsured and tackling global warming. But their patience has limits.
"Equality can't come fast enough," said State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, after a speech to the marchers. "At the same time, the president inherited a complete mess from George Bush. But he need not be shy about taking action."
Lydia Perez of Modesto wanted Obama to resuscitate the economy first. She depends on her spouse, Anita Perez, whom she married nearly a year ago, for health insurance. But Anita works for the Stanislaus County government, and every report of another government cutback makes Lydia worry about layoffs.
"He's got a lot of battles ahead of him," said Lydia Perez, 37, speaking of the president. "And I think we're just a drop in the lake of issues he has to deal with. ... I know he'll get to us, but I do worry more about the economy."
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Marchers stop in front of the White House.
"Hey, Obama, can't you see? We demand equality,"
they chanted as they waved rainbow-colored flags. (latimes.com)
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Απαιτούν από τον Ομπάμα να τηρήσει τη δέσμευσή του
(Τα Νέα, 12/10/2009)
ΧΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ ακτιβιστές για τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων πραγματοποίησαν χθες πορεία από τον Λευκό Οίκο έως το Καπιτώλιο αξιώνοντας από τον Μπαράκ Ομπάμα να τηρήσει την υπόσχεσή του και να επιτρέψει στους ομοφυλόφιλους να υπηρετούν στον στρατό χωρίς να κρύβουν τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό τους.
«Δεν κρυβόμαστε, είμαστε υπερήφανοι, δεν θα υποχωρήσουμε» φώναζε το πλήθος. Το βράδυ του Σαββάτου, μιλώντας στο ετήσιο δείπνο της μεγαλύτερης αμερικανικής οργάνωσης για τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων, της Εκστρατείας για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα, ο Μπαράκ Ομπάμα ξεκαθάρισε πως σκοπεύει να τιμήσει την προεκλογική του δέσμευση να βάλει τέλος στην πολιτική «μη ρωτάς- μη λες» που εφαρμόζεται από το 1993 και επιτρέπει σε ομοφυλόφιλους να υπηρετούν στον στρατό υπό τον όρο να κρατούν κρυφό τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό τους.
Δεν δεσμεύθηκε όμως σε χρονοδιάγραμμα, σε κάτι πιο συγκεκριμένο, ούτε για την αναίρεση τού «μη ρωτάς- μη λες» ούτε για μια άλλη προεκλογική του υπόσχεση, την ακύρωση ενός ομοσπονδιακού νόμου που ορίζει τον γάμο ως νομική ένωση αποκλειστικά ανάμεσα σε έναν άνδρα και μια γυναίκα.
(Τα Νέα, 12/10/2009)
ΧΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ ακτιβιστές για τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων πραγματοποίησαν χθες πορεία από τον Λευκό Οίκο έως το Καπιτώλιο αξιώνοντας από τον Μπαράκ Ομπάμα να τηρήσει την υπόσχεσή του και να επιτρέψει στους ομοφυλόφιλους να υπηρετούν στον στρατό χωρίς να κρύβουν τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό τους.
«Δεν κρυβόμαστε, είμαστε υπερήφανοι, δεν θα υποχωρήσουμε» φώναζε το πλήθος. Το βράδυ του Σαββάτου, μιλώντας στο ετήσιο δείπνο της μεγαλύτερης αμερικανικής οργάνωσης για τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων, της Εκστρατείας για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα, ο Μπαράκ Ομπάμα ξεκαθάρισε πως σκοπεύει να τιμήσει την προεκλογική του δέσμευση να βάλει τέλος στην πολιτική «μη ρωτάς- μη λες» που εφαρμόζεται από το 1993 και επιτρέπει σε ομοφυλόφιλους να υπηρετούν στον στρατό υπό τον όρο να κρατούν κρυφό τον σεξουαλικό προσανατολισμό τους.
Δεν δεσμεύθηκε όμως σε χρονοδιάγραμμα, σε κάτι πιο συγκεκριμένο, ούτε για την αναίρεση τού «μη ρωτάς- μη λες» ούτε για μια άλλη προεκλογική του υπόσχεση, την ακύρωση ενός ομοσπονδιακού νόμου που ορίζει τον γάμο ως νομική ένωση αποκλειστικά ανάμεσα σε έναν άνδρα και μια γυναίκα.
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Obstacles ahead for Obama's gay rights goals
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήWASHINGTON (CNN) -- As thousands gathered Sunday in Washington for a march and rally focused on gay rights issues, lawmakers showed that some of the demonstrators' key goals face major obstacles ahead.
Even with President Obama pushing Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act -- a stance he highlighted to one of the nation's leading gay-rights groups Saturday night, to huge applause -- members of his own party told CNN they're not in lockstep.
"I've said in the past I don't think that's the way to go," Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pennsylvania, told CNN's John King.
He added, "We can move forward on a lot of measures, but I'm not sure there's the support yet for that."
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, noted that her state is one of many that has a law prohibiting same-sex marriage. "So I think, for a number of us, that becomes a challenge," she said.
Stabenow would not say whether she would vote to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.
The law, signed by President Clinton in 1996, defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, and ensures that states do not have to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Clinton has since changed his mind, and said he no longer opposes same-sex marriage.
Obama does not support same-sex marriage and has said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He does, however, support civil unions for same-sex couples that offer similar rights and protections.
The two Democratic senators on Sunday expressed support for the president's stances on several other key issues regarding gay rights, including legislation expanding the definition of hate crimes to include attacks based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill passed the House last week.
Both also expressed support for the president's efforts to end the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," Sen. Carl Levin, D-Michigan, said he thinks the president will succeed on that front.
"I think he will and he can, but it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible," Levin said. "Other militaries in the West -- the British and other Western armies -- have ended this discriminatory policy. We can do it successfully, but it ought to be done with thoughtfulness, with care and with a buy-in from the military."
Retired Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "Gays can serve in the military; they just can't do so openly. And they do, and there are lots of them, and we're the beneficiary of all that."
Myers did not weigh in on whether the change should happen, but said he agreed with Levin that the "senior military leadership needs to be part of this, the Pentagon needs to be part of this."
But retired Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey disagreed. "There's no question that it's time to change the policy. The key to it isn't buy-in from the military; it's for Congress to change the law. They ought to do so, and I'm confident that the military will move ahead on it," he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, rejected McCaffrey's suggestion. "It's my belief that if you don't have buy-in from the military, that's a disservice to the people in the military. They should be included in this. I'm open-minded to what the military may suggest, but I can tell you I'm not going to make policy based on a campaign rally," Graham told NBC.
"If this policy about 'Don't ask, don't tell' changes, it should be done based not on politics, but on reason."
In his speech Saturday night to the Human Rights Campaign -- the nation's largest gay rights group -- Obama praised the gay community for making strides in equal rights and pledged to deliver on major campaign promises that critics say he's left on the back burner.
"For nearly 30 years, you've advocated for those without a voice," Obama said. "Despite the progress we've made, there are still laws to change and hearts to open."
Reaction to Obama's gay speech
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήBY MARK W. SMITH (freep.com)
President Barack Obama confronted a rising tide of discontent among the gay community on Saturday night in a rousing speech to the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner, saying he was committed to gay-rights issues including ending the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" military program.
During the speech, Obama tied the historic struggles of African Americans to those of today's gay Americans. Huffington Post's Jose Antonio Vargas writes:
"The rhetoric was striking. The country's first minority president -- a son and student of the black civil rights movement -- making a historical connection, tying two groups who've been denied full citizenship.
Over at AmericaBlog.com, the speech didn't go far enough for John Aravosis:
"What's particularly disturbing is how President Obama contradicts himself, and his own administration, when talking to a gay crowd. The president claimed that he's for treating gay couples just like married couples. Then why is he against letting gay couples marry?
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"What did President Obama say new tonight? Absolutely nothing. What did the Human Rights Campaign get in exchange for once again giving our president cover for all of his broken promises to our community? Absolutely nothing."
Chicago Sun Times political columnist Lynn Sweet talked to a former Obama campaign worker after the speech:
"I talked with Steve Hildebrand, who was Obama's deputy campaign director -- and openly gay -- after the speech. He's not angry at Obama, but he sees the need to keep pressure on the White House and Congress to deliver on the promises. Said Hildebrand: 'We have to hurry up and get things done because we are not going to have a Democratic president and Democratic majorities forever.'"
Ειναι η πρωτη φορα στην ιστορια αυτης της χωρας, ο προεδρος να μιλησει με τετοιο τροπο στην gay κοινοτητα. Η ομιλια του ηταν πολυ καλη αλλα... πολλοι gay πικραθηκαν γιατι περίμεναν να δουν καποια ουσιαστικη αλλαγη εδω και τωρα...
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήΕιμαι σχεδον σιγουρος οτι μεσα στην τετραετια του θα γινουν καποιες αλλαγες.
Απ την αλλη, ας να μην ξεχναμε οτι ο Obama δεχεται συνεχως πιεσεις απο τους Ρεπουμπλικανους σχεδον για καθε ζητημα. (Πριν λιγες μερες η καθολικη εκκλησια εδω, ζητησε απο τον κοσμο να αρνηθουν το προγραμμα του Obama για ιατρικη ασφαλεια για ολους, γιατι... θα μπορουν οι γυναικες να κανουν εκτρωση...)
Ο λόγος σου με χόρτασε και το ψωμί μου φάτο.
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήΚαι βέβαια δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι στην ομιλία του επικεντρώθηκε στο θέμα των ομοφυλόφιλων στο στρατό που αφενός σε σχέση με το σύνολο των αιτημάτων είναι το ελάχιστο και απολύτως στοιχειώδες και αφετέρου θα μπορούσε να είχε λυθεί εδώ και μήνες με ένα απλό προεδρικό διάταγμα αφού ο πρόεδρος είναι και αρχηγός των ενόπλων δυνάμεων...