The differences are soo vast already its exciting to think about the possibilities that Obama's presidency holds both for domestic policy as well as America's position in the world. Already we have seen a meritocracy forming around him which is a hell of a good start.
Within minutes of the swearing in ceremony. President Obama's whitehouse.org website was totally revamped including reiterating his commitment to the gay community. I thought you might find interesting.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama
* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
Is that Paul Rudd in the picture? he's a real cutie :) Ahh yeah it's a new era. I didn't watch the inauguration, it aired at 3AM in the morning over here in Aus.
Most gay guys in the U.S. have been fuming, rightfully, over all the homophobic stuff his staff has been pulling, with Rick Warren and all the rest of it. Otherwise, I like Obama more than not, and did vote for him. But we can't judge the guy in any way until at least a year of his term has gone by. So...we'll see. (Interesting trivia : Joe Biden is the very first Catholic vice-president the U.S. has ever had. Of Irish descent, too. The gays aren't too thrilled at THAT either- lol).
Interesting comments. Sebbe, thanks for that information. I will definately read that today. He still has my support 100% and giving him the benefit of the doubt that he has to fix the economy and the wars first. But gay issues need to be addressed because if he doesn't do it, no one will in my lifetime.
I like this statement from Rahm Emmanuel: "Guess what. We have a lot more challenges. We are going to need a lot to do it. If you're worried about are you going to have to do 50 jumping jacks the answer is yes."
Do Right And Follow Through! - Tina Fey, Weekend Update, SNL
Am. Ir. : I disagree with your conclusion that Obama is the last chance guy to address gay issues. Even IF he flopped on that, who's to say the next President wouldn't be better?
Joey, in my comment I said he is the last chance for my lifetime. Sure another president could finally do what needs to be done, but I don't want to wait sixteen years to be equal. Who knows if I will even be alive then. I know someone will come along and make that change, I just need it to be now, for me, for my life.
Yeah, I understood the "my lifetime" thing, but still....you'd only have to wait 8 more years (at most) before another chance. You'll probably be alive. Or we could both be dead. Whatever. But...geez, man. (But, yeah, this is all jumping the gun. Obama might turn out quite good on those issues. BTW: Do we really want TOTAL equality, anyway? I like being considered a little bit "bad." You're not Catholic so you might not understand that).
Obama, live up to your promises. The world is watching.
12 comments:
Hail to the Chief!
The differences are soo vast already its exciting to think about the possibilities that Obama's presidency holds both for domestic policy as well as America's position in the world. Already we have seen a meritocracy forming around him which is a hell of a good start.
Now begin the years of gay oppression! Read Advocate, etc. and find the truth.
It is about time. Joy to the world!!!
Within minutes of the swearing in ceremony. President Obama's whitehouse.org website was totally revamped including reiterating his commitment to the gay community. I thought you might find interesting.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/civil_rights/
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."
-- Barack Obama
* Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
* Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
Sorry for the long comment.
CHANGE HAS COME TO AMERICA
Is that Paul Rudd in the picture? he's a real cutie :)
Ahh yeah it's a new era. I didn't watch the inauguration, it aired at 3AM in the morning over here in Aus.
Most gay guys in the U.S. have been fuming, rightfully, over all the homophobic stuff his staff has been pulling, with Rick Warren and all the rest of it. Otherwise, I like Obama more than not, and did vote for him. But we can't judge the guy in any way until at least a year of his term has gone by. So...we'll see. (Interesting trivia : Joe Biden is the very first Catholic vice-president the U.S. has ever had. Of Irish descent, too. The gays aren't too thrilled at THAT either- lol).
Interesting comments. Sebbe, thanks for that information. I will definately read that today. He still has my support 100% and giving him the benefit of the doubt that he has to fix the economy and the wars first. But gay issues need to be addressed because if he doesn't do it, no one will in my lifetime.
I like this statement from Rahm Emmanuel: "Guess what. We have a lot more challenges. We are going to need a lot to do it. If you're worried about are you going to have to do 50 jumping jacks the answer is yes."
Do Right And Follow Through! - Tina Fey, Weekend Update, SNL
Am. Ir. : I disagree with your conclusion that Obama is the last chance guy to address gay issues. Even IF he flopped on that, who's to say the next President wouldn't be better?
Joey, in my comment I said he is the last chance for my lifetime. Sure another president could finally do what needs to be done, but I don't want to wait sixteen years to be equal. Who knows if I will even be alive then. I know someone will come along and make that change, I just need it to be now, for me, for my life.
Yeah, I understood the "my lifetime" thing, but still....you'd only have to wait 8 more years (at most) before another chance. You'll probably be alive. Or we could both be dead. Whatever. But...geez, man. (But, yeah, this is all jumping the gun. Obama might turn out quite good on those issues. BTW: Do we really want TOTAL equality, anyway? I like being considered a little bit "bad." You're not Catholic so you might not understand that).
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