What has Obama done to help, protect, and expand the rights of the LGBT community?!

[vaberella]

Okay this was asked in another thread----and I felt it should get it's own thread...

Now I can respect people saying that Obama has not done enough. Not done enough for LGBT, for Blacks, Hispanics, Women, the Environment and so on.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW

*Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability -- the first positive federal LGBT legislation in the nation's history
*Signed repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell
*Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act


POLICIES CHANGED

*Reversed an inexcusable US position by signing the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
*Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees in 2009 and, further, in 2010
*Lifted the HIV Entry Ban effective January 2010
*Issued diplomatic passports, and provided other benefits, to the partners of same-sex foreign service employees
*Committed to ensuring that federal housing programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
*Conceived a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders -- the nation's first ever -- funded by a three-year HHS grant to SAG

*Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation's largest employer)
*Eliminated the discriminatory Census Bureau policy that kept our relationships from being counted, encouraging couples who consider themselves married to file that way, even if their state of residence does not yet permit legal marriage
*Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights
*Required all grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBT individuals
*Adopted transgender recommendations on the issuance of gender-appropriate passports that will ease barriers to safe travel and that will provide government-issued ID that avoids involuntary "outing" in situations requiring ID, like hiring, where a gender-appropriate driver's license or birth certificate is not available
*Extended domestic violence protections to LGBT victims
*Extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover employees taking unpaid leave to care for the children of same-sex partners
*Issued guidance specifically to assist LGBT tenants denied housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
*Issued a National HIV/AIDS Strategy praised as "long-overdue" by the Task Force, Lambda and others
*Issued guidance to 15,000 local departments of education and 5,000 colleges to support educators in combating bullying
*Cut back authority to discharge under Don't Ask/Don't Tell from hundreds of generals to just 6 civilian appointees, effectively ending discharges while working toward a permanent end to the policy.
*Led the fight that reversed a 2010 UN vote removing sexual orientation from the list of things people should not be killed for
*Launched the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing
*Determined that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, that discrimination against LGBT citizens should be subject to "heightened scrutiny" and that it will no longer defend this portion of the law in court.
*Vacated a court order that would have deported a gay American's Venezuelan partner


RESPECT & INCLUSION

*Endorsed the Baldwin-Lieberman bill, The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, to provide FULL partnership benefits to federal employees
*Released the first Presidential PRIDE proclamations since 2000
*Hosted the first LGBT Pride Month Celebration in White House history
*Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King, joining past recipients such as Rosa Parks
*Appointed the first ever transgender DNC member
*Testified in favor of ENDA, the first time any official of any administration has testified in the Senate on ENDA
*Hired more openly LGBT officials (like these) in its first two years -- more than 150, including more than 20 "Senate-confirmables" -- than any previous administration hired in four years or eight
*Sworn in Ambassador David Huebner
*Changed the culture of government everywhere from – among others – HUD and HHS to the Export-Import Bank, the State Department, and the Department of Education
*Appointed Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, instead of conservatives who would have tilted the Court even further to the right and virtually doomed our rights for a generation. To wit (quoting McCain): "I've said a thousand times on this campaign trail, I've said as often as I can, that I want to find clones of Alito and Roberts. I worked as hard as anybody to get them confirmed. I look you in the eye and tell you I've said a thousand times that I wanted Alito and Roberts. I have told anybody who will listen. I flat-out tell you I will have people as close to Roberts and Alito ."

*Named open transgender appointees (the first President ever to do so)
*Emphasized LGBT inclusion in everything from the President’s historic NAACP address (“The pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African American women paid less for doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and a different gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim Americans viewed with suspicion simply because they kneel down to pray to their God. By our gay brothers and sisters, still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights.”) . . . to the first paragraph of his Family Day proclamation (“Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things”) and his Mothers Day proclamation ("Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by two parents, a single mother, two mothers, a step-mom, a grandmother, or a guardian. Mother's Day gives us an opportunity to celebrate these extraordinary caretakers") . . . to creating the chance for an adorable 10-year-old at the White House Easter Egg roll to tell ABC World News how cool it is to have two mommies . . . to including the chair of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce along with the Secretary of the Treasury and the President of Goldman Sachs in the small audience for the President’s economic address at the New York Stock Exchange . . . to welcoming four gay couples to its first State Dinner
*Recommitted, in a televised address, to passing ENDA . . . repealing Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell . . . repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act
*Spoken out against discrimination at the National Prayer Breakfast ("We may disagree about gay marriage, but surely we can agree that it is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are -- whether it's here in the United States or, as Hillary mentioned, more extremely in odious laws that are being proposed most recently in Uganda.")
*Dispatched the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to call on the Senate to repeal Don't Ask / Don't Tell
*Launched a website to gather public comment on first-ever federal LGBT housing discrimination study
*Appointed long-time equality champion Chai Feldblum one of the four Commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
*Produced U.S. Census Bureau PSAs featuring gay, lesbian, and transgender spokespersons
*Appointed Retired Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, an early public champion of open service in the military, to the Defense Advisory

Committee on Women in the Services
*Publicly invited the shunned MIssissippi high school prom student to the White House
*Successfully fought for UN accreditation of IGLHRC (the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission) -- against Republican attempts to block it
*Convened the first-ever anti-bullying summit to craft a national strategy to reduce bullying in schools
*Launched stopbullying.gov
*Awarded $13.3 million to the LA Gay & Lesbian Center to create a model program for LGBTQ youth in the foster care system
*Tweeted to 5.7 million BarackObama followers and nearly 2 million WhiteHouse followers the President's "It Gets Better" video
*Embraced that campaign with heartfelt messages from, as well, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of *Agriculture (aimed particularly at rural youth), the Secretaries of Education and Health & Human Services, the Secretary of Labor (in English and Spanish), the Director of OPM and LGBT members of the White House staff
*Issued a Department of Justice video urging kids to call a Justice Department toll-free number if their school is aware of bullying but taking no action
*Held the first ever White House conference on bullying prevention, led by the President and First Lady
*Hosted first-ever White House transgender policy meeting
http://www.equalitygiving.org/Accomplishments-by-the-Administration-and-Congress-on-LGBT-Equality

Here are a few links corroborating this.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/gay-rights-president-obamas-37-accomplishments-for-lgbt-americans/politics/2011/06/01/21234

So when I hear nothing...Let's be honest and real. You can say not enough, you can say not going far enough. But to say noting in the face of decades of ABSOLUTELY nothing but even more restriction...I think we have to check our words here.

And I would do the same for Blacks, Latinos and the rest. But The comment was directed specifically for the LGBT community.


Link to where posters were asked to provide a list of information: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=688901&mesg_id=688922

So I can mitigate the idea that I am in some way "scolding" DUers. I felt it would be more effective to provide a list in it's own thread that everyone or some can benefit from if they were not aware of the steps the Obama Admin has taken to benefit the lives of those in the LGBT community.

[CakeGrrl]

1. I just REC'D THIS TO ZERO. How very telling. n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Shouldn't be surprising, though. I'll give this bad boy a KICK!!! K&R!!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[Number23]

49. Right there with ya, girl

:kick:
Props to ClarkUSA for posting a link! I wouldn't have seen this otherwise.

Vaberella, this is an interesting thread. I am glad for the changes that have been made in this area and cannot wait to see what else progresses. Happy to rec.

[The Doctor.]

60. Well, it's difficult to keep the 'Obama-Homophobe' même circulating properly

If the facts are allowed to circulate as well.

I strongly suspect there is a contingent of trolls among the LGBT community at large whose sole purpose is to propagate such a même for the purpose of turning the community, or as much of it as possible, against Obama.

I expect that, as we near November '12, we will see much stronger efforts toward that purpose.

[AtomicKitten]

77. +1

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. Yeah, cuz you know that McCain and Palin would have done so much more

for the LGBT community!!

:sarcasm::sarcasm:

[Peacetrain]

3. K&R thank you for the links

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CakeGrrl]

6. Excellent detail, thanks. Bookmarking for sure. n/t

[DevonRex]

7. That's a pretty good list. Nt

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JoePhilly]

9. See post #11, #12 for why this OP exists.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vaberella]

16. Are you kidding me?! You really believe that?! Okay you know what.

Believe what you will. That's hardly the case. I have more expectations from Obama---especially for the LGBT community. I mainly posted this so people can stop selling the notion that Obama has done nothing--which has been said time and again and even a recent thread said as much. But if you believe he did nothing. Fine then. I find he did something and I'm happy he's done what he has. I want more and I'm pushing for more.

[ClarkUSA]

20. This statement "is nothing but" nonsensical bullshit.

[JoePhilly]

30. The OP decided to take a few minutes and gather his details ...

And in that earlier thread, he said he'd post an OP as a direct response when he had done so.

Scream all you want.

[vaberella]

13. Did I say that? Hardly. I actually want people to push Obama for more. I'm waiting on DOMA.

I strongly support more from Obama. However, to suggest he did nothing is an outright lie and stupid. On its face it's BS and historically it's BS.

[great white snark]

18. If it's any consolation vaberella..

I responded to your response after DADT was repealed and I remember you saying "Good! Now let's get to work on DOMA."

[vaberella]

19. I did...I really want DOMA repealed. Thanks for remembering.

I want a lot more done. I would love for Obama to basically enforce a law to make gay marriage legal--but I don't think that will happen in my lifetime...but at least not "defining" it by some stupid judeo-christian archaic.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tx4obama]

10. Great list. The more the dems help get the word out about 'all' the good things Obama has done

the better.

President Obama is going to have a great record/resume to campaign on in 2012 :)

[Bluenorthwest]

11. Decades of even more restriction? What books are you reading?

My entire adult lifetime has seen nothing but advances, made by the the activists, step by step. Absolutely nothing? But more restrictions? Show me what the hell you are talking about. What new restrictions have been added in the last two decades? That is just the sort of language that sets me off. Hyperbolic and not accurate. Check our words indeed.

[Peacetrain]

15. You are about to see it in Iowa.. the forces are in to overturn our freedom of marriage

act..they got rid of the judges who ruled on it in 2010.. and the move to roll it back is in full force.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. But PC, the marriage act itself is part of the progress.

It did not exist. It happened. It was not NOTHING. It was not more restrictions. It is still the law. A decade ago it was not, much less decades. To pretend that Iowa had years of equality about to be restricted, as opposed to having taken a step that is being challenged just to claim NOTHING has been done is crazy stuff.
To say there has been nothing for decades but more restrictions is as untrue as to say Obama has done nothing. Both are inaccurate. Both are disrespectful to the people involved, from the President to every single activist and voter who actually did more than nothing. That is my point.

[vaberella]

17. I find DADT to be a restriction, Prop 8, another. Meaning it was de facto...but not a law.

And then when you're looking at the movements made by many state laws---they are pushing for restrictions not progress. Proposition 8 was another---that's a restriction. Hence my meaning. Maybe I should have made it more clear. Laws that outline restrictions that were just de facto are restrictions versus progress. I guess it's the way one looks at it then.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Prop 8 was an attack on progress that had been won.

So that was not nothing, m'dear. People in my home state got married and still are. Nothing? When I was born, one could be put in jail for being gay in CA. Change after change.
Even DADT was in fact an improvement over the previous state of things, it was change, it was forward motion.
You bring up State law, but we are speaking of Federal issues. But that's fine. It is not fine, however to say there were 'decades of nothing but more restrictions' when there was a huge amount of progress on every possible level, politically, culturally, legally, you name it. To deny all of that for a rhetorical flourish while chiding others for rhetorical flourish is a bit ironic. Decades of NOTHING but more restrictions. Except for the MA marriage equality law. Except for the SCOTUS sodomy law reversal. Except for hundreds of companies large and small offering equal benefits to same sex partners. Except for the dozens of good strong role models in media and culture, living open lives, that goes for the fictional characters as well, TV used to be devoid of GLBT people. So except for all the progress, each bit hard won by grass roots activists and elected Democrats working respectfully and honestly toward a mutual goal, there has been NOTHING but more restrictions.
That statement of yours is just as false as a claim that Obama has done nothing. And since the objective you stated for making the OP is about accuracy in speech and acknowledgement of those who have accomplished change, I do take issue with your statement. Decades of nothing but more restrictions. Obama has done nothing. Two hyperbolic bits of rhetoric, serving an agenda, not the truth and most certainly not respectful political dialog.
If the objective is being careful with language and facts, let's all do just that, shall we?

[vaberella]

27. Actually---I said it was a restriction did I not?

And in other cases---like Texas---they made laws that verbally restricted groups. That is restrictions. Yes, some progress was one---many were lost and then clarified. And when I say Absolutely nothing...I'm speaking of the GOVERNMENT----Federal. Since I was speaking of the Obama admin. I mentioned more state wise...however Federal wise---it was restrictions more than progress. DADT and DOMA was not progress. However I do concede the sodomy law. In any event, my post still stands. Obama has done a lot for the LGBT community--positive wise, than I can say about any other administration before? Can you give me an Administration that has done more?

[Bluenorthwest]

44. See, an honest look at the whole mighilla reveals that we have

scant basis of comparison. That is because of the rapid and large scale change and progress in the last few decades. Bill Clinton was the first to so much as mention us by name in a positive light. He tried far more than anyone had, because no one had done a thing. Actually nothing. Bill and Barack are the only two who we've had any sort of organized relationship with. Take the military issue. I see that entire thing as a Democratic victory, involving both Presidents. And lots of other people, elected and mostly other wise. And if the word is nothing, even W managed to appoint the first openly gay ambassador, again because of the momentum and the changes to hearts and minds and laws.
I think it took huge labor by genius people with nothing to lose to shake the mainstream of the Democratic Party out of just a modicum of respect. Since then, it has been a bit by bit story, but forward all the way. The really nasty portions of Party history are previous to the Clinton era.
The President who did nothing, nothing, nothing was Ronald Reagan. His apathy and silence was the most destructive political force I have ever seen. Bill for all his flaws was a hero by comparison, just as Obama after W was a tonic and a forward path.
I'm serious when I say that it is important to note the facts at hand, because we've been making cracking progress, when compared to politics and glaciers, and it aint for nothing. To get to the point of Federal change on any issue, there is a broad and long amount of work on other levels, politically and culturally and for some religiously. Then when you get a politician like Bill or Barack, and you can try for something, they have context to work with. That which is 'shovel ready' gets the grant.
I just saw too many people do too much, and too much change go down to say it was nothing, and that goes for Obama's changes as well, nothing is not the world for it. Nothing gets us nowhere, it is a word applicable only to Republicans.

[Cali_Democrat]

22. Someone should also take a poll of the GLBT forum in DU on this subject

Ask them to rate Obama's GLBT accomplishments.

[Tx4obama]

25. But then folks would have to admit that Pres Obama 'has' accomplished something.

I'd like to see a poll like that but for ALL DUers to partake in.
Also, would love to know why there is so much outrage when there are OPs that promote the good things that Obama has done.
Any positives things that Obama has done on 'all' issues should be hollered from the roof tops for all to know about.

[CakeGrrl]

29. No, some still deny that he's accomplished anything.

The point of this OP was to refute someone's claim of that very assertion.

The only thing they claimed they could find on the internet about the President and GLBT was Alan Cumming's statement that the President hadn't done anything for the GLBT community. And that apparently satisfied them that it was true.

[Duncan Grant]

23. Please see this link for more discussion from LGBT people:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=221&topic_id=167413&mesg_id=167413

[BklnDem75]

26. A thread from 8 months ago?

[Cali_Democrat]

28. The list in the OP appears to be from about 1 year ago

I can't say for sure because it's not dated, but the earliest comment in it is from May 17, 2011.

The DU link that Duncan Grant posted appears to be a response to that list.

[vaberella]

34. Yes it is...and it's dated too. I forgot to add Obama's medicaid expansion as well.

Which I was planning to add and which is not on the list. So the accomplishments are more than 30/37. However, dated or not accomplishments had been made in 25 months (which is the time frame the writer is working on). A few more additions can be made--such DADT repeal that December. And the medicaid expansion that happened a few weeks ago in regards to the HCR Act.

[Cali_Democrat]

40. Go ahead and make those additions

It's your OP :thumbsup:

[Prism]

32. Still a valid thread

I'm much more positive on President Obama's LGBT accomplishments now than I was eight months ago, but my thoughts about the List are unchanged. I don't care for it for the same reasons stated in that thread.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Behind the Aegis]

36. I don't find it interesting, I find it predicatable....and disgusting!

[vaberella]

38. How is it or am I disgusting? What is offensive about my post that was asked by a poster?

I need some clarity. It was asked and I posted it. I may not have put my sexuality out there on the board but I have put my race. And I notice many have said at times---what would I think if it was a topic about Blacks or interracial marriages and such. I can post a topic about what Obama has done for minority people. However that was not the question asked on that thread. Would I then be acting out disgusting if I find that the President has done many things for the nation which include minority people? Would I be telling Blacks to just sit down and shut up?

I even made it clear in my post. My thread is not about not doing enough---but the statement that he's done NOTHING. I take issue with that.

[BklnDem75]

41. Care to elaborate?

[The Doctor.]

61. How dare someone, ummm... post the truth?

Those bastards!

:eyes:

[Behind the Aegis]

67. LOL!

It isn't WHAT was posted but HOW it is posted; but I don't expect you or the OP to understand the difference. Carry on with your mission.

[The Doctor.]

72. What mission?

You mean the one where I take exception to people trying to undermine the pursuit of equal rights by spreading the 'Obama is the enemy' même? The 'mission' of encouraging honesty and reasoned anger over lies and blind rage? The mission to illuminate and eliminate trolls who so eagerly and easily take advantage of that rage to undermine support for Obama, so they can once again put someone in office who will quash the pursuit of equal rights?

That mission?

I absolutely will 'carry on' that mission, despite the fact that you will never understand it or ever thank anyone with a cool enough head to see what is happening.


I will gladly stop posting 'the list' when people stop spreading bullshit to undermine the chances of keeping in office the best friend the LGBT community has ever had in the White House.


Oh, and THIS is the reason 'the list' was posted here;
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=688901&mesg_id=688922

Or are you suggesting that it is somehow 'rude' to answer a direct challenge? Seriously, how disingenuous does one have to be to ask a question, and then attack the messenger for simply answering it?

[Tx4obama]

79. Bravo. Keep up the good work.

There are a lot of people in America that don't know anything at all about ANY thing that Obama has done on ANY issues.
Hell I've even been seeing people on Twitter and Facebook that have been saying that Obama was ONLY a U.S. Senator for a couple of months before becoming President - and TONS of them don't even know that he was a state senator for 8 years.
The amount of misinformation out there is mind-boggling.

Education in America is in the shitter ;(

[The Doctor.]

80. One of the things that most pisses me off about Obama;

He doesn't get on tv EVERY week and talk about what he's doing!

He can DO THAT!

It would change much for the better. It would keep the RW noise machine scrambling to come up with ways to shoot him down. They'd have a much more difficult time keeping the bubble intact if their listeners were exposed to Obama's work on a regular basis.

As for the level of education; I think the problem is more that people just don't have time to learn anything new. Most people are living hand to mouth and working 60+ hour weeks to do so. They don't have the time or the resources to get to the truth. On the other hand, such people irritate me because they have such strong opinions on issues they know nothing about. They're insecure, and the corporate media takes full advantage of that.

I want to hate them for their intellectual laziness. But even my parents believe what they hear on Faux Noise... and one's a nuclear engineer and the other is a journalist from MIT.

The power of the corporate media is strong, and it helps them that critical thinking is no longer taught in schools.

[Tx4obama]

81. Yes, but ...

The White House does put out weekly videos

1) Weekly Address by President Obama (like a fireside chat)
and
2) West Wing Week (a round up of everything Obama has done all week)

http://www.youtube.com/user/whitehouse

ya have to scroll on the right side of the page to find them all.


But I don't think too many people know about them ;(

[The Doctor.]

82. I have been avoiding TV like the plague lately.

I did not know.

Are these videos aired on TV?

[Tx4obama]

83. Not that I know of.

Just on the WH YouTube page
and on the White House website.

[vaberella]

37. How do you know I'm a non-LGBT person?

I don't remember talking about my sexuality on the board. And if I'm not---does that mean I have no say or relationship or care about the community? Please don't make presumptions about my person. It's irrelevant to the debate and I hate when this comes into play.

[Duncan Grant]

45. It's not about you but LGBT people aren't posting this list with any regularity.

And to be 100% clear, I don't speak for all LGBT people -- I'm only trying to offer my perspective on "the list". Whether or not anyone chooses to empathize or listen is entirely up to them.

[vaberella]

56. Actually the original post was claiming to know my perspective, it would seem. n/t

[yardwork]

54. Oh girl. Please.

[vaberella]

55. Please what? Do you know me? n/t

[BklnDem75]

39. It's a thread about your opinion

Why should I give your attempt to downplay every accomplishment any weight at all?

[Duncan Grant]

43. Remove me from the equation and evaluate all the available evidence.

Feel free to talk to your LGBT friends about "the list" -- don't make it about me.

[vaberella]

31. I read that article. I found it a crock. Did you read it?

It says the President did ZERO. However, goes on to say "That's good." or "Good"----how is then that ZERO. It doesn't match up does it. This is why I wanted to point out this thread. I figured someone would post that article.

I mean, you yourself have to admit for a writer to say that Obama has done ZERO things for the LGBT community but then to respond "Good" or "That's Good" to several key legislation. Additionally he said Obama would not pass DADT and worked to destroy it. Well then---DADT is repealed---which kinds of makes the thread a joke. All it's waiting for is Panetta and Obama's signature if that's not already been done.

[Duncan Grant]

42. LGBT people must not know the reality of their lives.

Please re-read Aravosis's response to Tobias's list -- most of what he wrote is still relevant. Some things have changed re: DADT (insert equivocation here). From my perspective, this administration could be doing substantive change in addition to -- and beyond -- DADT. There's so much to be done in his 2nd term...

[vaberella]

46. That's not what I said. He said ZERO but went on to say Good or That's good on issues.

How is that ZERO?

[The Doctor.]

63. It's a tough dance for some.

On one hand, there is the need to downplay Obama's unprecedented actions in favor of the LGBT community. On the other hand, attempting to directly address those actions or link Obama to any difficulty in implementation can only fail.

Therefore, it is very important to use tactics such as; "The answers are out there, look it up.", which I have seen many dozens if not hundreds of times as an attempt to legitimize an otherwise bereft position. Another tactic, also employed above, is to insinuate or suggest that you yourself have said or suggested something that you have not. This can be very effective as it puts you on the defensive and effectively changes the topic, at least for a while.

Now, of course, any rational and objective observer can see through such devious tactics, but it's not always easy to see from within the fray.

Thanks for the OP. I hope we can free our friends and allies from irrational and self-defeating rage, and share enough in their justified anger to help make equality a reality for everyone.

K+R

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. Thank You!

:kick:

[boppers]

48. A good start.

The fight for women's equality is over 150 years old, and we're still fighting for that, too.

[Pisces]

50. K and R!! Great response.

[jenmito]

51. K&R for FACTS!

:hi:

[woolldog]

52. K & R

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Whisp]

57. NOT ENOUGH! and NOT FAST ENOUGH!

;)

[AtomicKitten]

76. +1

[QuintanarooBoy]

58. Solid rec

Amen.

[CreekDog]

59. Your post is misleading about "extended benefits to same sex partners"

almost all benefits remain off limits to same sex partners.

if you actually spell out what was offered, you'd be hard pressed to call it by the blanket term "benefits".

pensions and health care are off limits.

[Marrah_G]

62. Oh yay, the list. Thank you for setting us all straight.

:eyes:

[The Doctor.]

65. The point is not to 'set anyone straight' precisely...

Just to give lie to those who deliberately spread unfounded hatred. Much anger is justified, but there is a level of blind rage that only causes damage to progress.

If enough people in any given community can be led to believe that Obama has utterly failed them, or even acted against them, then they can be convinced to withhold their support or work against him.

Many, many groups allow themselves to be convinced that Obama has hurt the economy, lost jobs, raised taxed, and wants to bring socialism to America. None of these have any more basis in reality than the notion that Obama is a 'homophobe', yet I have seen that exact accusation here on DU. The list above simply shatters any such notion. The list is not to 'set anyone straight' who is merely disappointed that more has not been done, it is to put the lie that Obama is the enemy to the light of day.

Whether we focus on how small are the steps taken in comparison to the needs to be met, or how much greater and in the right direction those steps have been than all those of every former president combined, the simple fact is; they are steps and they are good ones.

If Obama's enemies are successful, then they will reduce his support base in one more community. All they need do is continue to sow enough blind outrage. If equality is to be achieved, it will be more through reason than blind rage.

I believe that once Obama is not facing re-election, he will do a great deal more. What he has done so far is 'under the radar' for the most part. Exactly what I would expect from a proponent of equal rights with a keen sense of electoral topography.

That is to say; I still hope... with good reason.


Marrah, you've always been reasonable, and I've always respected that. I hope others will be too.

[Marrah_G]

66. Thanks Doc

But on this one I will continue to roll my eyes. This particular list is used as another way to tell the GBLT community to sit down and shut up. It is used by the same group of people over and over. Those of us in the GBLT community here know exactly what is being said every time that list is posted. Then the poster blinks their eyes innocently and says " but I'm just posting facts"

I hope you are right about future Obama. I voted for him, campaigned for him even after his campaign did some things I found offensive. Inauguration day should have been a celebration, instead it was kicked off by a very vocal bigot who causes alt of harm in the world. I was hopeful that he would indeed be a fierce advocate once in office. Unless he vocalizes a change in his views on marriage equality and civil rights and tells the military to stop stalling on DADT I won't be going into the 2012 election with the same enthusiasm and support as I did in 2012. He will probably get my vote, but probably not my time or money.

[The Doctor.]

68. I believe you.

I'm certain that there are those who use it that way. Obviously, that's just stupid bordering on mean. Personally, I have posted it, and seen others post it, in direct response to accusations of Obama being a homophobe. Few things can defeat a community as quickly as a deep sense of dejection from one in whom hopes had been placed. In this case, it is more than fair to point out that any notion that Obama is an enemy will only play into the hands of the real enemy.

I hate the fact that this rift even exists. I know that if he had done much more, such as request an amendment to legalize ss marriage at the federal level, that rift wouldn't exist. Also, I'm certain that he would have the LGBT community right at his back from that moment on. Unfortunately, there is no doubt that such sweeping action would change the 'electoral topography'. As the saying goes; 'don't change the rules when you're already winning'. Right now, any contender stands virtually no chance of beating him. I'm not sure we'd have this particular reality right now if he had done more, so I imagine that he has played it 'safe'.

I cannot argue with your disappointment. Rick Warren is a total asshole. I'm disappointed that Obama did not prosecute members of the previous administration for their blatant war crimes... among other things. When I took a step back and looked at the potential fallout from such an action, I realized that it would create unmitigated chaos if he chose that course. I am disappointed in Obama for many things, but I have a stark sense that it is because his is not the strongest will in DC.

Perhaps he could have done more without fallout. I really can't know because it just didn't happen. I choose to believe that Obama will do much more in his second term because frankly, we have nothing to lose by believing so and everything to gain. Should we set aside that 'faith', if you will, then we make it easier for the real enemies to put their pro-corporate (yeah, no big difference), anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-environment candidate in the WH. I will have faith because I want very much to have my hopes born out rather than the alternative which is to lose all hope entirely. I hope that you can understand why I see supporting him as so important, even if he has disappointed us all in some way.

As I said; Many only post the list because they have seen posts that are completely out-of-touch with reality, more than that; posts that deliberately fan flames of unfounded rage. Some DUers are jerks. I know I can be kind of an asshole too, but I usually have good reasons. But there are plenty of DUers who are genuinely concerned that the outrage, however otherwise justified, can ultimately cause far more harm than good, and truly want their brothers and sisters to be happy and fulfilled. I count myself among them.

I hope you do too.

[justiceischeap]

69. "plenty of DUers who are genuinely concerned"

If they were so concerned, they would get the message that the DU LGBT community has been sending about "the list." You know what that list represents to me? Things that haven't gotten done. Things that don't really affect me unless I work for the Federal government. Yes, they are steps and I applaud those steps but IMO he really squandered an opportunity to change the 'electoral topography' in a good way. When he was elected Dems controlled the White House, the Senate and the House. Then would have been a good time to say he wasn't going to defend DOMA and to get ENDA passed as well as repealing DADT, he had the power behind him to do those things, as he promised, but didn't. If he had pushed for those changes, then he would have given America 4-8 years to deal with the cultural change.

When you look at a lot of the things on "the list" you see things that can easily be overturned when the next Repub gets in office. That does more damage to the LGBT community because it gives the message yet again that gay people aren't worth getting those benefits. It sets the movement back.

So, if you really want to help sow harmony on DU when it comes to LGBT DUers, stop posting the fucking list. We know the list, we're unhappy with the list, don't antagonize us with the list that doesn't mean a whole lot to our community anyway.

[The Doctor.]

70. When someone makes false claims, claims that I know to be untrue,,

I counter them.

Period.

Lies sow discord. Failing to acknowledge reality causes very real problems.

You responded to my post for the purpose of arguing, not making a point. You deliberately disregarded what I have said.

If you're so concerned over a Republican getting into office and overturning everything, then perhaps it's a bad idea to let people tell you Obama is somehow the enemy.

If you haven't anything reasonable or rational to say, then there is no need to respond.

[Tx4obama]

71. The OP was not directed at you or posted for you. It was a response to someone that 'asked' ...

... "What has Obama done?".

I find it ridiculous that there is so much outrage over posting what Obama and democrats HAVE done.

Perhaps some folks know Obama's record, but MANY do not, and the only way to help to inform them is to post what HAS been done.

How can a statement of "Obama has done NOTHING." be counteracted other than posting "what he HAS done" ?
If someone has an alternative solution, then I am sure we are all ears.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

64. Breaking News: "HRC Applauds U.S. Department of Education for Supporting GSAs"

Washington, D.C.-(ENEWSPF)- The Human Rights Campaign, the nations’ largest civil rights organization working toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality, today applauded U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan for affirming the government's support of allowing Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) to form in every school across the country. Although the Equal Access Act has provided students the ability to form GSAs for nearly 30 years, some schools have ignored the law and denied students the right to form these student organizations. Secretary Duncan made the announcement at the Federal LGBT Youth Summit held June 6 -7th in Washington, DC, but followed the announcement with a “Dear Colleague” letter published today.

“Today’s letter from Secretary Duncan reinforces the importance of gay-straight alliances in our nation’s schools,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “This is a clarion call to teachers and school administrators that they must welcome and respect LGBT students and their allies and create an environment conducive to learning for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Solmonese added, “The message is: schools must support LGBT students. They must allow LGBT students and allies to create support networks because, like all students, LGBT students have value. That message – spoken or unspoken – is a life-saver.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x178682

[Tx4obama]

78. Thank you for letting us know the new news. n/t

[scheming daemons]

74. The most LGBT-friendly President in this nation's history

by far.



Yet pummelled continuously.

[JNelson6563]

75. K&R

[William769]

84. So Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?