LGBT Community Needs Temperature Control
June 28, 2009 by James Hipps
As I read more and more post from various LGBT sources, blogs, etc., I am finding a dynamic I’m not to pleased with. LGBT people across the country are acting like spoiled little brats wondering why President Obama has yet to give us our rights. I also see this attitude and the sentiment expressed to be in-line with what we are hearing from the Right Wing nuts. The rants, although being in political opposition to what the “Right Wingers” are spewing are disappointingly similar in tone and the accusations aren’t too dissimilar. I would also like to mention I’m sure it gives the likes of James Dobson, Donald Wildom, Rush Limbaugh, et. al., a great big hard on to hear the LGBT community dog Obama out. I for one would never consider giving any of them the satisfaction.
Well, I’ve voiced my opinion and it’s met some pretty harsh criticism. I happen to think that it logically will take time. I knew it was never going to happen overnight, and I knew this was something that the President was not going to be able to accomplish on his own. I also don’t recall the president making the claim that it would happen immediately, nor do I recall him saying he would be able to accomplish this on his own. What I do recall is him saying he would work towards that goal, and I stand pretty firm and assured by his actions that he has indeed lived up to his promise of working towards those goals…again, knowing it would not happen overnight as if he was able to sprinkle fairy dust and waive a magic wand. This is real life, not a fantasy, and as long as you treat it as such, you’ll more than likely have a pretty good grip on reality and what expectations are realistic.
Steve Charing of OUTSpoken.com wrote a great piece which sums it up nicely. The following is an excerpt.
Of course, we want our agenda pushed through. We have a Democratic president with a huge Democratic majority in Congress—a window of opportunity that will not remain open forever despite the GOP’s foibles. But let’s get real.
President Obama has been in office just over 5 months out of 48 months in his first term. He potentially could reach 96 months if re-elected. In the short time since inauguration he has dealt with problems that would make any other person find an escape clause in the contract. His issues are too numerous to delineate here, but I’m sure there is no question as to the challenges facing our country. Imagine McCain and Palin grappling with these crises.Mr. Obama didn’t win the election based on a gay agenda. He won on “change” and to put Democratic policies in place and eradicate the previous administration’s mistakes. He won on ending the war in Iraq and implementing some form of universal healthcare. And he won by being the anti-Bush.He amassed 365 electoral votes. Even if Mr. Obama did not receive a single lgbt vote (and 30% of lgbt folks did not vote for him anyway), he still would have won. That’s right, as a bloc, and I use that term loosely, we didn’t win the election for him.But that doesn’t mean he will renege on his campaign promises to us. The key components of our legislative agenda must originate in Congress. It is that body that needs to act on an all-inclusive ENDA, to repeal of DADT and to pass the Matthew Sheppard Act while we still have this large majority.
Thanks for your patience and realistic approach Steve. It’s great to know there ARE voices of reason out there. Please click here to read the entire post.
Steve Charing is the Managing Editor and Senior Political Analyst for Baltimore OUTloud and the Media Coordinator for PFLAG-Howard County (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
Only 5 months, and filled with financial crisis, health care debate, Iran, etc. But anger felt be gays is real and the content of some of this administration’s statements and briefs reflect a backward step on campaign commitments. Asking us to reign in our anger (as once again “political capital” is not to be used–not now when faced with other issues, and not election year2010, not in 2012, another election, etc), when our civil rights are denied (but not requests for our money) is perhaps realistic when it comes to politics, but we are talking about lives. For 40 years, I have marched, written and spoken out. In a political climate where the VP can tell a senator to fuck himself and the House minority leader calls a bill shit, it takes strong language to be heard. Two lines from entertainment come to mind: Will and Grace: “Aren’t you tired?” and Network: “I’m mad as hell. . .”
Wake up my brothers and sisters – lgbt legislation and stop loss orders will NOT happen in 2010 as it is an elelction year for 1/3 of the Senate, all of the House, and many governors. LGBT legislation and stop loss orders and EXecutive orders will NOT happen in 2012 becauseof the Presidential Election etc.
That leaves us 2009 and 2011. It is 2009. Women , blacks, latinos, immigrants ALL have gotten something from this administration. All have laws passed and signed and additional committees formed for new laws – FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Obama has given the LGBT folks absolutely nothing nada zilch. He continues to point fingers at the Congress. Yet the truth of the matter is that a stop loss order on DADT will force Congress to address DADT now. Very strong leadership he is NOT excercising while HE is the boss firing 265+ people for being gay.
HE is not drafting legislation for the repeal of DOMA. HE IS NOT foring committees or task forces tolook at the repeal of DOMA. It simply is NOT happening. ZERO leadership.
On the other hand he IS filing the worst of all possible briefs with the Supreme
court on Doma and DADT. Worst af all possible … and President Obama has NOT in any way indicated he disagrees with those briefs.
Ought we be “huryy up and mad” You bet! To say otherwise is not to understand the political process.
How patient would he be with Black Union instead of Marriage? How patient would he be with Black only units in the Army? How patient would he be without if the 1964 civil Rights Act did not cover race but covered sexual orientation? You tell me how patient he would be … then tell me how patient I should be.
Yeah, but….(there’s always a yeah but) how many years did People of Color “wait”? Many! And they, like LGBT Americans should be doing, didn’t point the finger at the President. They got off their asses and worked. The LGBT community hasn’t collectively shown any “struggle” which means we haven’t gained the empathy of or sympathy from the rest of the nation.
I also call for everyone to “wake up” – wake up, get off your asses and work. Before anyone criticizes President Obama for what he hasn’t done for the LGBT community, I’d like to see their resume of what they have done.
James Hipps – you are a bright guy – but really give it some thought. Just how patient do you believe Barack Obama would be six months into the Hipps Presidency … just how patience do you believe Michelle Obama would be advising her readers IF President James Hipps were firing all African Americans in the US Armed Forces? Or creating a seperate but not equal quasi-marriage civil union subsitute in only sume states – that were NOT recognized by the federal government at all? Or that the federal government civil rights laws prohibited discrimination on sexual orientation, sex,, and religion, but not race?
Just how much patience would they have if President Hipps had promised them change? AND President Hipps had already fired more than 265 Black members of the military? What would Barack and Michelle advise?
Give it some thought and tell me.
Richard, you’re a bright guy too, which makes me wonder a bit why you’re asking these particular questions.
If I were president, and there were laws in place from a previous administration, I would ask the people who those laws were affecting to please be patient while I gained the necessary support to change those particular laws by a democratic means.
I don’t justify DADT or DOMA, but I also know President Obama did not put those laws into place. I refuse to blame President Obama for either, just as I wouldn’t blame him for being in Iraq, the state of the economy, the current health care situation, or the fact there are over one million homeless children in the U.S. alone. The fact is, there is an effort going on in the White House to bring the injustices to an end. How long will it take? I don’t know. I simply don’t feel it’s my place to judge, especially when for the first time in history, many LGBT issues are at least being talked about.
My resume? 1999 – The Advocate named me of the 100 most influential people in America to the LGBT community. I was with the national AFL-CIO at the time doing political work. Disabled in 2000. Now doing community work in northern CA and gathering history for a book or other genre. Plus blogging AND doing something different from other political bloggers …. I am doing political blogging on a hook up site. Good enough for you James?
Come James. Get real. The pressure recent weeks has FINNALLY gotten the Pentagon looking at DADT. The pressure of the last few weeks has FINALLY gotten Congress looking at DADT. Now if we could only get the President to stop DADT enforcement. He can you know, he can.
Why are you willing to give Obama a pass when he can, with the stroke of a pen, STOP DADT until teh Congress fixes it. 75% of Americans want DADT gone – according to Obama. Yet he still fires service men and women. And you give him a pass as he HURTS us. Why is that? I really do not get it. The count is now 272 and going up each week. How many ruined lives will it take before you get mad?
We have 6 months for him to do something. that’s it politically. 6 months. Will he do the right thing?
Richard, I am aware of your contributions, and they are greatly appreciated and I would never want to give the impression that I am not giving credit where deserved. I sincerely apologize if I came across as though I was doubting your contributions as that was not my intent.
However, I just don’t believe getting mad and ostracizing the first person in the oval office who has actually had balls enough to take on LGBT issues, no matter of the pace, is going to do any good.
I just don’t see where President Obama has “hurt” the LGBT community. Heck, he has the Religious Right screaming over his actions so I figure if nothing else, he’s doing one thing right.
DADT is a law, and I completely understand the president wanting congress to change the law rather than using his pen to stop it.
Perhaps pressure has helped him push things along a bit, but I don’t think harsh criticism is helping.
Again, if Obama was solely responsible for enacting DADT, then I would have a different view, but he really had nothing to do with it and now he’s catching a whole lot of flack over something he inherited. I simply try to put myself in his shoes and when I do, I can’t justify being upset with him over this.