President Obama’s Promise to LGBT People

Speaking last night at the annual HRC dinner, President Obama told attendees that he remains committed to ending the military policy of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, ending discrimination in the workplace and pushing for acceptance and inclusion of loving couples and their families.

This came the night before the National March for Equality happening in the nation’s capital today.

The president also made a point to let those in attendance know he is a strong ally in the fight for LGBT equality, and that he understands and encourages activism by the LGBT community, and that he understands the sense of urgency by many who have grown impatient with the rate of change stating he’s interested in building a nation where “no one is denied their basic rights, in which all of us are free to live and love as we see fit.”

The president added:

“You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.”

When it comes to the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the president stated:

“I am working with the Pentagon, its leadership and members of the House and Senate to end this policy. I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. That is my commitment to you.”

One point I would like to highlight, which is in my opinion the most important point, is the president’s voice urging activism.

One of the best know speeches of all time came from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and included the statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

This IS the point.  With the harsh opposition President Obama has and continues to face from the large and loud vast right wing of this nation, our voice is probably the most important element in this struggle.  We can not and should not expect the president to dictate (which would be considered forcing an agenda) equality.

We need our struggle to be seen and our voices to be heard.  This is our struggle, our fight and it’s not fair or just for the LGBT community to place our needs and wants directly on the shoulders of any one person, group or organization.

The LGBT community needs to drop our apathy and work.  We want, want, want, but we are not willing to work, work, work!

When you look at other struggles throughout history you find a great deal of work behind the successes.  Nothing in this life is free and nothing change does NOT happen overnight.

So as pleased as I am to hear the president reaffirm his commitment to equality for LGBT citizens, as pleased as I am that we finally have a president that supports the LGBT community, I am also disappointed.  Disappointed not because of the slow pace of change, not because the president hasn’t forced the repeal of laws that need to be changed by a democratic legislative process, but disappointed because of the apathy within the LGBT community.

Many of our strongest voices have come from our straight allies.  People don’t see our struggle, they see gay men who would rather dance in the streets during gay pride events in Speedos, having a ‘gay’ ole time.

The time is now, the call is here.  If we want to be taken serious, we need to act serious.  Cut the B.S., put down the boa’s, pink shoes, silliness and put on some clothes, and demonstrate.  Demonstrated everyday that you are not only a second class citizen, but a citizen who is deserving and of rights, equality and inclusion.

The fact is, much of the world views the LGBT community as we’ve been portrayed by the media…as weak, flamboyant, silly and yes…gay.  Equality is a serious issue, it’s time we, the LGBT community got off of our lazy butts and took it seriously.