"He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way"
"He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way"
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#1"He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way"
Posted: 5/1/09 at 11:50am
I'm not sure how the original thread went haywire, but c'est la vie.
Within moments of the official transfer of power from George Bush to Barack Obama on January 20, 2009 the White House website featured a very promising list of LGBT civil rights.
Well 102 days in it appears things have changed. While the over-all list is still in tact and just summarized into one short paragraph, there's interesting wording on Don't Ask Don't Tell which indicates there's no longer full support for repeal from the President which sort of has my blood boiling, just a little.
Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Laws
On January 29, 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act to ensure that all Americans receive equal pay for equal work. The President is committed to expanding funding for the Justice Department?s Civil Rights Division to ensure that voting rights are protected and Americans do not suffer from increased discrimination during a time of economic distress. President Obama also continues to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He supports changing Don?t Ask Don?t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security, and also believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
What exactly is he saying by changing Don't Ask Don't Tell? And why on earth would he remove the strong language about developing a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy? Very troubling indeed.
via Pam's House Blend
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#2re: 'He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way'
Posted: 5/1/09 at 11:57am
Andy comments on this on Towleroad, and includes a response from the White House.
Link to article.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#2re: 'He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way'
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:07pm
Rea was told that they are changing the White House Web site to turn it into a more governance-focused site to reflect progress, as opposed to a campaign and transition site. They said they have taken out many such points throughout the site (not just on LGBT policy issues) as part of this changeover, and are apparently modifying the site over the next few weeks. We will be keeping an eye on it, but if you see changes before we do (or a lack thereof), please let us know. And thank you for calling this to our attention
Ah.
#3re: 'He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way'
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:08pmSo, more governance = less attention to promised action on gay rights issues?
Q
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/05
#4re: 'He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way'
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:14pmAlmost no one I ever talked to actually thought these things would get attention until a second term.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#5re: 'He supports changing [DADT] in a sensible way'
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:15pmWeird, cause I only remember voting for his first term.
#6he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:25pmdon't blame me, i voted for grandpa.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#7he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:27pmI realize that this throws off the narrative that liberals don't criticize their own, but I also know when it comes to gay related issues we're supposed to STFU.
#8he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:30pm
We just lie back and take it, Phyllis.
Remember? Baby steps.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#9he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:34pmI'm not allowed to say baby steps anymore, per PJ and Namo.
#10he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:37pmgay issues are generally the exception that proves the rule but there is the technicality that he's not gay so you're really not criticizing one of your own, are you, nellie?
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#11he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:38pmI prefer Nancy, thank you.
#12he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:39pm
Good point papa.
I must have missed the "baby steps" conversation.
How about "manageable increments"?
#13he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:40pmi was gonna go with mary, but it was too creepy for me since i used to date a girl named mary. we drank and fought a lot. in that order.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective
ZONEACE
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#14he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:46pmI think they should ban open black people from the military.
#15he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 12:48pmAre you sure she wasn't a he, papa?
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#16he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:00pmMaybe that's what they fought about Taz?
#17he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:03pm
Baby steps?
You take the cutest little baby steps.
#18he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:06pm
Not too much at once PJ, you can't freak out the masses. Exposing normal people to the gays could have serious consequences.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#19he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:11pmY'all said it, not me.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#20he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:20pm
Oh for f**k's sake Phyllis. When I said you should stop saying "baby steps" it was simply because I was sick of you making the same point over and over and over and over again with the attitude that you were the only one who gets that life is rarely fair for gay people, or (on the other topic you grip onto like a pitbull with an infant in its mouth), that there is no god.
Honestly, I once took six months off from this site and it did my mental health a world of good. Maybe you might want to try that. Knowing who your friends are is a valuable life skill.
In the meantime, here's a Ben Folds song you might enjoy:
The Bitch Went Nuts
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#21he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:42pm
I get all that, Namo. I just still find myself incredulous over the fact you of all people have an issue about beating a dead horse is all. Rathnait, Corine, Schmerg, "agang baby boomers," etc, etc, etc.
I realize it's different when it comes to you, and the battles you choose carry more weight. It's why I've tried (and ultimately failed) to not say anything. I used to operate under the assumption that I'd stay out of my "friends" ways when we wildly diverge on something, but it's time for you to accept that you've got your own blinders on when it comes to self-awareness.
And the old namo that went away (the one who was obsessed with rathnait and rooting her out each time she was rumored to have a new name) has been replaced with one with a bizarro fascination about teenagers. I think it's great you think that's some sort of breakthrough in mental health, but ... yeah, okay.
The thing is - and you can believe it or not - my blood pressure doesn't rise when it comes to BWW anymore. Perhaps it doesn't read that way, but that's no issue of mine.
I apologize if I gave the impression that I was the only one one who thought life was unfair for gay people (and I know, in the 80s, there were REAL issues!). That wasn't my intention. I just took offense to the notion that we were supposed to brush off all the lunacay (Rick Warren, Donnie McClurkin, etc, etc).
So yeah, again, sorry to have rubbed you the wrong way back then, but it wasn't directed at you. And again (again) it's not that I care that you don't like what I have to say (or how often I say it or whatever), it's that I'm flabbergasted that you of all people feel you are in any position to chastise someone about his endless repetition of the same. damn. thing.
Updated On: 5/1/09 at 01:42 PM
#22he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:44pm
I could understand Obama backtracking for political expediency, but why is he doing this at such an extraordinarily gay-friendly moment?
When Iowa is more friendly to gays than a Democratic president, something is screwy.
Somebody needs to tell him what's been happening in Iowa and New England. Somebody needs to show him the latest polls. There's CHANGE happening in America--why is he not part of it? Why is he not PRAISING it?
He must be getting enormous pressure from homophobic religious leaders.
#23he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 1:49pmIt will be interesting to see who he chooses for the Supreme Court.
#24he laughs openly at those silly gays who thought he meant it
Posted: 5/1/09 at 2:04pmGirl fight tonight! Shoo-be-do-you-better-shoo-bop-do-run-away...
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