the gAyTM is officially shut down

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:42pm

Can you give examples of how the President and Democrats have not been fierce advocates for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans?

*Asking a religious right activist who claims to have been "cured" of his homosexuality to headline campaign events in South Carolina. Then letting the anti-gay bigot spend half an hour, on stage, haranguing gays at the Obama event.

*Refusing for months to interview with LGBT newspapers during the campaign, while his opponent did repeatedly.

Flubbing question on whether gays are immoral.

Inviting anti-gay activist Rick Warren, who helped pass Prop 8 in California, to give the invocation at the inaugural.

Inviting a gay bishop to the inaugural festivities, then not beginning the TV broadcast until the gay bishop has finished and left.

Refusing to appoint an openly gay Cabinet member.

Abolishing the LGBT outreach position at the DNC and never reinstating it.

Refusing to re-establish the White House Office of LGBT Outreach and the White House LGBT Liaison (which was a Special Assistant to the President at one point).

Continuing to discharge two gay servicemembers a day, even though he could stop it immediately by issuing a stop-loss order immediately.

Asking for a study on whether repealing DADT would hurt national security, rather than a study on how to repeal it, as promised.

Deleting his gay civil rights promise from the White House Web site.

Changing his commitment to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, to changing DADT it in a sensible manner.

Repeatedly defending DOMA in court, including just a few weeks ago, even though he didn't have to.

Making jokes about marriage equality, which President Obama claims he doesn't support, even though he once did.

Comparing gay relationships to incest and pedophilia in a Justice Department brief.

Joking about gay protesters upset about the DOMA brief.

Refusing to provide health care benefits to the partners of gay employees, and then claiming that DOMA precludes it, when it does not.

Refusing to meet with gay legal groups to discuss how toprovide such health benefits within the confines of DOMA.

Claiming that health benefits for partners of federal employees were new, then being caught in a lie.

Showing visible discomfort when asked about gay civil rights.

Suggesting he won't get to DADT, DOMA or ENDA until his second term, if ever.

Refusing to suspend implementation of anti-gay laws, like DADT and DOMA, while suspending laws that hurt others.

White House staffers worked against amendment proposed by Rep. Alcee Hasting (D-FL) to defund Don't Ask, Don't Tell investigations

Saying won't repeal DADT until wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have finished.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid had to beg President Obama to help on DADT repeal.

A White House official referring to gay civil rights advocates, marching on Washington, as part of "the Internet left fringe" whose opinions don't matter.

Saying he won't touch DOMA in his first term.

Refusing to release list of gay attendees at hate crimes reception.

Refusing to mention Maine or Washington state, or anything of substance, in his speech to the Human Rights Campaign dinner.

Saying gays are naive for wanting the president to keep his promise.

Refusing to issue a statement specifically opposing anti-gay ballot measures in Maine and Washington state.

Attorney General Eric Holders flubs question on Maine, twice -- once while in Maine.

DNC/OFA emailed supporters in Maine and Washington state, but didn't ask them to vote against anti-gay ballot measures, then lied about it.

Senator Durbin (D-IL), a very close ally of Obama, says Senate probably won't repeal DADT in 2010, as promised.

Senior DNC official accuses gays and lesbians of helping Republicans by simply asking Democrats to keep their gay civil rights promise.

Refusing to publicly endorse marriage equality for gays.

Continuing to dawdle over DADT.

Refusing to this day to interview with the gay press.

Refusing to apologize for any of these slights.

via Pam's House Blend Updated On: 11/10/09 at 10:42 PM

[Q]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:48pm

It's disheartening to read it all in a list like that.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:51pm

All my favorite gay bloggers are part of this:

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog

Andy Towle and Cory Johnson at Towleroad

Michelangelo Signorile

Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake

Pam...

Has Dan Savage signed on?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:55pm

God, that's scary to read it all laid out like that.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 10:55pm

Isn't it? Although, it's also disheartening to feel like one is becoming part of a fringe group like the tea party people or similar.

I didn't realize I was capable of being this disillusioned. I thought I was more cynical than that. Not disillusioned by Obama, because I always had a bone with that guy, but with the entire country. I keep thinking about how thirty-one states have already put some kind of gay rights to a vote. I keep thinking about too many people allow people who just hate gay people so frigging much call the shots, or at least cripple the chances of progress just enough to satisfy them.

It's not that things aren't getting better - I really do think they are getting worse.

[Q]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 11:32pm

I think this the inevitable step back after a couple forward.

And I think it's because it hasn't taken the logical step to the federal level - in the courts, where these situations have historically been ironed out.

The public is never ready, and will always have to struggle to change.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:10am

It's moving forward. I absolutely believe that. There will be set backs. Q is right.

Christine Quinn spoke at the rally the night after the election about Maine. She reminded us that this was merely a snap shot of one moment in time. It is not permanent.

It's not happening as fast as we would like. It upsets me that I will probably have to get married in CT the day before my wedding next summer because I fear nothing will get done in Albany this week.

But it is moving forward. If anything--because the great bulk of the bigots are older and are dying off. The question is--how many of us will never see the day? How many of us will suffer while waiting? It sickens me.

But, I do hold hope.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:27am

I dunno. Every time a state votes against marriage rights for gays, it's hard for me to see that we are moving forward.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:28am

You wanna see real forward movement? Check out my Veteran's day thread.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:32am

Is that with the old guy who said when he stormed the beach at Normandy he was storming for gay marriage?

And - this is general, not to jerby or anyone specific - I think people are going to be in for a big surprise when the older bigots start dying off and things don't really move forward. People were convinced California was going vote against Prop 8, too.

[tazber]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:40am

No, it's different Phyl.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:41am

Ah, I just saw it. Maybe he could reup once the old army people die out.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:03pm

You have to keep your eye on the bigger picture. Otherwise, yes, you will feel cynical about it. In 2002, sodomy was still illegal and 0 states have gay marriage. It's all about perspective. And it's also about knowing history--this is how things work. It was ****ty for women. It was ****ty for people of color. It has been and will be ****ty for us, too.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:17pm

But when you look at everything from the link I posted, the bigger picture looks bleak to me.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:24pm

it's also disheartening to feel like one is becoming part of a fringe group like the tea party people or similar.

Or more so. At least the teabaggers have the Michele Bachmanns and such pleading their case on the House floor. Who do we have? Barney Frank calling the Washington march pointless?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:25pm

I agree that there is much to be angry with Obama about. But that list was not the full snap shot of what is happening with equal rights in this country. It wasn't even a full snap shot of Obama on our rights--HUD, Hate Crimes, etc.

However you feel, I just hope you don't give up your fight. And, I hope no one lets the negative control the happiness in their life. We must stay strong. And, I think looking at the bigger picture is a better perspective for doing that.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:26pm

There really is no difference at all between the two parties:

"Rev. Rick Scarborough, a pastor who advised Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign, pounded the podium at his Friday afternoon speech, warning that the president's pro-gay agenda was endangering Christians who spoke out against gay rights.

"The day the president put his hand on the bible" said Scarborough, "his minions were changing official White House Website to reflect a whole new understanding of civil rights, to refer to homosexuals." The Bible, said Scarborough, called these people "sodomites, which no one wants to talk about because it reminds them of their behavior."

Some activists followed this up with a breakout session on "How to Counter the Homosexual Extremist Movement," where they learned about transgender awareness days at public schools. And some went to "How to Stop Feminist and Gay Attacks on the Military," where they were informed that upwards of 200,000 active duty members of the military might quit if "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is repealed."




Fear of Fascism & Gay Agenda at conservative kickoff Updated On: 11/10/09 at 12:26 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:33pm

You're right, there isn't. But shame on the Democrats for lying to us and telling us there was.

[Q]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:48pm

I've referred to them all as Republicrats for quite some time. Self-perpetuating power whores.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:55pm

From Joe's story:

â??Donâ??t you dare give up your guns!â?? thundered Werthmann. â??Never, never, never!â??

â??Give them back one bullet at a time!â?? called out another activist. The tense atmosphere melted a little bit; the room broke up with laughter.

This was from an event attended by six members of Congress.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, the Christian nuts are calling in the FBI because of a statement by one commenter on a blog and are linking gays to the Ft. Hood killer. Expect Hannity et al to pick up on it soon.

Link Updated On: 11/10/09 at 12:55 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 12:59pm

Well, you know, no one has it worse than the poor put upon Jesus people.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:54pm

Six REPUBLICAN err, "Republicrat" members of congress.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:26pm

Interesting blog at Huff Post by Emma Ruby-Sachs, a vry smart lesbian constitutional lawyer.

What the Gay Boycott of the DNC Can Do

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:31pm

Emma has a great future as a stand-up comic: "Ralph Nader tried this and managed to strike fear into the heart of major political parties for many years to come."

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:19pm

The sad factor is that my piddling proletariat contributions aren't really going to be missed. Do we really think Joe Solmonese is going to withhold?