The fact is that we actually do not know what Obama's personal views are on marriage equality for same-sex couples. And that shouldn't really matter. Because we do know he was on record at one point as supporting marriage equality and then that changed. We also know that he now espouses the tired rationalization that so many Democrats rely upon: "Aw, gee, I'm all for equal rights, but my religion doesn't let me get behind the calling it 'marriage' thing for you all. Sorry."That last section I bolded is fantasy unless the President actually takes on that filthy brief defending DOMA by his Department of Justice.But, for some reason, we allow - without open challenge - this Constitutional legal expert to use his personal religious beliefs as an excuse to espouse support for a separate but equal policy and not to speak out for civil equality for all Americans? Really?!
Are we that desperate?
Let's say, just hypothetically, that a meeting took place between certain Administration officials and certain leaders of prominent LGBT rights organizations. And let's say, again hypothetically, that the Administration laid out its plan for dealing with hate-crimes legislation, employment discrimination, and military discrimination in a characteristically controlled and pragmatic way. Further, let's say - still talking hypothetically here - that, within that plan, the repeal of the travesty of the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA) was scheduled to be addressed during the Administration's presumptive second term. Let's also theorize hypothetically that some LGBT leaders were apparently so happy to be let behind the curtain that they simply nodded in response. Not acceptable.
Note to President Obama, his advisors and LGBT Grand Poobahs everywhere: that's NOT leadership. It's political strategy, sure, but it's not presidential leadership. And it's not enough.
...If President Obama were to come out and say that the movement of more states in recognizing same-sex marriage equality highlights the unfairness of DOMA and the need to have it repealed or overturned, that would be progress. If President Obama were to come out and say that his own prayerful thought has led him to begin to reconsider his stance on marriage equality, that would be progress. If President Obama were to come out and say that the language in his own Justice Department's response to a legal challenge to DOMA was unnecessary, wrong and dehumanizing, that would bwould be progress. It would be, in his words, change.
Honestly, the answer to Leah's question is that each of us has to lead because traditional leadership has failed us. And we can all lead in all kinds of ways; we don't have to have access to cocktail parties in DC to rub shoulders with an administration that sh*ts on us make a difference. We have to write, call, demonstrate, lobby lawmakers, speak out to your neighbors, help friends come out of the closet, live your own life out of the closet. Ask your allies to come out of closet as strong advocates, not just passive supporters.
Meanwhile, the buck stops at the President's desk. Other questions to ponder:
* how aggressive (or not) will the professional advocacy gays be in holding this administration accountable?
* will the progressive movement keep its rolling-over-the-gays bus in overdrive in overdrive, continuing to defend the brief, saying the administration "had to do it" or "Obama couldn't have known about the contents of the brief"?
California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown asked a federal court Thursday not to block Proposition 8, arguing that a resumption of same-sex marriages in the state before the federal challenge was resolved would put those unions in "legal limbo."(American Foundation for Equal Rights release):In written arguments filed late Thursday, Brown said permitting gays to marry before appeals in the case are completed "would not serve the public interest because it would create significant uncertainty for many persons [involved in] a relationship in which certainty is of the utmost importance."
California Attorney General Jerry Brown responded today to the federal challenge to Proposition 8 filed last month by Ted Olson and David Boies by agreeing that the initiative violates the U.S. Constitution."Taking from same-sex couples the right to civil marriage that they had previously possessed under California's Constitution cannot be squared with guarantees of the Fourteenth Amendment," the Attorney General's filing states.
"Today's filing by Attorney General Jerry Brown underscores that Proposition 8 is a clear violation of the United States Constitution because it denies all people equal rights," said Chad Griffin, Board President of the American Foundation for Equal Rights. "We are confident that our state's chief legal officer's strong opinion will help this case move quickly through the courts so that every Californian will soon be treated equally under the law."
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is this the organization that hired Olson and Boies to lead a federal challenge to Proposition 8 on behalf of two same sex couples who were denied marriage licenses because of the initiative.
..."This unequal treatment of gays and lesbians denies them the basic liberties and equal protection under the law that are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution," the suit states.
I asked Jones if he could provide a physical copy of the permit. He explained, "You put in your application, they approve it and time-stamp it, and that's all they give you for weeks. The actual paperwork usually isn't issued until ten days before or so." Jones claims that two of the other events reportedly scheduled to occur on the planned weekend will not, in fact, take place. (I've been unable to find any internet mention of the "Million Man March For God", one of the three events listed in the above-linked post.) The third scheduled event, an annual breast cancer awareness rally, is run by a group that Jones said has worked side-by-side with him many times in previous years when their events coincided with National Mall displays by the NAMES Project. He expects friendly cooperation from them.So the Q of the Day - does the anger over the administration's DOMA brief affect your view of the march or not? Jones said "most people on the west coast will be able to come to this march for less than $700."As to the cost of putting on the weekend, Jones stresses that the MOW will be a stripped down, no frills, purely activism-focused event. "This will not be a three day multi-media spectacular" he said. "Most of the hundreds of protests I've organized cost nothing. We will have a minimal stage, a sound system, and enough port-a-potties for the crowd. That's it. We won't be flying in celebrities and putting them up in fancy hotels. This will be a two hour march, then a two hour rally, and then sending everybody home to their congressional districts to organize for 2010." Jones said that in addition to a Sunday rally on the West Lawn, he is hoping to put to gether a Saturday night candlelight HIV/AIDS vigil at the Lincoln Memorial, but won't have confirmation of that item for a few days.
My two cents -- based on the above description, I'm still not sure it's worth the expense or time when we've got efforts going on at the state level that need attention now. Can you imagine a check for $700 and how that could help a small state organization? That said, if the White House remains silent or affirms that ugly DOMA brief (so far, no comment has been issued), the anger will need to be discharged in some kind of productive way. The question is whether this march is the event if there are no elected officials there to meet with.
On the eve of the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall, come join us in celebrating the achievements of the LGBT equality movement:
I'll Toast to That
Thursday, June 25th, 2009 6:00pm Charles Froelick Gallery 714 NW Davis $40 beforehand, $50 at the door (tickets available here)
Attire: Pizazzulous
<Attire: Pizazzulous
A special thank you to our sponsors: Organic Nation Spirits Devil's Food Catering Raptor Ridge
Music by: DJ Scotty D
Ticket price qualifies for the Oregon Political Tax Credit which means you can get every penny of your ticket price back at tax time! Click here for more information on the Oregon Political Tax Credit. Questions? Call 503/222.6151
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