gayzette www.gayzettedenver.com • www.gayzetteblog.com D enver’s Favorite GLBT Publication! | 19
Obama’s Big Gay Speech
by, Wayne Besen
use this opportunity to make a compelling case,
I
f I were advising President as only he can, for scrapping the disastrous Don’t
Barack Obama, I would tell Ask/Don’t Tell policy, which humiliates gay
him to pay as much attention service members and harms military readiness.
to the ornery jeers from protesters
outside the Human Rights Campaign’s Oct. 10th Gay activist David Mixner raises a good point
Washington dinner as the cheers coming from when he says that Obama should oppose a ballot
inside the ornate ballroom. measure to overturn the freedom to marry in
Maine.
“The last thing we need is more flowery rhetoric
in front of rich, self-effacing gays and lesbians “It is inconceivable to me that the hosts would
dressed up like penguins,” said Andy Thayer of allow him to attend the dinner without a solid
esen
the Gay Liberation Network, who plans to picket commitment that he will oppose the hate filled
the event. initiative in Maine. That would be unacceptable,”
wrote Mixner on his website. “How exciting
The cross mood expressed by Thayer is indicative would it be at the HRC National Dinner to have
of the restlessness felt by the gay, lesbian, the president in a timely and unequivocal way put
a
yne B
bisexual, and transgender grass roots in the early the power of the Presidency behind our historic
stages of Obama’s presidency. and epic struggle in Maine?”
W The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) deserves The day following the HRC event, thousands of
a heaping helping of praise for furnishing a GLBT people will stream into Washington for the
primetime platform for Obama to impart his National Equality March. Obama will be greeted
message. But, the President and HRC must like a conquering hero or a sweet talking zero
realize that the stakes are even higher than the depending on what he says the night before at
esen •
price of the steaks served in the ballroom of the the podium. I just hope his handlers are keenly
black-tie affair. While no one will likely yell, “you aware that the crowds that mass are expecting
lie” in the middle of his remarks, there will be a some bills to pass.
collective sigh if all we get is a pretty speech.
The administration should be concerned about
a
yne B
Let it be known that the GLBT community is no the growing perception that the President is
longer interested in being pals with the powerful all talk and no action. During the primaries,
W
or having the famous tell us we are fabulous Hillary Clinton portrayed him as a slick salesman
-- unless it leads to action. If the goal of this who could not follow through on his grandiose
evening were simply to provide an interesting promises. In the general election, John McCain
dinner guest, Meryl Streep or Michael Moore said Obama was an empty “celebrity” who would
would have sufficed. What we want from Obama, not deliver.
however, is a fighter working to set us free. We
need signed paper in the form of laws, not paper- Standing on principle for GLBT equality would
esen •
thin promises and illusive signs of hope. go a long way in diffusing and dispelling this still
potent line of criticism. It is important to act now,
Unless a concrete vision is offered at this event, considering Saturday Night Live aired a skit last
Obama’s speech will sink like concrete in the weekend outlining Obama’s unfulfilled promises,
Potomac River. including Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
a
yne B
I would also advise Obama that it will be Let’s hope that Obama does not mirror the usual
W
considered a letdown if the centerpiece of his banquet food at such events, looking great on the
talk is to offer a push for hate crime legislation. menu, while turning out to be a rubber chicken.
Americans of all political stripes are generally A milquetoast presidency will likely mean he’s
in agreement that it is wrong to beat or kill gay toast when he runs for reelection. He can either
people, so this is legislation that requires a bare be history by appeasing a far right that will never
minimum of political capital. There are presently support him, or do what is morally right and
esen •
laws on the books that punish perpetrators of such make history with an unforgettable speech at the
crimes, so some form of redress already exists. HRC dinner.
(Although, hate crime laws are still important to
ensure justice is consistently served)
a
yne B
At a bare minimum, the president should vow
to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA) by the end of the year, which would

W
prohibit hiring and firing on the basis of sexual
orientation. Currently, it is legal to fire a person if
he or she is gay in the majority of states.
The President should forcefully condemn the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits
married gay couples from receiving federal
benefits. It would be wise, as well, for Obama to
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32