ACT On Principles

The Politico publishes an opinion piece from Richard Socarides, former advisor to President Bill Clinton.  Read the full article here.

Support for equal benefits, but not for equal status — a gay “separate but equal” rule — is contrary to what Obama stands for, both as a person and as a symbol of expanding freedoms and opportunities. Continuing on this course will lose him and his fellow Democrats the support and enthusiasm of a large block of his base voters.

But can President Obama, who once supported gay marriage, only to oppose it now, change his position again? The answer is yes — and he in fact has no choice.

People understand that most public officials who now support gay marriage once opposed it. It wasn’t until after they left office that Bill Clinton and Al Gore (and, most recently, Laura Bush) said that they favored marriage equality. As Nate Silver recently wrote on his blog FiveThirtyEight.com: “Does anyone really believe, in a country that is becoming close to evenly divided on gay marriage, that Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Kerry are among the half who oppose it?

Another bold and clear argument by LGBT activist and leader David Mixner on how the current White House is failing the LGBT community in its lack of leadership following the historic Prop 8 Decision on Wednesday, August 4th.

Our President, our fierce advocate, continued with a game of giving us begrudgingly congratulations in a tepid unemotional and uninspired statement while sending his minions out to make sure the entire country knew that he was against marriage equality. If there was anyone that should sit down and read this opinion it would be this son of an interracial couple who had to go to Supreme Court to obtain marriage equality.

This game has to stop. The President is either with us or against us. If he is neutral, so be it but then stop hurting us by saying over and over how marriage equality is between a man and a women. He should pay close attention to the line in Judge Walker’s decision that says,

“Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. “

Click here to read the full article. Be inspired.

Just saw this on the internets from the 2008 Election….

Are we under Obama’s bus or not?

The following landed in my inbox from an activist friend of mine in Seattle, Stuart Wilber.   I thought I would  share it with you.

I listened today to Solicitor General Kagan’s statement this afternoon. She movingly quoted the words that are etched in marble above the entrance to the Supreme Court, ”Equal Justice Under Law”.  And I said to John, my husband when we visit Canada; my partner if we don’t venture in the wrong direction from the State of Washington,- in Oregon we’re recognized, in Idaho, we’re not. I asked, “Where is our equal justice under the law?” “When do we see GLBT people treated equally under the law?”

In about 2 years, we will undoubtedly see Perry v. Schwarzenegger go before the Supreme Court.  I propose we consider possible, dignified actions both locally and in DC that will pose that question to the Justices and all Americans, “Where is our equal justice under the law?”  Be they rolling hunger fasts, non violent sit-ins or creative actions that our diverse community conceives; the question needs to be asked continually and with coordinated NVCD actions across our country, “When will we have equal justice under the law?

I don’t suggest we wait two years to take action to demand our equal rights, but I think we need to start planning coordinated actions both in response to and in anticipation of issues. Exodus held its 35^th Anniversary celebration in Orange County and the protests went virtually unnoticed. Yesterday, tens of thousands of people came out to Pride events in Seattle, but a few weeks ago we couldn’t muster ten dozen to protest DADT.  There must be a way to motivate those tens of thousands.

Saturday and Sunday I posted a request on many of your FB walls; I also mentioned the idea to the list-serve: As we are planning direct actions, please remember one of the most powerful is to reinforce good behavior with a thank you. I’d like to suggest that every activist organization set up a ‘good cop squad’ of letter writers to thank those who advocate on our behalf. Sometimes in our anger and impatience we forget to take this gentle direct action, especially with our straight allies and advocates many of whom risk their careers on our behalf. A few sent e-mails; almost none re-posted. Here in Seattle the rainbow flag is flying over the space needle for the first time in history. Let’s make sure it flies there next year. Please it’s so easy, just a thank you. Here’s one to start with:president@spaceneedle.com.

Many may celebrate, embrace, and laud “interim measures” that are provided by the Obama Administration such as the domestic partner benefits for federal employees, hospital visitation rights for same-sex partners, and family leave for our partner’s children. Although it is true that all of the new policies provide new rights to the LGBT community, they are not providing us truly equal treatment of our marriages, just a separate set of laws and policies needed to address fundamental inequalities for second-class citizens.

We are starting down a path of creating an entirely new subset of laws and policies to address at the Federal level the inequality and discrimination we experience as families (hospital visitation, FLMA, etc.). Separate is never equal.

Such progress is a path that I feel uncomfortable going too-far down, without always coming back to the main legislative barriers to our legal equality such as DOMA, anti-LGBT state laws, and the absence of a comprehensive federal non-discrimination law addressing sexual orientation and gender identity.

With regards to the recent FLMA announcement, because of DOMA, we still do not have the Federal right to take off work to care for our same-sex partner. Although many corporations and states allow such leave. In addition, we are assuming that all LGBT families feel comfortable accessing such work-around FMLA benefits, when we know many fear the risk of being fired based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity. ENDA is needed to allow fuller access to such benefits.

Repeal of DOMA is the mother-lode that brings over 1100 federal rights and responsibilities. It should not be downplayed by advocates as we are given sentimental and significant, yet far from comprehensive, expansion of our Constitutional rights from this Administration, or any other for that matter.

Activist, Author, and Civil Rights leader David Mixner has a few words for President Obama and his invited guests in his article entitled The President and the LGBT Community.

Freedom is absolute; there is no such thing as partial freedom. We are involved in daily struggle for full equality and freedom. The President must be judged on not incremental steps but on concrete actions that clearly show he is on the right side of history in this battle. Overall, the President doesn’t seem to ‘get it.’ His failure to lead on so many fronts illustrates that he still believes we are a constituency group to be placated or just another long list of issues that is in front of him. There is no indication that he is yet willing to show the courage of a President Kennedy or President Johnson and take major, decisive and historic action. In actuality we have mostly seen timid and tepid responses to the major issues and at times downright hostility.

The record of this President and this Congress on DOMA, DADT and ENDA is dismal. The DADT ‘compromise’ promises us nothing but a promise that maybe it will be dealt with next year. There is no ’stop-loss’ order, no mandate, no timeline and no criteria for implementation of the repeal. And even this compromise has yet to pass the United States Senate. We still don’t know if we are included in the immigration legislation to allow our partners to stay in America. The LGBT community’s issues were stripped from the healthcare legislation. While I appreciate the Attorney General’s lovely Gay Pride speech, the record of opposing us every step of the way in the courts with inflamed language is appalling. Their failure to side with us in the courts on Proposition 8 is unforgivable. The failure to speak out in opposing the initiative in Maine was a cowardly political decision.

Read the full article here.

Since 1969, the LGBT community has been a political force to be reckoned with.  We have numbers, money, and the organizations to move our politicians to support LGBT equality and oppose anti-LGBT legislation.  Unfortunately, we often find ourselves, as the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell vote proved, in a place of compromise for the greater good, and our organizations and leadership have often step down from holding our elected officials accountable.  History shows that we will again be asked to remain quiet  as we face the upcoming 2010 mid-term elections for the opportunity to retain control of the House and Senate.  I ask that we do not.

Rule One (Democratic Treasurer rule):

• Old Rule:  It is more important to win a Democratic House and Senate Majority than lose that majority or potential majority fighting for LGBT equality.  And both are mutually exclusive of one another.  This rule can also apply to the Presidential race.

• New Rule:  It is AS important to fight for LGBT equality, as winning or keeping  a House and Senate Democratic Majority.  And neither are mutually exclusive.  This rule also applies to the Presidential Race.

Rule Two:

• Old Rule: Money and support will be given by the LGBT community to Democratic candidates, in turn for the expectation that they will be supportive of LGBT issues.
• New Rule:  Money and support will “earned” by Democratic candidates who demonstrate CONTINUED SUPPORT of LGBT issues.

Rule Three:

• Old Rule: LGBT donors will give to Democratic candidates and Committees first (DNC, DSCC, DCCC) and expect leadership on LGBT equality later.
• New Rule:  LGBT donors will FIRST expect Democratic candidates and Committees (DNC, DSCC, DCCC) SUPPORT for equality, and will DONATE LATER.

Rule Four (Harold Ford Rule):

• Old Rule:  African American and/or Southern Democrats get a pass on advocating for LGBT equality.

• New Rule: African American and Southern Democrats are expected to be MORE VOCAL for LGBT equality as those communities are disproportionately impacted by homophobia and inequity.

Rule Five (Joe Lieberman Rule):

• Old Rule:  It is ok and understandable if a Democrat refers to his or her culture, religion, or upbringing as reasons not support full LGBT equality.

• New Rule:  It is offensive no longer acceptable if candidates embrace bigotry of their culture, religion and/or upbringing as reasons not to support full LGBT equality.

Rule Six:

• Old Rule: If LGBT community supports Democratic candidates and the candidate is successful in their race, the LGBT community can then ask the newly or re-elected Democrats to support equality.  If key votes or legislation are not delivered, the candidate should continue to receive the same support during re-election.

• New rule: If LGBT community supports Democratic candidates and the candidate is successful in their race, the LGBT community will demand the newly or re-elected Democrats to support LGBT equality.  If key votes or legislation are not delivered, the candidate WILL NOT and SHOULD NOT receive similar support during re-election.

Here is a great interview with Act On Principles Champion Paul Yandura on the Sirius/XM OutQ Signorile  show.  He gives his inside view of LGBT politics in Washington, DC.

Washington Blade’s Editor Kevin Naff has a very interesting perspective on the LGBT’s community’s take on the lack of action from an Obama White House.  A chant from GetEqual’s  May 2nd protest rings true.  ”We will remember, in November.”

If my e-mail inbox is any indication, LGBT Americans have finally arrived at the breaking point, outraged at the endless broken promises and delayed advances. Treating our full equality as an expendable bargaining chip is no longer acceptable. When will the Democrats stop running from their own shadow, ever fearful of what Fox News or Sarah Palin or the Tea Baggers might say about them? Fox News can’t attract two million viewers on a good night. We’re a nation of more than 300 million people, the vast majority of whom oppose “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” including many prominent Republicans. Supporting repeal of this odious law that compromises our national security and wastes billions of taxpayer dollars will not cost any Democrat his or her seat.

LGBT lobbyists, activists and everyday supporters of equality must now redouble their efforts. Call your members of Congress and the White House demanding an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year. If Obama is unwilling to include repeal in his Defense authorization bill, then Congress must press forward and vote now, before the Republicans have a chance to win back the House in November.

The Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, and all other LGBT groups that are engaged in lobbying the administration and the Hill must make it clear that failure to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year will amount to a betrayal of the LGBT community and that there will be consequences. As Sunday’s White House protesters chanted, we must “remember in November.”

You can read Kevin Naff’s entire piece here.