"Change" You Can't Count On

When campaigning to the LGBT community, President-Elect Obama made the repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy a component of his platform. The official policy statement still found on Obama’s web site contains some fairly firm language regarding prohibiting discrimination and in general, a sense of urgency:

“Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell:
Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.”

But in an exclusive report from the Washington Post, Obama and his transition team have indicated that the issue will likely not be dealt with “for months, and perhaps not until 2010” so that the administration can take time to discuss the issue with military leaders, build a consensus and then take a formal request to congress.

While it’s true, of course, this could be part of a larger plan touching multiple facets of the military, it could also be that the issues facing our community aren’t as important to Obama as his campaign promised. Couple this delay with his lack of commenting on the national protests for marriage equality, and we’re left a little bit wanting.

When it comes down to it, should issues of civil rights really require months for building a consensus? Would the civil rights movement of the ‘60s have progressed if time was taken for a majority of the population to support equal rights for people of all colors? No. What was required then and is required today are leaders willing to stand behind “change” and take immediate steps to jump start moving our society to the next phase.

What do you think? Should Obama be taking a stronger and more vocal stance on LGBT issues?

(Photo: Getty Images)

Comments

[Joe Moag]

As I have said repeatedly on this site and others, Obama should follow the advice of the 200+ retired military offiers who signed a document asking for a repeal of DADT and work with the Pentagon to implement change. This requires deliberation and planning, not Day One Executive Orders. Moreover, as I have repeatedly pointed out, he should take a page out of Eisenhower's Presidency: Truman, through Executive Order "desegregated" the armed services. But it was not until Ike became President and actual rolled up his sleeves and worked with the Pentagon that the armed services became integrated.

I, for one, want to see the removal of DADT replaced with an effective, strong and lasting policy of gay service in the military under which Queers can serve openly. I don't believe that unilateral Executive Orders will accomplish that. The momentum is on our side, Obama is on our side, and allowing him to gain some trust with the Pentagon, some influence with the Pentagon and some credibility and trust with the American people on matters of the military are key to making this actually work. And I thought that was the point of all of this.

Or, he could do like Bill Clinton did, say he wants open gay service, consult no one, build up no support in the Pentagon and with the American people, then just fuck it all up. That's how we got DADT, by the way.

And as for the civil rights movements of the "60s"; they began in the 1850s and are still rolling out today. They did not happen through Presidential fiat overnight.

[Baron_SAMedi]

Jerry Gulley II,

You are the same Log Cabin Republican who began the blog "Gays for McCain." You're already lambasting Obama before he's even taken office. Quit pushing your demented, Republican agenda. Obama won! Stop making "whine" from sour grapes. Would McCain have advocated the repeal of "Don't Ask...?" No! In fact he's on the record being against its repeal. Stop being such an obvious HACK! Realize that your ideology is the less popular at this time. Stop trying to sow the seeds of dissent by misinformation. I have never and will never trust the judgment of someone named after their father - how narcissistic and blue-blooded. You and Bush Jr. are just so in touch with reality. Goodbye, Republican assclown loser.

-Sam

[Brewster316]

Hmmmm....so those of you that voted for "Change" aren't really getting it are you???.....Obama's going to do nothing to repeal DADT and he's also filling his cabinet with Clinton re-treads like Rahm Emanuel and Eric Holder. Not to mention 'Her Majesty Hillary'.....wow, that's some kind of change!!!! ~Jindal-Steele 2012~

[callman]

This is all in remembrance for me of the times when Bill Clinton got elected. All these young gay guys in the bars were "vote for Clinton", "vote for Clinton", he all for gays.....And then "Don't ask dont tell" was born. I kept telling all my gay friends now, it is all promises, no actions. Sure it may take time, and there may be other issues, but president candidates tease the gay community with promises that never come through.

[Rain City Blues]

It's become so predictable, ever since 1992; the Democrats, in need of money from gay donors, sing such sweet songs of freedom to us, we swoon, fork over the cash, and then they forget us. We are the political equivalent of a sugar daddy.

Not only that, the GOP's near-rabid hatred of GLBT people often makes us fork over the ca$h to Democrats because as fickle lovers as the Dems are, at least one major faction (the liberals or progressives) present at least a non-threat if not exactly an ally to us.

I've given over $5000 to Democrats this year. Do I feel more than a little used already? Yeah. But I'd rather have people that don't give a shit about us one way or the other around than people that get votes from their base by promising to destroy us.

Bring on the hope-mongers.

[angelicus]

Im going to have to agree with Joe Moag, change doesnt happen overnight and if it we really want it to be a change that we can all be happy with it, its going to take communication and trust and making sure we are all on the same page willingly. History shows that when people are forced to do things they dont want or agree with we have rebellions, wars, etc. He is doing the right thing by partnering with others and getting their feedback rather than attempting to rule with an iron fist.

Patience will win out in the end and you have to start somewhere, and it looks to me like he's not only starting but has a clear vision as how to end up where he wants to be, while helping the people.

[Pete]

Obama has to first focus on the economy...the thing that is affecting EVERY American. Once that has been taken care of, he can then start on issues that people deem smaller-interest. Unfortunately, gay marriage and DADT is NOT something that affects every American. Naturally, it will take a back-seat to the more pressing issues.

[Xirtamus]

Honestly, the DADT issue really is one of those things that isn't important right now. I mean the president-elect is being handed a war with a faulty foundation and an economy that's melting. (I, myself, would probably put this on the back-burner until the whole 'environment' thing can be worked out as well.) I can understand if you've been recently kicked out of the army and are expressing your outrage, but you haven't stated that this was your case.
Really though, the 'larger plan' of the 'multiple facets' of the army, is that I want it 'touched' away from Iraq. All other issues about the military can take a backseat and 'touch' themselves all they want until the war is over.

Turtle

[Sargon Bighorn]

If there are really 30K plus service members that are gay, they should all come out, be brave and courageous ya know. Voluntary military service with pay means they play the game by the rules they knew existed going in. I'm not concerned if DADT is removed or not. It's all voluntary service now. Should we have a draft, that's a whole different situation.

[brontomancer]

I'm not going to second guess the President-elect before he even takes office. Yes, it may take some time to "get" to the DADT policy in the military. I wish it could be signed away as easily as it really could be, but in all honesty, 2009 IS about building bridges and establishing foundations. Also, you cannot just force an arbitrary policy down the throat (no pun intended) of the military. Give the man and his administration TIME to get established before you start bitching at them. I truly feel for those who have to deal with DADT and those who have been hurt by it, but there are much more pressing issues at the moment with which we MUST deal namely our failed foreign policy and this increasingly deteriorating economy. In contrast to these issues DADT is a very small thing indeed. Let our new President do his job. I have all confidence that he will deal with the failed policy of DADT when it is appropriate. Let me put it this way, would you rather have DADT around for a while longer or have a continued war in Iraq and our economy possibly collapse? Also, our new president needs to truly FOCUS on the transition. It was right after the transition from Bush I to Clinton that Al-Qaeda chose to first strike the World Trade Center. It was after Clinton to Bush II that they actually succeeded in their efforts. I think the President-elect has a very full plate. Give him time to establish his foundation and stabilize this mess. If he fails to deliver within a reasonable amount of time, then respond.

[Jeff]

Doesn't surprise me when politicians of any party go back on promises. I sincerely hope the new President lives up to the promise he made to this community. It would be a shame if he did the same thing that Bill Clinton did.

Recall Bill Clinton promised he would immediately lift the ban on gays in the military. It was the first promise he chose to break.

[Bryan Lovsnesss]

The political reality of change is that some things come faster than others - let's first of all let Barack get into office and fix the economy,deal with the two wars and bringing servicemen home, fix the healthcare system, upgrade the educational system for all and on and on - this remarkable man WILL in the midst of all of this accomplish things for all gays as well. If he pushes things down the throats of those who crossed party lines to elect him the reality is MANY gays and straights may be hurt when he is not re-elected.

[Dr. Phil Hopkins, Jr.]

I am amazed at how many people are going after Obama when he ISN'T EVEN PRESIDENT YET -- "W" STILL IS! They do still teach that a person beomes president Jan 20th of the year after the election and not the day after the election, right? Second, while I agree the DADT policy needs to go, it is so far from a priority issue right now that I'm disgusted that gay.com even ran a story like this. Could you people be any more desperate or sensationalistic? We have a severely damaged economy and two expensive wars in progress and these must take priority over DADT, stem cells, abortion or any other so-called "moral issue." If we don't take care of the big problems first, these little ones are not going to matter at all.

[Glenn Lennox]

I am a Democrat but I am not a big fan of Obama. This report doesn't say he isn't going to do it - it says it may take a while so let's give him a chance. As for gay marriage - he always said he was against it.

We would have been better off with Hillary in the Whitehouse but now we have Obama we have to give him some space. He isn't even in office yet so let's lay off him. The reason we never get anywhere with anything is cos we fragment so easily. Let's stick with him and see how it goes.

[Chicago Guy]

Ok, this article is absolutely stupid. Everything has a time and a place. Should Obama drop the most pressing issues that affect everyone, that is, the economy and staving off a terriorist attack, and get right on the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell? I don't think so. How stupid of the writer to create such a provocative and VERY misleading (and inaccurate) headline for the sole purpose of getting all the drama queens to get their panties in a bunch. My cheers of Go Obama, will continue!!!

[Rill]

A lot of you must be too young to remember when Bill Clinton promised us the same thing and then pulled the rug out from under us. Maybe Obama will be different, but the way he's filling his administration with Clinton alumni, I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Zach]

So why did John McCain get a higher percentage of the Gay vote than any Republican candidate in recent history? I, sadly, think there is a significant amount of dysfunctionality (see the success of Prop 8) , and maybe more to the point, racism, within the gay community. The inability of gay America to engage in dialogue with minority group in the US cuts both way, resulting in a disproportionate number of minorities voting for Prop. 8 and an unusually high number of gay people voting for McCain over Obama.

I have faith in Obama and his commitment to repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell." What I don't have faith in is the "Gay Rights Movement." Really, either get yourselves in gear or just give up and join something that is actually effective

[Freedom]

I think people SHould RELAX....It is beautiful that everyone regards OBAMA as the face of Change...and places all this expectation on him because he is a MINORITY and people feel that he should be more empathetic...But You cant just JUMP START A NATION IN A DAY...U will either be taken out by someone crazy, or cause alot of rukus...The LAst thing someone wants to do is produce FEAR amongst people who have been comfortable for years...Because Just as Obama can undo all that has been done, Someone can undo all that Obama will Do ...Its a struggle of power...and it isnt so easy to fix years of injustice...One step at a time...PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE....EASY IN TO CHANGE...BURSTING DOWN DOORS WILL ONLY PRODUCE FEAR

[Christopher]

As someone who has served as a Marine, I was happy to have the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. It let me serve without any prejudice against me. I think that if gays are able to serve openly, it will be another "class" and another scapegoat for the military to use when it needs one. It will be like when women started serving. There were hundreds of double standards and new rules and if something went wrong, who did we blame? The women. I served happily for 5 years. I was out to some and to most it didn't matter. I don't think taking the policy away will do any good whatsoever.

[R_Seattle]

Sounds like the columnist contradicted himself by saying that Obama may be going back on a promise when what he has said is that he is going to try to build a coalition to help get DADT repealed. What about that statement says, "I don't think I'm going to get DADT repealed?" Nothing. That's the right thing to do because remember he c't do anything without Congress whether he promised not. He has to get enough of congress to agree with the idea and then vote for a measure to repeal it. So he's atually using his brain and not acting like the 'irractic' McCain or the 'unilateral,' lame-duck Bush!!!

[Obamanation]

HOWOBAMAGOTELECTED.COM CHECK IT OUT

[muzyqman]

My brain keeps telling me that, while the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" is important to the gay community, it is not as important to the larger community (the country) as the general economy, the bank bail-out, the car industry bail-out, the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, the reputation of the United States abroad, and a number of other items. I the new administration decides that those things have to be solved first, I have no quarrel with that.

[Obamanation]

OBAMA'S TOO FOCUSED ON CLOSING DOWN GUANTANAMO AND LETTING THE TERRORISTS GO FREE...

[Bryan Lovsness]

I am SO PROUD of the political maturity of those responding to your CHEAP SHOT ARTICLE "change you can't count on" - you phrase it like it is already a done deal when in fact Barack hasn't even taken office GROW UP PlanetOut-Gay.com and gay.net and realize the world may revolve around someone who has nothing to eat or may die on the battlefield tonight or has lost a house or cannot feed their family a Thanksgiving dinner - the affluent body-orientated gym set needs to gat a heart and give our new President some time.

[Obamanation]

HOWOBAMAGOTELECTED.COM CHECK IT OUT

[Ryan]

Vigilance for acceptance is important, but we have to be careful that we don't get whiny and unrealistic. In case you guys haven't noticed, we are fighting two wars with an economy that is less than ideal. My rights as a gay individual are important, but my ability to afford rent and college is vital. In case none of you realize, there is an incredibly large subculture of gay men and women serving in the military who manage to network and support each other. The situation as it stands is far from ideal, but we are better off moving toward a better future for our rights with Obama than we ever would have been with McCain.

[Paul]

In defense of the author of the original article... Those of you who are defending Mr. Obama and talking about "the economy being more important" or "this being an issue that affects a super small portion of the population" and so on are, in my opinion, missing the point. The question that we should be asking is not whether or not Mr. Obama's being genuine about wanting to build a consensus or is he reneging on a campaign promise? The question we should be asking is why does he need a consensus at all. The answer is because he's acting like a politician and not a leader. Tragically, popular opinion in the US is not on the side of true gay equality - on this issue or any other. The harsh reality is that there is strong predjudice against gays in this country. DADT validates that predjudice and is wrong - period. Like same sex marriage rights, repealing DADT has become paramount to achieving our ultimate goal of full equal rights for all gay Americans. So, I agree with the author. What we need is a leader who will say no to predjudice not beacuse he's gotten the support of Congress or the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but because there is no place for it in our country. Mr. Obama should repeal DADT by Executive Order - plain and simple. I don't even see the reason for debate. This kind of discrimination is ugly and unacceptable, and anyone who has the power to stop it and choses not to - even for just a few weeks or months - is guilty of helping to perpetuate it. And as far as prioritizing....I'm sure Mr. Obama is a great multi-tasker. I'm confident that he can repeal this awful law and fix the economy at the same time.

[jmorales]

Perhaps he's had 2nd. thoughts after watching racist gay protesters attacking gay African Americans simply for being black, and blaming them for the passage of proposition 8, because the Black community as a whole LIKE EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY voted to support the passage of prop. 8.

NO group deserves blame, except one, the Mormon church, a lilly white organization.

Yet after elections, despite knowing this, gay protesters decided to take out their frustrations on AFrican American support EXCLUSIVELY in the most racist way imaginable.

And after doing so, amazingly gay society is shocked, just shocked that the soon to be President Obama suddenly shows reluctance to push for gay inclusion in the military.

Could it be, that perhaps Obama was personally offended, extremely offended in fact by the fact that so many gay men resorted to racist language, resorted to painting all Black people with the same homophobic brush. EVEN, Black gay men at the protest, who were called N###R and told to their face "you're all the same" while having their "pro gay marriage" signs ripped out of their hands.

After seeing this, perhaps it's not that Obama no longer believes but he simply DOES NOT THINK any part of the gay equality agenda, deserves equaity with any other equality agenda, and will NOT get his support until the day that gay people everywhere visibly take a stand AGAINST the wholesale racism that exists within gay communities nationwide, but is ignored while hypocritically demanding equal marriage rights.

To the first African American president ever elected, not only must that sound hollow, shallow, insipid and selfish, but profoundly insulting, and if the backlash is he "forgets" about the gay equality issue whether it be in the military or marriage, gay people have ourselves to blame.

[Paul]

Mr Morales

Civil rights are not earned. They belong to every citizen. No citizen - whether he or she be a taxi driver or The President of The United States has the right to decide whose civil rights take precedence over someone-else's. I think you do Mr. Obama a disservice by suggesting that he would view the actions of a group of ignorant gay activits as a reason to turn his back on helping to fight for equality for millions of Gay Americans. That would not only suggest that he's a racist, but also homophobic. I'm sure we both agree that he is neither.

[Big Gay Al]

Obama's following the Bill Clinton precedent set back in 1992/93 with Don't Ask Don't Tell. Promise the world to gays and lesbians, get their votes, then either back-burner the pro-gay idea or just forget about it completely.

This shouldn't really surprise any of us; the 1993 chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, the man who was the architect of Don't Ask Don't Tell, is now a senior advisor to Barack Obama on military, nuclear weapons and foreign policy issues. I'm referring to Sam Nunn. Look him up for more details on DADT. Nunn is a very likely Secretary of Defense or chairman of the National Security Council under Obama.

Like so many people in any abusive relationship, gay Democrats listen to the pretty, loving words of and ignore the abusive actions of leading national-level Democrats in the White House, Senate and House.

While the media were so dutifully pillorying Sarah Palin, people missed the fact that because of her leadership as governor, gay and lesbian (as well as unmarried straights) couples got full domestic partnership rights. She changed the minds of 20% of Alaskans from being against domestic partnership rights to being in favor of those rights. Betcha didn't know that.

Remember how the big fear was that George Bush would take away your rights as gay and lesbian Americans? The way I see it even if George Bush had wanted to A) keep us out of the military and B) make sure no other states had to recognize our gay marriage those rights had already been signed away by his immediate predecessor, Bill Clinton.

Once "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was passed into law in 1993, the trend was that gay discharges steadily increased, finally peaking in 2001. They increased at a faster rate AFTER DADT than before DADT. What does that mean? It means the net effect of the passage of DADT was to make things worse than they already were under Reagan and Bush Sr.

Wake up, my fellow gays and lesbians. We should all know better by now. Open your minds to the possibility that sometimes your friends are no longer your friends a ndthat your enemies aren't quite your enemies if they haven't screwed you over worse than your friends have.

[Doyle]

I TOLD YOU SO,... I TOLD YOU SO.. I told you SO!!!!!!
When are you going to stop allowing these idiot democrats to pander to you and LIE TO YOU?????
They do NOT have your best interest at heart. They continue to LIE to us and You seem to drink their koolaid til your drunken stupid. When the Democrats realize they do NOT have our vote, they will then actually WORK for it. As long as they know youre stupid enough to vote for them just because they have a "d" behind their name, we will NOT have what we are looking for. It is so predictable.. remember CLINTON pandered to us too and look what he gave us... THE Defense of Marriage Act, Don't Ask Don't Tell, need i go on???????
I'm sure you drunken koolaid morons will some how justify Obama's change of mind. Go to AA. Sober up and realize youve been Duped! LOL

[hypocrisy among gays...]

HOWOBAMAGOTELECTED.COM CHECK IT OUT

jmorales: "after watching racist gay protesters attacking gay African Americans simply for being black, and blaming them for the passage of proposition 8...
...NO group deserves blame, except one, the Mormon church, a lilly white organization." --Hmm sounds like you're racist, are we a hypocrite?

HOWOBAMAGOTELECTED.COM

[hypocrisy among gays...]

Paul, really now....MILLIONS of gay Americans?? I don't think that number exists...maybe a 100,000+/- at best... Oh and Obama never supported us and has not said anything showing sympathy/empathy for gays (depending on how you view his questionable gay past with Larry Sinclaire...) He never said to vote NO on Prop 8 during his campaign, and I don't think it was just because he'd lose votes--I honestly do not think Obama likes homosexuality considering his Muslim/Black Panther-like church of 20 yrs., which has expressed hatred toward gays, whites and America itself. (not just Rev. Wright but also other ministers and that visiting priest there--all haters). Gays would have been better off with McCain/Palin with Palin's past of showing support for gays...You all elected someone who will not keep his promises...

[Rodney]

I'm gay and and an Army Reservist. I was deployed in 2006-2007. There's an Economic crisis going on that we have not seen since the great depression. He have a two front war... It's understandable that this not a priority. But we can be assure that we have a man in our side. Obama will be a great president for gay americans but he still have to face the American people who still large have not accepted us. He will do great things for the gay community but don't expect them to happen anytime soon. Time, however, is in our side.

[Rich62]

it is the same old story for the democrats.....they tell the gay community we are for you to get the vote....then get in and do nothing for the gay community....its been going on for years...most gay people do not get it...maybe now they will...for the change will never come...not with obama at least...

[Val]

I wish to repeat Brewsters comments cause they were my feelings about the Messiah from the get go: Hmmmm....so those of you that voted for "Change" aren't really getting it are you???.....Obama's going to do nothing to repeal DADT and he's also filling his cabinet with Clinton re-treads like Rahm Emanuel and Eric Holder. Not to mention 'Her Majesty Hillary'.....wow, that's some kind of change!!!! ~Jindal-Steele 2012~

Posted by: Brewster316
The Anti-Christ is alive and well people and you help usher him in!

[Jack]

Get a grip, and get over single issue politics. Obama needs to choose his fights wisely --- there is a limit to what a new administration can attack right out of the chute --- and he doesn't want to repeat the Clinton mistake of attacking the "gay issue" prematurely. It will come. Meanwhile, yes, there are actually some issues more important than Don't Ask. It's the economy stupid, not to mention the two wars we're currently stuck in.

[Marcus]

Personally, I think articles like this propel fear and instill doubt. You can't make a whole country accept who you are just because the president says so. It takes time. Slow and steady wins the race. If we are going to do it right, it's going to have to be exact and deliberate. That takes time. It's the different between an easy bake oven cake and a gourmet mousse cake. It just takes time and effort and someone who is willing to be patient. I am hopeful that the laws will be on my side within my lifetime. And the people? Well, that takes even longer (note that women were finally allowed to vote in the early 1900s but was not exactly equal in the working place until late 1980s).

[Rich]

and here we go.....the reasons why he can not get the change done....lol...it is all bush's fault...no wait that will not work anymore....LOL

[Todd]

I believe Obama will repeal DADT. But, I think he'll do it with thoughtfulness and with great deliberation. Look at the meticulously studied way he is choosing his cabinet. Don't expect this man to come into office and make sweeping, drastic changes overnight! He doesn't work that way, and SHOULDN'T.

[Greg]

The guy hasn't even moved into the White House and taken office. He hasn't even established a full cabinet yet. And we're casting doubt over him? Please.

As I much I want DADT repealed, I believe in Obama. Just because a source says it may not be until 2010, that doesn't mean it's a done deal.

As Thanksgiving approaches, think about this. Are you eating your pumpkin or apple pie first? I'm not saying our rights should be left til the end, I'm saying that there are higher priorities that need to be addressed, like the economy and unemployment.

[Steve]

I thought the DADT was a good step forward when it happened. But I always wondered what good it really did. If you still cant tell, then you cant do anyway. And what is to happen when it is repealed, depending on what it is replaced with. Those in the military may be worried about a repeal, and not knowing what will come later for them. I think they are in the best place to identify it.

[joe]

Wow you anti Obama people will jump on anything to try to get your point across. They did not say it won't be dealt with they said it will not be the first thing dealy with. There is a difference. There are some MUCH more important issues to be dealt with first don't you think? We spend hours harping about gay marriage etc, yet the economy is in the toilet. Amazing isn't it. We'll get there but lets hit the big stuff first. He hasn't even started yet and your throwing him under the bus? WAKE UP!

[e]

this is why i did not vote for obama... you are all in for 4 years of SPIN. Everyone thinks he is gonna help US , when in fact he will not. as a former Marine i got a new flash for you...it aint gonna happen. He got all you homos to vote for him and thats all he wanted in the first place.....

[sgt_rock]

Wow! All these years I thought campaign promises were only made to get the vote. I didn't know anyone actually expected the nominees to live up to them. I've never known them to in the past.

[Shustin]

Hahahaha. You all act SO surprised that he's going back on yet ANOTHER promise?

This is going to be a *fantastic* four years. What naive fools!

[Brian]

Honestly, I don't believe that Barack Obama will make as big an impact on LGBT issues as people and organization are saying he will. Gays and lesbians are just a means to an end to all politicians, Republican and Democrat alike. I say we shouldn't hold our breath and count on Obama to stand with us.

[ANDY]

http://www.epgn.com/breakingtemp.htm

That is the phone interview Obama did with a gay newspaper. You can read the text or listen to the audio.

I believe his plate is full with more pressing matters, that it is pragmatic to deal with those first; and diplomatic to take time to get his government on board with social change.

Although my issues are important to me, I ultimately vote and want my leaders to act on what is best for the greater good.

Economy and Environment seem the most pressing issues at the moment; neither will survive without the other.

[All issues, including civil rights, can be worked on at reasonable speed without being completely shelved.]

[qnw]

Give the guy a little time. The policy has been in place for over a decade. We can wait until he's sworn in before demanding action.

[qnw]

And who the hell thinks Obama will be good for gay issues? He doesn't support gay marriage. Obama and Biden are what I like to call light bigots. They just don't care about gay issues, at all.

However, the alternative was a pair of flaming bigots who were willing to destroy civil rights for gay people in order to satisfy the hate of their base.