If Gordon Brown Can Condemn Prop 8, Why Can't Barack Obama?

Published March 06, 2009 @ 12:32PM PT

Gordon Brown Barack Obama

Yesterday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivered a scathing attack on Proposition 8, calling it "unacceptable," and saying that it reflected homophobic and discriminatory behavior by society.

These are obviously great comments, coming from one of the most prominent elected officials in the free world. But after reading them, I'm left disappointed.

Why?

Because the leader of our own country - Barack Obama - hasn't mustered the political courage to say the same thing. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, Barack Obama hasn't even mentioned the words "Proposition 8" since the weekend before the election.

Here's what Brown said yesterday, after the hearings on Proposition 8 (courtesy of Towleroad):

I was in America yesterday and I know you will be sorry I didn't bring Barack Obama back. He is coming soon. But what I saw in America told me what we have to do. This Proposition 8, this attempt to undo the good that has been done. This attempt to create divorces among 18,000 people who were perfectly legally brought together in partnerships, this is unacceptable and shows me why we always have to be vigilant, why we have always got to fight homophobic behaviour and any form of discrimination.

Maybe Obama didn't think it was his place to offer input on a hearing not before a federal court. That seems shady to me, but OK. Still, someone should ask Obama what he thinks about the civil unions legislation that cleared a committee in the Illinois House of Representatives yesterday. His silence on LGBT issues is a little too damn deafening.

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Comments (11)

HOPE...that's why our community voted for Obama. I don't expect our President to be speaking about Prop 8 or our civil rights anytime soon. You all remember Rick Warren, right? Having viewed the oral arguements yesterday, I don't feel that hopeful. We will just have to wait and see with DOMA and DADT...unfortunately, we have about 20 months to make that happen.

Posted by Chris Beck on 03/06/2009 @ 02:12PM PT
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Although President Obama didn't comment on Proposition 8, which needs to repealed, he's probably doing this for the reason stated in last paragraph of the blog. As well, the U.K.'s Prime Minister Gordon Brown is correct in his reasoning because Proposition 8 is nothing but justification for legal discrimination against LGBT people in California. Finally, there's never an excuse for discrimination against LGBT people just because of their sexual orientation.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 03/06/2009 @ 03:17PM PT
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Yes, I want to see if he says anything at all about a fully inclusive ENDA, the Matthew Shepard Crime law, DADT.Not much else to say except that we are in the right. We may have to wait for a whole older generation to die off, because a wide majority of those under 40 approve of Equal Rights.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 03/06/2009 @ 05:16PM PT
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After Obama's invite to Warren all negative reference to gays was removed form the church web-page. From the powerful far right IN the OC -THAT is quiet, but HUGE. - H U G E -
OBAMA COULDN'T properly COMMENT ON A CALIFORNIA ISSUE, but don't you think BROWN DOing IT with him WAS lovely? maybe even planned?
OBAMA HAS BEEN FOR CIVIL UNIONS . FORCING A RELIGIOUS BELIEF ON ANOtHER RELIGION IS THE ISSUE?
I, of the neither gay nor happy minority, think IF YOU want to win - your lawyers have to show, at least in part, that it's your (OPPOSITE OF THEIRS) religious belief and right.
and -the biggest fear - that your beliefs won't be forced on other religions.
are any of the gay friendly churches backing this?

Posted by DARLENE MATTHEWS on 03/06/2009 @ 05:29PM PT
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Darlene,

First of all, same-sex marriage ceremonies WERE being consecrated in the Episcopal, MCC, and United Church of Christ here in California. Those churches also had their 1st Amendment Rights stripped from them when Prop 8 was passed, but the Christian Taliban doesn't want to talk about that.

Posted by Dave Hershey on 03/06/2009 @ 05:52PM PT
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On the political STAGE, Puppets and Talking Heads are used to convey the Leader's statements.

One must read between the lines sometimes, to understand the delicate balancing act our new President has to perform. If these weren't Obama's sentiments, he could have nixed the entire rhetoric, by simply nudging Tony Brown.

Be patient, LGBT community, it took African-Americans 400 years to gain equality in America. Take a good look at Obama, he's an African-American and our President!

His hair is turning white y'all, but his SOUL is still intact!

Who would've THOUGHT...right?

Posted by leatrice brantley on 03/06/2009 @ 06:14PM PT
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The same reason he does not end the war on drugs and insure we have universal health care for all Americans. The right wing religious still rule with their narrow views racist, homophobic self serving be like me or get out attitude....

Cherokee Fred Hussein Jesus

Posted by Cherokee Fred Jesus on 03/06/2009 @ 07:02PM PT
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I do not want Obama polarized over this issue! He has too much on his plate. If change comes, it has to be from us, the people.

Posted by Mayme Trumble on 03/07/2009 @ 05:30AM PT
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Mayme, and what do you think we the people are doing?

I do think that we put way too much emphasis on what Obama is doing. We need to always be asking - what are we doing? But since we're talking about Obama, I might as well say it... not only did he not mention Prop 8 after the election, but he never mentioned BEFORE the election what he said immediately afterward, "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman."

Typical politician.

Posted by Luella - on 03/07/2009 @ 08:00AM PT
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Barack Obama is afraid of the LGBT issue. It is a fear greater than any that the Left can present him.

With a bi-racial reality that made his married parents criminal felons in sixteen US states at his birth, this issue should have been tackled on day one.

The president may have a lot of economic issues on his plate, but he was able to tackle stem cell research re-enactment because the Right is fractured on this issue.....including support from Mrs. Ronald Raygun herself.

The blogosphere has suggested that the teen age and early adult Obama was a person who tried many things. There is even those who state that the man is bisexual.

Please remember that psychosexual orientation has NOTHING to do with your sexual behavior. You can be celibate or active only on one side of the paradym, but you are still gay or bisexual.

Do not forget that both James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln were "accused" of being bisexual, or in the case of the former, exclusively homosexual. Buchanan was our only "bachelor president" ever.

Let me repeat my prediction....without change since last year.

The first issue tackled will be hate crimes. This is both sexy and easy. It has the name of Matthew Shephard and his mother is the activist-in-chief for the issue.

The second issue will be a very carefully crafted and pragmatic response to DADT that satisfies no one and makes both sides angry and compromised. However, no one will complain since the CJCS and the SECDEF and the homophobes in Congress will sign off on as inevitable and states that the UCMJ will be capriciously enforced more on the gay than the straight side.

ENDA is the problematic issue. The APA still has the "T" issue as gender dysfunction and therefore it corrupts the "LGB" issue for the homophobes. They hate every letter of the alphabet, but this is the Achilles' heel that they use.

The federal issue is the wild card. GLAD is challenging DOMA on behalf of MA and CT residents who are legally married on the state level. It is my belief that the CA Supreme Court, all Republicans save one, who all worry about being recalled...as happened to a previous chief justice and two associate justices. The hypocrites will uphold Prop H8 and make those who were married valid.

It is my belief that DOMA will be overturned. It has been patently unconstitutional for twelve years. The Religious Reich will suggest a federal constitutional amendment in order to stop a federal marriage amendment, and this will be sufficient to frighten the gentrified folks to accept a civil union separate and unequal statute.

If you are young, or this issue blips on your screen at all beyond circuit parties, etc.... then stay here and accept your third and fourth class status.

If you are middle aged and raising children, and you see the inevitable reality, and have skills that countries like Canada can utilize, then by all means immigrate to full freedom. The Underground Railroad, then as now, ends in Canada.

If you are single, then consider vacationing in Canada. Our guys and gals are friendly and compassionate. Who knows? You may fall in love and get married. IF it is a legitimate pairing, then you are a first preference alien, and your right to immigrate to Canada with your spouse will be honoured.

Remember this.....Canadians propose marriage on ONE knee only. If he or she is on TWO knees, there may be another proposition in mind.

Posted by A B on 03/07/2009 @ 08:06AM PT
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I think A B is correct. Obama is becoming a scripted president. He even used the telepromter with Leno. If he isn't mentioning Prop 8, it is deliberate.

Posted by S B on 03/23/2009 @ 03:24PM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.