What FDR's Words Can Teach LGBT Rights Activists

categories: LGBT History, Obama Administration and Gay Rights

Published October 05, 2009 @ 02:01PM PT

FDR

Recently I attended a screening of Michael Moore’s new movie Capitalism: A Love Story, with Moore taking some questions from the audience after the movie. Asked about Obama, Moore said, he inherited a horrible mess, and Obama deserves a long grace period to sort it out. But, Moore added, he hoped that the President realized that the biggest damage he could do is not deliver on his promise of change. It would take a nation of young activists and idealists and turn them into hardened cynics.

Which is why this piece in the L.A. Times by Johanna Neuman and Kate Linthicum caught my eye, noting how some gay activists are criticizing Obama for being “all talk.”

Neuman and Linthicum write that Obama seems to be paying the community lip service, fueling “an ongoing debate among gay-rights activists about whether the president is living up to his promise that he would be a ‘fierce advocate’ for LGBT equality.” He has not moved to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” and his Administration has at times defended DOMA. The article points to activists’ claims that the President's support for gay rights “has not been reflected in policy decisions, but has been purely rhetorical.”

Interestingly, at the movie screening for Capitalism, another questioner asked Moore about footage in the film featuring FDR addressing the nation. Interestingly enough, what was FDR’s reply to activists who wanted to see Social Security enacted? Peter Dreier in this article from Common Dreams documents it: “He listened to their arguments for some time and then said, ‘You've convinced me. Now go out and make me do it.’"

And therein lies the lesson from FDR. We've convinced Obama about most of our issues -- hate crimes, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," repealing DOMA. Now we just have to make Obama do it.

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President Obama han't been all talk when it comes to LGBT rights, however, almost of it has been all talk. President Obama knows that he has to repeal the intolerant 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and sign the bill which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of hate crimes. It's unfortunate that the Obama administration supports the intolerant DOMA. Like FDR on Social Security, LGBT rights activists must be strong so President Obama will move for LGBT rights.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/05/2009 @ 02:46PM PT
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Here's how I'm making him do it. No repeal of DOMA by 2012. I don't vote for a single Democrat. Good enough for y'all who are Democrats first and gay last?

Posted by Jesse Bannister on 10/05/2009 @ 03:27PM PT
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Looking at the wonderful tract record that Bill Clinton stated I would not vote for either Ass or Elephant, but either Independent or Libertarian. I choose intellegence and wisdom over a loud mouth or a conformist belief system.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/06/2009 @ 11:30AM PT
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Well, I'd never vote for a Libertarian because I believe it is a faux intelligence. They love to regurgitate Ayn Rand but at the base are a bunch of selfish whackjobs. Flirted with that awhile and those are some scary and seriously deranged people.

Posted by Jesse Bannister on 10/07/2009 @ 06:33AM PT
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I too would rather have independants that actually supports doing whats right instead of democrats or republicons who wanna keep selling the same old snake oil...Unfortunatly, I havent seen any independants running that I would agree with enough to vote for.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/06/2009 @ 06:31PM PT
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I receive e-mails from about a dozen organizations for justice and peace. What I am reading is: you promised us a lollipop if we voted for you and we want it NOW. Most appear to forget there is a Congress in Washington as well as a President. I suggest we give him a chance. Try practicing patience. It is a remarkable attribute. And give President Obama your support. He needs it. All the while, continuing the campaign for your rights.

Posted by Dolores Price on 10/10/2009 @ 05:44PM PT
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