WTF, Obama?

categories: Election 2008, Gay Marriage, LGBT Rights and Politics, Marriage Equality

Published May 08, 2009 @ 12:56PM PT

Obama

During his Presidential campaign, Barack Obama consistently referred to himself as a "fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans."

As it turns out, during his first 100 days in office, President Obama has been a fierce advocate for silence, at least when it comes to LGBT rights. Since taking office in January, Obama has talked more about college basketball than he has about equal rights for all Americans. Problem?

You bet. And it's not just the blogosphere noticing it. It's now the mainstream media. Take a look at today's column from Eugene Robinson, taking Obama to task for keeping his distance on issues of LGBT rights. And man, does Robinson lock and load.

It seems to me that equality means equality, and either you're for it or you're not. I believe gay marriage should be legal, and it's hard for me to imagine how any "fierce advocate of equality" could think otherwise.

Three more states have legalized same-sex marriage since Obama took office (Iowa, Vermont and Maine), yet Obama has not said one word about same-sex marriage. Harkening back to the campaign, the last words from Obama on the issue were that he supported civil unions, but not same-sex marriage. But as Robinson points out, there's not much substance behind Obama's argument for civil unions, and his silence on same-sex marriage.

Obama took the "civil unions" route during last year's campaign and has stuck with it. While I see the political calculation -- that was basically the position of all the major Democratic candidates -- I never understood the logic. If semantics are the only difference between a civil union and a marriage, why go to the trouble of drawing a distinction? If there are genuine differences that the law should recognize, what are they?

That's a question that Obama should be required to answer. Ten percent of the country now recognizes same-sex marriage. How big does that percentage have to get before the White House issues a comment? Because whether he likes it or not, Obama's silence on the marriage debate only bolsters anti-LGBT organizations like the National Organization for Marriage.

Speak up, Mr. President. Because as Eugene Robinson says, silence is not leadership.

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Comments (9)

I strongly recommend that President Obama do the correct thing by standing up for LGBT rights. Although I'm a supporter of the President, the silence isn't justified because equality must procede in order for the National Organization for Marriage and other intolerant organizations from taking the silence as weakness. In addition, I hope that President Obama sees same-sex marriage as a necessary LGBT right, especially since same-sex civil unions are similar.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 05/08/2009 @ 02:19PM PT
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Michael,

Thank you for posting this. I wrote a few days ago that Obama's silence on this issue is absolutely deafening. And of course we have the trolls like Vladimir above who thinks that if same-sex couples are granted marriage equality, the entire human population will cease to exist.

Did anyone else realize that once marriage equality is granted to same-sex couples that heterosexuals will magically become gay and stop breeding? I never received that memo. I feel so left out of the loop. (Of course I don't believe that, but apparently idiots like Vladimir do.)

Posted by Dave Hershey on 05/08/2009 @ 03:25PM PT
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Change will come. Give him another 100 days. I'm sure there are others who are anxiously waiting also. Take immigration for example or elder abuse among others.

I think the title of this blog is offensive. Why not just say WHEN OBAMA instead.

Posted by Latifa Ring on 05/08/2009 @ 03:31PM PT
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I understand why the silence is disturbing. And I think he's had a few other things on his plate. I think he will speak up when the time is right. And I pray his words will be the right ones!

Susan Berland
http://susanberland.synthasite.com

Posted by Susan Berland on 05/08/2009 @ 09:51PM PT
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Don't just push aside semantics, my friend. Semantics are very important, and not to be scoffed. Language is powerful. Words are destructive weapons as well as constructive tools. (Full disclosure: I'm an amateur linguist. I'm a little biased here. But really. Language *can* be powerful). If we design a civil union equal to marriage in every way but not called "marriage," we may be able to calm people down about preserving its "sanctity" or whatever. Personally, I'd be in favor of calling all government-recognized "marriages" "civil unions" instead, regardless of whether the involved parties are gay or straight. It would free it of a lot of unnecessary religious baggage. Also, Obama has a lot on his plate (economy, anyone?), and he really needs people to like him right now. Talking about very divisive issues in frank terms will make you lots of enemies real fast. I'm not condoning his silence on the issue, but...I'm just saying that maybe we shouldn't be surprised by it.

Nice post, Michael. =)

Posted by Michelle Bak on 05/08/2009 @ 11:24PM PT
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I would like to make a proposal to everyone that posts on this board to instead of referring to this issues as "gay marriage" or "same-sex marriage" that we start referring to it as marriage equality, which is exactly what it is.

The reason behind this proposal is that as long as we continue calling it "gay" or "same-sex" marriage, the longer we feed into the Christian-Taliban's fear of "queers" getting married and infringing upon "their" rights to be bigots. This also removes the power that they hold over the subject. By referring to it as marriage equality, it puts us on an EQUAL playing field. If we continue to refer to it as same-sex or gay marriage we are equating ourselves as different than, or less than equal to.

We ALL know that the FRAMING of an issue is tantamount to obtaining equality under the law. If we continue to say that we our relationships are different than theirs, it gives them ammunition to use against us. When they think "gay marriage" the only thing that comes to their minds is "gay sex", they completely ignore the rest of the relationship, love, care and cherrish our spouses. If we take away that ammunition then they shoot nothing but blanks.

Anyway, it is just a suggestion. One that I hope that we can all, at the very least ponder when addressing this issue in the future. Lets STOP allowing THEM to frame this issue as if it really affects their lives when in reality it has ZERO effect on them. This issue is about US, NOT them!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 05/09/2009 @ 12:24AM PT
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Have a look at this piece from The Advocate folks and share it with your family and friends in turn: I find Joe Solmonese's comments in particular infuriating. DADT needs to be repealed NOW.

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid83220.asp

Posted by Tim Kopp on 05/09/2009 @ 03:22AM PT
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WTF people, it is only the first 100 days. What did you expect? Do any of you know what this president has inherited? I would like to see you tackle all of what he has in 100 days. All I can say is that he knows exactly what he is doing and will bring it all forth when he knows the timing is correct.

In fact, silence on gay-marriage is working and is the correct approach. Later, the admin can just go along for the ride.

You people are trying to make sure you get nothing.

Posted by Don Dureau on 05/09/2009 @ 10:39PM PT
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Oh we have to know our place and let the Great Father in Wayshington deal with it. The problem is he isn't doing diddlysquat for the LGBTQ community. He won't commit on anything....would not want to alienate the bigots I guess.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 05/31/2009 @ 08:14PM 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.