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President Obama has only been in office for six short months, inheriting a host of issues and problems that threaten the very foundations of our Nation in ways that can only be imagined. During this time period we have seen sweeping reforms passed and the President is currently leading the worthy and crucial fight to reform health care, that, if successful, will benefit ALL Americans, regardless of sexual orientation. Just a couple of years ago, I remember watching a former Senator Obama being televised to the world, standing on a stage, and allowing a medical technician to perform an oral HIV test on him on World AIDS Day, in an effort to encourage Americans to know their HIV status. During our President's campaign, he openly sought the vote of the Gay and Lesbian Community, referring to us as equals in every respect to the chagrin of neocons everywhere. Have President Obama's inaction on his campaign promises to us so outraged you that you have forgotten how gay-friendly he has been to our community? Your blog leads the reader into thinking that ALL of the other issues that President Obama is working hard to alleviate are worthless and meaningless, until he does right by you. Also, your blog leads the reader into falsely believing that DOMA and dAdT are merely tiny legal issues that a single president can quickly and easily overturn without any repercussions or public dissent; wrong, and shame on you for leading us to think that. First and foremost, I'm an American; not a gay American, not a male American, not a white American, not a christian American, not a rich American. As an American, I maturely accept that I am one loyal citizen who is part of a much larger whole, and I also know that right now, today, my Nation is hurting from eight years of foolish arrogance, insatiable greed, ignorance and zero social progress. It's going to take some time to clean up the mess. And more than I want to be a gay American who can get married and serve openly in a VOLUNTARY military, I want to be an American whose job is stable, whose home value is secure and not in foreclosure, and an American with access to affordable, quality health care. Peter, the issues you reference are worthy and important, and I truly believe that President Obama will address them, but your sarcasm of President Obama's performance, based solely on DOMA, dAdT, and HIV/AIDS travel restrictions, is bias poison during a time period when many Americans are jobless, homeless, and suffering. Sorry, Peter, but a homeless family with kids gets my attention faster than a gay soldier who voluntarily enlisted in an Army, knowing the rules when he entered. Keep up the good work, Mr. President; solidify our Nation's foundations, and please forgive the rants of my fellow "gay Americans" who are quickly becoming nothing more than a whining, complaining, self-serving, and embittered SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP.
After the initial announcement re: benefits for domestic partners of federal employees, I was hopeful that I could offer my DP health insurance, which he does not have. The next day, when more details were revealed, I was very disappointed and angry. I've worked for many companies that offered DP benefits, as thousands of companies do. But as a 20 year employee of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, its a sad shame that this is not offered.
During the campaign, Obama certainly seemed like our best hope for progress after 8 years of criminal rule. Unfortunately, follow through on promises seems very weak if at all.
On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, Establishing the President's Committee on Equality and Opportunity in the Armed Services. Since Obama appears to respect his predecessors, especially where equality is concerned, he needs to find the courage to simply DO it - create a strikingly similar Executive Order, and, as in Part 1. of Executive Order 9981, simply add THREE WORDS to it. You can read the order here: http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/eo9981.html How Part 1. SHOULD read is, "It is hereby declared that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. Three words that took an EXTRAORDINARY amount of courage, foresight and determination on Truman's part. Do we deserve any less or should we ask no less of Obama? Though it took a while, on March 18, 1951, the Department of Defense announced all basic training within the U.S. had been integrated, and in October 1953, the Army announced that 95% of African-American soldiers were serving in integrated units. With as many gays and lesbians ALREADY serving in the armed forces and with the existing dissatisfaction with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" from those enlisted, civilians, currently enlisted and retired officers in ALL of the armed services, think how much faster this would or could take place. Though Truman faced much criticism and many obstacles in 1948, he had the determination to see his order through to the end. Now, over SIXTY years later, Obama needs to demonstrate the same extraordinary vision, foresight and courage in finding his "inner Truman."
Ha. You all thought Obama was some sort of Messiah. I kept hearing that he was going to end the war, but not only has he not ended the war he has increased funding for it. He has more then double the national debt. What a joke this pinko is.
The fact that it is simply a Presidential Memorandum (which unless specifically requested by The White House will not be published in the Federal Register) and not a Executive Order or Presidential Directive seems to confirm suspisions that this was done only AFTER many people pulled out of the DNC's gay fundraiser. Also because it is just a PM there are legal disputes as to whether it will live on after the Administration.
OOOOh! Did the dumb ass leave you hanging...surprise surprise. He is the leader of the biggest bunch of fool headed morons to ever exist.
Jason
The COLD HARD TRUTH IS is that the GLBT NEED more. We deserve the rights that blacks have. We deserve to not suffer and shrink away from AIDS. We deserve to not be abused and harrassed. If you have HIV/AIDS you should be able to have access to life saving medication without starving to death to afford the meds. You shouldn't have to sink to poverty level to get medication assistance. But as long as healthcare in this country remains for profit we are screwed. HIV poz men should worried and upset that we are treated so poorly in society. Obama has the power to change things for the better, yet he buckles under pressure from big pharma and from doctors and the insurance industry. I hate my Infectious Disease doctor. I wish I could have a different plan altogether. I have private insurance and it STINKS. My HIV care STINKS. I want more choices. Do I get to choose my ID doctor under my employer paid health insurance? NO. I dont. The insurance company tells me who I can and can not see. I believe the health system I am covered under doesn't care about HIV/AIDS. Obama had better start listening to GLBT concerns especially when it comes to HIV/AIDS. Because most of us are hurting in every which way and we need some type of RELIEF!!!!!
August 16, 2009