Obama Promises Pro-gay Agenda
President Barack Obama restated his campaign pledge to allow homosexual men and women to serve openly in the military to a gay activist group.
"I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,'" Obama said Saturday night to a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000 at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group. He offered no timetable or specifics and he acknowledged some may be growing impatient.
"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough," Obama said. "Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach."
Some advocates said they already have heard Obama's promises and now they want a timeline. Cleve Jones, a pioneer activist and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, said Obama delivered a brilliant speech, but added "it lacked the answer to our most pressing question, which is when."
"He repeated his promises that he's made to us before, but he did not indicate when he would accomplish these goals and we've been waiting for a while now," said Jones, another activist.
Obama also called on Congress to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits. He also called for a law to extend benefits to homosexual partners.
He expressed strong support for the HRC agenda of ending discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender.
"My expectation is that when you look back on these years you will look back and see a time when we put a stop against discrimination ... whether in the office or the battlefield," Obama said.
Obama's political energies are focused on many issues, including managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic crisis and socializing health care.
The HRC holds out hope of seeing more action. "We have never had a stronger ally in the White House. Never," Joe Solmonese, the group's president.
Most Americans, however, are still unaware of Obama's pro-gay agenda. They only heard he was against gay marriage in the campaign, as are most voters. Whether he'll officially change his stance on that issue remains unclear, but one thing is certain: The gay agenda is more ambicious now than ever before. See Chick's DOOM TOWN.
"I will end 'don't ask-don't tell,'" Obama said Saturday night to a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000 at the annual dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay civil rights advocacy group. He offered no timetable or specifics and he acknowledged some may be growing impatient.
"I appreciate that many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough," Obama said. "Do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach."
Some advocates said they already have heard Obama's promises and now they want a timeline. Cleve Jones, a pioneer activist and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, said Obama delivered a brilliant speech, but added "it lacked the answer to our most pressing question, which is when."
"He repeated his promises that he's made to us before, but he did not indicate when he would accomplish these goals and we've been waiting for a while now," said Jones, another activist.
Obama also called on Congress to repeal the Defense Of Marriage Act, which limits how state, local and federal bodies can recognize partnerships and determine benefits. He also called for a law to extend benefits to homosexual partners.
He expressed strong support for the HRC agenda of ending discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender.
"My expectation is that when you look back on these years you will look back and see a time when we put a stop against discrimination ... whether in the office or the battlefield," Obama said.
Obama's political energies are focused on many issues, including managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic crisis and socializing health care.
The HRC holds out hope of seeing more action. "We have never had a stronger ally in the White House. Never," Joe Solmonese, the group's president.
Most Americans, however, are still unaware of Obama's pro-gay agenda. They only heard he was against gay marriage in the campaign, as are most voters. Whether he'll officially change his stance on that issue remains unclear, but one thing is certain: The gay agenda is more ambicious now than ever before. See Chick's DOOM TOWN.
posted by chickcomics | 7:27 AM
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