While President Obama won’t use his executive order power to halt the dismissals of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and he remains in defense of DOMA, he did sign a memo telling federal agencies to start spreading some benefits to federal employees in same-sex relationships. It’s resulted in a mish-mash of government sanctioned sexual and gender identity protections — and discrimination. All of which means: Folks like Dan Choi can still be dismissed from the military, but yesterday the White House opted not to defend its right to discriminate against federal employees based on gender identity.
The Obama administration decided not to challenge a $500,000 judgment in favor of Diane Schroer, a transgender woman (and Army vet) who sued the feds after a job at the Library of Congress was revoked when she notified her new bosses of her transition. The Bush administration, meanwhile, had argued unsuccessfully that discrimination based on gender identity did not violate Schroer’s civil rights. The Justice Department had until yesterday to appeal — and clearly Camp Obama decided to interpret the law differently from its predecessors.
Too bad, too, since the DoJ had such a grand opportunity to compare transgender Americans to sheep and aliens.
Dennis
It is a process of dismantling institutionalized homophobia and discrimination that is often coded into law and DECADES in the making.
Progress happens faster in some areas than in others, Queerty…you know, that’s generally how things happen in the real world (ever been?)
Keep the pressure on, yes I agree, and let the screeching on this post begin…ugh.
Cam
Keep holding feet to the fire. Perhaps if we had been a bit louder earlier that DOJ brief woulnd’t have gotten put out there.
One thing, I have a feeling that if he had a gay kid, or a gay brother in law etc… this would be moving faster.
InExile
Queerty and everyone on this blog has been far to kind to the administration. They need to feel the heat, we need to turn up the volume on our displeasure with all the delays and excuses.
NO ISSUE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUT EQUALITY!
InExile
@InExile: OUR EQUALITY!
Cam
@InExile: Trust me, I’m getting tired of the apologists also. It’s weird, it’s like just because they voted for Obama they need to defend every single thing that he does or they feel it diminishes him. What a lot of people don’t realize is that all those groups who get rights, are CONSTANTLY badgering congress and their politicians.
Do you REALLY think that the American Indian nations were able to break Vegas and Atlantic City’s monopoly on gambling by sitting back and waiting for things to be handed to them? That wasn’t even a civil rights issue and they were at their politicians constantly about it.
Dan
Hey. Thanks for the news. Enraged doesn’t begin to cover it.
I was at Congressional Cemetery last night and took a photo of Leonard Matlovich’s grave. It bears reading the epitaph at the grave. It’s now on flickr at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/danvera/
M Shane
Who ever is putting out that this decision for differential treating different situations is really stupid.
Some things dneed to be done by acts of congress and others not, without breaking the Consttution and precident.
Were all of you dipshits asleep while BUSH dismantled the Constitution and we nearly became a dictatoship? The bigest literal selling point that Obama made is that he would
operate according to the law and not as Bush had.
NOW you mind fucks truly believe that as long as it favors gays, it’s good to break the law. I’m not sure tht you really deserve to live in this REPUBLIC.
SM
This is why Obama is being careful with social issues in American right now. It’s not because he is against you, its because its the only chance women like her have. He’s the President who WON on healthcare reform. You will get what you want much sooner than you think, especially if you keep on pushing your issues forward in a positive way. I guarantee Obama does not expect you to stop the rallies , protests, debates etc. All that actually helps him if done it the right way. He gets it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7NwsMPMZSg
Michael
Obama is very touchy on gay issues, abortion rights and gun rights I don’t know why. He is otherwise very passionate to other minorities be it ethnic minorities or women. This president is obviously a very caring guy, I don’t know what gay people ever did to him. We are the exception to his kindness.
Cam
@M Shane: You said “Were all of you dipshits asleep while BUSH dismantled the Constitution and we nearly became a dictatoship? The bigest literal selling point that Obama made is that he would
operate according to the law and not as Bush had.
NOW you mind fucks truly believe that as long as it favors gays, it’s good to break the law. I’m not sure tht you really deserve to live in this REPUBLIC.”
_______________________________________________________-
That fact that you are getting so over the top enraged about this and name calling shows that you aren’t thinking about this rationally. Janet Reno just issued a ruling stopping spouses married to Americans for under 2 years from being departed while Congress reexamines the law. Obama can do exactly the same thing. A President using authority that has been granted him is not breaking the constitution. You need to stop acting like it is an insult to ask that things being done for other groups also get done for gays. No law will be broken and for you to say it will be shows that you are either completely misinformed or are purposely lying to try to make your point.