Welcome to The Queerty Query, where we raise questions and ask you, the readers, to weigh in. Sometimes the questions will be funny, sometimes they’ll be serious—it all depends what the chatter around the water cooler is.
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In the wake of Amendment One’s passage in North Carolina, President Obama gave a historic speech today, in which he affirmed his commitment to marriage equality:
“I’ve stood on the side of broader side of equality for the LGBT community. I had hesitated on gay marriage, in part because I thought civil unions would be sufficient, that that was something that would give people hospital vistitations, elements… And I was sensitive to the fact that, for a lot of people, the word marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs, and so forth…
Did Obama Say The Right Thing On Gay Marriage At The Right Time?[But] At a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think that same-sex couples should be able to get married.”
We gotta say, after losing the Amendment One battle and Republicans stalling civil unions in Colorado, his words brought a smile to our face. But should we be thanking him? Did the President use the “evolving” excuse for so long that a late-stage announcement like this has lost its punch? Or is coming out in favor of gay marriage before the election a miscalculation?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Lastly, Obama clearly said “for me, personally.” Is that an indicator it won’t affect federal policy?
We’re not calling it one way or the other—we’ll leave that to you. Give us your take in the comments section.
Dean Lowry
Más vale tarde que nunca.
Besos,
Capitán Dean
Timmeeeyyy!!!
Another huge step forward. Although I’m sure there will be commenters who want to piss all over the moment.
Garrett
Could we all just step back for a second and realize a POTUS is publicly for gay marriage – and in a campaign year no less. A mere 9 years ago we needed a SCOTUS ruling just to allow private same-sex sex in almost half the U.S. Would this have even been up for consideration if a McCain or Romney were president right now? Of course not. Yes there’s so much more LGBT rights work to be done. But for this moment, can we just be happy about this historic milestone and get off Obama’s back about delaying the announcement?
Timmeeeyyy!!!
@Garrett:
Indeed, not only should we get off Obama’s back, we should work to have his back in this election. For all folks who liked to chant that Romney and Obama had the same position on marriage equality, this should be a clear indication that they do not, and that one candidate will further your rights while the other will work to take away your rights.
pedro
@Garrett: Enjoy the moment, because come November it’s President Romney. I guess the contention that gay men are shallow is true…You love this shallow victory of Obama coming out for gay marriage, but will you love the profound consequences of Romeny selecting the next 2 or 3 Justices to the supreme court? Obama must be sick of being POTUS and want an extended vacation, because this is political suicide 101.
Marie Cohn
He evolved already. All the way back to where he was in 1996.
1equalityUSA
At least Obama has enough integrity to be honest about his beliefs. He can sleep at night knowing he’s not an ambiguous politician bending like a reed in the wind on equality, like that Mormon nut-case. Obama will be remembered for this courageous stance. Strap-the-dog-to-the-roof- Romney will be remembered for sugning NOM’s inane hate pledge. It’s time for this discrimination to be taken off of the table. It’s time for Ted Olson and David Boise to shimmy on up to the Supreme Court and say that the religious beliefs of some Americans, even if it is a majority, cannot bar inalienable rights to other, less popular Americans.
JDXH
@pedro: Political suicide??? To express his personal beliefs???
OBAMA DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING! HE COULD HAVE JUST WON THE RE-ELECTION..AT THE SAME TIME, HOLDING THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SITTING FOR YEARS!
INSTEAD, HE CAME OUT TO SUPPORT US EVEN MORE THAN HE ALREADY HAS.
SPEAKING OF SUICIDES…GO DO YOUR RESEARCH ON HOW MANY LGBT BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE HAVE LOST BECAUSE OF SUICIDES…
CARE MUCH?
pedro
@JDXH: Umm…No need for the caps, I don’t have a sight impairment. Secondly, you are the perfect exactly of a shallow emotional gay. Do you think kids are going to stop killing themselves now? Do you also think that the “It get’s better” Bullshit videos stopped any kids from killing themselves? Is it better to have the president say something that will doom his presidency, and cause the election of an anti-gay psycho Mormon? Or is it better for him to hold his tongue, get reelected and put the right Judges on the supreme court?
fwah
@ Pedro, I hate to say it,but I kinda agree with you. This mean a lot that he finally spoke up, but I think this is going to mess with his re-election.
Michael W.
There should never have been any question as to the difference between Obama and Romney on marriage equality. Regardless of their stances on marriage itself, Romney still supports the Federal Marriage Amendment which would make gay marriage illegal in EVERY state while Obama has always guaranteed a veto against it. That should’ve been enough of a contrast. Any LGBT who would support Romney even before today was probably either a racist or a bitter old Clintonista still seeking vengeance for Hillary’s defeat.
I knew Obama supported gay marriage and would do nothing to make it illegal federally, that was enough for me. Now I fear he has further hampered his already tenuous chance for re-election. I personally would’ve preferred he kept up the charade just to hold the Democratic coalition together.
imarko
All I can say is Glory Hallelujah!
JDXH
@pedro: IT’S BETTER FOR PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO STAND UP FOR ONCE!!
THAT IS WHAT’S BETTER!
pedro
@JDXH: “stand up for once”…the shallow bullshit continues. This Jingoistic crap doesn’t do you or anyone any good. I have one vote, I always intended to give that vote to Obama…That’s how it works, the person with the most votes in each state wins that state…One of the crucial states just passed Amendment One…Will they now give their votes to a man who stands on the opposite side of them on an issue that mattered so much they took time out of their day to go vote for it? What about the conservative whites in Pennsylvania, will they give Obama their votes? What about the Catholic Cubans in Florida, will they give him their votes? It was always going to be an uphill battle for him to get those votes, since the right has been very successful in turning him into a secret-muslim socialist bogieman, not to mention the economy…This just sealed the deal.
Timmeeeyyy!!!
@pedro:
The reaction to Biden’s statement a few days ago showed the Dems that their constituents support marriage equality, and they thought the president was out of touch. For this election, Dems will be pushing strong grassroots efforts to get out the vote, and using social media to increase voter numbers. These efforts tend to target younger voters who overwhelmingly suport marriage equality. For example approx 59% of college age-age people, 75% of college-age dems and 61% of college-age independents support marriage equality. A recent Wall Street Journal poll showed 49% of Americans favor marriage equality vs 40% of Americans oppose marriage equality.
I’m sure there was lots of analysis that went into this announcement.
MACDONALDBANK
What a wonderful day for The Honourable President of the United States of America … Barrack Obama!
The Republican Party; have now … officially — self-destructed — on the grounds of homophobia & religious corruption!
MACDONALDBANK
Being black … left-handed or being gay is just as natural. Bibles and the torah which includes leviticus 18:22 should be immediately banned for promoting hatred against minorities; namely the gay community and the crosses removed from all schools and churches.
The evil writings in Leviticus 18:22 against gays depict; rules for temple rituals or “P” … Priestly Rules & expanded by the pope; homophobes and religious frauds to attack the gay community and never meant to apply to the public but to priests.
Martin
I have profound respect for other peoples right to govern themselves so I will stay out of American elections, however I think people here should think about where tolerance comes from.
Can you legislate for more tolerance? Can courts make people tolerant?
No, tolerance and the acceptance of gay people comes from down below, and inspires leaders in the top to modernise laws in society.
Did David Cameron totally change British Conservative Partys policies on gay issues out of the blue? Would he have had not the majority of british people been tolerant to gays.
Having prominent people express sympathy for gay peoples rights will help move how ordinary americans think and talk about gays. Obama sets a new tone on gay issues.
This could be profoundly more important than who wins the next election. No one can stand alone against the changeing tides of public opinion. Gay rights are moving forward in all nations that count except Russia. Even in China…
JDXH
@Martin: AMEN.
Shadeaux
@pedro: I agree with Pedro also. I just think he should have waited. We already knew the VP and some of the Pres’ cabinet members were in support. Most of us thought he would get re-elected then come out in support. This really kind of scares me.
Philip
I am sorry, my friends, but I find this stand by Obama, to be highly suspicious, and I think we all need to be careful. Do not forget, this President has signed the NDAA and numerous other bills that remove essential Civil Rights from Americans. Of course I want equality, but at this sort of cost? We must be realistic. This man is a puppet, and I would hate to discover you had been manipulated by his rhetoric. Remember, he is running for his second term. This is all about votes.
ZachV
I think: short term bad, long term good. Without doubt Obama’s announcement today is going to give him backlash in November with elderly swing voters and elderly Democrats.
Long term? All good. Elected Democratic officials opposed to marriage equality will be roped in, and the average Democratic voters not with us yet may jump fence. In broader world Obama’s announcement is going to invigorate our friends in Australia, the UK and France who are fighting for equality.
pedro
@Philip: Go f**K yourself! I think this is political suicide, but I give the guy credit for doing it. Who the f**K are you voting for come November?
Dalic
This publication is absolutely riddled with hypocracy! Not three months ago you were up in arms over the fact that President Obama was using political double speak to get votes by saying that his opinion on same sex marriage was ‘evolving’ and NOW you worry about his reelection. Its rather ridiculous! At least the right-wing morons know their stance on him. Either love him or hate him, don’t be a flip-flopper.
Jay
I agree with Pedro, this was foolish and yes it’s political suicide.
1equalityUSA
I really thought Obama was going to throw us a “back-of-the-bus-civil-unions-bone.” No other thought occurred to me than that. To find out this cool, cool dude spoke his mind in an election year made me respect him. Young people will be energized. Catholics will press the thumb screws onto the flock. If our rights are withheld, who’s next?
Jurlesia
@pedro Don’t think for a second that the most cautious man in the USA is going to make such a huge 360 without incredible amounts of political calculation. & if you believe it’s better to have a lying president that will tell the public one thing and do the exact opposite instead of a president with integrity and honor, perhaps you should go live in any country to our South, whose president will tell the public anything and effect nothing. Besides, what good would it do to “sneak” in a supportive president into office if they didn’t have the political clout to actually get marriage equality passed & the law of the land? Lastly, for someone so eager to portray others as “shallow emotional gays,” you sure seem rather emotionally immature yourself. Just like those stereotypical “shallow gays” you claim to despise, instead of actually DOING something you will likely just sit behind your computer screen and nag about how little change those of us who actually ARE doing something are making.
pedro
@Jurlesia: A president with honor…I pray you’re not deluded enough to be referencing Romney! A man who pretended to be a MA moderate veering on Liberal to get elected…Even boasting that he would be better on gay rights than Ted Kennedy himself…Who today made it clear that he’s not even for civil unions if they give gays the same rights as hets. As for Obama, not saying something is not the same as lying. Obama should have steered clear of this issue until after he won reelection…Ah, you’ve noticed my Latin name and you’re therefore advising me to get out of America and go Southward…ha ha, that’s quite funny since my father is Mexican-American and my mother was born and raised in Argentina…Where gays can marry and adopt without much hassle…
Oscar Raymundo
Perfect timing considering next week he is speaking at a fundraiser at the LGBT Leadership Council in New York City and in June he’s in LA speaking at a gay gala costing $25k a ticket.
Dolla dolla billz.
Chris Holcombe
Thank you Mr President. A President for all Americans and people everywhere. Thank you for doing the right thing.
austinwondo
Any timing for support is good timing. Thank you Mr. President!
Philip
Pedro, my friend, that is a rather stronger response than I think I deserve. Sorry, but Obama’s new position is suspect. He isn’t “standing up” for anyone. Political suicide? This is simply Political maneuvering. It won’t make the slightest difference, unless emotions get the better of us, and we succumb to his empty words in favour of letting him get away with fundamental violations of your constitution.
eddie
I think now is the best time. This country is so divided on everything its so sad.
It would also be even sadder if the 2012 election is about gay marriage and not about the even more HIGHLY important issues like JOBS AND THE ECONOMY!!!!!
Jurlesia
Please, I don’t think anyone is deluded enough to wish Romney into office.. except those GOP-Louders. Anyway, I was just making a point that your suggestion to win office by misleading people (yes, omission doesn’t necessarily mean lie but if you’re having to to leave out a significant portion of your ideological platform then yes, you are misleading people), then you’re probably not going to have enough support to get anything concrete done. Why can’t we win with the truth? & second, don’t pull that race bulls*ht here, I’m also half Mexican-American, if you wanna play who’s more “ethnic.” I was comparing what President Obama did to what the Presidents of all other AMERICAN nations have done (with the exception of Argentina), and I guess if you can’t debate that then go to the lowest common denominator and accuse the other of racism, hmm…
Jurlesia
Oops, the above comment was for @Pedro…
Skif
@JDXH: Unfortunately, this means he will lose the election. If he had waited until after the election, he cloud have had four blissful years to make gay marriage legal.
Danny
It is good for a U.S. President to support the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment – Equal Protection under the Law. Without Equal Protection under Law, the rule of law ends.
Clockwork
Gay marriage and unemployment. I can hardly contain myself.
QJ201
The choice is this simple:
Either you vote for the guy who got into bed with NOM and is part of a church that basically financed the campaign to retract marriage equality in CA
OR
You vote for the guy who supports marriage equality.
As for the whiners, screw the past, get over your mental gymnastics and masturbatory debates, the choice really is that simple for rest of us.
I mean really, we’re gonna get into a bitch session about who said what about our civil rights rather than deal with the choice in front of us.
WillBFair
I hope he knows what he’s doing.
J Stratford
@Philip:
Whatever dude. You are trying so hard to make this a bad thing, but seriously, that is the dumbest comment I have ever seen. And I have seen bad stuff on queerty.
The net effect of Obama’s move is we have one big supporter in the White House. And I will darn well sure support him.
Was it political calculation? Hell yes it was! HE is the top politician of the country after all. Does that make it wrong? Hell no, it doesn’t.
A politician who does the right things, even if it benefits him, does not deserve to be criticized.
You are deluded if you think he is not standing up for anyone because he is. He is standing up for Freedom. He is standing for everyone’s freedom, not just the gays. Remember a gain in Freedom benefits everyone in the long run.
Obama – fanned and faved!!
Rodrigo
What about the part where he still believes that states should be the ones making the decisions? Why is he speaking “personally” and not as the president and as a person looking to be reelected. He is playing games and I dont like it. Why is it that every single republican has made their stance so clear (about this certain topic) and the democrat can’t choose a side. I want concrete answers from the President. I dont want personal opinions.
However, this doesn’t change much how I am going to vote. Obviously, I am still voting for him. I would have to born again, straight, to vote for Mitt Romney.
Charles
I think it was overdue for the President of the United States to say something. We have all watched as states have decided to make up their own rules with the justification of it being their right not to have Gays in their community. God would not give us our own slice of this world with only those who are clones of each other because it is too easy to like a mirror of yourself. The real test of faith and love is belief in a higher power who knows better than we do. Our judgement is not for strangers, but for ourselves…. If you think that couple next door is Gay, well that is not your business because it could be God testing you……could be two brothers, could be a roommate, could be two men tired of marriage since some women view it as a way to make a buck instead of raising a family. This is the United States of America, not Texas does one thing and California another……we agreed to common goals, rules long ago, so let’s get back to being civil instead of trying to rule over one another with extreme amendments to laws that were designed to be vague…….civil rights went wrong when it defined protected classes because we are all a breath away from being that minority in a work camp….. It’s time to end all black schools just like we ended all white schools….. If Congress cannot be fair about money being sent to their districts then why don’t they choose for someone else instead……… Change the game people or we are all going to end up with a world none of us want……. Corporate America needs to hear this cry too, work together or watch your companies continue to struggle due to lack of new ideas……. Also stop building giant stores because they are not better, they are just forcing us to shop in one spot making traffic flow problems in areas we never experienced this issue before…….. God wasn’t a pimp so whoever thought or said he made women for man is a liar…..God would have seen this issue over time and maybe that is why we now see true Gay love, not just the party scene bullshit…. I love my man and hope everyone gets to feel this way one day soon…… peace….kindness…..understanding no matter what…..be proud of being Gay because we are born this way for a reason, but don’t allow it to seperate you from the community at large otherwise our true purpose is lost to the ugly words of people who hate everything good…….
jason
Oh, please, it’s yet another cynical ploy by Obama to raise funds. Follow the money trail, sweetie.
Six months before the last election, he promised to be a fierce advocate for gay rights. Now, with six months to the next election, he’s come out in supposed support of gay marriage.
Puh-lease, if you believe this, you deserve everything you get as a community.
[email protected]
A lot of GoProuders on this thread! You know you would never vote for Obama unless he changed into a white guy named Ronald Reagan.
tlbuffin
@pedro: He’s going to be re-elected. Romney is an empty suit with an empty heart and the people can see right through him. He will NEVER be elected President. I’ve been voting since 1972 and I have never been wrong about who will win.
tlbuffin
@Timmeeeyyy!!!: It’s simply amazing how many people can’t try to be happy and look at the positive side of anything for even one minute.This is a great day and nothing any of them can say will spoil it. Enjoy!
tlbuffin
@pedro: Your negativity counts as an impairment in my mind.
San Diego
@Garrett: I’m with you, Garrett. Let’s revel in our victories a little.
Let's be real here
He can claim that he’s for same gender marriage and for LGBT equality all he wants but his actual actions when it comes to same gender marriage and LGBT equality have been very disappointing!
Drew
tlbuffin please, I’m not a Rommney supporter but Obama is an empty suit and even liberals like myself and my friends both LGBT and hetero think this.
Dan Avery
There’s a lot of good debate here, but let’s be real: EVERY politician makes calculated moves to get more funds or garner votes. That’s what they do! They’re politicians, not angels. Only time will tell how this announcement will affect Obama’s re-election bid, but let’s stop acting like he’s supposed to be an angel from Heaven conjuring miracles for the greater glory of God.
Philip
@J Stratford: My friend, I am not meaning to insult anyone. However, isn’t this supposed to be a friendly sort of forum where one might suggest different things, and discuss without insult? Or is it meant to silence me? I disagree with the sudden popularity of Obama because of what he has SAID vis a vis Gay equality. I am sorry, but this Man has signed away your rights on so many other levels. So why, as Queer People, should we suddenly suppose he is God, based on him just using the right language to inflame support from the Queer Community? This smacks of manipulation, and I don’t feel comfortable with it at all.
J Stratford
@Philip: Signed away MY rights? Care to expound on which rights he took away from me? As far as I know he did nothing of the sort. If you are referring to the Patriot Act and every other law that was taken rights away from us after 9/11 – that was Bush, not Obama. If you are referring to the pro-Big Business bailouts – that was Bush’s strategy as well (which gave Obama limited options to act on when he got elected).
So go ahead. Which rights did he take away from me? Or is this just another invention that you are trying to peddle?
I should know, I am a libertarian and a fiscal conservative – and I know who, exactly, took my individual rights away.
DouggSeven
Something confuses me. If you got married in another state, doesn’t your state have to recognize your marriage based on the constitution – regardless if it’s leagal in your state or not? If this is an ignorant question, I appologize, I am legally married in Canada where this isn’t an issue.
J Stratford
@J Stratford:
What I see from your statements is that you cant stand the fact that he pretty much boxed Romney into a corner by drawing a bright line between them. It is a very risky move on Obama’s part because the toss-up states (except CO) are not pro gay marriage.
What it did though is pretty much locked up the West coast, the Northeast and the upper Midwest’s “3rd coast” in his column and put Virginia and Colorado in play. This means Romney is going to have a very hard time winning because the blue states just became solidly blue.
Add the fact that gay money and college kid participation is going to start pouring in, Obama has a good chance of winning the election.
Now, if only the Republicans chose Dr Paul – pro-gay, socially progressive, fiscally conservative AND a rock star to college kids. They would have had a better chance, bu alas.
DouggSeven
@DouggSeven: …assuming you got married in a state where gay marriage is legal, of course.
J Stratford
@DouggSeven:
yup. that’s the rule referred to as “full faith and credit clause”. That’s why they came up with DOMA, so that marriage would become an exception to this rule and allow the various states and the federal government to not honor other state’s legal (marriage) contract.
Drew
LMAO well said Dan Avery: let’s stop acting like he’s supposed to be an angel from Heaven conjuring miracles for the greater glory of God.
Hephaestion
The voters love honesty from a candidate, even when they disagree with him/her. It was the right time exactly for Obama to come out for marriage equality.
Now that this is sure to come up in presidential debates, somebody better educate Obama on the issue so he can respond intelligently.
Wendy
@jason: I totally agree with you Jason 100%. The Obama Deception…
ScaryRussianHeather
@Dan Avery:
Sooooo. Your saying he really didn’t evolve? He’s been making calculated moves when? For the past 3 years when denying LGBT equality or now? Yes they’re all disingenuous self serving liars but Obama gets the prize for being the closest at claiming to conjure miracles.
Remember “this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth.”.
todd
After reading all the very emotional testimony as to whether he has or has not committed election suicide, I ask,”Who are you going to vote for?” Is this enough to bring out the other part of our LGBT community who feels their vote doesn’t matter and therefore skips voting? Another thought is this is not turning around any marriage amendments. It’s simply an endorsement of sorts. Even if he gets re-elected he would have one hell of a battle getting a marriage bill through because of intense conservative opposition (who already fight tooth and nail with this guy). So the reality at least for me as a voter is do hedge my bets on this guy whether it’s a ploy or not? Do I want him to have the chance to at least roll the dice and see if he could get a marriage bill put through? I think I am at the point where I would. It would be wonderful to marry the guy of my dreams. Are you listening Benjamin Godfre?
Codswallop
Only time will tell if it was the “right thing” at the “right time.” I do think it’s going to make things that much harder for Obama to get re-elected, so if you support him you need to show it however you can, through donations and/or campaign work.
Biden has a history of misspeaking and I’m not sure his statements re: gay marriage were another example of that. If you listen closely to what he was saying, it’s that gay couples should have the same legal RIGHTS as straight couples, which has been the official Obama party line for some time now. He threw the word “marry” in there instead of “commit” or something else but I’m not sure it was intentional.
In any case I think Obama was forced into this before he expected, before the election. It may prove to be a bad move, but only time will tell.
But as others have said, take some time to enjoy this historic moment, the first time ever a US President has spoken out unequivocally for gay equality. Then get to work, because if you think Romney isn’t a Mormon homophobe you’re dreaming.
It’s going to be a hard several months because the haters are going to be out in FULL force, but maybe we can FINALLY have a conversation about gay rights in this country without it be dominated by religious ideologues, when our side of it is presented fully and completely.
the other Greg
Everybody who hates Obama already hates same-sex marriage. Everybody who hates same-sex marriage already hates Obama: not only that, they’ve assumed all along he’s for it even though he has said up to now he wasn’t.
So who’s going to change their vote over this? Even the most socially conservative black churchgoers won’t vote against Obama over this, and the white ones already hate him.
But this excites a relatively small subset of his unhappy ’08 voters and will get them to the polls. They were never going to vote for Romney, of course, but without this they might have voted minor party or stayed home. Don’t see how this is “political suicide” and he’ll gain a few votes with it.
tinkerbell
I’ve done a COMPLETE 360 on Obama in the past 24 hours. I had written him off and was done with politics this time last night. Now, I have taken ownership with this guy as MY President. He is my Abraham Lincoln.
Sean
@Dan Avery:
So, what you suppose Obama should have done? Of course, politicians take calculated moves. But the move he made is fairly risky. He cannot possibly be certain that this move won’t hurt his campaign and yet he comes out to support gay marriage. What more can he have done?
Take time to enjoy the historical moment. This is the first time ever An American president publicly support gay marriage. The question you raised seems irrelevant and the attitude you showed seems ungrateful.
Sean
@todd:
A ploy or not? Seriously… Does it matter? Given Romney’s stance on gay rights, do you seriously have to think twice who you are going to vote for in November?
Oh, ok
Reading some of these comments it’s rather scary that many of you get to vote on anything at all.
Obama’s stance on gay issues has been clear from day 1, if you think it wasn’t then you haven’t really been paying attention. He shouldn’t have had to spell it out for you and risk his re-election, but since so many kept whining and crying he was forced to be blunt.
If he doesn’t get a second term, thank yourselves. Thank yourselves again when some toad comes along and undoes all of his hard work for us and many others in this country(because America is made up of more than just gays).
Red Meat
Doesn’t matter if you hate Obama or not, winning the next election will shake the republican party to it’s core.
Me
Uh, read between the lines. Did you all miss the part about how he believes it should be “up to the states to decide”? How does that make him any different than any other segregationist? If “the states” had their way, Obama’s mother and father would not have been legally recognized as married in many of them when Obama was a child. Also, separate lunch counters and public swimming pools would be the rule for blacks and whites. What was Obama thinking (as a constitutional legal scholar) when he stupidly said that?
Now, the proponents of Prop 8, as well as other state anti-equality movements, have more fuel to fire up their justification for constitutional amendments to ban our marriages. Marriage is a federal right (not just a state right), as the US Supreme Court decided very clearly in Loving v. Virginia in 1967. What is wrong with Obama to have remarked so foolishly that “the states should decide” who is popular enough to have equal rights? What a fucking moron.
Mike
This is one of those moments when I have to believe that the president has more information than I do; that he and his team have made extensive political calculations and that they have concluded that this is a neutral to positive move.
I would be insulted if my president didn’t make this move politically instead of morally.
Texican1986
I honestly believe the “ONLY” reason Obama finally came down on the side of sanity on the same sex marriage issue is because after letting Biden test the waters last week he saw it was a “POLITICALLY SAFE” position to take. The people who would not vote for Obama because of his support for same sex marriage would most likely not vote for him anyway.
The average voter could care less who the guy/gal down the street is screwing or married to, especially when he has been out of work for three years and worried about his kid coming home from Afghanistan in a Body Bag. I must say it is nice to see the slug has evolved into a SLIME BALL who is right on at least one issue.
Larkin
While I absolutely know it’s a calculated political move in an election year, I don’t care.
What I do care about is that couples will finally have the true rights & benefits of marriage that their love has created.
It is a huge political risk for Obama to do this at this time. But he has the moral high ground and even the opponents know that.
In the upcoming debates, watch as Obama decimates Romney over this. Obama will be defending not only human rights, but AMERICAN rights.
The republicants will be shown, yet again to be the evil, vindictive and hypocritic people they are.
I’m voting Obama in 2012. I hope you all do to because you know exactly what will happen under a Rmoney adminstration.
Oh, ok
@Larkin: Bush got into office by being against gay marriage and won a second term by claiming the entire world was/is against us and we aren’t safe.
I don’t think morality and common sense are on the agenda of the majority.
People vote for their own “gain” not the well-being of others.
Charlie
Praise him! I hear so many folks (including gay folks) say they wish he hadn’t brought this up now because it’s an election year. Well I am tired of the right choice for LGBT folks being too inconvenient for moderate Democrats who wish we would quiet down and not offend swing voters. That’s just the popular kid telling their unpopular friend “Sorry I can’t be seen eating lunch with you at school but we can hang out afterward probably if I don’t have to be somewhere.” It is HUGE that he did this.
Oh, ok
@Charlie: That sounds nice up until Obama doesn’t get re-elected because you had to be coddled and given a pacifier since you couldn’t wait until after he was back in office.
Then his replacement can slowly or quickly undo all of his progress.
Charlie
@Oh, ok: That leads to it never being convenient enough to help the LGBT community. If he did it in his second term people would complain that we drove people to the right and hurt the chances of his successor. But then maybe you really like eating scraps.
Oh, ok
@Charlie: You should proof-read before hitting “Submit” so you’ll know if your post makes any sense. Hint: It doesn’t.
B
No. 69 · Me wrote, “Uh, read between the lines. Did you all miss the part about how he believes it should be “up to the states to decide”? How does that make him any different than any other segregationist?”
Well, (1) “marriage between a man and a woman” is currently left up to the states to decide, and (2) leaving it up to the states is a hell of a lot better than trying to pass a constitutional amendment that allows marriages only “between a man and a woman.”
Can you imagine how hard it would have been to abolish slavery if someone had gotten a constitutional amendment passed that enshrined slavery in the U.S. constitution? Yet that is what Romney would like to see happen regarding same-sex marriage – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/mitt-romney-gay-marriage-civil-unions-obama_n_1503597.html – although if elected, the president does not have any role in passing a constitutional amendment beyond cheer leading.
paulcanning
This is already having a global impact. Read more here http://www.care2.com/causes/gay-marriage-and-obama-international-reaction.html
B
Regarding the question Queerty posed (right thing at the right time), it is worth noting that for presidential leadership on an issue in which public opinion is changing, timing is critical. If the president tries to lead the public in the right direction too early, he’ll either get a hostile reaction or be ignored. If he tries too late, the effort is superfluous. So, the trick is to take all the issues (remember, a president has more than one thing to juggle) and try to time what he does to pull the country in the right direction as effectively as possible, averaged over all issues significant for the country.
The impact on the election is not clear. While some people won’t like what the president said, his statements might increase enthusiasm among likely supporters – the people who put in a lot of effort on his behalf during the last election – and also boxes Romney in. Romney can flip flop by saying “me too” or he can come across, especially to younger voters, as old fashioned. Meanwhile the people who are mostly like to support an anti-gay position are fundamentalist Christians, who already don’t like Obama but who are predisposed to distrust Romney for being a Mormon. If Romney tries to use same-sex marriage as a wedge issue, that itself raises an issue for Romney due to the Mormon political activities against same-sex marriage. A lot of people are going to be nervous about a candidate with a minority religion who shows signs of basing public policy on his religion’s practices, and will look at what the candidate is doing, not his PR spin trying to whitewash it.
Charlie
@Charlie: Nope your reading comprehension just needs some help. It’s all right though, these things take time and you shouldn’t feel discouraged. Obama will win, this won’t be an effective wedge issue.
1equalityUSA
If Romney had said, “Civil Union” as an alternative to Obama’s inclusive equality message, he might have stood a chance. But Mittens said no to same sex marriage and anything similar. Wow, but we can visit our loved ones when in a hospital…”That’s appropriate.” thanks clown boy. You and your exclusive GOP dinosaurs are going extinct. But don’t hang out at the La Brea Tar Pits, as Maggie used up all the tar for her extinct carcass. Go fossilize out in the Utah desert somewhere. Republicans bite.
todd
@Sean: Yes, due dilligence will always have me take a step back and wonder whether this candidate is the right one. I think simply voting on one issue leaves alot of other issues up for grabs where a candidate may not be strong or well suited. I care about healthcare, defense spending, energy sources, wilderness activities, science spending, NASA, and many more issues. I completely understand that having one party’s president in over another’s guarantees nothing in U.S. politics. All you have to do is follow the issues of the current debt ceiling to see how difficult it can be to put through good legislation. At times our government gets absolutely nothing done. So, yes I will look at all aspects of the president and fellow runner. If I didn’t I would be as much to blame for a financial crisis as I would if equal access to marriage were lost. I understand how this will probably upset you but, I will stick to my guns and evaluate everything before I punch that hole.
Oh, ok
@Charlie: You just destroyed yourself.
Oh, ok's Mother
@ oh, ok…..
Charlie, made prefect sense in post No.76, maybe you should take a course in remedial reading you hateful troll.
David
Just a stunt by Obama. I thought he was a good guy. The USA is so much in debt to the Chinese and everyone else, but no, let’s worry about the big issue like gay marriage.
Obama talks about Main St Hometown America. Well Main St Hometown is not homosexual!