The reason the Obama administration is giving us for not repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell? It's also being used to argue why trying to repeal pro-gay policies isn't worth it.
"There's too much on his plate," Obama supporters will tell you, excusing the president's inaction on his campaign promise to repeal DADT. We've got the economy, wars, health care, and H1N1 to deal with.
"So-fucking-what?" has been our response. The highest office in the nation always has a lot to deal with, none of which should get in the way of civil rights.
Interesting, then, that the Seattle Times is using that same "government and voters are too busy" rationale to advocate against Referendum 71, a (destined to fail) effort from religious conservatives in Washington State to repeal domestic partnership laws.
Argues the newspaper: "[Referendum 71] is an unnecessary campaign at a lousy time. Don't sign. Don't put our state through another rendition of the culture wars. Washington voters have much to manage: Many residents are out of work; others worry they will lose their jobs. Thousands of people have difficulty making ends meet. No one needs a campaign to stomp on legislation that doesn't hurt anyone. … It is never a good time to wage an unnecessary cultural war, but this is a spectacularly bad time to fire up this old flame. Citizens have more important things to worry about."
We're with 'em on that whole "culture wars" thing. But if we're going to argue that Obama can never be too busy for civil rights, can we argue our opponents need to shut up for the same reason?
New Ridiculous Way of Activist Groups Counting Their Membership: Facebook Fans (1)
· Brian says: We have a group in Dallas – Queer Liberaction, that does something similar. They... »
Homosexual Pop Singer Performs Entire Song Without the Need For Any Blurring (6)
· RomanHans says: In hindsight, Adam was absolutely brilliant. He immediately announced his agenda... »
Virginia + Maryland’s Governors Are Catholic. And They’re Furious With the Church’s Threats (37)
· Robert, NYC says: 1EqualityUSA, I’m afraid its too late, Obama has continued the Bush policy... »
· B Stupid says: I can be smart if I cut and paste from other sites. It means i don’t have to... »
Forget the Blowjob: Adam Lambert’s Album Is Good And Selling Gangbusters (3)
· Allie says: It is on track to being a huge commercial success, but you’ve got the figure... »
Twilight Taylor Lautner Will Neither Confirm Nor Deny He’s a Big Homo (7)
· TommyOC says: Did you even *see* “The Adventures of Sharkboy and LavaGirl”?!?!? That... »
· G says: Yeah, that’s just creepy. I don’t really want to be speculating about a... »
Fine, We Admit It: Bebe Zahara Benet Is The Shit (2)
· Kevin says: Love it! Bebe is sooo FIERCE!! »
· bryan says: THIS IS SHIT! »
PHOTOS: Moe Brian Moe Beauty (9)
· Forty2 says: Never trust a man who shaves his pits. »
i don't care what argument they make as long as it works. maybe that's placing pragmatism over principles, but principles haven't worked yet in referendum.
We're never too busy to give equal rights; we're always too busy to take them away.
I'd almost like this to make it to the ballot. If it failed (and there's every indication it would), it might embolden legislators to simply put marriage equality on the table.
That being said, it seems clear that there isn't enough interest to sustain anti-domestic partnership legislation in the Pacific Northwest and California. A similar referendum failed to get off the ground in Oregon, and Proposition 8 was limited to marriage for similar reasons.
The two situations are entirely different. Obama is hemming and hawing on a campaign promise which Gibbs unequivocally said earlier this year would happen for sure. Obama is thus retarding the inevitable progress he promised.
In Washington, the opposition to the DP enactment is creating an issue over SOMETHING THAT'S DOOMED TO FAIL. That's the argument the Seattle Times is making anyway.
How many economically and politically troubled societies can you name that have made civil rights strides?
Did eastern Europe make a whole lot of GLBT friendly progress in the 50s and 60s?
How about Bosnia in the 90s?
An often-overlooked fact of our own civil rights struggle in this country is that progress only ever occurred during periods of relative prosperity, wealthy, and international peace. I'm not claiming that there was absloute international peace in the 60s, because I'm not stupid. I'm claiming that conditions today are relatively less prime for civil rights progress.
The fact of the matter is, the reason Obama is not catering to us is because we are not his only constituency. We are not his only consideration. But he is not the only problem. He is not single-handedly keeping us from having our every dream come true.
The absolute blame he receives from the commenters on this blog is naive at best, unintelligent and hypocritical at worst.
Just a quick question:
I understand that my rights are at stake, blah blah blah, but is anyone else SICK AND TIRED of the stupid back and forth on this site re: Obama not showing the gays enough love??
I GET IT.
Some of you think he's the devil incarnate, turncoat Judas who sold us down the river once he took office.
Some of you think that there are other forces at work, and that Obama at least doesn't deserve 100% of the vitriol he's being targeted with.
Can we PLEASE move on?
Hey Queerty! Write about something else! It's all half naked men and Obama rants these days.
Considering Seattle has recently passed San Fran as the gayest friendly city in the country, I kinda doubt that hate wud pass in the state anyways. But then again, their are a lot of Mormons in the state with all the tree huggers.