Swine flu! Abortion! Immigration! Torture! Iraq! All were hot topics last night at President Barack Obama‘s third press conference since moving into the White House. He artfully dodged some questions (i.e. abortion and torture) and managed to score a few laughs. But what did zero reporters ask him about? Gay rights. And it’s not like he was going to bring it up on his own, given his history of near radio silence on the matter. Yes, yes, we’re only 100 days into his term, and he’s got other things to do. But Obama made it clear, even in jest, that if he could handle just “Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, getting health care passed, figuring out how to deal with energy independence, deal with Iran, and a pandemic flu,” then he would “take that deal.” Huh. Guess that whole civil rights thing remains a non-priority. Got hope?
mick
Yeah I still have Hope, and I love it!
Oaklander
He has been consistent in his lack of support for LGBT people. Any LGBT person who supports him is in the same category as a Kappa for me.
Licky
You can always get George back if you miss him.
Smartypants
Technically not true. Deb Price of the Detroit News, who has the first column by an openly gay journalist in a daily paper, was called on at the press conference and asked Obama a question about the auto industry. I think this is the first time a president has taken a question from an openly glbt journalist.
Aaron
@Licky:
Yeah, the “George” comment makes sense. (insert sarcasm tone) With comments like this, it’s no wonder Obama is kicking us to the curb.
STOP ENABLING his lack of leading and promoting EQUAL rights for LGBT people. It’s pathetic, useless and destructive. But most importantly, its a disservice to Barack Obama NOT to criticize and hold him up to what he should be doing.
I want to thank Queerty for pointing this out. Maybe someday we will stop following blindly and realize that the only way we’ll get people’s minds to change (incldg this president) is by continually calling them out on their bigotry. It’s not ok to discriminate!
Lee
I expect to be flamed for this but the absence of any comment by him on his LGBT-related promises bothered me less in this particular set of opening remarks than his demurring [and the press corps’ outright guffawing] over the question about what “enchanted” him.
Reminded me of the primary debate at Howard University when he felt the need to go out of his way to emphasize “jokingly” that his HIV test that Biden mentioned “was WITH MY WIFE.” And the audience roared.
I think they are both indications of how little he viscerally “gets” that straying from typical gender expectations [Real Men don’t say “enchanted”/Don’t even IMAGINE that I might not be really straight.] is no big deal.
And his 99% silence and lack of any definitive action on his LGBT promises once elected are manifestations of that disconnect.
ben
thats because there’s a chrysler bankrupcy problem among other things! you sound like a douche bag!
afrolito
Here we go again…
Once again, the President has much more pressing issues to deal with these days. Issues that effect ALL OF US, as americans. Why exactly would reporters even ask him about gay issues in the first place? NEWSFLASH….THEY HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN GAY RIGHTS! Even when they may be gay themselves.
Look, that gay rights bill passed through the house, and Obama promised to sign it into law if it gets through the senate, and makes it to his desk. What more do you people want? Should he throw a circuit party at the White House??
Most of you negative bitches, probably didn’t even vote for him anyway.
Dennis
I have come to believe that the only thing that that will make some people on this site happy is for Obama to suck cock on camera at his next press conference. (Or more likely, whip it out and get it serviced, you horny freaks, lol)
Learn who our REAL ENEMIES are, and focus your energies on them. Continue to press Obama (and our political organizations) for concrete action. But if you think Obama’s truly, I mean honestly, some kind of homophobe, then you are a realityphobe.
ben
I just removed Queerty from my bookmarks. Sad, beacuse I really used to like this web site when it wasn’t so catty and actually reported things in a professional, mature way. I prefer places that report the news and what you can do abou it, not just web sites the post trashy pictures next to provocative for the sake of attention headlines. Gone way down hill, really fast.
Michael
Can I get a big group WTF about replacing Japhy with this “Arthur” character? I haven’t read a good article on this site since the change in leadership happened.
Dennis
@Michael:
“Holla”, big group WTF! Used to love this site, now afraid it’s jumping the shark…I will choose to stay and fight, for now.
Chitown Kev
@Michael:
WTF!
Chitown Kev
We can only do so much catty bitching on blogs.
What do out self-appointed “leaders” say? Joe S. and his staff at the HRC are paid very well (with our donations) to lobby on our behalf. WTF is up? they are answerable to our community.
Or rather, they are the first line.
HM
@afrolito:
Hey Afro, Obama’s gay portion on the civil rights page just shrunk. Got any comments on that?
blake
@Michael:
WTF?!!!
This blog posting is just clickbait: some crap tossed up to get people to click. There’s no reporting in this story just complaining.
(Where’s Japhy??? Where’s Cord???)
A major hate crimes bill has passed the house with Obama’s support. How terrible of Obama to be able to say that within his first 100 days the House of Representatives passed major hate crimes legislation!
There’s a difference between keeping Obama honest and just complaining. There’s no activism here. No call to action; just more of the same old same old.
benjamin
Well, guys, I am out.
At this pace, it is not even over-pressuring Obama on gay issues, it is just Obama-bashing for the sake of it.
Btw Obama is not the one who chooses the content of the questions, dear. So even if you wanna think there isn’t a tons of other things to ask him right now than get him to repeat what he has already said on LGBT rights, criticize the journalists.
blake
On second thought: Maybe it’s time for a break from Queerty because there’s more vitriol directed at Obama, an ally, on an ongoing basis than at real anti-gay enemies: Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Focus on the Family, etc.
This posting seems more cynical than a sincere effort to move gay rights ahead. It’s the third posting about Obama and nothing of value was added.
Again, if you want to be a civil rights activist, then act like it. Provide resources and directions instead of just complaining.
wowjustwow
Well I guess I’ll echo most of the comments: this site has totally devolved into self-parody, at this point.
And to those of you who seem to think that babyish whining is the same thing as holding the President accountable, I really have nothing to say.
CTBottoms
@Michael:
I agree! This place has become a complete joke in less than a week! I posted this earlier but it bears repeating:
David’s never had any of these “new editors” introduce themselves, tell us where they came from, what they used to do, background, etc. There’s not even a separate email address for them like there used to be for Japhy.
And while the name “JD” can’t really be searched, I did google the name “Arthur Dunlop.” And unless he’s a retiree from Piedmont, CA or a soccer gadget-inventing 47-year-old council worker from Aberdeen, this “Arthur Dunlop” has virtually no online footprint.
Frankly, since all of the posts are in the same unhinged gossipy voice as the site used to have, I think David just made up some fake new editors and is just writing this all himself.
True or false, David? Have the new editors introduce themselves or come out as an unbalanced nutter who’s made up a new Queerty team of George Glass and Snuffleupagus.
sparkle obama
the gays are jumping the shark…
Chitown Kev
@sparkle obama:
nah, it’s a combination of things, primarily the loss of japhy who put the “g” in “gravitas” when it comes to this site and political reporting of this type.
and I think it has less to do with being pissed at Obama and more to do with the # of hits which =$$.
I’ll play along for now. (the Marion Barry threads are hilarious!)
Erick
@Michael: So that was it. I noticed something different since I came from vacation, now I know what it is.
Im going to have adhere myself to that collective groan, oh yes, its a WTF!
Who ever the new editor is, he needs to step up because the change is noticeable and Im not sure many of us will stay interested if this keeps up. Queerty screwed up just about the one thing it had going for it.
There is something to be said for giving the new guy a chance, so Im going to give him one for a while.
BTW, there was something gay in the press conference, the Times reporter who asked was its probably the most memorable question of the affair IS GAY.
glennmcgahee
When did Obama ever say anything about doing something for the gay community.Answer? Never. I’ve sreamed and screamed at all the glbt blogs that have adored Obama and wondered where they got the idea that he has supported us. He has promised to expand Bush’s Faith Based Groups and he has surrounded himself with plenty of anti-gay rights religious advisors. He stated his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. we’ve heard that a review of DADT will be put off indefinitely. “Called on an openly gay reporter”? Thats progress? Bill Clinton opened the door to military service his FIRST day in office. It didn’t take a minute. Yea, he paid for it and we were left with DADT but at least he demonstrated his beliefs by that action. What exactly has Obama done other than call on an openly gay reporter? We’ve set the bar kinda low huh.
blake
@CTBottoms:
The articles all have David’s “Obama is a traitor” style.
I miss Japhy and Cord.
🙁
🙁
🙁
It was just uncool to not offer any thanks or best wishes to Cord and Japhy. Why pretend that things haven’t changed? How does that help the Queerty community? Blogs are about having some kind of personal relationship with your community. I think everyone understands that blogs aren’t making money. Layoffs happen but why not be open about the circumstances? Other blogs have given their contributors a proper send off. When Andrew B. left Queerty, he got a chance to say adios.
InExile
Is it too late to call our credit card companies and dispute all of our donations to his campaign?
Dabq
And it did not bother me one bit as there are pressing issues and the man has been in office for 100 days and is doing a great job.
Lee
Oh, Marys, PUHLEEZE!
Japhy put the gravitas in the site? Hardly. He was a lavendar idiot savant, capable of being intelligent and puerile in the same paragraph. Where is he? Did he elope with one of his favorite stoned “Stonewall 2.0” jugends like the one who claimed Rufus Wainwright was the new Bob Dylan and dissed every gay activist over 25 who had come before him and CREATED the better gay world in which he now claims to be Queen er King? The one who was already imagining history books he’d be in? In the immortal words of Aunt Clara:
“Don’t go posing for any statues now.”
If Obama is still our indisputable “ally,” then he’s been body snatched and a tongue-tied, oblivious, and indifferent cyborg put in his place.
FREE BARACK! SEARCH EVERYWHERE! CLOSE THE BELTWAY! NO ONE GETS OUT/NO ONE GETS IN! WE’RE COMING MASSA! KNOCK TWICE IF YOU HEAR US!
Mark M
Too many of you sell your voice short. “They” are right: we don’t deserve marriage, national workplace and housing protections, or to be included at the table in general. We are less than them. Less than human. It’s not because we suck dick, it’s because of the pussy-ass attitudes you see here– the whimped out losers ready to get on their knees and worship this man because he is NOT Bush, and Not White. If that is all it takes to make you happy, then you got what you deserve. Fucking looser. The man is no friend of the LGBT community. He hasn’t earned. Just being “Not Bush” isn’t enough for anyone with self respect. Oh right… Got it.
James
OMG!! The world doesn’t revolve around us gays!!! Yeah, states are slowly and steadily pursuing marriage equality and the federal government is moving towards providing hate crime protections, but the President not moving as quick as we would like on gay issues? He must be a promise-breaking douche-bag!
Grow up people. Our country is in a bit of a mess right now. Our rights are important, and they’re coming slowly but surely, and believe me, the administration has a hand in it one way or another. That federal hate crimes bill, if passed, will have to go to the President’s desk and I am 100% sure Obama will sign it. I want marriage just as much as the rest of you, but if we don’t calm the f*ck down and let them do their job, we not only run the risk of alienating some of our most ardant supporters, we wind up looking like impatient whiners.
alicia banks
i also saw no “press conference”…
these staged fiascos with fluffy pre-selected “questions”
have become intolerable!
shame!!!
alicia banks
OUTLOOK
http://aliciabanks.blogspot.com
rogue dandelion
ugh i am soooo ambivalent
I agree with the gist of the article, and the self hate on the comment board is astounding(@James: ) but this article isn’t about anything new really, just reiterating the same point(obama doesn’t care about gay people) and didn’t properly address the media apathy toward gay rights. Maybe if the one gay reporter who got to ask a question didn’t waste it on “what enchants you” the press conference would be more interesting.
James
I truly hope, Rogue Dandelion, that your comment about self-hate does not refer to me. It is a shame that you would feel the need to insult a complete stranger with the “self-hate” bomb. It implies that not only do I hate myself but also hate my gay brothers and sisters, when nothing could be further from the truth. I’m simply saying gay marriage isn’t the end all and be all of gay rights. How is unemployment not a gay issue? The company I worked with for 6 years folded, my financial aid is getting cut, and I’m living without health insurance, barely getting by (and I’m only 25!). I am gay and therefore these are gay issues. Do I want to marry my amazingly gorgeous boyfriend? Absolutely. But what’s getting done is important. Rogue Dandelion, I love myself. I love my life. And I want my rights just as much as the next homo, but, like I said, we need to cool down. You may see me as self-hating. I see you as rude and a little cowardly for insulting a stranger.
The Lesbian Mafia
Excellent observations, Queerty.
Thank you for speaking for the growing portion of the gay community who feels disconnected and abandoned from their community for simply not worshipping the same idol as the Obama Defenders. It’s stunning to watch people flame a blog for voicing displeasure an Barack’s open homophobia regarding LGBTQ civil rights and how it is so much more offensive for him to voice his bigotry on gay marriage when he himself would have suffered the same bigotry just a few short decades ago.
No disrespect to his supporters as long as you don’t disrespect those who hold a different view. Adults have different opinions.
You can support whoever you like, even though he is an open bigot and sexist. That is your choice, you got your president, you should be happy. But please consider that not everyone worships idols and needs a Daddy figure. Some of us would like a president who would keep his promises for once and actually not openly state over and over and over again that he is a bigot against LGBTQ civil rights.
If you disagree with Queerty, that is your right but to flame a blog because they don’t have a Daddy worship complex is very alienating. A growing part of our community feels a disconnect and does not relate to Democrat or Republican parties anymore because some of us have been here before and can smell the bullshit. There are hundreds of other blogs that worship Obama day after day after day, there are channels like MSNBS that are Obama Central and serve as a worship channel, there are radio networks like NPR and Air unAmerica worship Barack day after day like a religion, you can all go there and bask in the rainbows and unicorns and fantasize about how dreamy Barack is. Go, be happy and enjoy, the mainstream media is your drug dealer. Indulge.
As for us, we are happy to have found likeminded people that do not put a politician before thier civil rights.
Thank you Queerty for your service and having the guts and courage to voice your disappointment in this current administration and endure having your own community lash out and attack you when all you are doing is your job, being yourselves and not pandering to an audience just because it’s popular. We all suffer from discrimination turning on each other is exactly what this administration has done, seperate communities from others. Weak minded individuals do not like those who have a shred of self confidence, a mind of their own, and believe they deserve rights.
You are a threat, Queerty, and I hope you remain that way.
Respect and love.
InExile
@The Lesbian Mafia: Agreed! All leadership must be questioned to keep them on the right track. Blind faith is a very dangerous thing!
Queerty is doing their job, unlike the mainstream media, and we commend you for it!
ousslander
He would rather grant citizenship and rights to illegals than confer equality on people who are citizens.
fem in the city
Why hasn’t anyone in the mainstream media reported anything about Samson Obama?
Google him.
The UK media is willing to indulge in a little normal reporting.
U.S. media is busy farting rainbows with Obama’s face at the end of them. U.S. press is known worldwide for being manufactured donkey shit anyway. No one with any brains actually watches it. They find reliable sources online outside of America as well.
fem in the city
Google: Samson Obama Rape
fem in the city
Change!
Hope!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qONwyLxGaM
InExile
Looks like White House dot gov changed the civil rights section of the website:
Notice the “changed” wording on DADT.
Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Laws
On January 29, 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act to ensure that all Americans receive equal pay for equal work. The President is committed to expanding funding for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to ensure that voting rights are protected and Americans do not suffer from increased discrimination during a time of economic distress. President Obama also continues to support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. He supports full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples and opposes a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He supports changing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in a sensible way that strengthens our armed forces and our national security, and also believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
InExile
@InExile: This is what the website used to say”
Support for the LGBT Community “While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.” — Barack Obama, June 1, 2007*
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
* Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees’ domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
* Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
* Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
* Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
* Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
* Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
* Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
Anthony in Nashville
Those who have stated that there are bigger problems facing the LGBT community than Obama are correct. I think Queerty is focusing on Obama threads because they are guaranteed to get a lot of attention.
For those who feel the site has fallen off lately, David probably has stats to justify this new direction, similiar to when people hated the last re-design but Japhy and David said their numbers went up.
Besides, I always looked at Queerty as more “infotainment” or “light fare” as opposed to anything substantive. Japhy did try to introduce some weightier topics, but one could argue that introducing serious threads clashed with other posts on eye candy or Michael Lucas.
undercoverpants
@The Lesbian Mafia: No disrespect to his supporters as long as you don’t disrespect those who hold a different view. Adults have different opinions.
You can support whoever you like, even though he is an open bigot and sexist.
I LULZ’d at your passive aggression. Very mature and “adult.” Scoot on back to your PUMA blog now.