SOUNDBITES — “I think the White House is preparing to make an announcement on a number of issues … I’m predicting here, not informing, that by the Stonewall anniversary we will have a very clear picture of what the administration is doing.” —California Rep. Howard Berman on whether the White House will introduce pro-GLBT policies before June’s annual pride fests. Stonewall’s 40th anniversary is June 28; if there’s no action, some activists are already planning a march on Washington that day. And yes, that’s different from David Mixner’s November rally.
Rep. Howard Berman
‘By the Stonewall anniversary we will have a very clear picture of what the administration is doing’
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daftpunkydavid
isn’t there another march planned for the fall? let’s not have a gazillion marches that would weaken the turnout. now that would be bad.
Lee
Bless Berman for his very pro gay voting record, but if one reads the linked article, his prediction isn’t very encouraging given his apparent definition of “doing” and his other apparent telephathic skill of looking into the hearts of two of the most rabidly antigay members of Congress, Smith and Pence, and still see goodness even after they ferociously fought against the sprinkle portions of his bill that would have simply COUNTED the number of violent incidents against gays ABROAD and “encourage and persuade governments of other countries to repeal or reform any laws that criminalize homosexuality or restrict fundamental [gay] freedoms.”
“Do you want whipped cream on that?”
The Advocate twice interprets the prediction as being about another statement of the administration’s “policies”…and policy statements can, but more often than not don’t, include ACTION. It’s dangerous to comment about something that hasn’t happened yet, but of this I’M CERTAIN:
We do NOT need, nor should we settle for, just another set of Obama Pride bumper stickers; a touchy-feely 99 cent Hallmark card full of sounds of good intentions and a fury of To Do Yet items signifying nothing.
We do NOT need another shipment of White House-logoed jock straps: “support this support that support support support” statements entirely meaningless by themselves but with just enough elastic in them to enable them to stretch their excuses for not DOING anything.
We do not need, nor should we settle for, more shit piles of promises nor slices of pie in the sky for everyone.
Others can continue worshiping the dashboard Jesus version, the six-inch, plastic, lifelike Obama “action figure.” What we must see is a President of ACTION.
And whether or not we’ll see a certain tall black First Lady in a sleeveless dress march the same pride route in New York that a short white First Lady in a pants suit did, grading the statement should begin by comparing what he says this year, with what he said below last year as a candidate.
“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. 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 TIME TO LIVE UP TO our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. LET’S ENACT federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. LET’S REPEAL Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. LET’S TREAT the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.
WE ARE READY TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who have are working every day to achieve equal rights. The gay couple who demand equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children; THE LESBIAN SOLDIER WHO WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO SERVE HER COUNTRY OPENLY AND HONESTLY; the transgendered workers who asks for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work. Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible THIS MOMENT in our history. WITH LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORK, we can fulfill the promise of equality for all.”
Hasn’t time and willful impotence and the announcement that he will defend DADT in court made the lesbian soldier line retch worthy? Will the Stonewall 40 statement clean up the mess?
Words fly over the rainbow….
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2795199246_b1b9dc6ffa.jpg?v=0[/img]
BradK
@Lee: Well stated.
If anyone is deluded enough to believe The Messiah will magically do an about face in the next 4 weeks and actually hold true to Candidate Messiah’s promises of LGBT equality then I pity you.
Just wait until after Tuesday’s PropH8 decision. I wonder what sort of lukewarm drivel we’ll hear from the oval temple mount — if anything. It certainly won’t be staged in front of the National Archives.
Stoney McLegal
On April 29 the House voted 249-175 to pass federal hate crimes legislation which adds sexual orientation to the list of prosecutable offenses. It is going thorough the proper channels and all expect it to be passed in to law.
President Obama has publicly stated his support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and looks to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
And of course, as you must know, President Obama doesn’t write the bills that go to the House and Senate.
President Obama has been the most vocal proponent of Gay rights of any President…ever.
I have a suggestion for you. Be smart, strategic and patient. Let the Administration deal with the extraordinarily pressing issues they are faced with that have worldwide implications prior to tackling the social issues that demand his attention. He’ll get there.
But the more you scream, yell and demand, or pull stunts like what happened in my home state of California when the gay marriage bill was (unjustly) repealed, the more you will continue to ostracize yourself from the populous.
And if you want equality then perhaps it’s time to start acting like it. Perhaps if there wasn’t such a demand to be recognized as Gay first and an American second the ignorant throughout the country wouldn’t be so combative. Play to your strengths, (more educated, more affluent, more charitable) as opposed to your weaknesses and you’ll continue to see public support for your agenda grow.
Don’t forget, the GLBT community is a minority in terms of numbers. And the more you seek to identify yourselves as separate from the larger contingent the more backlash you will endure. I mean, take a look at most every gay-themed publication and what do you see? Washboard abs and toothy smiles. Is that what being gay is all about? Seems like perhaps you would do yourselves a favor by taking yourselves a little more seriously.
I say ‘you’ because I am straight. And I want nothing more than equality for every American. It’s in my best interest, your best interest and the nation’s best interest. We’ll all get there. But this is not the time of Stonewall. This is a better time. This is America’s time to shine.
Todd
@Stoney McLegal:
You’re straight. I never would have guessed.
Sounds like sit down, shut up, better yet wait in the closet. This IS the time of Stonewall 2!
Lee
@Stoney McLegal:
Gee, and just when I was beginning to think that the only BaCrack addicts left were gay.
Just raise your IQ and step awaaaaay from the Kool Aid.
Stoney McLegal
To Todd…about what I expected. You’re obviously unable to take a step back, see the big picture, figure out how to reach your goals and be strategic in the process.
So this is the time of Stonewall, huh? And what are you exactly are going to DO Lee? You’ll do nothing. You’ll stand in front of a courthouse with a sign. Share your ‘poor me’ attitude with others who feel like you. Or better yet, you’ll just piss and moan on blogs. Perfect.
And to Lee. Raise my IQ? Step away from the Kool-Aid? 0 for 2 my dismissive, childish friend.
Lee
@Stoney McLegal:
Blah Blah Gaseous blah! The truth remains that you have your head so far up Obama’s ass that if he farted your feet would smell.
Alton C.
Stoney, Um…I’m not giving the president credit for legislative action, when he is no longer a member of the legislative branch. Vocal support for our rights is great (if you can call political double-speak ‘support’), action is better than words though. I think all these grumpy gay folks you’re addressing would be less so if the ‘most vocal proponent’ didn’t have a clear history of changing his position on our issues.
Alton C.
Oh, and btw: why the hell are you reading our magazines and visiting our websites to know how superficial we are? And how is our media more superficial than mainstream (hetero) media? I don’t actually want answers to these questions, they’re just included to make you seem like a homophobic d-bag. As for me, i’ll leave the convoluted ‘strategery’ for the slime-ball politicians who are worried about winning re-election and securing the mainstream homophobe vote.
schlukitz
@Stoney McLegal:
I suspect that you would have had the big cajonies to tell Martin Luther King that he was doing it all wrong too!
I love how people who have nothing invested and nothing to loose, are the ones that have all the answers.
One has to wonder just how seriously you take yourself?
Stitch
@Stoney McLegal: Now, I for one agree with you. All the pissing and moaning hasn’t been effective for the last 40 years, and suddenly we think it will be today? We should be playing to our strengths and not highlighting the stereotypes that middle America hates.
Thank you for having the insight and eloquence to make that statement. I apologize for all the bitchy queens who attacked you for your opinion. They can’t see that their dogma is just as bad as anti-gay dogma.
@schlukitz: Let’s not forget that MLK didn’t whine on blogs all day like Lee and some others who crop up on Queerty every 5 minutes. He led a movement of people who were willing to peacefully head out into the streets all across the country to demand what they deserved. We are sitting around our glowing computer screens bitching about things and then whacking off to the Morning Goods pics.
Stoney McLegal
Thanks for those comments Stitch. I understand the emotion surrounding the issue and in all honesty would prefer anger to apathy. But I’m glad you understood my perspective.
Alton? I won’t answer your questions since you asked me not to but I will respond with a question. Whether you or I like it or not those ‘slime-ball politicians,’ along with the judicial system, are holding the cards. Why would you choose to willingly leave the ‘strategery’ to them? Aren’t they the ones you should be targeting?
And just to toss it out there as I think calling someone a homophobe is way out of line, particularly when it isn’t deserved, the best man in my wedding was gay, my current best friend is gay and I have two cousins who I’m very close with who are gay. Homophobia isn’t part of my trip Alton. We are who we are. We’re born how we’re born. Sorry to disappoint you.
And finally to Schlukitz, thanks for reiterating my point. It is absolutely in my best interest as a heterosexual for gay marriage to be legalized on a federal level. I don’t see this as being solely about marriage. That’s just a by-product. I see this being about equal rights…something that is guaranteed in the Constitution.
I don’t believe that voters should be deciding if gay marriage is legal or not. The voters didn’t give women the right to vote or provide for equal rights for African-Americans. I just don’t see the difference when it comes to gay marriage. And when the Government doesn’t allow for equality for all it makes our country weaker and our society less than it could be. How is that in my best interest? Why would I want that?
My thinking is it’s time to take away the power of special interest groups, like the Mormons who invested so heavily in Prop 8, and coordinate those who believe in gay marriage on moral grounds along with those who believe in the Constitution. And the great thing is that if the case is presented to the Right as another example of the Government involving themselves in the personal lives of the citizens you may get some support there as well. When you get the people TOGETHER there is power. But as long as there is an “Us” (gay) vs. “Them” (straight) mentality, there will always be a ceiling on what can be accomplished.
Just my 14 cents.