Tina Tchen, director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, speaking to state members of the umbrella group Equality Federation: “When you are frustrated you should speak out and hold our feet to the fire.” At the same meeting, according to Florida Together’s executive director of Michael Kenny, OPE’s deputy director Brian Bond (the former head of Victory Fund) remarked how he was frustrated with the intense criticism of the administration, particularly by bloggers, when the White House is “99 percent supportive of your issues.” So everyone, only hold the White House’s feet to the fire when Mr. Bond has had his Valium.
Mark
I think marriage equality (that Obama is against) certainly counts for more than 1 percent. The lack of leadership and action on DADT, DOMA is worth something as well. If Obama’s Administration truly was advocating for the equal treatment of GLBT Americans then there would be a game plan and action towards removing all the barriers, unequal treatment and discrimination in taxes, employment, all types of insurance, inheritance, social security, property rights etc… I’ve seen nothing. 1%!? Talk is cheap.
FYI
There is no such thing as being “99%” for a fellow American citizen’s equality without sounding like, and actually being, a disgusting bigot. You are either for or against equality in all things — there is no equivocating on this point. That is like saying someone can be just “a little bit pregnant”. Ridiculous!
According to their incremental morality, I suppose the White House must also think that clause in the US Constitution (before the 14th Amendment) which made African Americans only 3/5ths of a human being should have been acceptable as “baby steps towards full equality”.
So, maybe, being 99/100s of a human being (for the GLBT community) is acceptable to Obama and his ilk — but it is not acceptable to truly decent human beings.
This anti-gay apartheid in the USA has got to end. Now!
Pathetic… Just pathetic!
PS – I agree with MARK. Marriage equality is not just 1% of our Total Rights Package. In the Midwest state where I was born, Obama’s white mother and black father’s “marriage” was not only not recognized, but it was illegal until 1967. Was that just a trifling 1% of significance to Obama’s parents? …I doubt it.
Syl
Be good little electoral chattels and keep voting for us and giving us your money! We’ll get to full equality after we’ve hit all the important issues! Like, you know, cap and trade, amnesty for the 10 million illegal immigrants (future Democratic voters!!!), Bailout 2.0…Obama’s umpteenth vacation…but we’ll get to it! Don’t get your knickers in a bunch!
If there ever was an unhealthy relationship, it’s between the Dems and the LGBTQ community
Gay Florida
Enough talk. Support implies action. Results, now.
Steve
Obama promised that he would be a “fierce advocate” for gay and lesbian people.
So far, all of his advocacy related to sexual orientation, has been for the other side. He has filed briefs opposing us, and sent his lawyers to speak against us in court. I have not yet seen even one brief from his administration that supports us on any issue.
Perhaps it depends on the meaning of the word, “advocate”.
The only good thing is that he has been less bad than the opposition promised to their side. Obama has opposed equal protection for gay people, but not very vigorously. The Republicans have always opposed us quite vigorously. It’s hard to get excited about supporting the lesser of two evils.
Cam
I’m sorry, but saying that “I don’t believe you should have equal rights in marriage” is not being 99% supportive of my issues.
When something like 70% of the nation feels that repealing DADT is right, saying that there would be no movement on a repeal this year, and then inserting a road black into a repeal that was pushed through by Pelosi isn’t being 99% supportive of my issues.
Not moving on ENDA when it is supported by a majority isn’t being 99% supportive of my isues.
This is the same type of 99% support that President Clinton gave us “Sure I had to sign DOMA and DADT into law, but hey, I also, in the last year of my presidency declared one month gay pride month so why are you bitching?”
Brian Miller
I think marriage equality (that Obama is against) certainly counts for more than 1 percent.
Wait a minute — Obama is against marriage equality?!?
Well where is the HRC and MoveOn.org boycott of Obama’s biggest donors? We cannot compromise on our rights!
(Yeah, exactly).
Phil
“When something like 70% of the nation feels that repealing DADT is right, saying that there would be no movement on a repeal this year, and then inserting a road black into a repeal that was pushed through by Pelosi isn’t being 99% supportive of my issues.”
Good thing I always thought Freud was a crackpot.