He’s Done it (Again)! – Between losing the Olympics for Chicago, winning the Nobel Peace Prize and expressing his support for LGBT rights at a banquet for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), President Obama has proven his commitment to equal rights by making everyone unhappy, that is if you believe everything you hear or read in the media. Multiple sources report that the LGBT community is still up in arms over Obama’s lack of action on his repeated promises to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act; the focus of our outrage now is allegedly due to his not laying out a timeline for accomplishing the stated goals. None of the criticisms we’ve seen thus far, from the right or the left (including Rush Limbaugh’s embarrassment at Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize), come as close to hilariously insane as those offered by RenewAmerica.com. A recent commentary described Obama’s speaking to the HRC as “double-tongued” and suggested he was of the “unholy spirit” with ethics “on the side of the anti-Bible.” (I think I lost my copy of that scripture at the same time my copy of The Gay Agenda went missing – has anyone seen them?)
He’s Done it (Again)! –
Between losing the Olympics for Chicago, winning the Nobel Peace Prize and expressing his support for LGBT rights at a banquet for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), President Obama has proven his commitment to equal rights by making everyone unhappy, that is if you believe everything you hear or read in the media. Multiple sources report that the LGBT community is still up in arms over Obama’s lack of action on his repeated promises to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the Defense of Marriage Act; the focus of our outrage now is allegedly due to his not laying out a timeline for accomplishing the stated goals. None of the criticisms we’ve seen thus far, from the right or the left (including Rush Limbaugh’s embarrassment at Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize), come as close to hilariously insane as those offered by RenewAmerica.com. A recent commentary described Obama’s speaking to the HRC as “double-tongued” and suggested he was of the “unholy spirit” with ethics “on the side of the anti-Bible.” (I think I lost my copy of that scripture at the same time my copy of The Gay Agenda went missing – has anyone seen them?)
Reality Check
In spite of the hard feelings, disappointments and rhetoric, Obama’s presidency hasn’t been all that bad for the LGBT community. Minneapolis Assistant Chief of Police Sharon Lubinski, one of the highest ranked LGBT law enforcement officers in the country, is slated to become the next U.S. Marshall for the District of Minnesota; upon Senate confirmation she will be the second woman to hold the post and the first openly LGBT U.S. Marshall. This selection follows earlier appointments of out members of the LGBT community, such as John Berry as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and more recently David Huebner as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Somoa. We are closer now to having hate crimes legislation become law than we have before, with a Senate vote standing between the bill and President Obama’s pen and an assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division waiting in the wings, ready to “attack discrimination” against LGBT people once the bill becomes law. Finally, we have the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), complete with protections for transgender people, working its way through the House of Representatives. I’d say that’s a pretty good track record for an administration that is just nine month’s old!
Updates
Last Thursday a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the ruling that kept private the names and addresses of those who signed petitions to put Referendum 71, a measure repealing Washington’s domestic partnership rights that had been passed by the legislature, on the ballot. Protect Marriage Washington has stated they intend to appeal the ruling to the full Ninth Circuit Court. You may recall that web sites such as WhoSigned.org and others intended to release the names and address as soon as they come available, which may be a moot point since supporters don’t feel there is sufficient time to disseminate the information prior to election November 3rd.
A challenge to California’s Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that ended the right of same-sex couples to marry in California, has passed one hurdle on its way to its day in court. San Francisco Chronicle reports that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has ruled that a hearing must be held “to resolve disputes that may determine the measure’s constitutionality.” Aside from the court’s refusal to dismiss the case, David Boies and Ted Olson (opposing counsel in Bush v. Gore) may gain valuable insight into the motivation of Prop. 8 backers: the judge also ordered that “sponsors must disclose internal campaign strategy documents, which opponents hope will reveal plans to appeal to voter prejudice against gays.”
Just for Laughs
I can’t honestly say I don’t believe it, but I am stunned! While researching the most recent selection for U.S. Marshall in Minnesota I stumbled upon an article about marketing Minnesota’s Rep. Michele Bachmann. Curious what her most recent antics are, I clicked and learned the horrible truth. HeroBuilders.com is offering a Michele Bachmann action figure! As if that isn’t bad enough, they also offer several versions of Sarah Palin action figures in some rather racey outfits, along with Joe “You Lie” Wilson, Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher and Dick Cheney (one version includes a shotgun). If that’s not kitschy enough for you, they have a few models that talk! As they say on TV commercials, but wait! There’s more! There are also Michele Bachmann comic books! The first comic book was reportedly more popular than the second issue; the first issue used direct quotes from Rep. Bachmann throughout and the second only paraphrased her. The third issue is due out soon and is expected to focus on Bachmann’s use of gay baiting for political gain. Don’t be surprised if you run into me at local comic book stores. I’ll also be waiting for my Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann action figures to arrive – I plan on using them as voodoo dolls. If you see one of them on TV following an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction or slip and trip reminiscent of President Gerald Ford’s attempt to walk down the stairs of an airplane, you’ll know where it came from. I promise, I will only use the power for comic relief.
