Gay Rights and this is why i'm voting for Obama

DOMA (4.00 / 1)

Obama has said that one of his first priorities in office will be to repeal DOMA, work with the military to allow gay men and women to serve openly, and that he supports a fully-inclusive ENDA that specifies protection against discrimination because of gender identity.  I think the whole McClurkin fiasco cost him the NH Freedom to Marry Endorsement, which is unfortunate... because truly I have never been to hear the man speak when he has not talked about gay rights in some fashion.  Equality is something he truly believes in.  When we talk about being comfortable in one's own skin (CIOOS), he was the essences of that at the LOGO/HRC forum.

I don't think  the Human Rights Campaign has made their endorsement yet, but I won't be surprised when it ends up to be Clinton because she and Joe Solomnese go way back... she's gotten a free pass on a lot of her waffling with gay issues.

Feeling hopeful since 2004...

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by: Kelly Nordstrom @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 03:43:33 AM UTC

No Excuses (0.00 / 1)

Kelly, there can be no excuse for Senator Obama not knowing that Pastor Donnie McClurkin performed at the 2004 Republican National Convention and that Pastor McClurkin believes these things:

Among other things, McClurkin thinks homosexuality is a "curse," that it's caused by men raping small children, that being gay is a choice, that it can be cured, and most explosively, that gays are trying to "kill our children."

before he arranged for Donnie McClurkin to be part of his campaign gospel tour in South Carolina. If Senator Obama did not know these facts before arranging for Mr. McClurkin's appearance, once he found out, Senator Obama should have disinvited Mr. McClurkin from the tour.

As for Hillary Clinton's relationship with Joe Solmonese, executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, you are right.  They have a long and favorable relationship because Hillary Clinton was there for gay rights issues when it matter.  The first minutes  of this video with Joe Solmonese introducing Hillary Clinton at the HRC Board Meeting held earlier this year illustrates the closeness of that relationship and states why Joe Solmonese does not believe Hillary Clinton "waffles" on gay rights issues:

As for Senator Obama being comfortable in his own skin on the issues of gay rights, that may be, but I, for one, cannot forget that moment in the debate at Howard University in June this year, when Senator Biden indicated that he had gotten tested for AIDs, along with Senator Obama.  For some reason, Senator Obama felt it immediately necessary to make it emphatically clear that he got tested with Michelle, his wife, and not together with Senator Biden. IMHO, he made the joke at the expense of the gay community and I think demonstrated his uncomfortableness at the implication that he was getting an AIDS test with another man.

I was not the only one who felt that way.

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by: gradysdad @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 12:07:55 PM UTC

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Hey (0.00 / 0)

Maybe you felt that way i don't Obama has done any harm to the Gay community yes the whole mc. thing happen but he apologized. what out of the ordinarty ahs clinton done for hte gay community she ahs been in ny for how long and what have she done nothing. second obama said he will make dome his priorty and clinton said nothing she is afraid of making it public that she. Obama is a true ally of the gay community not just the white, the hispanics, or the black or others right.He made a mistake and fought against saying all he could if people can't accept an apology there is nothing else he can do but to keep on fighting. While Hillary is getting or was getting a free ride with Bill. Good thing thats over.

Obama 2008

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by: ccardona @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 13:30:01 PM UTC

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Type O's (0.00 / 0)

I apologize i ment to write Have not done any harm.

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by: ccardona @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 14:04:29 PM UTC

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From the article you cite: (4.00 / 1)

"I can understand how some things can be misinterpreted," said Corbin, who is African American and has served on the boards of the Human Rights Campaign and the Columbus AIDS Task Force, in Ohio. But Corbin said he interpreted it as simply seeking to clarify - given that most people get an HIV test because of sex outside of marriage or a relationship or because of IV drug abuse - that those weren't the reasons in this case.

In fact, Obama and his wife Michelle took an HIV test during a trip to Kenya last summer as a public education event at the request of the CDC. Although his trip was publicized by ABC News and the New York Times , Obama was not yet a candidate for president, so very few people probably knew the reason behind his taking the test. And Corbin conceded that the senator "could have been a little clearer" by explaining those circumstances.

"It wasn't a homophobic remark at all," said Corbin, "and at the end of the day, you have to look at his record. It speaks volumes."

And an Op-Ed piece Barack wrote on November 12,2007

A Call for Full Equality

by Barack Obama

Over the last several weeks, the question of LGBT equality was placed on center stage by the appearance of Donnie McClurkin at one of my campaign events.  McClurkin is a talented performer and a beloved figure among many African Americans and Christians around the country.  At the same time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject.  

The events of the last several weeks are not the occasion that I would have chosen to discuss America's divisions on gay rights and my own deep commitment to LGBT equality. Now that the issue is before us, however, I do not intend to run away from it.  These events have provided an important opportunity for us to confront a difficult fact: There are good, decent, moral people in this country who do not yet embrace their gay brothers and sisters as full members of our shared community.

We will not secure full equality for all LGBT Americans until we learn how to address that deep disagreement and move beyond it.  To achieve that goal, we must state our beliefs boldly, bring the message of equality to audiences that have not yet accepted it, and listen to what those audiences have to say in return.

For my entire career in public life, I have brought the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones.  No other leading candidate in the race for the Presidency has demonstrated the same commitment to the principle of full equality. I support the full and unqualified repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.  While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples. I will also fight to repeal the U.S. military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, a law that should never have been passed, and my Defense Department will work with top military leaders to implement that repeal.

As President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment.  But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples - whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage.  I will also place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I have supported fully inclusive protections since my days in the Illinois legislature, when I sponsored a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination that expressly included both sexual orientation and gender identity.

That is where I stand on the major issues of the day.  But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle.  The other half is to win broad support for those positions.  And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone.  If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to people who are not yet convinced.

That's why I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention.  I reiterated that message in the speech announcing my candidacy for President.  Since beginning my campaign, I have been talking about LGBT equality on the stump, from rural farmers to Southern preachers.  Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say in return.  I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans.  But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced.  That is the work that we need to do if we are going to move forward together.  It is difficult.  It is challenging.  And it is necessary.

The American people have been poorly served by two terms of an administration that seeks to manipulate us through fear: fear over national security, fear over immigrants and fear over gay and lesbian couples in loving relationships. Americans are yearning for leadership that will put an end to the fear mongering and instead begin empowering us once again to reach for the America we know is possible.  I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that appeals to the best parts of the human spirit, rather than the worst. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.

And in a reason press release from the Clinton campaign related to support in the gay community, Hillary leaves out the "T", showing that she's more likely to go the way of Barney Frank; and as Melissa Etheridge said she did to the gay community in the 90s, throw transgenders under the bus, in the name of expediency.
Hillary leads among LGB voters

I watched the video and it is a great speech.  Senator Clinton has been a great worker for LGB rights in the Senate.  But, her experience, which she often touts on the campaign trail goes back to her years in the White House, when she supported DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell.  She now fnds herself in the unique position of trying to repeal legislation that she helped get enacted.

Feeling hopeful since 2004...

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by: Kelly Nordstrom @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 13:46:31 PM UTC

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Not making excuses (4.00 / 2)

From the Washington Blade http:/www.washblade.com/

Gay voters are right to feel reluctant about Clinton's bid (0.00 / 0)

For those of you that were wondering, I went and chased down the link that Kathy, eh-hem forgot to put with her cherry picked pom-poms.

Hillary for president  

Gay voters are right to feel reluctant about Clinton's bid, but she represents best chance to rid White House of GOP's anti-gay agenda
KEVIN NAFF
Friday, December 21, 2007

ANY GAY VOTERS, this one included, are reluctant to trust Bill and Hillary Clinton's promises on our issues after the euphoria of 1993 turned into the crushing disappointments of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act.

After courting the gay vote back then, Bill Clinton embraced a disastrous policy that has led to the expulsion of 12,000 service members at a time when the military needs all the help it can get. The U.S. military is kicking out brave, competent service members, including dozens of desperately needed Arabic-speaking linguists, solely because they are gay. The military's gay ban amounts to un-American overt discrimination - a fact apparent to any rational, fair-minded person.

Bill's transgressions didn't end there. He signed DOMA and cynically bragged about it in ads that aired on Christian radio stations during his 1996 re-election campaign. More recently, he reportedly urged Sen. John Kerry to support state constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage during the 2004 race.

Publicly, we are told that this is not Bill's campaign for a third term; rather it's Hillary's opportunity to shine on her own. But no one is that naïve. Make no mistake that voters will again get a two-fer if Hillary wins.
-snip

And some cherry picking of my own, thank you.

Obama's speeches are often inspirational and he has bravely stood up to homophobic black ministers and advocated for equal treatment of gays. He's certainly earned his considerable gay support.

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 18:58:26 PM EST

Ultimately, Kevin Naff endorsed Clinton, but it was based on the fable of "battle scars" not equality for gays.

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden  

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 16:28:28 PM UTC

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HRC (0.00 / 0)

HRC is only an ally to the Gay community we don't always have to follow HRC we are America and also the Gya community we make the decision HRC is jsut influence. I will try my hardest to ge Obama out there.

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by: ccardona @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 13:31:43 PM UTC

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Edwards is racking up the LGBT Endorsements! (4.00 / 2)

Let us not forget who NH Freedom to Marry Coalition endorsed:  John Edwards.

Also, Out For Edwards www.outforedwards.org recently (yesterday?) announced a few more endorsements from prominent LGBT publications in Ohio and No/So Carolina.  

As a politically aware lesbian mom in NH, I can't see any other electible candidate coming close to Edwards on issues such as family rights, trans rights, healthy care access/benefits, military services.  

Paula  

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Sat Dec 29, 2007 at 22:04:25 PM UTC

I'm sorry (0.00 / 0)

But where has Edward been when we need him...Getting a 600 Dollar haircut.

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by: ccardona @ Sun Dec 30, 2007 at 22:01:28 PM UTC

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old news (4.00 / 1)

Um, can we get over the haircut already??  He's been getting endorsement from major GLBT groups, creating an HIV policy, meeting with GLBT leaders, etc, rather than touring with homophobic entertainers. His daughter was profiled in The Advocate, and his wife spoke at San Francisco Pride.  

PS: that was a $400 haircut, not $600.

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Sun Dec 30, 2007 at 22:49:42 PM UTC

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Is.... (0.00 / 0)

Is it John Edwards Daughter or wife running or John. Because it dosent matter what his wife does. He is the one running she believes in Gay Marriage and he dosent...Who care who endorses who. look Howard Dean that i have a lot of respect for...and ended up losing. Edorsements are distractions. We need records and Honesty Obama has that. John Edwards how many years in the senate or in any office. Neither John or Hillary has what it takes or the experience. You can endorse, Support or believe in who ever or what ever but lets be realistic.

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by: ccardona @ Mon Dec 31, 2007 at 01:54:21 AM UTC

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400 (0.00 / 0)

400 or 600 is still alot of money. that he could hvae spent in the community specially for the cause he says he is strongly fighting for" Middle Class".

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by: ccardona @ Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 01:56:44 AM UTC

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