Is the Obama administration fulfilling its promise to champion gay rights?

The administration has gone far enough. Why must Obama be a "champion" of gay rights...the Democratic party's most influential special interest group has plenty of champions! He is everyone's president, not just the LGBT crowd. They can fight for what they believe is right, but it doesn't mean the rest of us have to agree...and the majority of us don't!

Kevin, Thank you...you said it right! And, if the USA citizens, military and civilians alike, are forced to agree, or even perceived by the world to be on the page of agreeing with LGBT then America is the poorer for it.

We need to stop allowing gay issues to dominate our national and civic consciousness.

Gay issues (such as their professed marriage "rights", etc) are singular in our society, in that they are completely unresolvable. For any other major social issue you can name, there is a large COMMON GROUND (e.g. on abortion, we all agree we want to reduce the number of abortions; on gun control, we all agree we want to reduce accidental killings; etc ...). So for all these other issues, we can make progress on the COMMON GROUND, without people changing their positions.

But on gay issues, there is absolutely no common ground. We will be debating them in the same way 20 years from now. The anti-gay mainstream wants no recognition for gays in the laws nor in public culture. This is NOT "discrimination" -- discrimination would be if the laws DID specifically single them out in some way (as voting laws once did for blacks).

It makes no sense to speak of being "progressive" or "modern" or "enlightened" on gay issues, because this is not a new issue (like, say, gun control, or abortion procedures, or internet privacy).

Humanity has been dealing with gays as an issue for 500 generations. Many people respect laws on the subject that are 5000 years old. We should not expect this generation to suddenly decide it's ok.

It's not this demographic that is a threat. It's the set of INTERMINABLE ISSUES that are a threat. We need to give the LGBT crowd a respectful but firm "NO" on every point.

I disagree that the mainstream is anti-gay and that there is no common ground for agreement. In the past 20 years, the U.S. has moved from holding numerous state anti-sodomy laws to legal SSM in six states and some recognition of domestic SS rights in a total of 17 states . Anti-discrimination codes are in effect in numerous states and municipalities with the support of the populations in those areas. 70% of Americans support the repeal of "don't ask-don't tell" in the U.S. military code; support for open service was under 50% in 1993 when President Clinton institituted DADT. These facts demonstrate substantial progress for the recognition of gay rights within the past generation. Gays are indeed 'singled out' by DOMA and DADT, and the pointed exclusion of gay people from openly serving in the military and from the institution of marriage underscores continuing marginalization from participation as full citizens in our society. It's time to complete the work of bringing gay people into the mainstream of American society by abolishing discrimination. Repeal DOMA, DADT, pass ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act.

Until all have equal rights...

President Obama is causing some consternation in the GLTB community. From experience, many people will say "he's trying to get too much done, we shouldn't add this to the mix". The reality for the GLTB community is that next year and the year after that, and the year after that will be "not right" either, "there are too many other problems".

President Obama is indeed the president of all Americans, including those who support him, those who don't, and those who are even sure of the names of their own senators and governor (but do follow American Idol faithfully of course).

Since he is a Democrat who has set a hig bar for himself and his administration, this means that following through with his campaign promises, including fairness for all Americans is essential. (Republicans are generally not concerned with such matters.) This therefore does put Obama on the hook as "fierce" supporter the LGBT community.

As an American citizen who happens to be gay I have higher expectations of him than I would of any Republican in the same position. He could, if he chooses, to immediately put a hold on expulsions from the military under DADT. However he is choosing not to do so.

He promised transparency in government but refuses to explain why he won't issue this order.

Consequently his support by the gay segment of the electorate (about 7%) is softening. Many of us have stopped donating to the DNC and if we continue to see no lack of progress, many of us will stop voting in 2010, 2012, etc. Sadly, that could turn elections in a backward direction but we have to be willing to let the chips fall where they fall.

It's a simple quid pro quo.

Here's my posting again (minus the typos)

President Obama is indeed the president of all Americans, including those who support him, those who don't, and those who aren't even sure of the names of their own senators and governor (but who do follow American Idol faithfully of course).

Since he is a Democrat who has set a hig bar for himself and his administration, this means that following through with his campaign promises, including fairness for all Americans is essential. (Republicans are generally not concerned with such matters.) This therefore does put Obama on the hook as "fierce" supporter the LGBT community.

As an American citizen who happens to be gay, I have higher expectations of him than I would of any Republican in the same position. He could, if he chooses to, immediately put a hold on expulsions from the military under DADT. However he is choosing not to do so.

He promised transparency in government but refuses to explain why he won't issue this order.

Consequently his support among the gay segment of the electorate (about 7%) is softening. Many of us have stopped donating to the DNC and if we continue to see lack of progress, many of us will stop voting in 2010, 2012, etc. Sadly, that could turn elections in a backward direction but we have to be willing to let the chips fall where they fall.

It's a simple quid pro quo.

Do we REALLY want a society where every SELF-IDENTIFYING group of people can demand drastic changes to the laws and social norms under the banner of "equal rights" ??

People have equal rights now.  Enough with this.

Homosexuals have neither equal rights nor equal protections protections under the law. Nor has there been consistency over the centuries in terms of our treatment in human society. Hence the need for legal redress.

Speaking just about American society, we are subject to insults, harassment, injury and death sometimes just because of who we are. A gay friend of mine, when walking down a city street, because he was perceived as gay, was harassed by a group of men in a car who yelled anti-gay slurs at him and threw beer bottles out the windows at him. My friend lost the sight in one eye as a result. It's one example of a scenario that repeats itself hundreds of times a year in our country. In the US, several hundred gay people are murdered each year with homophobia being a principal factor. Often local police do not want to prosecute these crimes because of their own feelings towards gay people ("they had it coming") which is why federal anti-bias crime laws are needed.

In 1950s and 60s America when I was very young, gay bars were raided regularly. Bar owners would typically have to pay bribes to the police in order to avoid this happening. After a raid newspapers would print the names and addresses of those arrested and the result was you would lose your job and your livelihood. Straight people have never been subject to this form of harassment. This no longer takes place in our country because of anti-discrimination laws.

Happily, and most fortunately for our country, the poster who mentions "the anti-gay mainstream" may not be aware that this group is no longer the majority in our country. And their number is shrinking every year for one simple reason: more and more people realize that we are your brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, neighbors, colleagues at work, priests, ministers, rabbis, etc. We are in fact just like you. And as American citizens we should be as free as another other citizens.

Those who disagree can continue to live with whatever "discomfort" or hate, or, what is really behind it, FEAR. Our gaining fuller respect and freedom in our society in no way impinges on your lives. It actually enchances the lives of all. Please feel free to continue enjoying all those negative feelings that cause you to feel we don't deserve equal treatment under the law. It doesn't really matter anyway because you are on the wrong side of history. You are being left behind as America continues to become a more tolerant and just society.

Happy Fourth!

Mike, give it up, leave room for other people to write their comments. We heard you!!

Mabel -

You may have heard but you haven't understood. Because it's not your issue, you don't care.