State of the Union: These 3 Words Were Used For First Time Ever

[William769]

Three groups of people had never before been mentioned explicitly in a State of the Union address.

Among the usual laundry list of American priorities and constituencies, the State of the Union address for the first time explicitly included lesbians, bisexual and transgender people.

It might be surprising, but never before had any president used the words "lesbian," "bisexual" or "transgender" when talking to the huge audience that watches the annual State of the Union. The reference came Tuesday as part of President Obama's description of the values that make us American.

"As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened," the president said, adding later, "That's why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they are the right thing to do, but because ultimately they will make us safer."

Advocates cheered their direct inclusion in the speech, saying it makes all talk about Americans inherently more inclusive throughout the speech.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2015/01/20/state-union-these-2-words-were-used-first-time-ever

Thank you Mr. President.

[shenmue]

1. Yes

[marym625]

2. It's about time

[arcane1]

3. I remember years ago when he mentioned "people with no religion" and loved it.

It was the first time I remember getting a shout-out from a president

[GP6971]

4. K & R

[joshcryer]

5. I said out loud "that's a first."

[William769]

9. ...

[Cha]

6. Awww.. bless his heart.. I love him! Mahalo William!

"As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened," the president said, adding later, "That's why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they are the right thing to do, but because ultimately they will make us safer."

[William769]

7. He has cemented his legacy in more ways than one Cha.

[Cha]

8. yes, he has.. and poor grouchers hate it! Good to see

you, William!

[sheshe2]

16. Yes indeed!!!!

He aced it William. I am so proud that he is our President. He blew me away tonight.

[bettyellen]

10. as they say THANKS OBAMA!

[arthritisR_US]

11. I will be lambasted and so be it, but I believe he has

always advocated for humanity. To not represent those individuals in all their beauty would have been to deny humanity. Dignity for all.

[Hekate]

12. K and R indeed

[alp227]

13. The homophobes' response....

aaaaAAAAAAaaaaAAAAAaaaaaAAAAACK!

[sheshe2]

14. I posted this at a wonderful new site tonight before SOTU~

http://lgbtworld.info/florida-newlyweds-plaintiffs-in-gay-marriage-case-to-attend-state-of-the-union/

Damn I love this President!

"I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great gift," he said, "that we are a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen - man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino, Asian, immigrant, Native American, gay, straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability. I want them to grow up in a country that shows the world what we still know to be true: that we are still more than a collection of red states and blue states; that we are the United States of America."

Thank you Mr President~

William

[William769]

17. Well I have egg on my face.

I have spent the evening over there house cleaning & updating software and have not had time to read. It ran on auto pilot for far to long.

[sheshe2]

22. No you do not have egg on your face.

You have stuff to do! I hate housecleaning, yet it is a painful necessity.

Take it easy please.

So glad to see you here William. I love this Op~

Cha just mentioned Obama saying he had a drop the mic moment~

Well here is a pic or two.

[stevenleser]

15. I did not know they had not been said before.

It's about time, and good job Mr. President!

[William769]

20. Only the term "Gays" had been used

And of course in 2004 pResident Bush used it in his State Of The Union to help cement all the Constitutional Bans on Marriage Equality that sprung up during his time trying to destroy America.

[G_j]

18. agreed!

[Aristus]

19. I missed the SOTU!

I'm delighted to hear it went well. Proud of our President!

[sheshe2]

23. Aristus!

My dear friend. It was awesome!!!!

[Aristus]

24. I'll catch it on YouTube.

I was helping my kids and grandkids move out.

[Jamaal510]

25. ...

http://www.c-span.org/video/?323791-1/2015-state-union-address

[zappaman]

21. Big kick and rec!

[certainot]

26. "save the planet" - didn't he say that too? like in an SF movie

Last edited Wed Jan 21, 2015, 01:57 PM - Edit history (1)

a buddy just called to point that out the same in your diary

but didn't he also say "save the planet"?

i was doing something so i may have misheard, but that's just nutty fantastic

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Someone noticed!!!! The Republican response was given by an openly anti equality Republican

But all anyone is talking about is bread bags........

[William769]

28. Trust me they noticed.

They are using those bread bags to catch the foam from their mouths.

[oberliner]

31. Santicmonious is officially my favorite typo of the day

Nicely done!

[oberliner]

30. The times they are a-changing

This is the civil rights struggle of the current generation. And some serious progress has been made relatively quickly.

Remember even during the Clinton (Bill) presidency how dangerous it was to dip a toe in these waters for politicians.

I am impressed with how far we've come.

[Initech]

32. Bob Dylan once wrote "The times they are a-changing." John Boehner had never heard that song.

[tooeyeten]

33. Guess what?

Those words can never be taken back, will be in the history books forever!

[Cha]

34. KICK! Thanks Obama! mahalo William