There Has Been No Dialogue Between Team O and Gay Leaders About CU vs. Marriage.

[bluedawg12]

The argument goes like this: PE Obama is elevating Rick Warren, because both Mr. Obama and Warren are in favor of civil unions, and well, something is better than nothing, we just need to wait. These things take time. Like the time right now, where pastors want to take away civil unions in Cleveland?

http://www.gaypeopleschronicle.com/stories08/december/1219081.htm

My question is, when do non-members of an oppressed group get to set that group’s agenda before the agenda is discussed with that groups leaders and an agreement reached?

Perhaps we all missed the big meeting with the transition team where gay leaders agreed to fight for civil unions and not full gay marriage equality rights?

No we didn’t. There was no such meeting. If only there had been any meeting with gay leaders about legislative matters.

Some want to portray gay activism as unrelentingly selfish, because we refuse to sit down and talk with Warren. Not true, a hug with Melissa is not dialogue nor is it a meeting of minds over political matters between Warren and gay leaders. No one has asked Warren to sit down and talk with gay leadership! Nor has he asked to do it.

This is, so far, the one and only meeting between the incoming transition team and gay rights leaders that I know of. It took pace before the public invitation to Warren was announced. HRC was later to be caught off guard. So much for inclusion and dialogue.

http://www.queerty.com/obama-transition-team-took-notes-listened-during-meeting-with-gay-rights-leaders-20081219/

Obama Transition Team 'Took Notes,' 'Listened' During Meeting With Gay Rights Leaders 12-19-08

Oh how kind of the incoming Obama administration to listen to the concerns of the wee gay community. Having pandered to the gay community during his entire campaign, the president-elect appears ready to actually hear what we have to say. Over a week ago, "gay activists met with members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team last week in a two-hour session focused on policy issues and presidential appointments," reports Southern Voice. Of course, this was before Obama selected Pastor Rick Warren to say a prayer at his inauguration.

"Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said transition team officials were attentive during the meeting and very appreciative of the clarity of recommended policy changes. 'They were taking notes, they were listening, they were responding, they were asking questions, they were a very, very engaged transition team and that bodes well for our community moving forward,' she said.

"About 60 people attended the Dec. 10 meeting, including transition leaders such as John Podesta, co-chair of Obama’s transition team; Jim Messina, who is in charge of Obama’s personnel decisions; Mike Strautmanis, director of public liaison and intergovernmental affairs; Melanie Barnes, whom Obama tapped to become the White House’s domestic policy director; and Parag Mehta, the transition team’s liaison for minority groups, according to activists.

"Carey said activists also told transition officials that the gay community is interested in being part of the major issues of the day, including the economic crisis or health care reform.

"Activists made it clear that the gay community wants to be “part of creating solutions to these problems” and asked transition officials to make sure that “LGBT people are not left behind when these discussions are taking place,” Carey said.


"Solmonese said his role at the meeting was to discuss non-legislative changes that Obama’s administration could make to improve the lives of gay and transgender Americans.

"He said he presented the transition team an 80-page document of proposed changes."