An Open Letter to Barack Obama

[FreeState]

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid86353.asp

An Open Letter to Barack Obama
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean has a few words for President Barack Obama, who visits California one day after the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Prop 8.
By Lorri L. Jean
An Advocate.com exclusive

Dear President Obama:

Welcome to California, Mr. President. I welcome you with a heavy heart because of the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Prop. 8, relegating same-sex couples to second class status and denying us that most noble promise of America, “liberty and justice for all.”

You are arriving in Los Angeles on the heels of emotional demonstrations throughout California and our nation and your silence at such a time speaks volumes. LGBT people and our allies have the "audacity to hope" for a country that treats us fairly and equally and for a President with the will to stand up for those ideals. From you we expect nothing less.

We know the country faces many serious challenges and we have strived to be patient. We’ve waited for the slightest sign you would live up to your promise to be a “fierce advocate” for our equal rights while watching gay and lesbian members of the armed forces, who have never been more needed, get discharged from the military. And so far you have done nothing. No stop loss order. No call to cease such foolish and discriminatory actions that make our nation less safe.

You pledged to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, Mr. President. You promised to support a “complete repeal” of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and pledged to advocate for legislation that would give same-sex couples the 1,100+ federal rights and benefits we are denied, including the same rights to social security benefits. You said, “federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples.”

What of those promises, Mr. President?

Your commitment to repeal DOMA has been removed from the White House website. Your promise to repeal "don’t ask, don’t tell" was removed and then replaced with a watered-down version. And in the aftermath of yesterday’s California Supreme Court ruling, you have remained silent while your press secretary summarily dismisses questions about the issue.

We not only need to hear from our President, we need his action. And we need it now.

We need your words, Mr. President. But we also need your deeds. We expect you to fulfill the promises you made to us. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” Do not delay, Mr. President. The time for action is now.

Sincerely,

Lorri L. Jean
Chief Executive Officer
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

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Edit to fix typo

[SacredCow]

1. Great letter, and once upon a time I'd be hopeful....

but I think it's pretty clear that the MO of ignoring teh gheys is going ahead full-steam. Until campaign time, of course- THEN it'll be a most important matter to attend to. :eyes:

[bluedawg12]

8. Not really.

By then, there may be enough converts from the right we won't even enjoy brief pandering.

[SacredCow]

11. Perhaps so.

But a boy can dream, can't he?

[bluedawg12]

13. Yes, son, someday when you grow up to be a strong, proud, gay man

you can wait for your moment of pandering. :rofl:

[zipplewrath]

2. Don't hold your breath

Continue to hold his feet to the fire, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Truth is, I knew going in he wasn't going to be the strongest advocate on this subject. I've been amazed at just how "unstrong" he turned out.

[nichomachus]

3. I always figured

he would date-rape us sooner or later. I was just hoping we'd at least get dinner first.

[Libertyfirst]

17. rotflmao!

[Zodiak]

4. He's been "unstrong" on a variety of subjects so far

Centrism for centrism sakes is really just kicking the ball down the curb hoping someone ELSE does what is needed. I've seen this movie too many times before. "Later" means "never" (paraphrased from MLK).

[beaglelover]

5. Great letter!

And I agree with it 100%

[mitchtv]

6. The crickets in DC will enjoy

that thoughful letter.

[NMMNG]

7. Expect at best a "gee I'm sorry"

and some noncommittal, insubstantial words of how our nation has so far to go (but nothing about what his administration is actually going to do about it).

[bluedawg12]

9. ....

Yes we can....ignore you?

[NMMNG]

10. LOL

:rofl:

[FreeState]

12. Did you see this protest sign from yesterday?

[bluedawg12]

14. Janus. from mythology!

:rofl:

[FreeState]

15. LOL! n/t

[beaglelover]

16. Very funny! (nt)

This post was in response to bluedawg's post.