Obama Statement on Pride Month



Chicago, IL -- Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement commemorating Pride month.



“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans.”


“It’s time to live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. Let’s enact federal civil rights legislation to outlaw hate crimes and protect workers against discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Let’s repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell and demonstrate that the most effective and professional military in the world is open to all Americans who are ready and willing to serve our country. Let’s treat the relationships and the families of LGBT Americans with full equality under the law.”


“We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who are working every day to achieve equal rights. The gay couple who demand equal treatment in our family laws as they raise their children; the lesbian soldier who wants nothing more than to serve her country openly and honestly; the transgendered workers who asks for the simple dignity of being judged by the quality of their work. Generations of LGBT Americans, at once ordinary and extraordinary, have made possible this moment in our history. With leadership and hard work, we can fulfill the promise of equality for all.”

hope that some here who had issues with him about this can take a little leap of faith and take him at his word. wysiwyg

Ok, flame away, etc...

But I was initially for Hillary.

One reason was that I thought she had a stronger committment to the LGBT community and LGBT issues. And anyone reading this, if you are, please don't mention DOMA and DADT. Yes, those were enacted during her husband's administration. Yes, they are a black mark. I understand that.

But listening to her talk about LGBT issues, I thought she got it. And that's one reason I liked her. Again, flame away, it's about Hillary, after all.

However, Barack Obama is the nominee and I will support and, of course, vote for him. After the sheer viciousness of the past 8 years, of a relentless hostile adminstration towards us LGBT people, with a president who endorsed and pushed a marriage amendment that would have permanently codified bigotry into the most sacred of documents, the United States Constitution, I am so, so ready to elect a President, a government, who WILL begin to treat us as first class citizens. Who WILL enact legislation such as ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Act and repeal of DADT. Sadly, neither Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton supports marriage equality...but then again, that's true of most of the Democratic Party establishment.

I want a President who will respect me, and my LGBT brothers and sisters. And I want to believe Barack Obama will be that President.

This is a good start.

Sorry to sort of piss on your thread, bi-baby. I have a vested interest in those words our nominee said.

And this one is a damn good one.

Ooooo, it's going to be a good eight years with President Obama. Happy Days are (almost) here again.

“I am proud to join with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters in celebrating the accomplishments, the lives, and the families of all LGBT people during this Pride season."

“We are ready to accomplish these goals because of the courage and persistence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who are working every day to achieve equal rights.


Even Oregon voted to ban gay marriage. I know these statements don't endorse same sex marriage, but the effect will be the same.

Great job, Senator O.

He doesn't mention the word marriage once. I think the fact that he treats them like human beings will play well in purple states. I know many people who oppose gay marriage but its not out of hate or fear, its just their position. If anyone attacks Obama on this, in order to further McCain's chances, it'll blow back into his face

The average voter will buy it. They ain't too smart.

and human rights are our tradition. They may be wrong about that, but they will vote to uphold them.

in how many states did the ban pass?

Most Americans don't want to interfere in their neighbors' lives.

We'll get to frame this issue this time. And I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised with the response we get.

:eyes:

Oh well - I suppose that's basically why Clinton lost - a complete inability to think on more than one track.

:puke:

your own words give you away, Bubba.

Now go git ya a big ol' burger and some onion rings at the Beacon Drive-In and STFU.

It's not stereotyping.

Who gives a shit about us? I mean, we consistently, overwhemingly vote Democratic and we've poured tens of millions of dollars into various Senate, House and Presidential races.

Just basic equality we're talking about. No big deal.

As long as we don't hurt his chances for winning Idaho.

people would be saying Obama is homophobic screaming "MCCLURKIN! MCCLURKLIN! MCCCCLURRRKIN!"

You just can't win with some people.

That's it. It'll be completely McClurkined in a matter of minutes.
Just another SNAMU: Situation Normal - All McClurkined Up

as well as election fraud. That "values voters" meme was a lie.

Quit passing it on.

for gay MARRIAGE.

And please don't push that "those pushy homos and dykes cost us the election" stuff. I heard WAY too much of that shit around here.

Why don't we just run a Republican?

"I be happy with a centrist Democrat."

No gay marriage or More Wars, a frighteningly worse ecomony, a tragic environment. Which do you chose. We had this same choice in 2004, and they chose No gay marriage. Look what happened. Will they make the same mistake again? Which choice did you/will you make Mike?

SD's dump BO for HRC. Then I'll vote for HRC.

That is all.

You see how well that turned out for them. Hello Speaker Pelosi. The gay bogey man scare campaign has run through most of the effectiveness it's ever going to have as a wedge issue. So get used to it.

To echo your sentiments, Great job, Senator Obama!!

They are harmless if we stick together. :hi:

Time to press the case for civil rights. I think if it's taken to the American public, that we might be surprised at the support there.

It will depend a great deal on who frames the issue, though. And it's past time WE did that, and without apologies.

Do I need to take him off for alert purposes? :shrug:

Don't alert, let his miserable opinion stand as a testament to his values.

Many a time, I'm disappointed that a post/thread is deleted - you should have to stand by your words (hey, my "give me a quarter" thread might still be going).

However, the survived for 200,000 years prior to that and were the first human species to bury their dead....which they started doing about 60,000 years ago.

I'm sorry but I like a guy who isn't afraid to stand up for gay Americans even if the right-wing will bash him for it.

I'm straight but I still believe in the equal rights of all Americans. It's nice to see a politician willing to put people about politics.

As someone who is familiar with your part of the country, I'd like to hear your worse fears about all this.

Thanks for your 'concern' though. It's very helpful.

:yourock: :rofl:

I loves me some Barack, but the man DOES have a blind spot in this area.

the California marriage amendment on the ballot for November.

Hell, right now, I'd be pleased with even THAT.

discussing if he was in true solidarity with the GLBT bloc. Why NOT talk about California? Remember how when BHO talked about talking to other nations, like Iran, instead of flexing our military muscle against them? At first, he was laughed at and belittled, but then a curious thing happened: people started actually listening to the substance of his words and saying "Why not?" Now that idea seems prescient. Something about this guy's charisma makes "scary" ideas seem palatable to the average voter. He could do the same thing with GLBT marriage rights if he wanted...This one area will always be a sticking point with me.

That is, unless I'm just being naive here.

Barack Obama will win California BIG. HUGE. COLOSSAL. Notice how I'm using captial letters to describe how BIG Barack Obama will win California? Hell, I wish there was a larger font I could use to describe how HUGE of a margin Barack Obama will win in California.

Why do I say these things? There is NO political risk at this time, tomorrow, next month, in September, Election Day itself for Barack Obama to come out against the anti-gay discriminatory amendment on the ballot in California. Senator Obama opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment. I would presume that he opposes any attempts to codify bigotry into the American Constitution or any constitution. He WAS a Constitutional law professor, after all. One presumes that he has some respect for these documents...and disdain for any attempt to TAKE AWAY the rights of Americans.

You make some very good points. People have this habit of listening to our nominee. To hear what he says and take something back from his words. Senator Obama has a gift for persuasion...and he should use this gift to, at the least, come out against the marriage amendment in California.

Is that what you're saying? All the gays in Oregon who fought for years for job protection, hate crime legislation, and civil unions - they all have a blind spot???

Go back and re-read my posts in this thread, please.

I am so sick of this attitude when it is a hell of a fight to even get civil unions.

Even the ones who can't parse properly?

Why the fuck are you attacking me? I want full and and unabridged rights for all humans when it comes to marriage, and yes, I'm saying the word "MARRIAGE." The only people I'm finding fault with here are homophobes and BHO himself, and in the latter case it's with qualifications.

I'm sick of it. I'm sorry people don't accept gay marriage, but there isn't anything wrong with acknowledging that reality and working for rights in spite of the asshats. I'm tired of people being called bigots because they accept the reality we live in.

He can't do that if he's fighting for gay marriage. It's what we did in Oregon. Fighting for civil unions and gay rights doesn't mean you have a blind spot against gay marriage, it means you recognize reality.

You got on my back because you thought I'm working AGAINST people fighting for "gay rights?'

Very strange. I'd like to hear how you arrived there.

and claiming that there's something wrong with his efforts to fight for gay rights, in the exact same manner gays in Oregon did.

The word "marriage" conjures up religious ceremonies, and that brings out the fundie wackos. If they don't want gay weddings in their church, whatever. Some churches will perform same sex weddings, others will not. But neither should have any say in what the LAW is.

Separation of church and state. The state issues a legal document, and the standard of that document should be full equality regardless of the genders of the couple who are being "united".

You have every right to feel the way you do. No flames from me.Obama will do the right thing for all of us. I truly believe this. This Mom prays every day that my son will have the same rights as every other person in our country. It will happen. I hope I live long enough to see this dream come true. Hang in there, people are getting smarter by the day. The younger generation will open some eyes and hearts, things are changing so fast. Gotta just love the younger generation, they are awesome and do awesome things.Equality for all is just around the Connor.

I hope one day we have a nominee that believes in marriage equality.

Obama believes in "civil unions with all the legal equality of marriage".

In other words, you take the word "marriage" out of it, and frame the issue around the legal contract. That separates the religious objections from the question of legality. Some religious denominations will choose to perform gay marriage ceremonies and some won't. Neither should be writing state laws. The state law should be equal for all people. Which is what the courts have said in Vermont (where Howard Dean signed civil unions into law) in Massachusetts, and now in California. And more states will follow, to be sure. And then you have Governor Patterson in New York saying that marriages recognized in other states WILL be considered valid in that state.

State by state, the change is coming, and eventually it will be heard by the US Supreme Court. Hopefully when the court is considerably more Liberal than the current configuration.

Gobama! :)

Thanks for posting this, bi-baby! :hi:

Jeez... :eyes:

From now on, I'll talk about GLBT issues in the GLBT forum.

I'd forgotten that we're political liabilities.

I'm referring to a certain idiot upthread. :)

:hug: GLBT issues belong anywhere they're posted about. Don't let the haters get you down. :loveya:

In the past, I would have gone straight to GLBT and posted a "Best of DU" thread about that particular idiot. But Skkinner requested that we don't.

That idiot you mentioned has had a history of consistently pushed this "those gays will cost us the election" agenda here.

I want to be different this time, bi-baby. I want us on election night, ALL of us, to celebrate a huge win. 4 years ago, it was quite different on DU...complete with scapegoats. Namely, us.

I'll try not to let the haters get me down. I'm going to be on that LGBT Democrats for Obama call tonight referenced in the GLBT forum. Should be interesting. :-)

:loveya:

I'm just able to be objective. This was a BIG issue in 2004. BO's statement in the OP won't help matters this time. All I'm saying is....when you know the vast majority of voters are against an issue, it's stupid to beat your head against a wall.

will still care about "gay marriage boogeymen" when more soldiers continue to die in an unpopular war, the economy is in shambles and gas prices continue to rise, seemingly exponentially? :wtf:

I'm hetero.

be attributed to EVERY Obama supporter on this board, not to mention Obama himself, by some individuals here in GD-P.

Please give me a ball park figure. This decade? Next decade? When?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

I accidentally caught "The Castro" two nights ago.

It was a great doc on the way our Castro District (the one without the beard) was established.

Have you ever seen that? I was floored. I lived and worked in and out of this town for that whole time and I didn't know most of what was represented in that documentary.

It's not a date flick but, damn, now I want a copy. It was beautiful.

http://www.kqed.org/w/hood/castro/aboutprogram.html

I'll have to check it out.

but a political community and became a force in this city.

There are really sad parts, too. But on the whole, it was great.

"Black Panther party..."

Aiming to go out in a blaze of glory, eh?

oops... did I just steal a quote from your hero, Darth Cheney?

Seriously. You're disrespecting whole swaths of people here for no discernible reason other than the fact that you possibly get off on shit-stirring. What the fuck?!

That's why.

Armpit of the Carolinas.

It's astounding to read on a progressive web site that we should shut up and sit in the back of the bus like good little homos and dykes and just keep quiet about our equality. It still astounds me reading this kind of stuff around here.

Leave it to Hillary's embittered supporters to check in so as to piss in the punchbowl.

I'd like to think that he would.

Securing a parade is a bit more difficult than securing an arena.

It would be a nice gesture to LGBT people. Hell, my Congresswoman, Jan Schakowsky, marches in it every year. :-)

Edit: This loser goes to Pride parades all the time and even, gasp!, attends *their* meetings. :scared:

Help.

:shrug:

:sarcasm:

Is it not enough to congratulate the Senator and our next President on this statement about Pride month without you picking scabs open?

:sloppykiss:

"prove" that Obama is himself anti-gay. The bottom line is that HE IS NOT!!!

:grouphug:

bawling right now..it's been such a long road and this just opened the floodgates.

It's so wonderfully worded..that no one can miss his meaning.

Rec'd~ :toast: to Obama and what he stands for and a :toast: to us for a better America that will come from these points being implemented.

No more wedge issues by fascist warmongers.