On Transition Website, Obama Promises More to Gay Community

This is interesting -- and I'm not entirely certain what it means.

Obama's transition website, Change.gov, includes a section called 'Agenda' that outlines the administration's objectives in any of a couple dozen policy areas. For the most part, the 'Agenda' section is a near carbon-copy of the 'Issues' section on Obama's campaign website, BarackObama.com.

In the area of 'Civil Rights', however, there is a significant difference between the campaign website and Change.gov, the transition website. Specifically, the transition website makes a much broader range of commitments to the gay and lesbian community.

Whereas BarackObama.com includes a couple of items of interest to the gay community -- namely, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and expanded hate-crimes statutes -- that is the extent of it. The gay and lesbian community is not mentioned explicitly -- in fact, the word 'gay' does not appear anywhere in the 'Civil Rights' section of BarackObama.com. By contrast, the Change.gov website includes a section addressed explicitly to the gay community, and it covers not only ENDA and hate crimes, but also promises Obama's support for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, an expansion of adoption rights for gay couples, his backing of "full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples", and his opposition to a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

What to make of the difference? On the one hand, this would seem to demonstrate Obama's (over)sensitivity to the politics embedded in gay rights issues. A waffling, now-you-see-it, now-you-don't attitude toward gay rights is exactly what many in the community fear from the administration. On the other hand, one can argue that Obama is moving in the right direction, now willing to make a more explicit and comprehensive series of commitments to the gay community than he was while in campaign mode.

One consequence of the Rick Warren controversy is that Obama may now be under a greater amount of pressure from Democrats to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, to pass ENDA, and to expand hate crimes statutes, and to do all of the above relatively quickly. As we have pointed out before, large majorities of the public are in line with the Obama position on all three issues. If Obama is not willing to expend the relatively modest amount of political capital required on those, then one can reasonably anticipate that he won't be willing to touch more controversial subject areas like adoption or civil unions.

UPDATE: Several readers write in to point out that BarackObama.com does contain some of the aforementioned text on gay rights, but it's buried about four clicks deep under the 'People' tab rather than under the 'Issues' tab. The point is, these are not exactly things that Obama was putting front and center.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/12/on-transition-website-obama-promises.html

than the CAMPAIGN site was.

Only actions mean anything, and I, personally, don't expect to see much "action" from him on this issue.

during his time in the state Senate. I expect him to continue taking action. He has been a consistent supporter of GLBT rights throughout his career from the beginning. I don't expect one prayer by an asshole at the inauguration to change that.

Yeah look at crazy me saying give a democrat a chance to actually govern.

Otherwise you're no better than the most rabid Republican.

I'm not damning him. He'll certainly be a great improvement on other issues, but I expect stuff to pretty much stay the same under him regarding GLBT rights. They've already announced they're not touching DADT until after the mid-term elections, and that is something that MOST OF THE COUNTRY supports repealing.

For instance, there are his words condemning gays. Those mean a lot because they ARE backed up by action. If you're gay, Rick Warren will let you come to his church. He'll absolutely let you throw some dough at him. But you cannot be a member. Sorry, no gays allowed.

So, should Obama be instrumental in the repeal of DADT, DOMA, the institution of sweeping hate crimes and equal rights legislation, and stands against a constitutional ban on ss marriage, what more will it take to acknowledge he is not the enemy?

What if he has the gall to prioritize the rescue of the global economy to prevent the world from plunging into the dark ages?

Will that somehow prove to you that he doesn't care about equal rights?


I know we've been used to a 'say one thing do the opposite' administration for a while, but I'm not ready to dismiss his plan as 'lip service' just yet. I think I'll let him actually be President for a little while before I convince myself he's the enemy.

He sponsored a GLBT rights bill in Illinois that passed. He spoke clearly and specifically about gay rights during the campaign and what he said then is no different than what's on change.gov. He hasn't moved at all. The only issue he needs to move on is gay marriage.

It's ironic to me that people who say they are against intolerance and hate are the ones demonstrating it here.

Did our state just put discrimination against YOU in the State Constitution?

Obama didn't support Prop 8 and isn't responsible for its passage in CA.

Just like most of DU - for gay rights as long as it is convienient, or doesn't upset the bigots.

But not worth taking a principled stand over.

He spoke out publicly (in a debate no less) against Prop 8. He gave explicit support to the No on 8 cause. How many other potential presidents have done something like that?

What I heard was that he felt marriage was between a man and a woman, and he reaffirmed the (Christian) sanctity of such a marriage. Endorsing civil unions does nothing for the current debate in California.

He spoke out much later against Prop 8 (like right before the election) but this did little to help sway opinion.

they claim to abhor in Republicans

by so called Democrats!

...not the ones who call him on it.

We saw very early in the primaries that Democrats and people who appear very progressive can be filled with hate as well. And there is plenty of hate on both sides around here lately.

...and "Obama haters." There were just people who disagreed with their positions and tactics.

And it's unfortunate because hate can not be erased by more hate.

imo posters use that lame label when they just want the whole thing to go away.

And for your information, I stand wholeheartedly on the side of LGBT rights, no matter what you might try to imply.

I just think its a mistake to dismiss everything Obama has done and said because of this one offensive act.

I don't like Warren and I'd rather he was not part of the ceremony. But I'm not letting it alone decide my opinion of our President-Elect. I wouldn't let any one thing alone do that.

The campaign site was supportive but didn't use the word gay.

So, he's being MORE explicit, more detailed about how he will actually govern. Sounds good to me.

Thanks for the info, cccharles000.

His campaign website always had an LGBT section "buried" exactly as deep as the African Americans, Latinos, Seniors, Women, etc. Highlight "people" and click on the relevant group.

to make a point. It bothers me that some people are so eager to paint Obama in a negative light or fit him into the flip-flopper meme that they stretch the truth to do it. This isn't George Bush we're dealing with and people need to stop approaching Obama with that mentality.

And I'm happy to see it. All of those things will help the gay community achieve equality. My hope is Obama will eventually come around on full marriage equality, but ENDA, repeal of DADT, civil unions, etc. are all steps in the right direction.

Of course, separate but equal is anything but equality - but I'll take what I can get living in GA.

Let me know when he does it in front of a crowd...on the evening news.

I will judge him on his policies. Policies actually affect lives.

I wonder what the tone will be toward Obama when his administration actually starts to follow through on actual policies. I'm not sure what people expect of him until his administration has the power to make things actually HAPPEN.