Gay Rights Demonstrators Call on Obama to Abolish "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

[keepCAblue]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Chanting and carrying flags, gay rights advocates called on President Obama tonight to more aggressively pursue equal rights for all Americans as they demonstrated outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel, where the president was attending a fundraiser.

Although organizers called the event a “welcome” for Obama, many in the crowd of 200 expressed anger that the president has not moved to repeal the federal defense of marriage act and the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy toward gay service members.

During the protest, the crowd chanted, “Out of the court, into the streets, we are ready to fight, we won’t be beat.” It was a reference to Tuesday’s state Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage.

“The president made a promise when he made his speech about hope,” said Rick Jacobs, who chairs the Courage Campaign, an organizer of the protest. “I bought that promise and I still buy that promise, but it’s time for him to start fulfilling that promise for all Americans.”

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/gay-rights-demonstators-call-on-obama-to-abolish-dont-ask-dont-tell.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. GOOD he needs to executive order it... PERIOD

or he will keep fighting an officer corp that will keep fighting him till the cows come home... as well as the US congress

[IndianaGreen]

2. K&R

Equal rights are non-negotiable!

:kick:

[No Elephants]

3. He cannot repeal an act of Congress, but he can suspend discharges under that Act.

He has that power under the Constitution as Commander in Chief and, if there is any doubt, he also has that power under a statute passed by Congress

10 USC 12305

[nichomachus]

5. I thought Bush established that the president didn't have to obey any laws at all

[No Elephants]

4. To The Greatest!

[Howler]

6. I agree with all the above!!! n/t

n/t