Obama Is Best On Gay Rights

[Onlooker]

None of the candidates are perfect, but frankly how one can think the symbolic presence of Donnie McClurkin is more important that the practical issue of repealing DOMA is hard to imagine. Obama was wrong with McClurkin, but not much more wrong than candidates who woo religious Catholics or who associate with Catholic leaders without asking them to distance themselves from the Catholic Church. There's a double standard here in these attacks on Obama. Here's an op ed from a gay newspaper:

http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=7259

The differences that do exist come on the politically dicey issue of legal recognition for our relationships. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards all support repealing the provision of the infamous “Defense of Marriage Act” that blocks federal recognition of marriage licenses issued to gay couples. But only Obama and Edwards support full repeal of DOMA, including the provision that says each state can choose to ignore gay marriages from other states.

...

Except on gay marriage, Obama has hit all the right notes on the gay rights issues of the day, and he has refused to pander. He has chastised conservative black pastors and white evangelicals alike for opposing gay rights and aggressive HIV prevention. He even refused the demand from gay activists that he reject the support of Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurkin because he claims to be “ex-gay.”

Obama is the only candidate who talks regularly about gay rights, including civil unions, in front of national audiences, and he is the candidate best suited to reach out to independents and Republicans in the general election and in fulfilling the promises he has made as a candidate.


and check this out, too:

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid47849.asp

Gay Episcopal bishop endorses Obama for president

[AndyA]

1. Wrong.

McClurkin was an insult and a slap in the face to every gay person.

I wonder how Barack would feel if someone held an event and allowed a speaker to talk about how to be cured of being black?

McClurkin thinks gay people can pray themselves straight. And if that isn't ape shit backwoods right wing crazy, I don't know what is. And shame on Barack for allowing this man the opportunity to spread his hatred. As a black man, I expect more from Barack.

[ZombieHorde]

13. Subject line

I wonder how Barack would feel if someone held an event and allowed a speaker to talk about how to be cured of being black?

Michael Jackson?

[TheWraith]

16. I find it amazing that everybody who objects to this doesn't actually know what happened.

McClurkin didn't talk about being "cured" of being gay. He was there to sing, since it was a concert. He did not make any commentary, he wasn't handed an open mike, he was not master of ceremonies, or anything like that. He was one performer out of a group of them at a concert sponsored by the Obama campaign.

If you're going to hold a candidate responsible for anything ever said by any of their supporters, you're in for a VERY disappointing campaign season.

[AndyA]

31. Not according to this report on CNN. I also know someone who attended the event.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/29/obama-supporter-god-delivered-me-from-homosexuality/

Quote:
"I tell you that God delivered me from homosexuality."

[David Zephyr]

32. There is a vested, self-perpetuating exaggeration of what actually happened.

Amazing indeed.

Some have gone as far, right here at the DU, as to inventing homophobic quotations and then deceitfully attributing the "quotes" to Senator Obama.

And the faux hysteria is becoming comical and not worthy of even a response.

Those who are supporting other candidates and who are gay and participate in exaggerating what transpired in South Carolina should stop doing this.

And while I am not defending what happened there, taken in perspective with Senator Obama's openly public statements supportive of the GLBT community, it should make some ashamed of what they are insidiously trying to do.

Finally, it was South Carolina! South Carolina, for pete's sake! The state that started the Civil War. The state that still wants to fly the confederate flag over state properties, the state that upon entering it, General Sherman could not contain his troops from their seething hatred for what horror that state had wrought upon the Union.

Karl Rove worked black church homophobia against Democrats in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006. If some fundamentalists within the African-American community who are homophobic are willing to support Barack Obama --- who calls us his brothers and sisters and who has made no bones about standing up for GLBT rights --- then that's a good thing for all of us.

After spending a great part of my life in the cause of promoting civil rights for our GLBT community -- back when we marched at risked to our welfare and back when there were no floats and little celebration, back when the jeering fundamentalists along the sides of the street nearly numbered our supporters --- I am truly dismayed at the faux indignation of some of these fellow keyboard activists who make up a controversy that they can get all righteous about.

[FredScuttle]

39. Obama welcomed an "ex-gay" clown bigot to headline his event and spew homophobic filth

to a receptive audience of religious bigots. Is that a point of pride now?

And if Karl Rove exploited the homophobia latent within the religious community in S.C., that's our model for electoral success? What chapter in the "Audacity of Hope" is that strategy explained?

You can call me hysterical all you want. We will not shut up and quiet down until Obama apologizes for his titanic insult to the LGBT community and straight Democrats like me who abhor bigotry.

[David Zephyr]

55. Obama's "titanic insult". Darling, you are prone to exaggeration. Cut the drama.

Where did I suggest that Karl Rove's actions were a "model". That's your strawhorse so you can smugly argue with yourself while thinking you are with me.

Hysterical? If the slipper fits, wear it. If it pinches, then slit the sides and get back on your runway.

Using hyperbole like "titanic insult" discredits our cause.

[FredScuttle]

56. Obama brought the "drama" by embracing an "ex-gay" clown

I'm just calling him on it.

The phrase "titanic insult" hardly discredits "our cause", not certainly as much as hiring a bigot to headline your campaign event and giving this "ex-gay" clown a microphone and a stage to smear millions of decent Americans.

[dbackjon]

49. faux hysteria? Give me a fucking break

Obama embraced and promote a man whose agenda is to destroy homosexuals.

EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE me for getting offended about that. But anyone that does not see the issue with this is a FUCKING MORAN.

[Hekate]

72. Thank you for your words. And good luck. nt

[FredScuttle]

36. As if that's what happened

Aren't you ashamed to keep lying in thread after thread about the McClurkin concert?

[MadMaddie]

90. I agree with you....he disappointed me big time...if he is that

smart and has the right people they could have predicted the fallout...why is he pandering to the 25% of homophobes? And you know as well as I do McClurkin is a liar...doth protest too loudly.

[Lerkfish]

2. I'm not sure that's an easy sell

:shrug:

[BeyondGeography]

3. I expect this thread to have a long and contentious life

K&R

[hulklogan]

4. The first article does not claim that Obama is substantively the best candidate on gay rights

The author uses Clinton's failings as the reason Obama is the best of the three candidates listed. Kucinich and Gravel aren't even mentioned.

And I couldn't care less what a religious cleric thinks about Barack Obama.

edited to correct my terrible grammar

[Hekate]

5. KnR and Good Luck. You'll need it. nt

[xchrom]

6. standing there with mcclurkin is the same as threatening me with a baseball bat -- and then telling

me you're kidding.

obama is NOT a friend to gay folk.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. OK, so he's not a friend to gay folk.

He's just less homophobic than the other two contenders.

[xchrom]

11. i don't think you believe that -- not for a minute. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. That's technically true.

I don't think Obama, Clinton, or Edwards really are homophobes.

I think they pander to homophobes. (which is arguably worse)

I think Obama panders to homophobes and hates himself for it. I think Edwards panders and isn't quite as upset about it. And I think Clinton panders and enjoys it, because pandering is all she's good for.

[xchrom]

18. obama did the one unforgiveable thing -- made a threatening overture publicly.

that's what standing there with donnie is.

i could really care less if you and the rest of the obama supporters get it -- or don't -- i find the man a nightmare.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Oh baloney.

Hillary's got homophobes on her campaign trail too.

Using homophobia against one candidate while supporting another is blatant hypocrisy.

[xchrom]

23. you should know baloney -- it up to your eyeballs.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Prove me wrong.

[xchrom]

29. obama endorced not one but FOUR antigay groups to promote his election --

The fact that Obama’s campaign would launch a tour featuring an anti-gay bigot like McClurkin has, not surprisingly, prompted quite a bit of disappointment. The question remains, however, how the campaign got to this point, and what it’ll do next.

At the Huffington Post, author and political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson argued that Obama intentionally picked McClurkin to appeal to anti-gay voters, describing the announcement as a “Bush pander to anti-gay mania,” which is “shameless and reprehensible.”
Whether Hutchinson’s criticisms are fair remains to be seen. There’s no evidence that the Obama campaign deliberately picked McClurkin because of his offensive beliefs. It seems just as likely, if not more so, that the campaign put together a roster of popular gospel artists, most of whom do not have an anti-gay history, and simply didn’t know (and didn’t check) McClurkin had a history of bigoted remarks.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/13330.html

Oddly, Obama threw a premature haymaker but it wasn't aimed at Clinton. The target was the GLBT community. Obama's wild swing involved having four of the most abrasively anti-gay gospel singers represent his campaign on his "Embrace the Courage" gospel music tour in South Carolina. The gay bashing headliners included Reverends Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker, Pentecostal pastor of Brooklyn mega-church, the Love Fellowship Tabernacle and Mary Mary (a sister act duo).

The Mary Mary sisters compare gays to murderers andprostitutes. In an interview with Vibe magazine, one of the singers said, "They have issues and need somebody to encourage them like everybody else - just like the murderer, just like the one full of pride, just like the prostitute."

McClurkin's previous political involvement was performing for George Bush at the Republican National Convention in 2004. Now he's singing for Obama. And, while stumping for the candidate McClurkin didn't just "get on stage, sing, and shut up" as some in the Obama campaign hoped he would do. He sermonized: "God delivered me from homosexuality" - as though one could simply "pray the gay away." The predominately black crowd inside the Township Auditorium in Columbia clapped their approval of McClurkin's message. Meanwhile a small, predominately white group of gay rights supporters picketed outside the venue.


"McClurkin sermonized: ‘God delivered me from homosexuality' - as though one could simply ‘pray the gay away.'"
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00439.htm


he has NEVER apologized for the mcclukin debacle -- and with aids still such an important issue in both the lgbtq community and the african american community -- he offers the plan that would leave out many.
i don't think he's MILDLY homophobic -- i think he's ACTIVELY homophobic.

more i think you guys who support him know it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

43. Yes, he's anti-gay.

So are Edwards and Clinton.

They're actively homophobic as well.

[xchrom]

46. you take uselessness to new lows.

[TechBear_Seattle]

12. Which sums up the Democratic Party's attitude quite nicely

They have proven themselves time and again that they are NOT our friends and allies, but the simple fact that they would leave us to starve to death rather than actively murder us is supposed to make them our political salvation.

(Fixed grammar.)

[Tyo]

25. Thank you

Very well put.

[sandnsea]

28. Yeah, just like John Kerry

Who maybe could have won Ohio if he'd come out against gay marriage the way BILL CLINTON advised him to, but got beat up by gays all the same. And who do gays turn around and support this time around, well the same Clintons who advised throwing them under the bus 4 years ago.

I can't say it enough, Hillary Is Not A Diva.

[TechBear_Seattle]

34. I know very few gay people who support Clinton or any of the other Pres. candidates

I am one of the few GLBT people I know who is even somewhat politically active; most of my politically involved friends have become "formerly politically active."

While there are individual exceptions, by and large the party has proven itself unsympathetic and unhelpful with regards to gay rights, has shown little initiative towards gay rights and has continuously turned a deaf ear to our requests, all while sneering at us with, "Who are you going to vote for?" Even ENDA was for show: it passed the House of Representatives with the understanding that it would crash and burn in the Senate; this was part of a "See how hard I'm working for you" deal between Democrats and Republicans, allowing both parties to pander to their bases while retaining the status quo.

Those "gay rights organizations" that have come out for Clinton, such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), have long been discredited by grassroots organizers as sell-outs and accomodationists. They are most definitely NOT examples of general opinion in the GLBT communities.

[sandnsea]

51. I am in Oregon

and perhaps one of the reasons your view pisses me off is because I know how hard everybody has worked in this state to pass gay rights legislation. And the fight continues with that stupid Bush judge and his freeze on civil unions. It is not just for show to me. And I don't think it was for show when Obama introduced anti-discrimination legislation in Illinois, just like John Kerry standing up for gay rights way back in the 80's wasn't for show.

[dbackjon]

50. Well stated

[TheWraith]

17. You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Obama didn't "stand there" with McClurkin. Obama wasn't even at the single event where McClurkin performed. Try getting basic facts right before you start making assumptions.

[xchrom]

30. four antigay gospel groups represent and hit the road FOR obama.

[TechBear_Seattle]

35. WITH the acknowledgement of the Obama campaign, and WITHOUT the campaign's repudiation

That speaks volumes.

[xchrom]

40. indeed.

but as a poster in another thread likes to point out -- it doesn't REALLY matter because nobody outside of ''14 or 15 du posters'' nobody else in america cares about it.

pathetic and meaningless ''hope'' speeches while bashing gays does i guess.

[TechBear_Seattle]

41. Problem is, no one does seem to care

And therein lies the root of a rapidly growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party among the GLBT community. We are tried of this.

[xchrom]

45. i'm not sure speeches about ''hope'' were ever going

to play to us particularly anyway.

after the peak of the epidemic -- some things find it hard to resonate.

[David Zephyr]

58. I have a gay friend who was beaten with a bat. It's not the same, xchrom.

I know you mean well, but do take a look at the hyperbole in this very thread and tell me that this is how to conduct a dialog. Worse, take a stroll down through some of the threads on this subject where outrageous lies and distortions of what actually took place are repeated over and over as gospel by many of our own GLBT brothers here. It is shameful. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Fabricating homophobic quotations for Obama and/or falsely recreating the event to smear a man whose clearly made his support of our community part of his campaign is shabby. And I am not saying you did this, but for you to step back and look how some in our community who are supporting Obama's opponents are working this a wedge issue which is cheesy.

Obama's campaign made a mistake. Obama is not a homophobe and will be a champion for the GLBT community.

Bill Clinton promised throughout his campaign in 1992 to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military primarily to blunt Governor Jerry Brown in the primaries. David Mixner, Clinton's "gay liaison" later wrote how betrayed he felt by the Clintons. Of course, Clinton never delivered and some years during his administration more homosexuals were pushed out of the services than under Bush and Reagan.

Bill Clinton signed into law DOMA. He took a pen and signed it into law.

Bill and Hillary conveniently slipped out of Washington, D.C. when we had the largest GLBT national event and march. It embarrassed him. I was there. I traveled from California to be there. As we marched passed the White House, I thought how cowardly of them to have done this. Most everyone there that day felt the same way.

I said that to say this: Hillary Clinton would, as Barack Obama would, be a progressive president for the GLBT community.

And I hope that everyone who thinks otherwise would once again watch Barack as he responded in the GLBT forum that was hosted for the Democratic candidates. You will not find a homophobe, but a friend that we can depend on in Barack Obama. Take it the bank.

[readmoreoften]

61. Ex-gay groups are using US tax dollars to preach to skinheads overseas to eradicate gays.

Sounds crazy? It gets crazier. They also preach that Gays are the True Nazis. And that Gays are destroying the Black Family. You're right. Totally harmless.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2500141

You have a gay friend who got beat with a bat. Yeah, so did my girlfriend. Funding and preaching the extermination of gay people is inciting violence.

[xchrom]

95. i've had friends damn near beaten to DEATH from ball bats -- i've been abducted and

threatened for HOURS all because of gay haters.

i know what the fuck i'm talking about here -- and let me tell you mcclurkin is the same as a baseball bat -- and obama safe in his pretigious environment can afford to sit back and say ''i'm not serious''.

don't fuckin tell me what that message was about.

[Tejanocrat]

8. Obama endorsed Donnie McClurkin; The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition endorsed Edwards

From The Advocate

N.H. Gay Group Endorses John Edwards

One of New Hampshire's leading gay rights groups has endorsed former North Carolina senator John Edwards for president. The New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition cited Edwards's commitment to equal rights and fighting discrimination in all forms, according to a press release.<br><br>"We took a long look at all of the candidates, we met with many of them, and in our judgment, John Edwards's sincere commitment to battling discrimination and ensuring equal rights for every American is unparalleled," the group's executive director, state representative Mo Baxley, said in the release. "He and his wonderful wife, Elizabeth, have spent their entire lives fighting for those without a voice and standing up for what is right. John Edwards will be the kind of president we can trust to stand up for everyday Americans."<br><br>The coalition quotes Edwards as saying he supports the repeal of the military's ban of gay service members as well as the full repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. He also quoted as saying he would expand hate-crimes legislation and prohibit job discrimination against LGBT workers. The coalition acknowledges that while Edwards support civil unions for same-sex couples, he is not in favor of same-sex marriage.

Obama has many excellent qualities. Please don't pretend this is one of them.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. Nearly every gay person I know vigorously disagrees

Then again, nearly every gay person has given up on political participation, citing the very apparent fact that aside from a very few Democrats, no one in the party gives a rat's tail about equal rights except when it comes to our votes.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Actually Kerry was

the best gay candidate we ever had. One of the few Senators to vote against DOMA.

[beachmom]

22. Yep. Even Wellstone voted for DOMA. Thanks for your comment,

as too many people forget Kerry's courageous vote.

[IronLionZion]

26. I remember Kerry facing aggressive opposition on here

for not supporting gay marriage amongst other things. Life would be better for us all if he was in the white house for the last 3 years, especially for gays.

[ProSense]

85. Yup:

HRC Endorses Senator John Kerry for President

6/16/2004

‘From voting against the Defense of Marriage Act to actively opposing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," John Kerry is a true leader for our community,’ said HRC President Cheryl Jacques.

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign today endorsed Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., for President of the United States. The decision was made by HRC’s board of directors based on the candidate’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality, demonstrated leadership and his viability to win in November.

"From voting against the Defense of Marriage Act to actively opposing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ John Kerry is a true leader for our community," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "Just six months into his first Senate term in 1985, he introduced a gay civil rights bill. His aggressive support for our community continued unabated for the years that followed, demonstrated time and again by perfect HRC ratings on GLBT issues in Congress."

In 1996, Sen. Kerry was one of only 14 senators, and the only up for re-election, to cast a vote against the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act. He also testified in front of a Senate committee in 1993 against the policy that prohibits military service by openly gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans known as "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell."

more

[ZombieHorde]

14. He is not best on gay rights.

He is better than HRC and JE though. In light of Donnie McClurkin, that is just sad.

[we can do it]

78. Just Not True

[ZombieHorde]

88. Not very compelling. nt

[MethuenProgressive]

20. "Obama Is Best On Gay Rights"? DU needs a humor forum.

For sick jokes like that.

[soleft]

21. I think Edwards and Obama are close, both better than Clinton

Seems to me biggest difference between Edwards and Obama is Edwards oppostion to marriage because of his religious beliefs - Obama because he just doesn't believe the country is ready, and perhaps because he thinks it will alienate voters. That could very well be Edwards reason as well, but I think he's probably sincere about his beliefs. Edwards does say, however, that he's continuing to evolve, and both his wife and daughter are pro gay marriage. I don't see either of them signing a veto of anything that would move things forward. The McClurkin episode is upsetting but i don't think it cancels out my belief that Obama will ultimately do the right thing.

Since Edwards is stronger is other areas - I'm supporting Edwards.

[LostinVA]

38. Who of the three has marched in Gay Pride parades?

HRC.

[soleft]

97. So has Giuliani and I ain't voting for him

[sandnsea]

27. He's as good as the rest

With his own parents' marriage illegal, I think he has a better sense of the implications than gays give him credit for. I also think he knows he is trying to get people to think in a new way and you open that door with pie, not a baseball bat.

[xchrom]

65. no he uses a baseball bat named mcclurkin and then tells us he ain't serious.

[sandnsea]

77. Does your mind need changing?

Or do the churches need changing? If he's going to pass any kind of civil unions, he is going to have to bring as many of the religious to his side as possible. He's going to have to talk to them, even if he doesn't like what they believe. You can't do that with a baseball bat, it will not work.

He's the one who introduced anti-discrimination legislation in Illinois. Obama has signed on to be a co-sponsor of ENDA. He's taken a clear stand. One singer is not a life's work.

[xchrom]

80. it wan't one -- and ''they'' aren't

going to change their minds.

what happened was that illinois has changed through the uears.

that allowed obama to do the BASIC civilized and educated thing to do.

pandering to bigots -- and thereby threatening gays and lesbians is just that -- threatening.

[sandnsea]

83. Illinois changed, people changed on racism

Of course people will change their minds. We wouldn't even be talking about gay marriage if people hadn't changed their minds. Who else has gone straight to the black church and told them they were wrong? Who went straight to the fundies and told them they had to stop their hating? You are not looking at the whole picture.

[xchrom]

89. i'm looking at a man who doesn't believe in gay marriage -- who activley embraces

anti-gay activists and SENDS them out to campaign for him.

you are seeing something good where it is rotten.

[sandnsea]

98. No, that would be Hillary

and her homophobes who run her SC campaign. They're the ones who are out campaigning for a Dem candidate and everybody in SC knows what they think of gays. One event is not having anti-gay activists campaigning for him.

[xchrom]

99. FOUR anti-gay activists -- four. and obama seems to think gay folk are animals.

something to be civilized.

"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."
Sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force


i don't want hillary -- but obama is a fuckin nightmare dressed in fuckin phoney ''hope'' as far as i'm concerned.

[sandnsea]

100. Right, that's why he introduced legislation in Illinois

Because he thinks gays are animals. :eyes:

The hatred has become a sickness.

[xchrom]

102. he wanted to get elected -- anyone who wants to be ''seen''

on the right side of an issue is likely to anything.

your posts are as offensive as any homophobes in that regard.

you need to get a grip -- and you need to get and show some respect.

[sandnsea]

103. Oh I'm sick of being called names

I'm the least bigoted person you would ever want to meet. I am just not going to be bullied by anybody and that's all you guys are doing, bullying people. It's repulsive. I'm sorry there are bigots on the planet. I'm sorry there are bigots on Hillary's campaign. I'm sorry a bigoted judge in Oregon is holding up gay rights laws here. But that is no reason to make one person completely responsible for all of it. It's ridiculous and I'm not going to stop saying so. Just like I didn't stop saying Larry Craig and bathroom sex is perverted and it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. I got called filthy names for that too. Oh well.

[xchrom]

104. Bitter looks good on you.

you don't know what you're talking about -- and you've been caught with your pants down.

now you wanna cry about it -- and come off crucified -- take that some place else.

you called me sick -- i am pointing out supporting a someone who is looking very homophobic may mean you're homophobic.
you don't have to like it -- but reality is sometimes ugly.

[sandnsea]

105. If you have bathroom sex, yes you're sick

If not, then I didn't say it. And that's exactly what I'm talking about. You're a bully.

[xchrom]

106. sticks and stones -- miss thing -- you're sticking up for the guy

who thinks gay folk are animals -- or damn near.
and hanging out with folk who compare gay folk to murderers.

and you're obsession with bathroom sex -- here's a clue -- 1-800-- get mental help.

[hulklogan]

101. This quote is incredibly offensive by itself

How do I cause discrimination in the way I live my life? What a stupid thing for him to say!

Every day I hear something else that makes me even more certain that Senator Obama is completely out of touch with the lives LBGT Americans.

[cboy4]

33. Uh-huh.

Sure.

[maxanne]

37. if he is

so great on gay issues, why isn't he in favor of marriage equality?

[IronLionZion]

42. ontheissues.org Barack Obama on Civil Rights

http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm#Civil_Rights

* Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
* The politics of fear undermines basic civil liberties. (Oct 2007)
* Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 2007)
* Better enforce women's pay equity via Equal Pay Act. (Aug 2007)
* Strengthen the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Aug 2007)
* Has any marriage broken up because two gays hold hands? (Aug 2007)
* We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions. (Aug 2007)
* Legal rights for gays are conferred by state, not by church. (Aug 2007)
* Disentangle gay rights from the word "marriage". (Aug 2007)
* Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)
* Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)
* Let each denominations decide on recognizing gay marriage. (Jul 2007)
* Racial equality good for America as a whole. (Jun 2007)
* Put the Confederate flag in a museum, not the state house. (Apr 2007)
* Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
* Muslim heritage gives Obama unique influence in Muslim world. (Oct 2006)
* Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
* No black or white America--just United States of America. (Oct 2006)
* Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
* African-Americans vote Democratic because of issue stances. (Jul 2004)
* Forthright on racial issues and on his civil rights history. (Jul 2004)
* Defend freedom and equality under law. (May 2004)
* Politicians: don't use religion to insulate from criticism. (Apr 2004)
* Supports affirmative action in colleges and government. (Jul 1998)
* Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)
* Miscegenation a felony in 1960 when Obamas practiced it. (Aug 1996)
* The civil rights movement was a success. (Aug 1996)
* Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
* Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
* Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
* Rated 100% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)

Q: You had one supporter on a Bible tour in South Carolina who said that homosexuality was a curse and that he had been cured by prayer. Do you believe homosexuality's a curse?

A: No.

Q: Do you believe that it is something that you are born gay or that you can change your behavior?

A: I do not believe being gay or lesbian is a choice. And so I disagree with . But part of what I hope to offer as president is the ability to reach to people that I don't agree with, and the evangelical community is one where the Democratic Party, I think, we have generally seen as hostile. We haven't been reaching out to them, and I think that if we're going to makes significant progress on critical issues that we face, we've got to be able to get beyond our comfort zones and just talk to people we don't like. I've tried to do is to reach out to the evangelical community and tell them very clearly where I disagree.


We need strong civil unions, not just weak civil unions
It is my strong belief that the government has to treat all citizens equally. I come from that in part out of personal experience. When you're a black guy named Barack Obama, you know what it's like to be on the outside. And so my concern is continually to make sure that the rights that are conferred by the state are equal for all people.

That's why I opposed DOMA in 2006 when I ran for the Senate. That's why I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a strong version, in which the rights that are conferred at the federal level to persons who are part of the same sex union are compatible.

When it comes to federal rights, the over 1,100 rights that right now are not being given to same sex couples, I think that's unacceptable, and as president of the United States, I am going to fight hard to make sure that those rights are available.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Right, while Obama might not be best on gay rights (Kucinich and Gravel are), he is most definitely NOT the homophobe asshole that he is made out to be.

[dbackjon]

52. These are supposed to make me feel better about Obama?

* Disentangle gay rights from the word "marriage". (Aug 2007)

How about you all just get the fuck over your "marriage is a heterosexual right" and make it available for all Americans

* Gay marriage is less important that equal gay rights. (Aug 2007)

Gay marriage is the very DEFINITION of equal rights. Without it, there are no equal rights

* Gay rights movement is somewhat like civil rights movement. (Aug 2007)

SOMEWHAT LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT? I thought equality WAS a civil rights movement.

* Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)

Have marriage, no problem.

* Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)

You can not oppose gay marriage, and support gay equality. They are mutually exclusive.



ONCE AGAIN, the straight Obamabots show they do not a have CLUE when it comes to EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL

[IronLionZion]

67. HA! Thanks for calling me an obamabot. That would be news to the actual Obamabots! nt

[Cha]

68. You're a

Deaniac! :)

[IronLionZion]

79. For life! You better believe it! nt

[Cha]

93. Well, I am too!

Dean, Gore, Dean, Gore, Dean..they've proven their mettle.

[xchrom]

66. not one on tour for him -- but FOUR.

obama has used people who threats to gay men and women -- and then tried to say well it ain't me.

now that's some audacity.

[Onlooker]

44. DOMA is vastly more important than Donnie McClurkin

DOMA is far more important, and on the other issues the candidates basically agree.

The obsession with Donnie McClurkin strikes me as a dishonest way of trying to win more gay support for another candidate, maybe Edwards.

On the face of it, Edwards is no better than Obama, and they are both marginally better than Clinton. Let's remember that Obama was opposed to DOMA from the start, Edwards came out later on, and Clinton is only partly opposed to it.

[xchrom]

47. mcclurkin is a physical threat.

none of the others have made ANY move that can compare with mcclurkin and the FOUR gospel groups to bang the drum for obama.

[NYCGirl]

54. A physical threat?

:wtf:

[FreeState]

60. Here you go -

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.html

The American Psychiatric Association in its position statement on Psychiatric Treatment and Sexual Orientation states: The potential risks of "reparative therapy" are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient. Many patients who have undergone "reparative therapy" relate that they were inaccurately told that homosexuals are lonely, unhappy individuals who never achieve acceptance or satisfaction. The possibility that the person might achieve happiness and satisfying interpersonal relationships as a gay man or lesbian is not presented, nor are alternative approaches to dealing with the effects of societal stigmatization discussed.9

The National Association of Social Workers in its Policy Statement on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues: endorses policies in both the public and private sectors that ensure nondiscrimination; that are sensitive to the health and mental health needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people; and that promote an understanding of lesbian, gay, and bisexual cultures. Social stigmatization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people is widespread and is a primary motivating factor in leading some people to seek sexual orientation changes.11 Sexual orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual orientation is both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrate that reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be harmful.12 NASW believes social workers have the responsibility to clients to explain the prevailing knowledge concerning sexual orientation and the lack of data reporting positive outcomes with reparative therapy. NASW discourages social workers from providing treatments designed to change sexual orientation or from referring practitioners or programs that claim to do so.13


http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_exod1.htm

From the available data, four studies reported a "success" rate during conversion therapy of 0.4%, 0.0%, 0.5 and 0.04%. That is, conversion therapy has a failure rate in excess of 99.5% during each study. Considering the anecdotal data which indicates a large percentage of extremely depressed and suicidal clients emerging from conversion therapy, it would appear that this form of therapy is worthless. It my well result in the death by suicide of more gays and lesbians than it "converts" to a heterosexual orientation. Unfortunately, we cannot be certain of this. The quality of the studies is extremely poor.

[xchrom]

62. oh WTF yourself -- try to acquaint yourself

with some of the things mcclurkin has said -- and some of the things the other anti-gay stuff that has been said by other evangelicals supporting obama -- jeeee-sus it's not like they haven't haven't posted all over here.

with one of them equating us as murderers.

[NYCGirl]

75. And are they going to "clockwork orange" you? NT

[xchrom]

82. Darling -- you do look good in the neon shade of Ridiculous!

[NYCGirl]

87. Are the big bad boogie men coming to get you? A jerk like McClurkin is no

threat to you. People here at DU have given him more free press than he's EVER had — other than the Gospel music industry, he's virtually unknown.

DOMA and the far right is a much bigger threat.

[xchrom]

91. Darling -- it's mealy mouthed ''liberals'' ingratiating themselves to

someone who has actively embraced gay haters to campaign for him who worry me.

here's the the hand mirror dear -- time to straghten your make-up.

[BigDDem]

48. Throwing gays under the bus makes him the

"best on gay rights."
Sounds about right.

Obama/McClurkin 08!

[Bluebear]

53. Obama/McClurkin'08! "Best" on gay rights!

:silly:

[FredScuttle]

57. McObama '08: Erase The Gay!

n/t to Tejanocrat for "McObama"

[readmoreoften]

59. This post is seriously offensive. I mean, just stop. STOP. Let it go...

Wow, TWO ENDORSEMENTS. Give me a fucking break.

Obama said he believes in leaving gay marriage to the states, even with the repeal of DOMA. That's bad news.
Obama has said nothing on transgender issues. Edwards has.
Obama said we gays have to sit down with the anti-gay elements of the black church to discuss our 'differences'. Our DIFFERENCES are that they say things like "Gays are killing our children" and we just pick up the pieces when black gay folk get beat to death. What an ignorant thing to stay!

[xchrom]

63. then there is his statement on civil unions that makes us sound like animals.

we'll ''learn'' how to build better lives -- or something to that effect.

it was in another thread -- it was jaw dropping in it's offensiveness.

[readmoreoften]

70. REALLY! I didn't even know about that. Fucking scary. /nt

[FreeState]

81. You mean this one? "Giving them a set of basic rights..."

"Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn't cause discrimination," Obama said. "I think it is the right balance to strike in this society."

Sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

[xchrom]

94. THAT'S THE ONE!!! -- thank you -- mind if i borrow that?

[krabigirl]

64. Are you kidding? he panders to fundies...he doesn't give a crap about gay rights.

[Beacool]

69. I have yet to meet a gay person who has said to me that Obama is the best on gay issues.

I have a vast array of gay friends and acquaintances and of the 3 front-runners Hillary is their candidate of choice. The Clintons have always been inclusive, both in public life and in private too. Gay people were part of the Clinton administration and their sexuality was never an issue. Just ask former Small Bus. Adm. head Fred Hochberg and Hillary's former press secretary Neel Lattimore.

From The Advocate:

The Clinton acolytes who know her well point to another reason to vote for her: her pure comfort level with gay people. Fred Hochberg, the head of the Small Business Administration under President Clinton and now the dean of the business school at the New School in New York, has known Hillary since the 1992 campaign, when he raised funds for her husband. He sits on her campaign’s LGBT steering committee, cannily launched on the eve of this year’s Stonewall anniversary, and he talks admiringly not only of the “hard work” she’s done behind the scenes, such as organizing meetings of the Senate leadership on LGBT issues, but also of her “enormously relaxed” vibe at the HRC-Logo forum -- and with Hochberg and his partner, Tom Healy.

“She’s one of the very few people in life, let alone public life, who will unfailingly always ask, virtually the first question, ‘How’s Tom? What’s he doing?’ ” Hochberg tells me. “She was at an event for the New School, and as I said goodbye she said, ‘Make sure to give Tom a hug for me.’ That kind of expression feels personal, genuine. Not a lot of people do that period, let alone a sitting senator or first lady. It’s unique among faculty members. I’m dean of the school, and they don’t ask me about my partner!”

Hochberg also recounts a fascinating story: that when Clinton’s father died of a stroke in 1993, her parents’ gay male neighbor came to the hospital to be with the family. “I introduced her at a fund-raiser in Washington, and Hillary spoke very eloquently about that,” Hochberg says. “That’s a deeply personal experience any of us endures, the loss of a parent, and the person that was with her father was her mother and father’s gay neighbor. She just made that part of the story of her life -- I think that’s meaningful.”

Neel Lattimore, who served as press secretary to Clinton for five years when she was first lady, has similarly warm and fuzzy anecdotes to share. When he was promoted to the highly visible job, Lattimore took Clinton aside and told her he was gay, just so she would know in case any of the Clintons’ numerous political foes wanted to make an issue of it. The conversation in the Map Room turned into a heart-to-heart. “I said, ‘I want to be a good role model for my nieces and nephews -- there’s not a lot of role models out there for gay men,’ ” he remembers. “I thought that was a perfectly logical thing to say. But she was like, ‘Who are you running around with?’ I said, ‘Excuse me?’ And she said, ‘If you don’t find some people that you consider to be role models in the next several weeks, come back to me and I’ll introduce you to some.’

“That’s when it was clear that she had friends who were gay,” he says. “If I was struggling to find people that I could look up to, she was like, ‘I’ll give you a list, I’ll set up some meetings. You can feel good about this.’ ”

Several years later, no longer in her employ, Lattimore held a fund-raiser for her New York Senate campaign at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, attended largely by gay friends of his. It was a campy affair -- “We’re showing pictures of her with bad hair on the screens, and she’s just laughing!” -- but the tone turned downright mushy when Lattimore introduced his mentor to the crowd. “I told the story about the role models, and I said, ‘Mrs. Clinton, I want to introduce you to my role models.’ ” He pointed to the 500 guests in the room. “And I heard her very quietly in the back go, ‘Oh, Neel.’ ”

His memories aren’t all so serious, though. Speaking of her hair, for instance, Lattimore—the only man in “Hillaryland,” as her devoted staffers call their private world—was often called upon for certain styling tasks. “I’m telling you, when you travel around the world on a small plane full of women and you’re the only man, yes, you take curlers out of hair!” he says with a laugh.

Indeed, that Clinton is a woman cannot be underestimated in her appeal to gay people, and vice versa. Bill Clinton often spoke of a “politics of compassion,” but Hillary is the one who has lived the struggle for respect and equality just as gays have. That common experience informs not only her personal solidarity with us but also her sense that the fight for marriage equality is by necessity a long-term proposition, something that can’t be won overnight.

http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid49015.asp

[readmoreoften]

71. Really. We'll I'm GAY and I've yet to meet a gay person who thinks so.

But you'd know better. What with all your 'gay friends'.

[Beacool]

73. There's no need to be insulting!!!

If you think that Obama is better than Hillary on gay issues that's your call. I'm just talking about my own experience of my circle of friends, acquaintances and even a few co workers in NY and NJ. One of the reasons I have always liked the Clintons has been precisely because they were so at ease with minorities and gay people. They didn't just mention them during election time, they were their friends and employed in their staffs.

[we can do it]

74. What?????

:wtf:

[Politicub]

76. There's a typo in your subject line

Did you mean to type "Obama is best on EX-GAY rights?"

[itsrobert]

84. He talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk

Doesn't he have a Gay basher campaigning with him?

[2rth2pwr]

86. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Josiah1982]

92. Obama's a lot of things but being "best on gay rights" is NOT ONE OF THEM.

try again.

[flvegan]

96. Considering that Kucinich is pro gay marriage, I think you might be mistaken.

But, you know...whatever.