Does anyone know what Obama's actual record is on gay rights?

[MNBrewer]

I've done a quick google search and can't find anything much.

Beyond words, what has he actually DONE to forward GLBT equality, besides vote against Illinois' DOMA (even though he doesn't want us to have the legal right to marry).

(Serious question)

[IndianaJones]

1. he says he is a fierce advocate. nt.

[MNBrewer]

2. In other words, "words"?

[lapfog_1]

5. Using synonyms... fierce advocate is angry lawyer. - n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Here's an informative post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8006388&mesg_id=8006410

[MNBrewer]

6. So,

In Illinois sponsored anti-discrimination legislation.

In the Senate, he
Sponsored Hate Crimes legislation
Sponsored ENDA (including gender identity)
"believes" in ending DADT
"believes" in gay adoption rights
"believes" in civil unions (in states that want to recognize them) and NOT marriage (anywhere)
Voted against Federal Marriage Amendment
Supports repeal of DOMA
Supports the "notion" that all people deserve the same rights (NOTION?)

Not terribly impressive for a fierce advocate.

OK, but not impressive. Plenty of belief and support but thin on action.

[LostinVA]

7. Exactly

[Creideiki]

20. In the Illinois legislature

He "sponsored" ENDA, but he was given sponsorship of almost every piece of legislation by his mentor, "the Kingmaker" Emil Jones. By "given sponsorship", I mean that he did not originate the fight for the vast majority of the legislation he "sponsored". Someone else fought for it for years through Republican misrule, then when the Democrats came into power, Jones stripped the former sponsors and pasted in Obama's name.

The Illinois ENDA did not reach a vote while Obama was in the state legislature.

Obama's BFF in Illinois was the virulently homophobic (I don't think Obama's actually homophobic, I think he's more heterosexist--believes that heterosexuals are better than gay people, which is a distinction from homophobia) Rev. James Meeks. When the ENDA came up to a vote, The Obama, from whom all charisma and leadership flow, couldn't even convince Meeks to vote "present"--the Illinois cop-out.

Basically, he's the type that wouldn't throw a stone at a gay person he saw on the street, but would be more likely to get distracted by a street performer, turn and pay attention to that, and "not notice" that the stones are being thrown. This is pretty much exemplified by the recent round of anti-gay amendments. He sent a little letter that he would vote against Prop 8, but didn't talk about it. That doesn't even include the absolute obliviousness to Arizona, Florida (swing state--might have lost that one with a controversial stance), and Arkansas.

Not overly impressive, really.

[LostinVA]

23. Very interestinga nd thought-provoking post -- thanks

Some stuff in here I didn't know about (ie sponsorships via the Kingmaker).

[Creideiki]

33. There were some long-term legislators really upset

that the legislation they had been championing their entire careers got taken away and handed to Obama to put his name on. And then the spinning started that the original people were too "polarizing" to get the votes on the floor. And even then, the ENDA didn't come up until after Obama left the state legislature and went to DC. The funny thing, really, is that he's a pretty effective Senator on issues that he feels strongly about (like nuclear proliferation). But if he were really pro-gay civil rights, he would have been bringing that up long before the election.

[readmoreoften]

37. I had read about this. I didn't realize that the legislation pertained to our rights.

Reading about these shenanigans at the local level turned me off to Obama early on. I liked Edwards for his labor support, and I fully supported DK, but now I understand why Edwards was pushed down. I do understand the criticism of him as "phony" and his participation in hedge funds now gives me total pause. I don't like Clinton at all and I didn't vote for her at the local level when I had the chance. But I have to say, the more I researched Obama the more I found him to be more careerist, cautious, and triangulating than even Clinton, and perhaps even more to the right. My opinion was that Clinton was an upfront "pragmatist" and openly political, while Obama was, at least as manipulative and untrustworthy, if not moreso and running as a messiah without a platform.

I was happy after the election. I partied (even though we lost everything on the local level and I was very sad about that.)

Now I realize I was just deluding myself. I really wanted--needed--to feel like things would be better, if only for a moment. I no longer feel that way at all and I accept that. Obama seems to me like a charismatic 'post-partisan' placeholder who the GOP accepts. The only real party seems to be cash money and power.

[Zuiderelle]

35. Well said. That's exactly my impression of his "record."

[jody]

36. Thanks for posting. Do you have supporting credible sources for your statements? n/t

[Creideiki]

38. This was the easiest thing to google for.

http://www.interstateq.com/archives/2683/

[jody]

39. Thanks, I should have done that myself. Have a wonderful day! n/t

[Creideiki]

40. This from the Advocate

Though the Illinois Human Rights Act did not pass until 2005, when Obama had already graduated to the U.S. Senate, he did sponsor a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination that included both sexual orientation and gender identity while he was still a state senator. Barlow says Obama also lobbied other legislators to vote for the pro-gay bills being considered. “When we’re talking about an African-American legislator in the state legislature, to have someone of his stature lobbying his peers was important,” says Barlow.

http://www.advocate.com/print_article_ektid51483.asp

Note while he was "lobbying his peers" and had "stature", that didn't translate into support.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. You wrote your own answer in your post: "Can't find anything much." n/t

[mondo joe]

8. He is an unparalleled fierce fundraiser among GLBT voters.

Oh wait, did you ask about rights?

[MNBrewer]

9. Well, $ donation to political candidates is free speech, right?

:sarcasm:

[chucktaylor]

10. Let me close this barn door. Oh, BTW, where's that horse?

[MNBrewer]

11. Huh?

[chucktaylor]

12. It just struck me as a little late to be asking the OP question.

That sounded like a pre-election question.

[MNBrewer]

13. Ok

Obama wasn't my guy in the Primaries, not that it matters.

[bluedawg12]

22. Past performance may be an indicator of future actions.

There is a big question of what he will do, we can find some clues in what he has said and done.

It's an excellent question. Some defenders of Warren selection have claimed he is the most pro-gay candidate because he has done so much. This is a fair question then, like what?

[Amimnoch]

14. Here's what on the issues has for him.

from http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Barack_Obama.htm#Civil_Rights
Opposes CA Prop. 8, one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)
Decisions about marriage should be left to the states. (Oct 2007)
Homosexuality no more immoral than heterosexuality. (Oct 2007)
Ok to expose 6-year-olds to gay couples; they know already. (Sep 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)
Pass ENDA and expand hate crime legislation. (Mar 2007)
Opposed 1996 Illinois DOMA bill. (Mar 2007)
Supports health benefits for gay civil partners. (Oct 2006)
Opposes gay marriage; supports civil union & gay equality. (Oct 2006)
Marriage not a human right; non-discrimination is. (Oct 2004)
Include sexual orientation in anti-discrimination laws. (Jul 1998)

and
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)



Seems kind of flip-floppish to me, but I'm still waiting to see what he actually does as president.

[MNBrewer]

15. that's mostly a list of opinions and position statements

[joeybee12]

16. Yeah, I'm waiting for action...

...and I believe I will be waiting for quite a long time.

[Amimnoch]

17. I didn't say it was good info or bad info.. was just the info I could find out there.

I really have never seen anything on an actual issues voting record when it comes to us.

Regardless of if he's good for us or not he's been elected. At this point all we know is his stated positions. Starting next month we see what the real substance behind the words is. He has a majority Democrat congress, a pretty darn strong one numbers wise. Now, we finally see if it's as some of us suspect, and we're just a donation/vote pool that can be tapped at election time, or if our civil rights really mean something to our party. In 2 years we can respond accordingly when it comes to the next small round elections, and again in 4 years when he's up for re-election. For right now, all we can do is continue to voice our displeasure through direct correspondence, and support our lobbies, and keep communicating with each other in forums like this one when we see stuff like the current Warren choice.

[MNBrewer]

19. I got it! :) I wasn't meaning to criticize

I saw that online too when I Googled.

Well, with Pelosi, Reed and Obama..... we're sure to make progress.... RIGHT? (sigh)

[LostinVA]

24. That's not really a Gay Rights record

[TankLV]

18. not much & pretty poor...

[Jamastiene]

21. He "fierce"ly "advocate"s or some such thing as that.

I'm sorry. I haven't been to the Lounge much lately and my sense of humor kicked in. :hide:

[kenny blankenship]

34. Fiercely "present"?

[bluedawg12]

25. I can't find any voting record so far

I have read the same quotes you guys found.

This one is prophetic:

>>"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.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Nov 11, 2007 <<

I imagined, projecting onto a blank slate as I must have been doing, that reaching out meant a come to jeebus meeting about DOMA, DADT and civil rights, I did not imagine day one, front and center fat fundy on stage, without any "preconditions."

Added on edit:


http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/6-13/news/national/12766.cfm
>>‘I will never compromise’

Obama, in his letter, says he hopes he and his supporters can work inclusively to secure equal rights for gay Americans.

“I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans,” he said in the letter. “But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.”<<


I will hold him to his promise to never compromise, I will defend my right in a free society to question his tactics with regard to how he goes about working with intolerant fundys to "move forward."

[noamnety]

30. This just pisses me off no end.

"I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights* for all LGBT Americans"

*except for the equal rights he doesn't want them to have, that he himself enjoys.

[bluedawg12]

31. Thewy actually do HIM no favors, they believe "He" can't change

and grow?

Actually, if there were unified progressive support, "He" might actually be persuaded to listen.

That does not seem to occur to some??? Odd. Is it because they can't be persuaded?

[xchrom]

26. christian siriano is Fierce -- obama not so much. nt

[LostinVA]

27. Christian is WAY more fierce than that Fierce Poseur Tyra

[xchrom]

29. ...

:spray: -- are you sure you weren't a gay man in a former life -- that was brilliant!

[Name removed]

28. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[David Zephyr]

32. I know what his record is: He's rubbing Rick Warren's ass in our face to the world.

That's his record.

I don't give a shit what his "words" are.

I've seen his shitty actions.

Karl Rove would be proud of Obama today.

That "O" only stands for opportunism to me.

[joeybee12]

41. That's very good...O for opportunism...

...I'm stealing that and claiming I came up with it...:evilgrin: