Obama to Congress: extend same-sex benefits

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/wires/allwires/2010/01/28/D9DGULCO0_us_obama_same_sex_benefits/index.html

Obama to Congress: extend same-sex benefits
By Associated Press


President Barack Obama is calling on Congress to pass a law extending benefits to same-sex partners, a day after he renewed his support for repealing the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

Obama was responding to a question during a town hall meeting Thursday in Tampa, Fla.. He noted a bill is pending that would extend to domestic partners benefits such as granting Social Security survivor payments and allowing hospital visitation.

Obama said: "My hope is we can get it done."

Obama has acted administratively to extend some benefits to federal employees with same-sex partners. He has called for a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of gay unions and the granting of benefits.

[Rosco T.]

1. "Domestic Partners" not = "Same-Sex Partners"...

but "Same-Sex Partners" are a sub-set of "Domestic Partners".

either way, a good thing.

[Lord Helmet]

2. Interesting lack of response here -- k 'n r

[Forkboy]

3. Not a lot of gay people left on DU to respond.

Maybe they're out looking for those ponies so many compared their equal rights to.

[Lord Helmet]

9. I always accepted that it would take some time to undo this egregious legislation.

It's unfortunate that people feel so put upon that they can't digest good news.

[impik]

4. Just like with almost any thread that goes against the "Obama is a sell out" mantra

[kiva]

5. Did they get their ponies too?

[VMI Dem]

6. Separate but equal

Woo hoo.

[dsc]

7. I think this behavior actually does undermine marriage

Giving people who choose not to get married, presumedly due to not being committed, the same benefits as a group who is literally trying to get an act of Congress to get married, is totally unfair. Gay should get full, equal marriage rights.

[David Zephyr]

11. I disagree.

There are gay couples who need those rights now, with or without the word marriage.

A federal "domestic partnership law" would allow couples to bring their mates from overseas, would protect financial assets from greedy relatives, would permit one to see their loved one in a hospital, and to include your companion on your health insurance (as we do here in California right now) and more. These rights would be at the federal level, dsc, and they would override state laws, especially in the more homophobic regions of the country.

And, of course, we continue to push for the full sanction of marriage, which is why I was in a minority of GLBT who early on supported Ted Olson and David Boies federal legal challenge to Prop 8.

We will never get their through the ballot process in individual states, nor should we when the Constitution has the 14th Amendment.

A national domestic partnership law, like we have in California, would immediately help our GLBT sisters and brothers in more reactionary states and would also allow for joint tax filing and bringing your mate to the U.S. just as heterosexuals can now. There's too much good that is needed right now to scoff at.

[Uzybone]

8. More good news

[Zenlitened]

10. I thought his response was kind of cowardly, actually, the way he...

... tried to dodge the topic of marriage equality by discussing it in terms of domestic partnerships, caring for relatives, etc.

I think it showed that he doesn't have a strong moral sense of this issue, and so as a result he's not able to speak from the gut when the question comes up unexpectedly.

:(

But wait... this is not the kind of post the Sneering & Jeering crowd was looking for, was it, when they demanded participation by GLBTers and allies? Oh well. Maybe some more adoring posts will appear as the night goes on.

[whistler162]

13. Yes instead of being consistent and honest in views he

should flip-flop around with every swirl and eddy of political need!

[David Zephyr]

12. K&R.

This is good news.

[zulchzulu]

14. It's a start...

...toward full civil rights for all.

[Ildem09]

15. as a Gay that joined in the mist of the great pony wars

I can say i'm still fucking waiting for my 'pony' fucking pricks. IF you equate equal rights to a pony then i'll take great schadenfreude when something thats pivotal to your survival as an american is taken away or never given to you... how the fuck is equality something that can wait? Imagine if Truman said we cant wait on desegregating the army. or LBJ said blacks can wait another few years for the voting rights act. I'm being hyperbolic, but lets say until i have equal rights we bring back poll taxes and literacy tests, or we don't allow the irish to get jobs or we bring out some yellow stars. Equality for all or Equality for none