Joe Solmonese on President Obama's "historic" and "unprecedented" address to the LGBT community

[ProSense]

Statement by Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese; President Obama Addresses LGBT Community at Human Rights Campaign 13th Annual National Dinner

10/10/2009

WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the following statement tonight after President Barack Obama spoke at the 13th Annual National Dinner.

"Tonight, President Obama told LGBT Americans that his commitment to ending discrimination in the military, in the workplace and for loving couples and their families is 'unwavering.' He made it crystal clear that he is our strongest ally in this fight, that he understands and, in fact, encourages our activism and our voice even when we’re impatient with the pace of change. But these remarks weren’t just for us, they were directed to all Americans who share his dream and ours of a country where “no one is denied their basic rights, in which all of us are free to live and love as we see fit.”

"And we heard unequivocally about the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: 'I am working with the Pentagon, its leadership and members of the House and Senate to end this policy. I will end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. That is my commitment to you.'

"Finally, we heard something quite remarkable from the President: 'You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.'

"This was a historic night when we felt the full embrace and commitment of the President of the United States. It’s simply unprecedented."

[firedupdem]

1. Rec'd! I'm glad they added that he stated he is working with the

Pentagon and the House and Senate. It was a wonderful message. The unrec's on this post......just makes me shake my head.

[CakeGrrl]

10. Because there's a TIME article out there saying it's just more empty talk

and it's all about playing up the "no timetable" angle as a sign that the President is not sincere about follow-through.

I'm pretty much at the end of any attempt to discuss this on these boards. It's the same issues and the same arguments.

Nothing will settle things until congressional actions are taken and repeals or implementations of supportive policies are signed. And those dates will certainly not be determined by rehashing everything here ad nauseum.

[ruggerson]

14. This might help

you understand a bit (not that I think you don't, I think you have far more gray matter than most on these issues)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x147286

(and, btw, I didn't unrec this OP. Can all the people here say the same about the TIME article?)

[CakeGrrl]

16. That's just what I'm talking about

That's a lot of frustration and anger there. There's no point in my visiting that thread. Until legislation is signed, nothing short of that is going to get anyone there to alter or even temper their stance, and I can't hold sway over that.

There's nothing I could contribute to that thread, short of complete commiseration, that would not be met with hostility.

I didn't see anything untoward about the live thread on the President's HRC speech except that it was straights daring to express a positive opinion about the speech, and the responses were labeled "bizarre" in your response.

How is that not another way of saying that straights have no authority or right to comment on these issues, and deities help them if they like some of what the President is saying?

p.s. - I don't know who's talking about "assless chaps" in that thread you linked, but if it's someone on DU doing it, much less anyone who participated in the HRC speech thread, I sure missed it.

[ruggerson]

19. that thread

was started by someone who was chuckling the other day at how many people she has on ignore in a gay rights related thead.

I'm not the only one who found the thread bizarre, as you know. And if a lot of gay people have the same reaction to it, don't you think just maybe that people should LISTEN to what they have to say. We tend to know more about these issues, because we live them. When a Latino talks about his/her experiences in America, I LISTEN to him/her, because I can learn something from what is being said.

Those who routinely attack us are the ones who seem to feel they have to personally protect Obama from all criticism. They therein set up a dynamic of gays vs. Obama, which is a ridiculously false construct.

The commenters here in GD-P concering the HRC dinner do not know the inside baseball politics of what a lot of people in the gay community actually think of the HRC.

Why can't they take the time to listen and learn?

[Cha]

2. Too bad some divisive poster already has Unrec'd this.

Joe Solomonese was brilliant last night! It was unprecedented!

Rec'd~

[nightrain]

3. nice speech, let's see what gets delivered. What was not mentioned is also important.

And it takes courage for Obama to show his support.

http://firedoglake.com/2009/10/10/fierce-advocate-omits-maine-washington-marriage-at-hrc/

[Cha]

5. I know it takes courage which is what PO

is made of..When I was listening to the speech at the HRC last night..I was imagining repuke strategists aka the usual idiots heads:nuke: Oh, and of course the faux religious hypocrites.:nuke:

[jenmito]

4. K&R. I'm glad it's not just us straight people who thought Obama was

great in what he said last night.

[Cha]

6. The crowd at the HRC were so kind..

and they're the ones out there doin' the real work on Change right along with the man they were applauding.

[jenmito]

7. Yup...

their reception of Obama was the main reason I liked his speech. If THEY'RE happy, I'M happy.

[Cha]

8. The whole room was alive with the

beautiful sound of Change in the air~

[jenmito]

11. It sure was...

with all the applause, he could hardly get a word in edge-wise. :)

[nightrain]

9. not all LGBT folks are pleased... many would like much more, much sooner...

waiting on the delivery, and hopefully not a 180 like Obama did on FISA.

[jenmito]

12. I know. But the folks in that audience seemed VERY pleased...

they appreciate what he HAS done and what he IS doing. What gives you any reason to think he'll do a 180 on doing the things he STILL says he will do?

[nightrain]

15. my disappointment in his approach at times. For example, whether he continues the carnage in

Afghanistan or withdraws the troops and any contractors.

[jenmito]

21. Why would you be disappointed in something he promised he would do?

If you voted for him, you knew his position on Afghanistan.

[nightrain]

24. promises, promises... see how horribly health (insurance) reform is turning out? he escalated once

in Afghanistan already, other things he's changed his mind on...

Just because I vote for someone doesn't mean I agree with all his positions on issues. Bush was horrible, Obama is better. Kucinich would have been my first choice.

[mkultra]

22. hopefully he doesnt leave until Obama is dead or the Taliban are gone

per his repeated campaign promise.

[Cha]

23. "Until Obama is dead"?..I'm sorry, I

know what you mean by that?

[mkultra]

26. wow, i cant believe it did that. OSAMA!!!!! lol

thanks.

[Sapphocrat]

18. The "folks in that audience" were the Human Rights Campaign.

The HRC is the DLC of the gay world. Understand that, and perhaps you will understand why the rest of us who are not rich, white, gay men -- who spend all their time planning how to get the clueless masses to pay for their next cocktail party, while doing absolutely nothing worthwhile for the cause -- have little regard for the drunken mass orgasm of the $250-a-plate set.

[Neecy]

20. Exactly.

HRC cares about access, they care about hobnobbing with actors and politicians and the like. Oh, and they care about the huge executive salaries they make. That's about it.

They've been out of touch for decades, a subject of ridicule within the community. They're the elite and I'm under no illusion that they consider us rabble.

[nightrain]

25. I agree with you on this. I'm horrified at the exec compensation

of HRC. There's another DU thread with the compensation listed.

[donco6]

27. Those in that room have absolutely NOTHING to worry about.

They have attorneys on $500/hr retainer at all times. They have hospital wings named after their family. What the hell do they need marriage for?

[justiceischeap]

29. My two roommates were in that crowd

And they DO NOT have $500/hr attorneys on retainer, they don't have hospital wings named after their families and they just got married in Washington state (but made it legal in Canada). I can say with some certainty that they do not always pay their bills on time because money is tight. They both work for non-profit organizations (meaning they don't make a hell of a lot of money) and they want their marriage to be recognized federally, when they finally have kids they don't want to have to jump through hoops to be considered legal guardians (parents) and they don't want to have to pay extra taxes to be included on a health insurance plan and they want to be able to walk down the street and hold hands and not worry about getting harmed for it. They are aware, informed women who know that HRC has short-comings but they also know this organization has a seat at the table that other organizations do not.

As far as saying that HRC and what they do is irrelevant for people who aren't rich, what do you think would happen to this movement if there weren't people with loads of money to finance it? In any fight for justice, it takes all kinds of people to take up the sword (and we all do it in different ways). If people continue attacking our own from within, if some continue to cannibalize our own community, who will there be left to fight for? What group will take HRC's place at the table? I don't agree with every stance HRC takes, I don't agree with every stance other organizations take but at least the organization has enough clout that they can put out a press release condemning the Obama admin about their language in regards to DOMA and within 24 hours the admin is issuing a statement about how badly they put their foot in their mouth.

[Bluenorthwest]

31. And yet they spent thousands to go to a gala?

Let me be blunt. The real money is going to up and leave HRC. Already is. Money don't buy everything, and what it don't buy holds power.

[justiceischeap]

32. I don't see how $250x2 equals thousands (n/t)

[Cha]

13. Yeah, but the ones who were out there making

it happen last night were feelin' it.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. I doubt he will do a 180 on DADT

as I cannot even begin to imagine a justification for him doing so. With FISA, I think it's fair to argue that there were elements in it that he apparently felt were important enough for him to vote for but I don't see that with DADT (or DOMA for that matter). The "rationale" for Congress to adopt DADT back in 1993 was a figment of some people's fevered imaginations about how allowing gays and lesbians to serve OPENLY in the armed forces- despite the fact that many were already serving and have continued to serve, albeit closeted- would be *detrimental* to morale. Clinton's decision to sign DADT was disappointing to say the least but he was purportedly doing it out of a genuine desire to avoid a worse outcome for gay and lesbian service members, which I don't really think many (any?) people would argue that it has done but given the political climate back then I understand why he did what he did. Unfortunately, with the dominance of the right at the federal level during the past 14 years, there's been no ability to revisit the issue but now, of course, we have a POTUS and a Congress receptive to its repeal now and I truly believe that President Obama will sign a repeal into law the instant it crosses his desk and I wouldn't be surprised if it's gone by this time next year. It is truly a matter of "when" NOT "if" IMHO. Reid, et. al should move full steam ahead on getting a bill prepared and passed for him to sign.

[boppers]

28. 180 on FISA?

Not to threadjack, but from what I can tell, it seems to match what he said he would do (as compared to what folks thought he said), do you have some reading/discussion about alternate views to my own?

[dsc]

30. If you mean in contrast to the marchers I think that is highly unfair

the people in that room were those who could afford $250 in this economy and have been doing work. Most of the marchers are also doing work but can't afford $250 in this economy.

[ProSense]

33. Good

news