LGBT Equality

(Community Matters) Am very pleased to learn Democratic members of the US House met yesterday to discuss LGBT issues, especially several gay rights bills. We need to move these forward – most immediately, the Hate Crimes bill in the Senate, Employment Non-Discrimination Act in both houses and the Domestic Partners Benefits & Obligations Act which BHO just announced he’d also help get passed

Steven and I support tonight’s DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner and would be there if we weren’t overseas. I don’t begrudge those who choose not to attend or to not support the DNC at this time, though I am at a loss for the ferocity of protest. The administration is our friend.

President Obama has been in office just 157 days. In this time, lots of good has happened and needs to happen including passage of our gay rights legislation and rescinding of the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Yet, I support the aggregation of firepower (political capital) to first save our economy & pass universal healthcare. Even LGBT families will be more impacted by the economy & availability of healthcare than by same sex marriage or military service.

Don’t get me wrong – equality for gays & lesbians needs to happen legislatively in this first year. Next year will be “all about the midterm elections” and the third and fourth years, all about President’s reeelction.

I don’t begrudge the demands for more and for now. It’s an important part of our advocacy that some never let down their voice. Nevertheless, there’s sometimes a fine line between advocacy and nasty personalization.

In a conference call with the administration earlier this week, they appropriately cited our LGBT progress to date: 1) signed UN declaration on gay rights, 2) moving forward with inclusive Hate Crimes, 3) federal benefits within allowances of DOMA & active support for Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, 4) proceeding with lifting HIV entry ban, 5) developing a new national HIV/AIDS strategy, 6) inclusion of LGBT counts in census, 7) hiring & appointment of LGBT personnel, 8) working toward repeal of DADT, 9) full support for ENDA and work for its passage

Some activists castigate those attending the President’s East Room reception on Monday, celebrating the anniversary of Stonewall. I think this is silly. Some of us have whipped ourselves up so strongly, we’re losing sight of who works against us, who’s a friend. This is a bad time to be out of town – I’ll miss the WH reception as well as that evening’s dinner with the President for our NFC and NAB members, plus a day of NFC meetings on Tuesday. Alas, most of my good stuff comes from the intersection of life with Steven – he’s been traveling way too much. I’m maximizing our together time where we can.