I have often felt that some of the leadership of national LGBT organizations - HRC in particular - set more store on attending exclusive dinners and seeking out opportunities to hob nob with senior politicians than forcefully working to advance full LGBT equality. After all, the day that full equality arrives, they will be out of a job. Now some blogs like Pam's House Blend and an Article in Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper, are suggesting that the repeal of DADT may be delayed due to a deal made by some of our "leaders" in the LGBT movement. Seeing far too many casualties of this sick policy in this area on a regular basis, this betrayal both sickens me and makes my blood boil. The arrogance of some of the national organizations is truly maddening. Here are highlights from Stars and Stripes:*
The House of Representatives has had a bill to overturn the law pending since March, but no hearings have been scheduled on the measure. Bill sponsor Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., collected 147 co-sponsors for the legislation but publicly said she wouldn’t push for passage without support from the president.
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An official with the House Democratic leadership said the House is committed to repealing “don’t ask” but has agreed with civil rights groups to put new hate crime legislation and a workplace nondiscrimination bill on the legislative calendar before taking up the military issue.
An official with the House Democratic leadership said the House is committed to repealing “don’t ask” but has agreed with civil rights groups to put new hate crime legislation and a workplace nondiscrimination bill on the legislative calendar before taking up the military issue.
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The hot-potato game between the White House and Capitol Hill is fueling frustration among gay-rights advocates, who strongly supported both Obama and the Democratic slate of congressional candidates during last year’s election. Both the president and lawmakers promised during the campaign to overturn the “don’t ask” law.
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“I don’t begrudge people for seeking political cover,” said Nathaniel Frank, a researcher at the liberal Palm Center and author of a book about the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. “But Congress is looking to Obama as the head of the Democratic Party. Obama is saying that Congress needs to act and the military needs to get ready. This is a passing of the buck.”
“I don’t begrudge people for seeking political cover,” said Nathaniel Frank, a researcher at the liberal Palm Center and author of a book about the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers. “But Congress is looking to Obama as the head of the Democratic Party. Obama is saying that Congress needs to act and the military needs to get ready. This is a passing of the buck.”
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But planned changes don’t contain any privacy or anonymity guarantees. Edmund Burns, spokesman for the Office of Personnel Management, said everyone applying for benefits is essentially “outing” themselves and their partners. That means a Defense Department employee with a same-sex partner in the military could run afoul of the “don’t ask” rules. Pentagon officials said they are not aware of any plans to adopt special guidelines shielding benefits information from “don’t ask” investigations.
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If you ask me, besides boycotting the DNC fundraisers, LGBT donors might want to shut off the money ATM to some of our "leaders" who leave our rights by the side of the road as they dash off to invites from the White House and other soirees.
1 comment:
This seems to me to apply to Rep. Barney Frank, pictured behind the president at the minimal benefit signing. Though we should not forget that while Frank et al. hold back, there is only one Republican on board.
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