Don't Let LGBT "Leaders" Give Obama Cover

Like many I am concerned that some of the self-styled "leaders" of the LGBT community may sell the rest of us out and throw us under the bus in exchange for an invite to the White House and other ego boosting exercises that do not add up to a hill of beans in the larger picture of the failure of Obama and the Congressional Democrats to deliver on promises. As former New York Blade editor Trenton Straube notes in a guest editorial, no is NOT the time to lend Obama cover. Rather, the message needs to be delivered that crumbs are not an acceptable response to a very real need for dynamic leadership starting in the White House. Here are some highlights from Straube's column:

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Thanks to a generous memorandum President Obama signed Wednesday night, some federal employees can temporarily take sick leave to care for their same-sex spouses. Whoop-de-freakin’-do. It’s not like Obama repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, or ended “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” or championed Congress passing the federal hate crimes bill. In fact, this memorandum doesn’t even give LGBT federal workers the same health insurance or social security benefits their straight counterparts get.

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This is such a measly bone he’s thrown to us that it’s insulting. But there is meat to the story: We only got this pathetic breadcrumb because we started applying pressure and voicing our anger over the president’s aggressive actions against us. Imagine what we could accomplish if we turn up the heat—and if we direct it at strategic targets: the pocketbooks of the Democratic Party, and the LGBT leadership that gives Obama his cover of conciliation.

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Case in point: The Democratic National Committee has planned an LGBT fundraiser for June 25 in Washington, D.C. with Vice President Joe Biden. But last Friday, Obama’s Department of Justice released an inflammatory brief defending DOMA by comparing our relationships to incest and marrying children while stating that DOMA saves the government money by not granting us benefits such as social security.

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And now, the DNC wants our money. Our gay lawmakers and advocates are issuing statements not only praising Obama and parroting White House talking points, but also spreading false information—such as the notion that the Obama administration had no choice but to defend DOMA, when in fact exceptions to that legal convention have been made in the past.

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There are many problems with our leaders playing along with the Obama game. It comes at a time of blatant attacks against us. We are not upset over mere inaction or simply ignoring our demands—we are angered over aggressive steps against us, such as continuing dismissals under DADT and filing then supporting a hateful DOMA brief—and then lying about having to do it. This is not acceptable.

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Maybe, just maybe, it is time for others to suck it up for us and finally, without conditions, join our fight for our freedom!” Bloggers on Pam’s House Blend and AmericaBlog have been offering updates and insight. Check them out. They also posted lists of LGBT folks slated to attend the DNC fundraiser.

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Our leaders and advocates must hear from us. They must voice their impatience with the administration and the Democratic Party by not attending the DNC fundraiser. They must openly disagree with Obama’s stance on the DOMA brief. Contact your representatives and let them know money is involved. If you’re tired of getting burned, hold our LGBT leaders’ feet to the fire.

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I agree with Straube. It is time the leaders of LGBT rights organizations begin to play hardball and make it clear that the LGBT ATM is going to be closed down unless and until we get some solid action - preferably starting with DADT and ENDA. Any LGBT "leaders" betraying the rank and file of the community by kissing Obama's butt need to see a real adverse impact on their organization's financial bottom line from withheld contributions. We want fighters not sycophants.