Separate But Unequal Means Gay Apartheid

Many of us continue to be angry at the Obama administration and many Congressional Democrats who seek out our money and our votes at election time yet seem to utterly forget about us - or suddenly develop amnesia - once they are elected. True, Obama had a soiree for A-List gays on Monday and made a pretty speech, but other than serving as a damage control stunt for the LGBT community, the event seems likely to make no difference in the ongoing avoidance of taking meaningful action on LGBT related legislation. David Mixner has a great column on his blog that looks at the reality this behavior means for LGBT Americans who are still treated as less than full citizens. Here are some column highlights:

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Yesterday [Monday, June 29, 2009], I listened with hope to the President Barack Obama's words at the historic White House celebration of Gay Pride. Instead, when he was done, I found myself very depressed.

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As our elected officials search for new words, new institutions and new arrangements to avoid giving us full equality, it is important for people to remember that right now all we have amounts to basically a system of separate but unequal. We have a set of laws at the national, state and local levels that separates LGBT folks from the rest of America. Let's call it what it is - Gay Apartheid.

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I have chosen the word very carefully and deliberately. Apartheid is when a group of citizens of a nation is by law separated from all other citizens and the rights, benefits and protections all others are granted. Having DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as laws of the land are apartheid laws. They set us apart from all other American citizens. State after state has singled us out in their Constitutions to create a separate body of law for LGBT citizens.

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So lets be honest about this as we see an enormous number of laws on the books specially denying LGBT Americans the rights, benefits, privileges and protections granted to all other Americans: we have created and are continuing to expand on a system of Gay Apartheid. There is no other way to look at it.

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Despite the President's warm words and the lovely trappings at the White House, he continues to buy into this system and allows it to continue. In fact, it was a carefully worded warm, fuzzy speech that failed to answer many questions. . . . . We did not hear the answer to the most important question: When?

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The only thing important to me now is when! That is the question. When will these oppressive and horrendous apartheid laws be overturned? When will the President show the powerful leadership shown by President Kennedy and President Johnson in the 1960's? When will he insist Congress take up and immediately repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" When will the President address the nation in a powerful speech saying that the time of inequality, injustice and yes, apartheid against the American LGBT community must come to an end. Mr. President, the only question we have for you is when?

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First Lady Michelle Obama wouldn't tolerate living under the laws of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for two days and he expects us to live under them until maybe into his second term? Hell, no. Not acceptable, Mr. President.

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Mixner sums up my feelings and thoughts eloquently. President Obama, when will you make good on your campaign promises and prove that you were not merely a cynical liar.