David Mixner has an excellent post on his blog that looks at the state of the advancement of gay rights under Barack Obama's administration and the current Democrat controlled Congress. He rightfully looks at some of the improvements that have been ushered in via administration policies - which unfortunately could be rolled back by a future president - and the only significant legislation enacted to date: the Hate Crimes legislation. Mixner is correct that Obama's record can be viewed in two ways - a long list of policy changes versus epic battles that cry for presidential leadership. We truly have seen none of the latter whatsoever from this president or this Congress despite all of the pretty speeches and broken campaign promises. The reality is that most of the improvements received to date have zero effect on the every day lives of most LGBT Americans who still can be fired at will, have difficulty insuring loved ones, cannot serve openly in the military and remain in many ways second class citizens. Here are some highlights from Mixner's continued call to activism with which I totally agree:*
[W]e would be making a major mistake in assuming that just a couple of steps at a time is adequate in an epic great struggle. Changing of regulations is absolutely welcomed but should not be confused with the bold leadership we need for full equality. Also we must never fall into the trap of "Well he is a lot better than the alternative." Just because I am not being beaten doesn't mean I am free.
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Freedom is absolute; there is no such thing as partial freedom. We are involved in daily struggle for full equality and freedom. The President must be judged on not incremental steps but on concrete actions that clearly show he is on the right side of history in this battle. Overall, the President doesn't seem to 'get it.' His failure to lead on so many fronts illustrates that he still believes we are a constituency group to be placated or just another long list of issues that is in front of him. There is no indication that he is yet willing to show the courage of a President Kennedy or President Johnson and take major, decisive and historic action. In actuality we have mostly seen timid and tepid responses to the major issues and at times downright hostility.
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The record of this President and this Congress on DOMA, DADT and ENDA is dismal. The DADT 'compromise' promises us nothing but a promise that maybe it will be dealt with next year. There is no 'stop-loss' order, no mandate, no timeline and no criteria for implementation of the repeal. And even this compromise has yet to pass the United States Senate. We still don't know if we are included in the immigration legislation to allow our partners to stay in America. The LGBT community's issues were stripped from the healthcare legislation. While I appreciate the Attorney General's lovely Gay Pride speech, the record of opposing us every step of the way in the courts with inflamed language is appalling. Their failure to side with us in the courts on Proposition 8 is unforgivable. The failure to speak out in opposing the initiative in Maine was a cowardly political decision.
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Progress with rules and regulations is greatly appreciated but at this rate I will be free man at the age of 100.
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However, we no longer are in the 1990's. Our movement has grown far beyond those actions. Our patience has been stretched thin. One step at a time just doesn't work for a people yearning to be free in their lifetime. So out of the over 1000 protections, benefits and rights granted to all other Americans who can get married, we apparently have about 990 to go with this kind of incremental approach.
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