White House Launches Politically Motivated LGBT "Charm Offensive"

Apparently the Obama campaign doesn't think the extreme homophobia of the current slate of GOP presidential nominee contenders might not be enough to drive LGBT voters to the polls in November to cast votes for Democrats. As the Washington Blade is reporting, Obama has launched what might be called a "charm offensive" seeking to endear himself with LGBT Americans without taking a strong stand on same sex marriage equality. To me, it's more of Obama's attempt to have his cake and eat it too while still supporting a "separate but equal" approach to CIVIL law recognition of same sex relationships. Stated another way, he wants out votes, but that's about the extent of things when it comes to fully equality under the civil laws.

Where's the Executive Order enforcing ENDA like protections? Where's the "evolution" on same sex marriage? LGBT Virginians currently have ZERO legal protections under state or federal law unless we are beaten to death, in which case the federal Hate Crimes Law applies, albeit too late to help us while we are living. Here are highlights from the Washington Blade story:

The White House announced on Friday it plans to host a series of LGBT conferences throughout the country in early 2012 so the public can “hear directly” from the administration on efforts “to ensure health, well-being, security, justice, and equality for LGBT Americans.”

In a statement, the White House identified the White House LGBT Conference on Health — which will be held in Philadelphia on Feb. 16 — as the inaugural event for the initiative. The conference is set to feature remarks from Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.

The statement says the events — which will take place from February to June 2012 — will be a collaboration between the White House Office of Public Engagement and other departments and agencies. Expected attendees include grassroots leaders, community organizers, advocates, students and others.

Absent from the list of planned topics for discussion at the conferences is employment discrimination. No federal law prohibits workplace discrimination against LGBT people. Advocates have been pushing President Obama to issue an executive order barring federal dollars from going to contractors that lack LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policies.

Asked whether one of these conferences would address employment discrimination, a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The list of topics is not comprehensive.”

I doubt the conferences will come to Hampton Roads even thought we are more or less in Washington, D.C.'s backyard.