For supporters of LGBT rights, the election of President Obama represented an apparent historical turning point for sexual minorities in our country. As a presidential candidate, Obama had said all of the rights things: he criticized the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy (DADT); he called for the enactment of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would protect employees against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination; and called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
But now that almost a third of Obama's first term has gone by, there is growing despair among many of his LGBT supporters over how little the administration has accomplished on gay rights. We have been here before. Eighteen years ago many gay rights advocates celebrated the election of President Clinton, the first presidential candidate to reach out to the LGBT c
UnitedByLove | Submitted 
Obama and LGBT Rights
Posted by
UnitedByLove 601 days ago
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com)
Immigration activists call out Obama
Posted by
UnitedByLove 694 days ago
(http://www.blogger.com)
Imagine Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, standing up to the president like this.Given all on Obama's political plate, is immigration doable before the Nov.
Obama immigration reform
Posted by
UnitedByLove 694 days ago
(http://www.immigration-greencard.com)
To all of those against immigration reform: Oh yeah, it's better to just keep ignoring the problem and perhaps it will go away. Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform and support the Uniting American Families Act. ...
Equality Caucus not yet 100 Percent on Immigration Equality
Posted by
UnitedByLove 775 days ago
(http://www.actonprinciples.org)
There are six Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members who are also members of the Equality Caucus that have cosponsored both DOMA repeal and the Uniting American Families Act. Among those Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members, ..Over the weekend we learned that Congressman Gutierrez’s comprehensive immigration bill would not include LGBT families after much efforts from leading national LGBT organizations. The Roll Call article claims the pushback came from “Hispanic leaders more focused on keeping religious leaders on board with the plan.”
Now we are told we must wait until an amendment is made to the bill (remember when we were told to wait until the end of the year for ENDA?) when it comes before the Judiciary Committee in February of next year, a move supported by Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Polis (D-CO-2).
Now we are told we must wait until an amendment is made to the bill (remember when we were told to wait until the end of the year for ENDA?) when it comes before the Judiciary Committee in February of next year, a move supported by Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Polis (D-CO-2).
Gays Stand Up to be Counted in Upcoming Census
Posted by
UnitedByLove 797 days ago
(http://www.edgemiami.com)
GLBT equality advocates are looking to see that gay and lesbian families are represented on the 2010 U.S. Census .
Thanks to a courageous couple (Love Exiles)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 797 days ago
(http://loveexiles.wordpress.com)
Jenny and Ottie are a loving couple of 19 years, mothers of grown children, who faced a dilemma no American family should have to face: keeping their family together.
Most families don’t have to turn to the media (video) to share their grief and anger in the hope of remaining in the country they call home.
After four years in the USA, Jenny and Ottie were forced to leave their home in Delaware for exile in the Netherlands, far from Jenny’s aging parents and siblings....
Most families don’t have to turn to the media (video) to share their grief and anger in the hope of remaining in the country they call home.
After four years in the USA, Jenny and Ottie were forced to leave their home in Delaware for exile in the Netherlands, far from Jenny’s aging parents and siblings....
Dems Running Scared From DADT
Posted by
UnitedByLove 827 days ago
(http://www.advocate.com)
House and Senate Democrats are feeling vulnerable after Tuesday's poor showing at the polls -- and according to a report on TheHill.com , many want their leaders to skip the party's controversial legislative agenda so they can focus on saving their seats in Congress. House and Senate Democrats are feeling vulnerable after Tuesday’s poor showing at the polls -- and according to a report on TheHill.com, many want their leaders to skip the party’s controversial legislative agenda so they can focus on saving their seats in Congress.
Among the issues they consider risky? Immigration reform, climate change, and “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, pushing hard for
Among the issues they consider risky? Immigration reform, climate change, and “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, pushing hard for
Two days after signing the historic Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act--the first federal law to extend protections to GLBT Americans--President Barack Obama addressed two other issues seen by gay Americans as crucial to the cause of equality.
The president signed into law legislation that re-authorizes the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. The law provides funds for another four years to programs that provide medicine and care for needy people living with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 500,000 individuals rely on the program to maintain their treatment regimens...
The president signed into law legislation that re-authorizes the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act. The law provides funds for another four years to programs that provide medicine and care for needy people living with HIV/AIDS. An estimated 500,000 individuals rely on the program to maintain their treatment regimens...
This Wallet is Now Closed (Preparing Our Exile)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 827 days ago
(http://preparingourexile.blogspot.com)
I watched helplessly on Tuesday night as yet another vote was held on whether or not I deserve equal rights in this country. I watched my countrymen once again say that I am not quite human enough to deserve the same respect, dignity and rights that they enjoy.
I watched President Obama, the self-described "fierce advocate" for gay rights, very very carefully word a statement that was at best lukewarm in his support for those on the side of equality in Maine. I spoke face to face with my Congressman who looked helpless to me while he explained it would be difficult to pass the Uniting American Families Act. I still have the letter he sent me when I wrote him to ask him to co-sponsor that bill. He claimed to support it, but refused to co-sponsor.
o more will I sit back and accept your promises, your urgings to wait for equality. I'm sick of it. Stand up and get
I watched President Obama, the self-described "fierce advocate" for gay rights, very very carefully word a statement that was at best lukewarm in his support for those on the side of equality in Maine. I spoke face to face with my Congressman who looked helpless to me while he explained it would be difficult to pass the Uniting American Families Act. I still have the letter he sent me when I wrote him to ask him to co-sponsor that bill. He claimed to support it, but refused to co-sponsor.
o more will I sit back and accept your promises, your urgings to wait for equality. I'm sick of it. Stand up and get
Gays Icon in America (Economist)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 838 days ago
(http://www.economist.com)
THE charge that Barack Obama delivers soaring rhetoric but little action is in the air these days.
Moves from Obama Could Rattle Key Constituencies (The Rose Garden)
Posted by
UnitedByLove 838 days ago
(http://www.rollcall.com)
President Barack Obama is playing a perilous political game with some of his core constituencies, pursuing policies that threaten to diminish the enthusiasm of groups that helped put him into office.
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
In his first nine months, Obama has followed an agenda that raised concerns among unions, Jews, gays and Latinos — groups that backed him overwhelmingly and without which he cannot be re-elected. The complaints for now are mostly muted, and any damage done can be reversed. But all have high expectations for the president, and a few — particularly labor leaders and gays — view his presidency as the first, and perhaps the last chance for some time, to achieve long-coveted goals....
Obama under attack from the LEFT
Posted by
UnitedByLove 838 days ago
(http://www.nydailynews.com)
President Barack Obama has taken some heat not just from conservative critics, but from liberal ones too. To be sure, Obama's favorable rating among Democrats in general remains a stratospheric 89%, according to a Gallup Poll released last week.
But increasingly, noisy factions on the party's most liberal flank - among them gay rights proponents, pro-choice activists and immigration reformers who Obama courted last year - are incensed that their causes have taken a backseat to the White House's all-out push on health care reform. ...
But increasingly, noisy factions on the party's most liberal flank - among them gay rights proponents, pro-choice activists and immigration reformers who Obama courted last year - are incensed that their causes have taken a backseat to the White House's all-out push on health care reform. ...
President Obama Declares War on Marriage and the Catholic Church
Posted by
UnitedByLove 838 days ago
(http://www.catholic.org)
The 'so-called' Defense of Marriage Act? That 'so-called' is the sound of contempt toward the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim understanding of marriage.
Obama to End DADT Military Ban
Posted by
UnitedByLove 853 days ago
(http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com)
President Obama, speaking to the nation’s largest gay rights organization, pledged tonight to end the law prohibiting openly gay and lesbian citizens from serving in the military.
“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’; that is my commitment,” said Obama, adding that he is also committed to ending the Defense of Marriage Act.Obama, speaking to nearly 3,000 gay and lesbian activists at a dinner-fundraiser hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, addressed the larger effort for equality. “I’m here with you in that fight,” he said. The president also said that there were “still laws to change and hearts to open.”
Obama’s address came amid growing concern in the LGBT community that he’s not acting fast enough on campaign pledges to more fully incorporate gays and lesbians into the fabric of American life.
“I will end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’; that is my commitment,” said Obama, adding that he is also committed to ending the Defense of Marriage Act.Obama, speaking to nearly 3,000 gay and lesbian activists at a dinner-fundraiser hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, addressed the larger effort for equality. “I’m here with you in that fight,” he said. The president also said that there were “still laws to change and hearts to open.”
Obama’s address came amid growing concern in the LGBT community that he’s not acting fast enough on campaign pledges to more fully incorporate gays and lesbians into the fabric of American life.
Time Is Right For Gay Rights Obama Official Says
Posted by
UnitedByLove 853 days ago
(http://www.ontopmag.com)
Activists working to pass federal gay rights legislation should move now to take advantage of the current political climate, an Obama official said Friday.
“This is the best opportunity we will ever have as a community and shame on us if we don't succeed,” openly gay John Berry, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, said.
Berry made his remarks at the Out & Equal Workplace Advocates conference that ended Friday in Orlando, the AP reported. Michael Guest, the first openly gay ambassador to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum, also spoke at the four-day event.
“The clock is against us,” Berry said. “If we lose this, it could be years if not a decade before this opportunity comes around.”
“This is the best opportunity we will ever have as a community and shame on us if we don't succeed,” openly gay John Berry, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, said.
Berry made his remarks at the Out & Equal Workplace Advocates conference that ended Friday in Orlando, the AP reported. Michael Guest, the first openly gay ambassador to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum, also spoke at the four-day event.
“The clock is against us,” Berry said. “If we lose this, it could be years if not a decade before this opportunity comes around.”
Feedburner
Promoting public awareness of the need for fairness in immigration policy particularly as it relates to the rights of same-sex bi-national couples in the United States who seek equal immigration rights; Providing information regarding political issues relating to gay immigration equality issues, rights and policy.