10/05/2009
Obama to Speak at HRC Dinner on Eve of National Equality March
UPDATED
On the eve of the National Equality March this Saturday, President Obama will speak at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Washington D.C.:
"Mr. Obama’s appearance on Saturday at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, represents a significant show of support for gay rights at a time when many prominent gay and lesbian activists have been questioning the president’s commitment to their issues...While it remains to be seen what Mr. Obama’s appearance at the
dinner will do to his standing in the eyes of gay rights activists, his
speech may mollify some of their concerns. His appearance will mark only the second time a sitting president
has spoken to the Human Rights Campaign. The first time was more in
1997 when Bill Clinton spoke to the group. That was the first time a
sitting president had ever addressed a gay rights organization.
A person with knowledge of Mr. Obama’s plans confirmed his
appearance at the dinner. But this person spoke on the condition of
anonymity because a formal announcement is expected later today."
Said HRC President Joe Solmonese: 
“We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has
called upon our nation to embrace LGBT people as brothers and sisters. It is fitting that
he will speak to our community on the night that we pay tribute to his
friend and mentor Senator Edward Kennedy, who knew that as president,
Barack Obama would take on the unfinished business of this nation —
equal rights for the LGBT community, and for every person who believes
in liberty and justice for all.”
The following day, thousands will march in D.C. demanding that Obama fulfill his campaign promises.
I certainly hope Obama has some big news or additional plans for the following day because choosing the black tie dinner over the grassroots march certainly won't get him much respect unless he does.
Said former Bill Clinton aide Richard Socarides to the AP: "Eleven months after his election, he has failed to deliver on any
of his commitments to gay Americans, but even worse has been his
refusal to engage around these issues. What he needs to do now is engage and deliver. Spend some of his political capital on ending the gay
military ban, a hugely symbolic issue. And with no intellectually sound
arguments left against it, come out squarely for gay marriage equality."
Posted 11:55 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Human Rights Campaign, News |
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Cheap gestures. I'd trade all the lip service in the world for actual commitment to repeal DOMA.
Posted by: Pender | Oct 5, 2009 12:03:50 PM
No speeches please, just pass the bills.
Pass ENDA.
Repeal DOMA.
Repeal DADT.
Pass Matthew Shepherd Act.
I believe these were campaign promises. So, that should get done ASAP.
(marriage equality would be nice, but not holding my breath)
Thanks.
Posted by: Darren | Oct 5, 2009 12:18:18 PM
I won't pretend the lip service doesn't matter. Because it actually does matter.
And anytime Obama talks about us as if we had an equal stake in American citizenship, it should be welcomed.
After all, if Clinton hadn't started giving us lip service, Hollywood would've never moved away from the Hays Code attitude. Forget about Ellen, Will & Grace, and such - we wouldn't have even gotten those mildly insulting "homos are human too" episodes that started showing up around the same time he came into office. And the news media would've certainly continued to ignore the LGBT community.
Having said that, good speeches will only get you so far. It might influence a few fence sitters and energize those Democrats who are already inclined towards supporting gay rights. But it isn't going to change the mind of virulent homophobes. Nor do conservatives give a rat's behind about what Obama or Clinton thinks. You need actual laws to deal with these people and limit their ability to do harm. And in order to get those laws passed, you have to spend political capital (which usually means investing serious money and work).
Posted by: John | Oct 5, 2009 12:20:24 PM
Pender, currently only 6 states allow same-sex marriage. 38 states either have laws or constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samesex_marriage_in_USA.svg
When do you think we'll have the votes in Congress—particularly in the Senate—to repeal DOMA? And what exactly do you think the president might be able to do to speed that process along?
Posted by: 24play | Oct 5, 2009 12:27:29 PM
Until you DO something, shut the fuck up.
Nobody wants to hear you bloviate and jerk off your own ego.
Posted by: Grimmlok | Oct 5, 2009 12:34:31 PM
@24Play: I think we have a long hard slog on that one. I am personally a fan of local action combined with Federal pressure. Only by the LGBT community getting involved in their local congressional districts can we make sure we elect folks with our interests at the top of their plate.
We also must get out of our cocktail party politics mode. I'm sick of Gays who think because they wrote a check to HRC or the $ BuyIn boards of other national Gay orgs, they've done something. We have to actually get involved and learn how to run for office, work campaigns, etc..
We have to stop having people carry our water for us.
It mighjt be time to take a lesson from Jesus and learn to fish.
DW
Posted by: Derek Washington | Oct 5, 2009 12:35:38 PM
Right now is the time to pass all these issues. Do you seriously think the Dems will walk away from the midterms holding onto their supermajority? History says otherwise! After 2010, the Dems will have less power, and be too scared of 2012 to do anything. And I'm certainly not counting on Obama getting re-elected, or the Dems holding onto power even in the House in 2012. So if we don't get this equality, we'll be waiting another 20 years.
Posted by: dougf | Oct 5, 2009 12:36:34 PM
They can't seem to do anything with the supermajority they have NOW.
"Wait till we have a majority in the senate!" - ok done.
"Wait till we have a filibuster proof majority in the house!" - ok, done
"Wait till we have the white house!" - ok fine, DONE
"Oh sorry, it still isn't the right time. Maybe in the future."
Seriously?
Posted by: Grimmlok | Oct 5, 2009 12:41:02 PM
I did a post on this about the why the HRC when they have had such little involvement with the March and was initially not for it and dragged thier heels supporting it.
Its also the $250 a plate Annual Fundraiser for the HRC to boot.
Posted by: Wolfie | Oct 5, 2009 12:43:26 PM
Whoops. My posting about about this and the HRC
http://www.back2stonewall.com/?p=9926
Posted by: Wolfie | Oct 5, 2009 12:44:17 PM
Oh, God, more tea and crumpets with the President.
And puh-lenty of cocktails, I bet.
I'm so impressed.
Posted by: Chitown Kev | Oct 5, 2009 12:44:51 PM
@Wolfie. ;-)
Posted by: Derek Washington | Oct 5, 2009 12:45:55 PM
It's a small gesture. I want action.
Posted by: KFLO | Oct 5, 2009 12:54:40 PM
If he gestures any more he's gonna have a full blown puppet show on his hands.
Posted by: Grimmlok | Oct 5, 2009 1:00:19 PM
"his speech may mollify some of their concerns" AKA The Mission Statement. Just as was that desperate, last minute Tea Party for the Gays er White House Stonewall celebration [the day AFTER its anniversary] when several Gay ATMS stopped working. Now gays are descending on DC to call bullshit on the President of Broken Promises AND Congress and what does Barry do...roll out his tired song and dance. Will he take requests? How about "Over the Rainbow"...for that's where we'll find him actually DOING anything of significance for us.
And he's bringing his own dessert: Pie In the Sky.
The only good thing about this is that it signals that they ARE still just a little bit afraid of losing our dollars and our votes....not enough to KEEP the promises he repeatedly made during the campaign such as to PERSONALLY start fighting for DADT repeal the day he took office.
Instead he keeps discharging gays, day after day after day, defends DADT in court, and, like the classic Wife Beater, turns and coos, "But I love you, Baby!"
And don't expect that he'll have found his balls...or his integrity...about his legal authority to freeze discharges in the name of national security....which he's shamelessly pretended he doesn't have.
National Homophobia Advisor James Jones wasn't on TV yesterday reheating old crocks of bullshit about "now is not the time" if the time was going to be six days later.
One of those Obama's continuing to discharge, Lt. Dan Choi, will be leading a DADT protest and memorial for the first servicemember to fight the ban, Leonard Matlovich, a few miles away and a few hours before "Hail to the Commander of Excuses" plays at the HRC dinner.
If you're around and not one of those still satisfied by simply hearing him say the G-word, please join Dan and Frank Kameny and Troy Perry and fellow DADT casualities Anthony Woods and Alex Nicholson at Congressional Cemetery at 2 pm. 1801 E Street SE at Potomac Avenue. [Within walking distance of Potomac Ave & Stadium-Armory DC Metro stations.]
Or you can go on being willingly treated like a second class citizen thirty-four years after Leonard Matlovich sacrificed his Air Force career by demanding first class citizenship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzFSgI1_FK8
Posted by: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com | Oct 5, 2009 1:18:43 PM
24Play: To start, he could make an impassioned speech -- not to gay groups or fundraisers, but to the country at large -- about what equality means and how unjust it is that the government denies it of gay people. He has unique stature in the world, and just opening his mouth and directly addressing our issues to the nation would be worth more than all the advertising dollars we can scrape together times a hundred.
Second, he could make it clear that it is one of his priorities. It's not coincidence that the entire political system is focused single-mindedly on health care reform these days; the President sets the country's agenda.
Third, he could take much more aggressive legal positions. There are a lot of agencies in the shadow of the Executive. He could do a lot to bring them to heal and cause them, even if not to recognize same-sex marriages outright, to invent parallel benefits structures that apply to couples recognized by their states as married regardless of federal recognition.
There is a TON of stuff he could do if he only had the inclination. He is, if you'll forgive the cliche, the most powerful man in the world. Let's not pretend he's helpless, or make other excuses for his inaction.
Posted by: Pender | Oct 5, 2009 1:19:09 PM
@Derek Washington: I agree that organizing locally is the best use of resources. At the local level, we can actually replace the "all talk, no action" politicians.
Waving signs at an empty building next weekend isn't going to make our "fierce advocate" or other elected officials do anything, because we're not swing voters. Politicians are humans and will act in their own self-interest, not ours. The only way to get a them to do the right thing is to make doing the wrong thing too costly.
Posted by: Jonathan | Oct 5, 2009 1:22:50 PM
Perhaps for dessert, a pie in the face?
Posted by: mcquaidLA | Oct 5, 2009 1:24:18 PM
It is NOT true that this is the first time a sitting President has spoken to a gay rights organization. President Clinton spoke at an Empire State Pride Agenda dinner in NY
Posted by: Alex | Oct 5, 2009 1:30:07 PM
Pender,
1) Under the current circumstances, when do you estimate we will have the votes in Congress to repeal DOMA?
2) If Obama tomorrow makes an impassioned speech to the country declaring how terribly unfair it is that committed gay couples don't have all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, how much sooner do you expect we will have the votes in Congress to repeal DOMA?
As for your suggestion that Obama work some executive-branch legal magic, everything Obama can possibly do to extend benefits—so long as DOMA remains is place—he and Secretary Clinton took care of last spring. There is nothing else the president can do to extend benefits based on relationships that are expressly unrecognized under federal law.
Posted by: 24play | Oct 5, 2009 1:30:19 PM
You know its INSULTING as HELL that Obama is choosing to talk to "croney activist" at a $250 dollar a plate dinner the NIGHT BEFORE the March instead of the REAL people involved and the thousands of people who are going to show up wanting answers and equality.
Choosing to speak at an event fpr Solomese and the HRC is akin to Bush having Town Hall Meetings and only letting supporters in to ask questions.
Posted by: Wolfie | Oct 5, 2009 1:34:45 PM
It is easy to talk the talk. I am not looking to be mollified by talk.
Posted by: John | Oct 5, 2009 1:41:03 PM
You know, I bet if they could poll Gay Americans, the President still has substantial support among them. Gay people who hate the President claim it's due to their disappointment in the President's slow pace on civil rights for gays. You can be disappointed but this hateful stuff is another thing. It's bullshit, they haven't liked him since January 2008, not 2009, but January 2008.
Suffer.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Oct 5, 2009 1:46:25 PM
John the only reason he has support because there is NO option and people are still hoping he'll come through on his promises.
Oh and "hateful" is not calling someone out on bullshit and rhetoric. If it were then I would hate you which I don't.
Posted by: Wolfie | Oct 5, 2009 1:53:33 PM
@JOHN: "After all, if Clinton hadn't started giving us lip service, Hollywood would've never moved away from the Hays Code attitude. Forget about Ellen, Will & Grace, and such..."
That's some nice revisionist history you got there, but sadly incorrect.
The Media-Entertainment Complex (movies, music, celebrity culture, etc.) is a shamelessly for-profit enterprise. They finally came to realize in the 1990's that GLBT's were an under-served market segment, and one that was much more likely to consume the product-as-art dreck they're peddling than the fascist Christers ever would buy. It was a calculated, business-driven strategy and not some epiphany inspired by a few shallow words uttered by a pretend leader.
And this new Messiah is sadly no different from the last.
Posted by: BradK | Oct 5, 2009 2:02:07 PM