Obama is against Prop. 8 but also against gay marriage...
Tomorrow is election day. As a gay person, Prop. 8 weighs heaviest in my heart - more than any political race including the presidency. Barack Obama has chosen not to get involved in the Prop. 8 effort but he did answer a question about it on MTV over the weekend: "I think it's unnecessary. I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about."
Gee thanks, I guess.
It goes right back to my single-biggest reservation about Obama. I try and rationalize that he would have given his political opponents plenty of ammo had he been for gay marriage. But when I read words like "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage" it makes my blood boil. This is a man who has aggressively courted the gay vote and yet, doesn't believe we should be allowed to marry.
Vote NO on Prop. 8!
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in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez authored Out In Hollywood for the Daily News from June 2006 to February 2009. He can now be found at Greg In Hollywood: www.greginhollywood.com
Actually one of my biggest frustration is with gay people. I am gay too. My point is that I am also African American. Here's why that's relevant. You can legislate behavior, not beliefs. Obama isn't saying that he wants to legislate our right to marry. He's against DOMA, DADT, etc. So, I find your post frustrating since that's what we as gay people need him for- our rights, not his feelings. He is saying what he believes personally, but then with this issue he says that's not his public policy belief. Do you see the difference? As an African American familar with the black experience I can tell you as you can already sumise that the laws ending discrimination against blacks came before the reduction in discrimination. I feel that what many people are using the gay marriage debate for is not the rights- but acceptance. One is not the same as the other. Here's another anology- in 2004, Kerry said he was against abortion personally because he is Catholic, but said he was for the woman's right to choose under the law. One is a private belief (yes done for political reasons) but one is the thing that actually affects outcomes- his views that he doesn't support Prop 8. I wish gay people could accept that these things happen in steps rather than all at once.
Would I like for Obama to favor same-sex marriage? Of course. Would it had been helpful if he urged his African-American supporters to vote against Prop 8 as many oppose same-sex marriage? Definitely. But as you acknowledge Greg, he's running for President at a crucial time in our country's history. He absolutely cannot risk defeat to satisfy the wishes of gay activists, although I share their passion as well. Reality and pragmatism must be at the forefront. Because if he loses, under McCain-Palin, we lose ENDA, we lose the repeal of DADT and DOMA, we lose the Supreme Court for a generation at least, and any other issue that is still important to GLBT Americans. These rights are extremely important, and it is imperative that Obama not blow the election by giving reasons for voters to support McCain-Palin because of this hot issue.
You have reservations about Obama due to his lack of commitment about for Prop 8.
This is the problem with so many gay people. They live in their own bubble where gay rights are a given.
Maybe the defeat of Prop 8 will serve if nothing else as a reminder of the kind of world we live in.
The vast majority of America hates gay people. Detests them. Is terrified that their children might be exposed to them.
Yes, it would be nice if Obama was gung ho and made support of gay marriage a cornerstone of his election. But he would have lost.
In a state where Obama dominated, prop 8 passed.
The pro 8 was better organized, better funded and let's face it, the passion was on their side. Prayer vigils, mailings and community meetings were widespread. This is not to say that their wasn't a well organized effort to defeat it, but the gay community is no match for religious zealotry.
So be ambivalent about Obama. But he has played it smart all along. Beating Hillary. Staying above the fray when McCain got nasty. He is smart. Which bodes well for his approach to leadership which in turn is a good thing for us. We should be organizing to make sure he overturns Bill Clinton's "don't ask, don't tell."
My big question is what to do we do next?
Again, a lack of leadership in the gay community comes to the forefront. If there was a gay leader of some sort, he/she would be immediately figuring out a way to translate the support to defeat prop 8 and using that base to retaliate. There is a huge despair now for gay people. That anger could be turned into action. But I am pretty sure it won't be. Again, it is because we live in a bubble. We just couldn't be bothered to look at the world as it is and have a plan in the likely event that Prop 8 passed.
Where is the call for a mass protest?
Where is the call to boycott and protest the Mormon Church, the Knights of Columbus.
Go ahead. Go to the HRC site. The Advocate site. The LAGLC site. Nothing. They are still saying, don't forget to vote against 8. Donate. Plan B should be in place NOW.
A lack of passion. A lack of leadership. A reluctance to see the world as it is.
It's a shame.
Can you really blame Obama for not hitching his wagon to this cause?
I am still hoping something good comes of this. At the very least, I hope that it bursts your bubble and forces you to think about the world in a clearer way and is a catalyst for more passion and more importantly more ACTION.
Anyone want to protest the Knights of Columbus in the Rose Parade?