Obama administration staffers have been busy lately, working on more than the economy, the wars, and the swine flu outbreak. Since last Wednesday (the 100th day of the Obama presidency), the administration apparently felt that an update of the White House Web site was in order.
Viewing the updated section on LGBT issues left one feeling as if the site had been suddenly de-gayed. In fact, the original list of promises and support made by the president in January on several issues, including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and securing federal rights for same-sex couples, was reduced to two sentences addressing only civil unions and federal rights for same-sex couples and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
After some gay bloggers noticed the deletions, the section was updated again and expanded. This time DADT was re-added with a difference: Obama supported only "changing" the anti-gay military policy instead of repealing it.
Finally, after more phone calls and e-mails to the White House, the site was changed a third time. Now, Obama supports repeal of DADT, an inclusive ENDA, full civil unions and federal rights for same-sex couples, and adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Whew.
While some might not think the Web site changes were a big deal, we disagree. Since Obama has done nothing substantial to support or secure LGBT rights during his first 100 days, we took solace in the fact that at least he was on record supporting our core issues. Then, with the click of a mouse and a few keystrokes, those assurances vanished.
During these first months of the new administration, no openly LGBT person has been appointed to a cabinet-level position. There have been many appointed to various posts below that level, and we certainly are pleased with that progress.
Likewise, no LGBT legislation has been sent to the president yet, although that may change soon if the Senate passes the hate crimes law that the House approved last week.
In short, Obama has proven to be quite a centrist regarding our issues. He has expended little political capital on LGBT issues, and in fact, his own defense secretary, Robert Gates, has made it clear that repeal of DADT is not happening anytime soon.
We want Obama to succeed. But on our issues, his actions have so far not matched the rhetoric of his campaign, when he frequently mentioned "gays and straights" in his stump speeches calling for equality for all. We're not equal to receive federal benefits and rights. We're not equal under immigration law. We're not equal to have employment protections. We're not equal to serve openly in the military. These inequalities can only be remedied by federal statute.
But it's federal rights and same-sex marriage that are the most problematic issues. Couples in states that have a mechanism for recognizing their unions (including marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships) still are not equal to their heterosexual counterparts because the law prohibits federal agencies from recognizing those relationships. Even if a campaign to overturn Proposition 8 is successful (should the state Supreme Court uphold it), couples in California still would not be equal before the federal government.
And Obama is a problem in that regard because he so far has declined to take a consistent position on marriage equality. As an example, he opposed Prop 8 last year and very publicly opposed same-sex marriage too, giving our opponents the ammunition they needed. He can't have it both ways, as gay journalist Rex Wockner recently noted at a panel on Prop 8 and the media.
Two states have legalized same-sex marriage in Obama's first 100 days – and Maine became the fifth state to do so Wednesday – extraordinary developments on every level. Yet nary a peep was heard from the White House except for a short statement after the Iowa Supreme Court decision. The president himself has not uttered a word about achievements in either Iowa or Vermont.
The Republican Party is in total disarray and its numbers in Congress are shrinking. There is opportunity now for real progress on LGBT issues and the president must take the lead. Yet we continue to be met with inaction from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.