Obama named one of Russia’s top 5 gay “heroes”

[William769]

President Obama has been named one of Russia’s top gay rights heroes by the Moscow Times, an English-language newspaper based in Moscow.

The paper explained its inclusion of Obama among the “5 heroes of Russia’s gay rights movement”:

American authorities have long raised questions about human rights and LGBT issues in Russia, and Obama sent a clear signal during his visit to St. Petersburg for the G20 summit, where he organized a meeting with human rights and LGBT activists amid a busy schedule and ongoing negotiations regarding the conflict in Syria.

The meeting was attended by investigative journalist Yelena Milashina, lawyer Ivan Pavlov of human rights organization Memorial, and human rights activist Boris Pynstintsev, among others. Originally scheduled for 40 minutes, his meting eventually lasted for 90 minutes, reported Pink News.

It’s interesting, but one thing President Obama has gotten awfully good at – especially on gay civil rights issues – is using the bully pulpit to maximal advantage. It’s praise I wouldn’t have offered on any issue just a few years back, but the President has grown in office, and seems to understand, particularly on these issues, that his voice in and of itself can carry an impact.

I’m not a huge fan of ”words, words, words,” but words aren’t always meaningless. On civil rights issues, the President’s words help us both legally and with the public at large (I suspect the President’s open embrace of gay marriage may have helped us garner more support with African-Americans, among others).

http://americablog.com/2013/09/obama-named-one-russias-top-5-gay-heroes.html

Why isn't Putin one of the 5? Oh wait...

[babylonsister]

1. Quite an honor! nt

[Cha]

2. Wow, William.. I'm with babylonsistah..

Really is an honor~

From your link..

"But internationally is where his voice can truly matter. The president of the United States, and particularly this President of the United States, has influence – moral influence – far beyond America’s borders. We saw this when President Obama was credited with getting the ball rolling on New Zealand’s successful effort to legalize gay marriage in that country. From AP, last summer:

New Zealand lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly cast a first vote in favor of a gay marriage bill that was given impetus by President Barack Obama’s public support of the issue…."

"Same-sex marriage became legal in New Zealand on August 19, 2013."

I did not know this.. Thank you!

[William769]

3. Just spreading the good word.

[Cha]

7. Good word it is indeed! Imagine!

[sheshe2]

4. Oh William!

Tears of joy!

[William769]

5. ...

[Rex]

6. Noble Peace Prize

he has more than earned it with his works for equal rights. Something that separates him from his contemporaries by leaps and bounds imo.

Russia could learn a thing or two about democracy and equality, that goes without saying. Putin is a freaking embarrassment to all modern societies.

[freshwest]

8. Not just the words, but the deeds and the respect. I don't think any other POTUS would have braved

the waters to push same sex marriage by giving military members a leave to get married in whatever state they needed to visit to escape the reactionaries in their own states.

That had to have been heard around the world. As far as the Putin love, not surprisingly, it comes from sources that generally see Obama as the worst thing ever.

Now they have something to really hate about him and they're going to Russia to have their hatefest. Not that they weren't adept at finding reasons to say he doesn't deserve credit for doing anything good.

Let's see if the media will weigh in on this with favor, or ignores the man who believes in equality more than the media owners, who don't believe in any such thing.

Thanks for the thread, William and to Cha for directing me to this thread. Good news!

[Cha]

9. PBO is the right President for our time, freshwest..

I couldn't ask for someone better.. and if anyone watches the Vid from sheshe's thread "This is Done" ..they will see that PBO has been in this fight for equality for the long haul.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110216621

[Cha]

10. KIck!

[Scurrilous]

11. K & R