Israel's LGBT community praises Obama's support for same-sex marriage

[Scurrilous]

Obama's expression of support for same-sex marriage praised by Israeli organizations, who call on Netanyahu to do the same.

<snip>

"Israel's LGBT community praised U.S. President Barak Obama on Thursday for expressing his support for same-sex marriages.

In an interview that aired Wednesday with ABC, Obama stated he had personally concluded that same sex couples should be able to get married.

Irit Rosenblum, founder and CEO of the organization New Family, called the move extremely important. "It is a huge step for the enlightened world that the strongest leader publicly recognizes the new family. In doing so, he is obviously posing a challenge to the world's religious public. I think that this is certainly a very brave act. He is creating the necessary world balance. At a time when it seems the world is becoming increasingly fundamentalist and conservative, this is a liberal point of light."

According to New Family, there are currently some 18,000 same-sex families living in Israel. Some 4,500 children are being raising in same-sex families, and that number has risen significantly in recent years.

Same-sex couples are unable to marry according to Israeli law. Many choose to travel abroad to countries that do allow gay marriage. The leading such destinations are Canada and several U.S. states. Israel's High Court of Justice has ruled that the Interior Ministry must recognize these marriages in Israel."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-s-lgbt-community-praises-obama-s-support-for-same-sex-marriage-1.429457

[azurnoir]

1. well I agree kudos to Obama n/t

[holdencaufield]

6. Where was he on this issue in 2008... or 2010?

Way behind the allegedly intolerant Israeli government.

Nice of him to come around just in time for the election.

[azurnoir]

7. in 2008 the issue was DADT which Obama repealed in 2010

but I'm glad you commented on this issue with your support for Obama

[holdencaufield]

8. Gay marriage wasn't an issue...

... in 2008? Then why did he feel it was necessary to publicly declare his opposition to it in 2008 and 2010 if it wasn't an issue?

[azurnoir]

9. yes according to Fox News he did supposedly oppose marriage equality

tell us did you support Obama in 2008 or now for that matter?

[holdencaufield]

10. Not from Fox News

In a 2008 interview with Chris (tingle up my leg) Matthews on MSNBC, Obama said he didn't support gay marriage. He repeated that stance in a White House press briefing, also reported on MSNBC.

You need to watch more than just Fox News.

[azurnoir]

11. lol I googled it everything that came up was Fox news or linked to it

but you seem frustrated or wish to delegitimize that Obama has now come out in support of marriage equality why is that?

[holdencaufield]

13. Is Obama Pinkwashing? NT

[azurnoir]

14. Is Obama using his stance on marriage equality to justify drone attacks

in Pakistan or Afghanistan?

[holdencaufield]

17. Yes, actually

In the runup to the election, Obama must bolster his progressive street cred to make up for the fact that he's been carpet bombing Afghanistan via remote control and that he's actually escalated conflicts that were in place when he was elected.

Giving lip service to LGBT is (I'm sure he believes) a great way to divert from his war/economy positions. I see it as a very cynical move on his part.

[azurnoir]

18. well then apparently

you think Obama is pinkwashing but if you feel that way

[Behind the Aegis]

12. It was a mixed blessing for sure.

[azurnoir]

15. so are you not on board with Obama on this? does it somehow disappoint you?

what makes it a mixed blessing in your mind? IMO Obama should have come to this conclusion long ago as the current laws concerning marriage equality in some states not to mention DOMA are no different than the laws that would have prevented his parents from marrying in some states

[Behind the Aegis]

16. It was the equivalent of "You look nice in that dress, even though you're fat."

[azurnoir]

19. but at least he said that you look nice according to your quote

do you think Obama is homophobic? and another question is there much of a push to have sexual orientation added to the list of protected classes according to Federal civil rights and affirmative action laws? That would seem to be a goal because that would nullify various states laws against marriage equality and that's just one item

[Behind the Aegis]

20. And that is what is called a "backhanded compliment."

I don't think he is homophobic. I think he is a politician and our rights aren't really of interest to him. There are moves to have sexual orientation added to Federal Civil Rights. I have never heard of a movement for inclusion in Affirmative Action laws.

[azurnoir]

21. well I know it was a "backhanded compliment." I was trying to look

on bright side but your right he is a politician with all the baggage that comes with it, that said he is still a far superior choice to Romney

[Behind the Aegis]

22. And look at that, we agree on two things.

[azurnoir]

23. OMG what phase is the moon in ?

[oberliner]

2. What do you think of Irit Rosenblum?

Is she a pinkwasher?

[King_David]

4. Ha ha

LOL

[azurnoir]

5. what's so funny Scurrilous never or very rarely replies to oberliner, is this a special case? n/t

[oberliner]

24. I made a joke

Someone thought it was funny.

Do you not get the humor?

[shira]

25. Rosenblum is obviously pink washing for America in order to cover...

...for the atrocities committed in Aghanistan, Iraq, etc.

Warmongers and their cheerleaders pretending to be liberal by supporting gay rights.

Who is fooled by this?

[azurnoir]

26. Nope not one bit

[shira]

29. It's just pink washing WRT Israel. Not any other nation, right? n/t

[azurnoir]

30. any nation that uses giving rights to one group as an excuse or cover for denying the rights

of another is using whatever kind of washing you wish to call it

[shira]

31. So Israel's gay rights laws is cover or an excuse, right?

It can't possibly be because Israel is truly a liberal democracy?

Not that I expect you to answer...



=====

Oh, BTW Israel isn't denying the rights of Palestinians at all. The Palestinians have turned down credible peace offers for their own state and self-determination twice. It is they along with the rest of the Arab world denying the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Israel cannot force the Palestinians to have a state of their own.

[azurnoir]

27. ah so it wasn't a serious question apparently I see, thanks n/t

[oberliner]

28. Question is deadly serious

Not expecting an answer though, per the reason you cited above.

[King_David]

3. Kol hakavod