News Analysis: The president's relationship with the LGBT community...

[Duncan Grant]

Obama's Choice
News Analysis: The president's relationship with the LGBT community has been rocky; upcoming decisions about same-sex marriage could be disastrous
by Chris Geidner
Published on August 12, 2010, 1:24am

Not even six months into his presidency, the difficulty of calling oneself a ''fierce advocate'' was made clear when his Justice Department, led by Attorney General Eric Holder, filed a brief in Smelt v. United States, a challenge to DOMA, declaring at one point that ''DOMA does not discriminate against homosexuals in the provision of federal benefits.''

The outcry from the LGBT community was immediate – and harsh. Much discussion was had within the LGBT community and among political and legal activists about the wording of the brief and the impact of Obama's Justice Department defending a law that he had called discriminatory by saying that it doesn't discriminate. There remain differing views on the role of Justice in defending laws such as DOMA and the circumstances under which the department need not defend the law in question.

Regardless of those differences, however, the Smelt brief defending DOMA stood as a stark symbol to most people of the long way Obama had traveled from promising to fight efforts that would prohibit same-sex marriages. Some of that was a function of the distinction in the status of Obama as a citizen in Chicago and Obama as president of the United States. But some of it, with his history in mind, was a change in Obama as a politician.

It also was a turning point in Obama's relationship with many in the LGBT community. The caution bred by seeing gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who has preached about ''curing'' homosexuality, on the campaign trail and Pastor Rick Warren, who endorsed Proposition 8, at the inauguration turned into suspicion or even distrust. This was seen many times, most clearly in the lackluster LGBT response to the Obama administration's action on hospital visitation and the animosity in some corners to the certification language in the ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' compromise amendment.

A comprehensive analysis -- and well worth the read. :thumbsup:

[WillParkinson]

1. Get over it people!

It's just one song.
It's just one prayer.
It's just hundreds of peoples military career.
It's just thousands of peoples right to marry.

You're just to focused on your single-issue to see the big chess pony picture.

[msongs]

2. why display leadership when you can conduct surveys to tell you how to decide nt

[WillParkinson]

4. That would be harsh....

If it wasn't oh-so-true. :-)

[greeneyedboy]

3. ironically...

Ironically in the DOMA cases I think the administration will be helping the LGBT community by making completely irrational (and offensive superstitious nonsensical) arguments.

But given the utter abandonment of pretty much every campaign promise and the substitution of crumbs like hospital visitation (that wouldn't be necessary were DOMA not to exist) or a study about ending DADT, they are going to have a tough time playing this one. (Oh, what about hate crimes? Thanks, but policy that only helps after I've been bashed or murdered isn't really that soothing right now, and since it passed under Bush I can't really give Obama much leadership credit for picking up a pen and signing it. "Better than McCain" isn't good enough, and isn't anything like what we were promised.)

My personal GayTM will be closed to the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC until there's action on the big issues. Candidates who stand up for ENDA, repeal of DOMA, and repeal of DADT will get donations.