President Obama: It Gets Better - message of hope and support for LGBT youth (VIDEO)

[jefferson_dem]

Here - http://www.itgetsbetterproject.com/

PS. Let us all try to focus on the positive message ... and keep this thread flame-free. :)

[boston bean]

1. It's a positive message, too bad he lets people in gov't bully people out of the military.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClarkUSA]

28. Um, actually, DADT is the fault of Pres. Clinton, not Pres. Obama.

Funny how people seem to conveniently forget that. :eyes:

[readmoreoften]

36. No, it's the fault of both.

[nofurylike]

55. as much as it backfired against clinton, it was an effort to begin

stepping OUT of the outright BAN against gays and lesbians in the military.

and, you'll note, it did take us to the next step, which we are watching now.

[CTLawGuy]

2. 'keep this thread flame-free'

too late.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Right.

I understand displeasure... but some folks are just too predictably cynical. Shame.

[WillParkinson]

5. Cynical?

It's cynical to have problems believing a message of hope from a person who says that marriage is between a man and a woman? How is that telling gay teens it gets better? Yes, I want you to be able to die for your country, but I don't want you to be able to marry the person you love. I see all kinds of hope there.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Yes, cynical.

At best.

The President's message (and the OP) is about support for teens in the GLBT community who are harassed and bullied because of their orientation. Did you even watch the video before condoning a *cynical* flame war in this thread?

[zipplewrath]

8. Do you know who started that theme?

Did you know he ain't thrilled about the administration copying it?

[jefferson_dem]

9. Dan Savage?

Kudos to him for spear-heading this project.

[Prism]

10. LGBT teens are harrassed and bullied because of religious attitudes the President shares.

Let's not forget that.

It's a nice video, and I won't bring in DADT to it. I hope the video does some good, that some child sees that and feels just a tiny bit better - enough better to be discouraged from causing self-harm.

But the President's religious attitudes are part of the culture that leads LGBT youth to despair.

The words are nice, but the attitudes are deadly.

We must prioritize that here when our youth are killing themselves.

[ClarkUSA]

31. Let's not scapegoat Christianity. There are plenty of Christians who are not hateful extremists.

Hillary is a devout Methodist who regularly attended Senate prayer meetings with Republican Christianists which as a Senator, Barack Obama did not participate in.

Recently, she also made a video and wore purple, but like Pres. Obama, she's against gay marriage.

Do you also think the her "words are nice, but the attitudes are deadly"?

[Prism]

34. Yes. And why are you bringing up Hillary?

I supported Obama in the primaries, so I'm not sure why you're bringing up what Hillary Clinton does and asking me questions about her. But to answer, she should be held to the same standards. Everything I've said about President Obama also applies to Secretary Clinton. At this juncture in time, because he has more responsibility for government and LGBT issues, what President Obama does and says carries more weight and consequence. But Secretary Clinton is not absolved from her stated positions on gay marriage and the disconnect between her supportive words and her political maneuverings.

And Christianity is not being "scapegoated". What a very strange thing to say in the context of religious-driven persecution of gay youth. In fact, I didn't say a word about Christianity specifically. I said religious attitudes. That can include conservative Judaism, Catholicism, Islam - any religion marinating in homophobic bigotry.

The President limiting marriage to one man and one woman in his stated religious beliefs is casting same-sex relationships as less worthy than heterosexual ones. A feeling of worthlessness is something youth, no matter what their orientation, struggle with. A pro-equality president should not be promoting these attitudes, as this President has done.

[ClarkUSA]

35. Why not? After all, she's a devout Christian who "shares" Pres. Obama's opposition to gay marriage.

<< The President limiting marriage to one man and one woman in his stated religious beliefs is casting same-sex relationships as less worthy than heterosexual ones. A feeling of worthlessness is something youth, no matter what their orientation, struggle with. A pro-equality president should not be promoting these attitudes, as this President has done. >>

I have never seen any proof that "youth" are "feeling... worthlessness" because of President Obama's opposition to gay marriage, which is a position that mirrors that of every major 2008 presidential candidate, including Hillary Clinton.

President Obama's message is a positive one which promotes feelings of worth. No president has ever spoken thusly. He deserves credit for doing so.

[nofurylike]

54. yes, "promotes feelings of worth." and on an unprecedented

level.

well said, ClarkUSA. thank you.


peace and solidarity

[Prism]

66. You know what also promotes feelings of worth?

Not discriminating against people, in word or deed.

Including opposing gay marriage.

[nofurylike]

73. of course that is true. i have acknowledged that we all hope for

further change. many of us work very hard for that further change, too.

[Prism]

65. This is obtuse at best, malicious at worst.

Major politicians, including the President of the United States, categorizing same-sex relationships as less valid and less worthy have no impact on how youth perceive their orientation and place in society?

Is that honestly what you're attempting to argue here? With any bit of seriousness?

I have given the President credit for the message below, in a reply to BabylonSister.

However, you cannot and should not dismiss the feelings and perceptions of LGBT youth where the most powerful figures in our society and government are running around saying God doesn't approve of their relationships.

I cannot grasp how you can begin making the argument that such attitudes, endorsed, promoted, and defended by our leaders have no tangible or worrisome effect on our children.

As I said, either you do not grasp this - in which case you really need to start talking with actual LGBT people and their experiences growing up in America - or you're simply making a very damaging, callous, and negligently dangerous claim out of political connivance.

Either way, not good.

[ruggerson]

70. +1

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Beacool]

46. You never fail to disappoint...............

:eyes:



:rofl:

[WillParkinson]

20. Yes, I watched it....

And I should be grateful for "it's important that as adults we set an example" and "we're able to see the world through other people's eyes' when he can stand up and use his religion to tell me why I shouldn't be able to get married to the man I love?

Yeah, sorry, not so much.

I'm very glad that you liked his message. I truly hope that some kids will see it and believe in it enough to grow and learn that they're not alone in the world.

Call me cynical if you want, I don't mind. I would just rather see his actions match his words.

[jefferson_dem]

21. Points well taken.

Take care.

[WillParkinson]

23. And you as well!

Have a great day. :-)

[JNelson6563]

37. The strategy is so obvious

I wonder when DU mods and admins will wake up and recognize how often this tactic is employed. Positive post? Not enough self control to just ignore it, a certain group of posters swarms said positive thread, turns it into a flamefest and Voila! Positive thread locked. Works every time!

Julie

[eShirl]

3. Mr. President, your actions speak louder than your words.

[mkultra]

41. they sure do. and here they are

Reversed an inexcusable US position by signing the UN Declaration on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Endorsed the Baldwin-Lieberman bill, The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, to provide full partnership benefits to federal employees

Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act

Lifted the HIV Entry Ban effective January 2010

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King

Appointed the first transgender DNC member in history

Issued diplomatic passports, and provided other benefits, to the partners of same-sex foreign service employees

Conceived a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Elders -- the nation's first ever -- funded by a three-year HHS grant to SAGE

Testified in favor of ENDA, the first time any official of any administration has testified in the Senate on ENDA

Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded existing United States federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability -- the first positive federal LGBT legislation in the nation's history

Hired and appointed a record number of qualified LGBT Americans, including more than 10 Senate-confirmed appointments

Sworn in Ambassador David Huebner

Named open transgender appointees (the first President ever to do so)

Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation's largest employer)

Dispatched the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to call on the Senate to repeal Don't Ask / Don't Tell, in the meantime dialing back on discharges

Launched a website to gather public comment on first-ever federal LGBT housing discrimination study

Appointed long-time equality champion Chai Feldblum one of the four Commissioners of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Eliminated the discriminatory Census Bureau policy that kept gay relationships from being counted, encouraging couples who consider themselves married to file that way, even if their state of residence does not yet permit legal marriage

Produced U.S. Census Bureau PSAs featuring gay, lesbian, and transgender spokespersons.

Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights.





ALL actual items of accomplishment.

[ThomCat]

48. Are you still posting this discredited shit?

Endorsed a bill that he didn't help rally support for?

Signed a bill that any democratic president would have signed?

Waited a year into his administration to finally sign an entry bad that Congress has already repealed UNDER BUSH?

Testified in favor of ending ENDA, but then did NOTHING to help get ENDA passed?

Dialed back on discharges? Are you kidding? :wtf:

Instructed hospitals to allow visitation? How about supporting marriage Equality so that it would be a RIGHT for ALL of our Relationships instead of a policy privilege for a select few?

Crumbs! This is Crumbs, not Equal Rights. If this is what we are supposed to settle for, and be happy with, then it's a really cruel bait and switch. We were promised a "Fierce Advocate." So far, he ain't that. And neither are you.

We aren't fooled, and we aren't going to be shut up about it when condescending straight people try to dictate to us what we should settle for.

[nofurylike]

57. i don't recall anyone here saying we think anyone should "settle

for" what has already changed. as i have seen it, we all look forward to continuing progress (well, except the obvious agitators who would do anything possible to bring this adminstration down).

what is so horrible to you in acknowledging positive steps?
and they are positive.

[ThomCat]

59. That list is regurgitated and thrown at us every time we

way we want real results, real rights, real equality. It is thrown at us as a way of saying that we, the LGBTQI community don't know what we're talking about, and supposedly already have a "fierce advocate" and aren't smart enough to know it.

We don't recognize that list as a real list of significant accomplishments because the things on that list are are not nearly of the scale or scope of what we were promised, and they are not substitutes for what we were promised, and we won't let them be.

We won't let that list be a way of telling us to shut up.

We won't let that list be a way of telling us that we don't know who really stands up for us and who doesn't.

That list has been used in all of those ways, and we won't put up with it.

If it was just being used as a list of minor accomplishments on the way towards real rights, and if Obama was honestly and diligently working towards real rights, then we would happily acknowledge it as such. But it's dishonest to claim that this is what the list represents.

If straight people were citing this list, and the list contained not only these minor items, but also the missing real rights, and they were using this list as a way of paying attention to all the stuff that is missing, everything that still needs to be done, what they can right now to organize and help, then we'd take this seriously instead of as a slap in the face. But the list isn't being used as a checklist of stuff to be done. It's just being used as a way of telling us how ungrateful we are. It is being used as a slap in our face.

The list is a bunch of crumbs that were offered to us as a substitute for real rights. We want real rights, and real equality.

[nofurylike]

63. it is now re-cited to protest the repeated claim that this president

has done NOTHING - and even worse, more dishonest, often vitriolic claims against him.

every time those claims are made, the lists come out, then are maligned in much the same way i read in this post here. the lists are fact. it is appropriate to cite them for that purpose.

why is it so horrible to support every change that happens? all of us hope for more. most of us work for more, in our own ways.


peace

[nofurylike]

56. thank you for posting that, mkultra. nt

[ThomCat]

60. Yes, he needs to be thanks for slapping the LGBTQI community

in the face with this list over and over and over again.

"You queers are so ungrateful. You just don't recognize when straight people are being good to you, and giving you privileges that are almost as good as real rights."

:eyes:

If he posts this a few dozen more times maybe we'll get it.

Why is it that only the LGBTQI community recognizes how homophobic this is? And why is it that nobody cares when we think that stuff is being posted repeatedly with the obvious purpose of baiting the LGBTQI community?

Are only Straight people officially allowed to judge what is homophobic? It's not homophobic until Straight people say it is?

:wtf:

[nofurylike]

62. it is not "the LGBTQI community" you speak for, it is yourself and

some others, probably some portion of 'the community.'

my portion of our LGBTQI community feels another way about it.

it is an important list of important accomlishments, considering where we have come from, and where it makes possible to go to.

i posted to you that no one is suggesting that we "settle for" what has been achieved so far, and that all i know here hope for more as much as you or i do.


peace

[zipplewrath]

7. So you want to keep reality out of the thread?

The positive message he is using, "it gets better" is one he is leveraging from Mr. Savage's efforts. And Savage ain't to thrilled about that. But you want to keep that little detail out of this thread.

[jefferson_dem]

11. The President posted a message of support for GLBT youth ON Savage's Project's youtube page.

Spare us the outrage please.

[jonnyblitz]

13. Perhaps you should have posted this in the BOG if you wanted

nothing but fawning and swooning otherwise those of us who are at the receiving end of his BULLSHIT are going to continue to point out his hypocrisy. This is nice and all but his ACTIONS contradict his pretty words.

[ClarkUSA]

29. Well, Hillary made a video and wore purple but she's still against gay marriage.

Guess she's full of "BULLSHIT" and "pretty words" too?

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[treestar]

32. I don't get all the hatred for the President who has done more on the issue

than any other before him.

[ThomCat]

50. He is in a better position to do more than any president ever before.

He had a greater public mandate, greater public support for massive positive change, and instead of delivering any real substantial change he gave us Crumbs, minor policy tweaks, pretty words, and he has taken credit for some things that congress already did.

None of that is real change. None of that is giving us real civil rights. None of that is even moving us towards civil rights. Especially while he is having his administration FIGHT AGAINST OUR RIGHTS in the MOST HOMOPHOBIC POSSIBLE LANGUAGE, comparing being gay to PEDOPHILIA and INCEST! That isn't necessary by any possible stretch of the imagination, and isn't working towards our rights!

What Obama has done is give us crumbs to try to placate us. He has been trying to give us a bait and switch.

"Here, be happy with these Shiny policy gifts, instead of real rights. They're privileges, and they're kind of spotty, and they only really help a few of your people, and we can take them away at any time. But we're going to pretend they're rights, okay? So be happy with these instead of real equality!"

The LGBTQI community isn't stupid, and we aren't going to be intimidated! We are not going to listen to straight people who tell us what crumbs we should be satisfied with. If it isn't full equality, we aren't satisfied. x(

[nofurylike]

58. i am wondering, where or when did his adminstration, as you put

it, compare "being gay to PEDOPHILIA and INCEST"?

do you have a quote, or a link? i sincerely want to know.

thank you.

[ThomCat]

61. It is in the language Obama's DoJ used to defend DOMA.

x(

It has been quoted here at DU. And you can find it with a Google search.

[nofurylike]

64. i'm sorry, but when one paraphrases something like that, it carries

a responsibility to support it.

i hope it is a misquote of something, but if it is not, i will certainly take part in appropriate actions to protest it.

i hope you will find a link for me, and anyone else who needs it.

thank you.

* edit to say no hurry getting a link. i am going offline now, but i will check back tonight. and thank you for discussing.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nofurylike]

75. do you believe that when people post "where is the link?"

it is because they are lazy?

[ThomCat]

76. Yes

[nofurylike]

79. wow. you've never expected anyone to come up with a link to

support unbelievable statements?

[ruggerson]

69. Here you go:

It was in the first Smelt brief:

The Obama admin defends DOMA in a brief comparing marriage equality to incest

[nofurylike]

71. thank you for providing that link, ruggerson. nt

[nofurylike]

72. that is, in fact, not true. the comparison to different states' other

conflicting marriage laws, as a point of established law, is to underline the fact that this struggle must take place in our states. the DOJ states that. it does NOT liken same-sex marriage to incest or to pedophilia.

of course, working to change those laws in our own states might take too much effort for some to bother.

meanwhile, president obama, is, and has been, against DOMA.

[ThomCat]

77. No, he has NOT been.

He has stated publicly repeatedly that he is not for marriage equality. He is for civil unions.

Hence the whole "god is in the mix" bullshit.

[nofurylike]

78. i wrote he is against DOMA, which he is. nt

[ThomCat]

80. If he was against DOMA then his DoJ would not be defending

DOMA, He would be making it a priority to repeal DOMA, AND he would be supporting marriage equality instead of civil unions.

Has his DoJ argued to repeal DOMA?
Has he started favoring marriage equality instead of civil unions?
Is the repeal of DOMA back on the agenda anywhere?

It sounds to me like you're imagining that he is against DOMA. Just because he has said it in a speech somewhere, because it sounded good for political purposes, doesn't make it true when his actions all say otherwise.

And repeating yourself, claiming again that he is against DOMA, won't make it true.

[nofurylike]

81. it is fact. also, cases about DOMA are about balancing states'

rights.

imagining?
'bye.

[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zipplewrath]

14. You apparently missed the preamble

Where he sent Jarret out to do something similar and she botched it bad.

[Unvanguard]

24. Dan Savage wasn't too thrilled about Valerie Jarrett's speech.

He seems happy with this contribution--though rightly also pointing out that Obama needs to do much more.

[Upton]

15. Unfortunately..

nothing President Obama does is going to please some people. That's become more and more apparent.

Thanks for posting the clip...

[jefferson_dem]

16. Thousands of media outlets are reporting today that POTUS is speaking out against bullying...

GLBT youth. That's priceless, however much the haters and cynics pretend it doesn't matter.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0h&oq=obama+&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS356US356&q=obama+#hl=en&expIds=17259,23633,25907,26637,26821,26992,27095,27178,27182&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=obama+it+gets+better&cp=13&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS356US356&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=nw&fp=3347bd6f70916347

[Prism]

17. The "haters and the cynics" are the ones who made this possible

The President's human shields?

Not so much, not so much.

Ironically, we are the ones who brought the President to this point. Not the ones who fancy themselves the President's defenders who try to shout over those of us who have spoken up for our community.

Did you miss Dan Savage's giant Fuck You to the administration when Valerie Jarrett botched co-opting this campaign?

People called him a hater and a cynic last week.

This week, we have the President giving this message.

I guess there's something to said for us haters, eh?

[jefferson_dem]

18. You are right.

"Haters" was over the top and not appropriate in this context.

Cynics, yes.

Of course, Obama has fallen far short in terms of equality issues. He's been nowhere close to the "fierce advocate" he promised. I have criticized him in that respect. Still, I see this message for what it is and welcome it with open arms. I have no doubt that those youth who are subjected to hateful ridicule and harassment based on their orientation will do the same. That's all.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Video for the “It Gets Better” Project

Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of several young people who were bullied and taunted for being gay, and who ultimately took their own lives. As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen in this country.

We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage—that it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe forall of our kids. And to every young person out there you need to know that if you’re in trouble, there are caring adults who can help.

I don’t know what it’s like to be picked on for being gay. But I do know what it’s like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don’t belong. It’s tough. And for a lot of kids, the sense of being alone or apart—I know can just wear on you. And when you’re teased or bullied, it can seem like somehow you brought it on yourself—for being different, or for not fitting in with everybody else.

But what I want to say is this. You are not alone. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied. And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are. And so, if you ever feel like because of bullying, because of what people are saying, that you’re getting down on yourself, you’ve got to make sure to reach out to people you trust. Whether it’s your parents, teachers, folks that you know care about you just the way you are. You’ve got to reach out to them, don’t feel like you’re in this by yourself.

The other thing you need to know is, things will get better. And more than that, with time you’re going to see that your differences are a source of pride and a source of strength. You’ll look back on the struggles you’ve faced with compassion and wisdom. And that’s not just going to serve you, but it will help you get involved and make this country a better place.

It will mean that you’ll be more likely to help fight discrimination—not just against LGBT Americans, but discrimination in all its forms. It means you’ll be more likely to understand personally and deeply why it’s so important that as adults we set an example in our own lives and that we treat everybody with respect. That we are able to see the world through other people’s eyes and stand in their shoes—that we never lose sight of what binds us together.

As a nation we’re founded on the belief that all of us are equal and each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness; to make the most of our talents; to speak our minds; to not fit in; most of all, to be true to ourselves. That’s the freedom that enriches all of us. That’s what America is all about.

And every day, it gets better.

[Prism]

19. If it helps, I have very mixed feelings

When taken standalone, it's a beautiful message. And a President giving it is extraordinary.

However, it is difficult if not impossible not to watch this message in the context of everything else he has done with LGBT concerns. What he says is marked by what he is not saying, and what he is offering is colored by what he has taken.

That said, the targets of the video must be remembered. He is not speaking to me, a 31 year-old out gay man. He's addressing those who live in a place of fear, who need every ounce of support and encouragement possible.

And in that context, what the President is doing here is not nothing.

[jefferson_dem]

22. Thanks.

For the perspective. :thumbsup:

We all want to see these words followed up with real action. It's past time.

[ClarkUSA]

30. Oh, please. What proof do you have of that?

[dsc]

38. I realize in your world

nothing a worthless gay person could do is ever to be considered worthwhile. But we are why it is easier for politicians to support gay rights now than it was in the 1990's People who put their careers and lives on the line living out proud lives. Obama inherited a much more tolerant America in terms of gay rights than Clinton got handed to him, and we gays are the vast majority of the reason why. Politicans, including Clinton and Obama deserve some credit but not much.

[nofurylike]

51. never give him credit except to take credit for it yourselves?

there is no basis for that claim, unless you hold with those who would do ANYTHING sooner than give him credit. President Obama's statement is entirely in character with what has done all along. just because he does not use methods some here dictate - then tout that as a basis for their self-righteous judgment of him - doesn't mean you can read his mind or his heart.

* i edit to correct a misstatement

[Prism]

67. You cannot bash people as haters one week, only to co-opt them the next

Just last week - if even that long ago - the various defense brigades were lambasting Dan Savage, mocking his columns, bringing up an old election charge to discredit him, and generally doing the "He's just a hater" routine.

This week, the President participates in Savage's project, and it's the most spectacular thing that humanity has ever witnessed.

We pressure the President on these things - not his defenders.

And you're damn right I'm going to point that out. As we get blasted by the usual suspects for anything and everything we do in the pursuit of equality, we're pushing the politicians into sometimes doing the right thing. As the usual suspects were smearing Savage every which way, his campaign was taking off, promoted by us and our allies, reaching into the highest offices in our nation.

As the President's defenders whine, the community and our allies were getting shit done about anti-gay bullying, to the point that even the President felt the need to participate in person.

That's how change works, and it'd behoove a few loyalists to get off our asses and help make the President a better politician by following our lead and pressuring him to do that right thing.

Because our work results in the actions of the President that you find praiseworthy. Even though you fight us every single step of the way.

[nofurylike]

74. i work as hard as anyone, and harder than most, to enlighten

people on our issues, and on any discrimination.

the difference is that i know the horrors we face if instigators further succeed in causing lgbtq...s to sabotage this election.i have real fear for all of us. real, well-founded fear FOR US.

your belief that fierce criticism of president obama has caused him to make that video is simply that, your belief. it is my equally valid belief that he would have done the same anyway, and that he will continue to do more.

[vaberella]

26. Agreed. n/t

[denem]

25. "You are not alone. You didn’t do anything wrong".

[Orangepeel]

27. as he should have

Support for this project is the right thing to do. It doesn't make up for being too slow to do the right thing in other matters, but it is the right thing nonetheless.

[dsc]

39. As I noted in another thread he deserves credit for doing this

as to being lectured by Clark USA about people trashing threads, sorry, but give me an everloving break.

[ruggerson]

40. I agree dsc

Here's what I wrote in another thread:

"I think his video today was great and I commend him for it. Some gay kids could see it and be positively affected because it bears the imprimatur of the President."

I agree with your other sentiment as well.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

42. I second that message in the title, we're the optimists at least should be.

[DemocraticPilgrim]

43. I second that message in the title, we're the optimists at least should be.

[mkultra]

44. Its an excellent video and props to Obama

[AuntPatsy]

45. The only positive message that should be seen as truly positive is to admit

that denying a portion of american citizens equal rights under the present laws to a certain group of citizens based on personal lifestyles is downright illegal and as of now will no longer be put to a vote..as leader of this country and a legal scholar one would assume he should prove that the law is followed regardless of personal dislikes by a small portion of american citizens for all americans..

as of today, what is going on in this country regarding the denying of equal rights for gay american citizens in this country is illegal period and that legality of the way that law is written has yet to be challenged by anyone of real importance in our highest offices..

I just wish he would leave his desire to appease the so called religious community at the door when he steps up to the podium and follow the laws of this land accordingly, the law is the law regardless of whom is not comfortable with such...

[political_Dem]

49. Thank you for the information. Kick.

(Too late to Rec.). :(

[nofurylike]

52. that was amazing - including how far we've come that a president

is urging LGBTQ...s to feel HOPE!!!

not too long ago, it would've been impossible to believe it could ever happen.

thank you so much for posting this, jefferson_dem!! and for expressing the hope for positivity. many honored that. thanks to them!


peace and solidarity!

[nofurylike]

53. and Kick! though sorry i'm too late to R! nt