I decided to save Soapboxing for Fridays. As you can see, I’m posting this late. My apologies. This week I decided to copy and paste the letter I wrote to President Barack Obama on Wednesday. These issues are in the forefront of my mind right now, so I felt it was fitting to share the letter.
June 17, 2009
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500Dear Mr. President,
Today you issued a memorandum showing your intention to extend federal benefits to the partners and families of LGBT federal employees; a move that was long overdue and appreciated. You did so in a week where you have been under scrutiny from the LGBT community because of a perceived slow pace towards equality and a disastrous DOJ brief. As someone who campaigned for you and donated quite a few dollars I didn’t really have, I wanted to share my feelings with you on some of these issues.
Last June, I walked with hundreds of supporters in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade in support of your candidacy. This, as you know, was merely weeks after you finally claimed the Democratic nomination after a long and drawn out process. Naturally, there were many in the LGBT community who were not ready to throw their support from Hillary to you because of bitter feelings that often arrive in defeat. I spoke with many Hillary supporters that day and explained to them why you would be just as remarkable on gay rights as Hillary claimed to be. Your supporters fought for you that day, under the assumption that you truly were a “fierce advocate” for equality.
As someone who understands the political process, I recognize the need for pragmatism and slow change. I understand there is, indeed, a process that needs to be followed and ways to effectively win political battles. I’m not someone who is willing to throw away my support for you because of a few blunders; I do feel it is my obligation as a citizen of the United States of America to tell you when I’m disappointed in your leadership. The DOJ brief was deplorable and disastrous, as you now know. I can only hope that you didn’t actually see the language in the brief and that this entire mess was a sloppy oversight. The handling of it makes it appear that these issues are not important enough to you, or at least not important enough to oversee language on it. Regardless, I’m asking you to make clear your support for the repeal of DOMA. Whether you were obligated to defend the constitutionality of DOMA or not, please realize that the brief fueled the opposition’s fire and will most definitely be used against individual state’s fights for marriage equality. It is, in fact, more than words.
Further, your White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs really needs to echo your message on LGBT issues. If you truly are with us in this fight, then Gibbs deflecting every question on DADT, DOMA, Gay Marriage et al. can not be the standard of communication coming from your office. When one sits back and looks at the entire picture from Rick Warren to the DOJ brief and everything in between, it shouldn’t be surprising why people are frustrated. I certainly understand that federal marriage equality is down the road a bit. My question is this: How do we get there without the small changes?
DADT is one thing that you do have an opportunity to make headway on. You have stated your support for its repeal but where is the progress. The last statistic I read said that 250 service men and women have been discharged under DADT during your administration. At what point do you step in and at least temporarily halt the firings until Congress proceeds with legislation. Further, there has been little pressure put on Congress to proceed with this, as indicated by Harry Reid’s hot potato game he’s played with the issue. I’m sick of the buck being passed and it should stop with you.
In conclusion, please know that I am still cheering you on and applauding your efforts daily. I do trust your handling of domestic issues, the economy and foreign policy. I just want you to realize the position you’re in right now. You have the ability to help LGBT community change the hearts and minds of many. I understand the risk you take with all of this but I think keeping promises should come first.
Respectfully,
Theodore Jay
