From Jack Ford Blogs, November 2, 2009

Remember when Obama gave a half-assed statement about the challenges to equality in Maine in Washington without actually even naming the states in question? It was two weeks ago and it wasn’t very encouraging. It’s worse when you factor in that since then the Department of Justice has actually defended DOMA from the Massachusetts lawsuit, saying, “There is, however, no fundamental right to marriage-based federal benefits.”

Let’s look at another gem from that report:

Justice Dept. spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler said any state “can allow gay and lesbian citizens to marry and can make its own decisions about how to treat married couples when it comes to state benefits.”

“Massachusetts is not being denied the right to provide benefits to same-sex couples and, in fact, has enacted a law to provide equal health benefits to same-sex spouses,” she said.

Right…. but the problem isn’t “the right” to provide benefits. Wake up and read the lawsuit! It’s all the benefits granted on the federal level that are at stake.

Gee, thanks Obama. If you’re secretly trying to help, maybe you could be a little less patronizing.

But today, the New York Times has an editorial openly calling for equality and addressing electoral and legislative battles all over the country. It calls them by name and suggests how people should vote. Openly standing up for equality? How controversial. Mr. President, any chance you might have the courage to do that some day?

Here’s the New York Times editorial in its entirety (with highlights from me demonstrating the kind of language Obama should be using if he’s truly a “fierce advocate”) . Do what you can to support these important decisions being made tomorrow! We can’t have the majority voting away our rights every time we get them. It’s an ugly precedent for our nation.

Political battles this fall in six different parts of the country could have a profound impact on whether the United States will extend the promise of equal rights to those who are not allowed to marry simply because they are the same sex as their partner.

Three jurisdictions — New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia — seem tantalizingly close to securing legislative approval for measures ending the hurtful and unjustifiable exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage. But in Maine, Washington State and Kalamazoo, Mich., voters are being asked on Tuesday to strip away vital rights and protections.

The dominant Election Day battleground is Maine. Last fall, forces of the religious right backed a successful ballot measure that overruled California’s top court by banning same-sex marriage. Now those forces are trying for another mean-spirited victory with Maine’s Question 1, which, if approved, would block the legalization of same-sex marriage passed by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. John Baldacci in May. With the outcome likely to be close, a heavy turnout by voters committed to tolerance and justice is crucial.

Washington State has yet to approve same-sex marriage. But it took a positive step last May when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill that granted gay and lesbian couples the state-provided benefits that married heterosexual couples have, like the right to use sick leave to care for a partner. Voters should affirm this progress by voting yes on Referendum 71.

A third initiative, in Kalamazoo, has the potential to overturn a measure unanimously approved by the City Commission barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodations. Fair-minded voters should respond by voting yes to uphold the antidiscrimination law.

Following the election, attention will shift to New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, which stand a realistic chance of joining the jurisdictions where same-sex marriages are allowed.

The New York situation is particularly frustrating. Gov. David Paterson strongly supports granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry, and the State Assembly has twice passed a bill to do so. But the overdue measure has been in limbo because the Democrats who control the State Senate’s calendar keep dawdling over scheduling a recorded vote on the floor.

We do not have a precise head count. But we suspect that once the bill got to the floor, a majority of the Senate’s 62 members would recognize that same-sex marriage is a fundamental civil right. Continuing to delay a vote shows disrespect for New York citizens injured by the status quo. The time for a vote is right now.

In New Jersey, support has been building for a measure allowing same-sex marriages. Legislators should pass it during the upcoming lame-duck session. Gov. Jon Corzine has said he would sign the law.

In the District of Columbia, the City Council seems ready to approve a local law legalizing same-sex marriage in the shadow of the Capitol dome. That might prompt a Congressional attempt to tamper with home rule. But the fact that Congress has let stand a recent D.C. law recognizing same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere gives hope that such meddling can be avoided.

From http://gayrights.change.org

The last week of October certainly looks like it’s going to go down as President Obama’s best week yet in regards to LGBT rights. While it’s not high time to call up the Vh-1 casting department to pitch a new ‘Best Week Ever’ show, this week has finally seen some progress on issues at the heart of the LGBT rights movement — most notably hate crimes legislation and the imminent end of the HIV travel ban.

History was made this week when President Obama signed expanded hate crimes legislation into law, which will now include protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability status. It’s a law that has been fought over for more than ten years, and a law that despite its fierce opposition by the radical right — notice Pat Robertson’s freak out about the law, saying that it will place a noose around the necks of right-wing Christians — becomes the first piece of civil rights legislation signed in a pretty long time.

President Obama earned some brownie points this week for delivering a hell of a commentary as he signed the law. “We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits — not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear,” Obama remarked during the signing ceremony. “No one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love. No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability.”

Wow. Such a good line.

With hate crimes legislation finally passed, it’s now time for other important LGBT rights measures to move their way to the head of the class. Today, we could get a second piece of extremely good news: word has it that the Obama administration is about to lift the HIV travel ban, which for years has prevented non-U.S. residents from traveling to or immigrating to this country if they were HIV-positive.

Lifting the HIV travel ban has already met the approval of Congress, which approved reversing the discriminatory ban during the last term of President George W. Bush. But President #43’s administration didn’t get a chance to finalize the lifting of the ban before high-tailing it to Crawford, Texas for some brush clearing, so now Obama is picking up where Dubya left off.

A confidential source told The Advocate’s Kerry Eleveld, “The White House wants to be out front [on this issue.]”

If Obama lifts the ban today, consider this another victory for the LGBT rights movement. This means that LGBT men and women with HIV will no longer be barred from entering this country, can apply for Green Cards, and can travel to the U.S. to marry their partners if they’re coupled with someone from one of the states that recognizes marriage equality.

It also tears down another wall of discrimination — one that should have been broken down years ago. HIV status is nothing to be afraid of, and it makes no sense for our government, let alone any government, to penalize people or discriminate against them because they have HIV.

Rachel Tiven, Director of Immigration Equality, said it best this morning in a press release celebrating the lifting of the HIV travel ban. “At long last, people living with HIV will no longer be pointlessly barred from this country,” Tiven said.

That phrase “at long last” has such relevance this week. At long last hate crimes legislation. At long last an end to a discriminatory policy. At long last some positive steps from the White House that show they have an ear out to the LGBT population of this country.

Consider this week Obama’s Best Gay Week Ever. At least for now. If we can just get a federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a repeal of “Dont’ Ask, Don’t Tell,” and a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act in the hopper, then we’ll really be cooking with this White House.