Hey LGBT Community: Obama Is On Our Side

In the months leading up to the repeal of DADT, President Obama got a lot of crap from gay Democrats.  Many said they weren't going to vote during the 2010 midterm elections.  Dan Choi even had the balls to call him the "worst U.S. President in history".  Well, Don't Ask Don't Tell was eventually passed, and now the gay community is turning on Obama for not mentioning the Defense of Marriage Act or EDNA in tonight's State of the Union address.  A number of the blogs I read have an attitude of "If he doesn't mention it as a top priority, then he doesn't get my support anymore".

Check this out:  The Windy City Times released copies of questionnaires that the President filled out while campaigning for state senator in 1996.  In one survey, Obama adamantly pledged his support for legalized same sex marriage, state funded AIDS treatment, and adoption rights for same sex couples.

 Had Barack Obama platformed on these viewpoints for the 2000 Presidential race, he would have been slaughtered.  We would currently been in our third year of a McCain/Palin administration.

I am sure his views have not changed much since 1996, but you must realize, he is but one man.  Even though he is the President of the United States, he doesn't have a magic wand.  He still has to compromise with 535 other people.  435 in the House of Representatives, and 100 Senators, the majority of which want us to have no rights whatsoever.  The race will be won in steps, not in giant leaps.  The civil rights movement of the '60s was not won overnight.  This is the civil rights movement of this millennium.  And we have one hell of an ally in President Obama.

And for those who have any doubt...

Dan Choi, Shut The Fuck Up

Dear Dan,

Over the last week, I haven't been able to turn on a television without seeing your face.  It seems that every 10 minutes, you're on a different cable news network, talking about DADT.  I don't follow you on Twitter, yet somehow I know your every move.

I understand that you were devastated when you were discharged.  The Army was your life, and this country needs more linguists like you.  You've made your point.  Now would you please shut the fuck up.  You're a drama queen and an attention whore, and you're starting to make straight people think the rest of the gay community is full of drama queens and attention whores.

You always have to go over the top.  Dan Choi can't quietly protest with the rest of the crowd in front of the White House, he has to chain himself to the front gate.  Dan Choi has to go on a hunger strike (I still don't understand what that accomplished).  Dan Choi can't reenlist quietly like all the other gay and lesbian service members that have been discharged.  NO.  You have to alert the media beforehand, and reenlist in Times fucking Square.  While other servicemen and women are having to endure ridicule and torment while filing for their reenlistment, yours was easy and pain free.  Of course it was.  You had CNN behind you on the other side of the glass.  And on your reenlistment papers, why couldn't you have just said you were discharged for being honest about your sexual orientation, and leave it at that.  Why would you ever put something so melodramatic as, I "refused to lie about my cherished partner"?  Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?

Do you realize that your actions not only affect every one of the 14,000+ that have been discharged under DADT, but the country's perception of the gay community?  This is not about you.  You are a drop of water in an ocean.  You are not our spokesperson, and you sure as hell won't be our martyr.  When the history books are written about DADT , your name won't even be mentioned.  Do us a favor.  Quit before you embarrass us any further.

Sincerely,

Twitch