President Obama Speaks to Gay Rights Group

I feel uneasy when it comes to criticizing President Obama on gay rights issues. On one hand, he's said more about gay rights, and made more promises to the LGBTQIetc. community than any other President ever has. On the other hand, there was a deplorable defense of DOMA (the ludicrously named Defense of Marriage Act) by Obama's Justice Department, and little actual action. Soldiers are still being regularly discharged, even if nobody should have asked, and they didn't want to tell.

One of my favorite blogs (and an inspiration for this one) is John Aravosis' AmericaBlog. It's one of the first blogs I read every day. Over there, their attitude is white hot against Obama's gay rights achievements, and a complete skepticism that he'll follow through on anything. I can see their point, to a degree. In the speech below, there is little that is different--and little progress made since--from his campaign speeches. Aravosis, his associates and most of the commenters are giving Obama both barrels, with a huge amount of hostility.



Guys, the President of the United States has loudly and clearly stated that he wants to see an end to DADT (Dont' Ask, Don't Tell) and DOMA, in addition to wanting progress in other areas on gay rights issues. I share your frustration, I still don't understand that DOMA defense, and I wish this moved a lot faster. I also think that logically speaking, ending DOMA and DADT should be done right the hell now, when there is no major election to worry about. But damn, why the hell would Obama push any harder when we're taking a peeing on his shoes? It just seems out of scale to me.