Well, I think that we all wish that there would be changes alot faster. However, Obama has been in office less than 5 months, after 8 years of Republican administration that included Bush proposing a US Constitutional Amendment against same - sex marriage, all the bad Bush judicial appointments, the anti-gay policies in every imaginable way, including federal employees having trouble.

At least now, we see Gay Pride proclamations at the US Department of State, changes in policy that recognize same sex partners of diplomats in foreign assignments and travel, the head of the US Office of personal Management is openly Gay, Obama's White House Gay party 10 days ago. So, while not legal solutions to our agenda, there is a definite change in the "atmospherics" which indicate that we may expect (and demand) real changes during his first term. Let's see what happens in the first 2 years before we shoot ourselves in the foot by turning on Obama.

Too soon people forget their history. The man that put that plaque on his desk that read "The buck stops here" was Harry Truman.
The same man who signed the exectuive order lifting segregation of the armed forces and leading to the modern civial rights era.

I'm saddened that Mr. Obama hasn't realized that lifting DADT is his job. At the end of a long day it takes one person to stand for us. Only one, but it has to be the one that counts. Asking advice... it's ok, but he still has to do the right thing.

Right now his just passing the buck on everything.

LOVED THE ARTICLE! Although, I think you should give Obama some time. I think, in the end, he will keep his word.

No need to vote third party. Obama will be held accountable by the Democrats who elected him in the 2012 primary. It's not just his terrible record on equal rights for which he'll have to answer, but also his perpetuation of the Bush administration's assault on the Constitution and our civil liberties. True progressives are not going to give him a free pass, but we need to start making that clear now in order to effect some real change.

"I cannot sponsor the person I love for citizenship"

THis is my situation! I live in Portugal and he lives in New York, but hey, we have vacations!!

Now serious, i think it's impressive that something like the Green Lottery happens every year for 50000 persons but then there's a big problem destroing barriers to 38000 couples that Love each other but are still separated and suffering for it!
There would be 38000 happier American citizens and 38000 possible new ones with everything to give to a country they dreamed to be part of!
I wish that would be possible today! I'm sick of this distance, this wall separating hearts!

Thanks so much for talking about it!

FelixP

so you'd rather vote for the republican??????? you think you'll be better off with the other side??

Well, I agree with you in all your thoughts, but I live in Oklahoma, where the wind and the bigotry come sweeping 'cross the plain. No one has yet figured out how to stop the wind, and I strongly suspect the bigotry will always be with us, as well. I've grown used to it in my advancing years, and finally decided that the only way for me to have any influence at all is simply to cut off their money. Any time any political organization calls on me for money (and they do often, as I've given often in the past) I simply tell them that as long as DOMA and DADT are on the law books, they won't get another dime from me. Strangely, it seems to get the attention from some of them, and I'm hoping that attention will eventually trickle up. Promises are meant to be broken by politicians, after all, "broken promise" is one of the common definitions of the word "politician". That having been said, they cannot function without a continuing flow of money, and that spigot, at least from me, is now shut off.

I'm so tired of this lecture. Obama's not my daddy? No, he's my president. He's not your daddy either, so why are you putting so much faith in him, assuming that he's just weilding his scalpel as opposed to avoiding these issues out of political expediency? He's a politician first and foremost; there's no reason to have blind faith that he's going to do the right thing: you can't see into his soul (or if you can, please explain to me what he's thinking continuing Bush's policy of indefinite detention and similar assaults on our civil liberties). You're reading his intentions whereas we are reading his actions and inactions. Which seems more reasonable?

Additionally, political action takes many forms, and not one of them is without worth. I do not understand why one would advocate lobbying lawmakers instead of the president. Why not both? They make the law, but he has the bully pulpit. Diaries such as this aren't whiney lamentations: they're raising awareness and spreading the word. If you want to advocate lobbying members of Congress, I think it makes sense to comment that that is very beneficial supplemental action. We can do two things at once. And while we're at it, let's make it clear that this administration is not going to get a blank check in 2012. That's just holding our elected officials accountable.

Like many others, my Partner and I are extemely
disappointed with the Obama Administration; we
really expected some positive changes for the
LGBT community.

"Okay, okay, sorry about the "Obama isn't your daddy" quote from Yasmin. It's just a metaphor. I'm saying to hold him accountable, but not responsible for everything."

I'm surprised this blogger hasn't gotten any worse than that -- saying you're not voting for Obama in '12 here is equivalent to saying you're in favor of marriage equality, or that you don't regard Michael Jackson as a deity.

Of course Obama isn't responsible for everything. But he's responsible to at least take a few preliminary steps to keep promises that HE made -- not Bill Clinton, not Hillary Clinton, not McCain; OBAMA made them. There's been ample time by now to produce a brief with jaw-dropping insults; it's past time for being a "fierce advocate" in some context other than a soundbite or window-dressing cocktail party.

Jillian- Some of those people may not be planning to meet with their rep becaue he or she is already supporting ENDA according to the list.
It is not always becasue they are unwilling.

I agree that we should give Obama more time. I also think however, that your critique is correct. He certainly has a lot of promises he needs to live up to, especially as our first minority president. With the veto to overturn gay marriage now officially on the ballot in Maine and the Massachusetts lawsuit on the table, Obama is going to have to show solidarity at some point.

Phil,

That was so true and so beautifully written. I agree with you 100%!

As a Federal Employee with a domestic partner, I must correct one of your statements. As UI am not an employee of the State Department, my partner is not eligible for relocation benefits.

I think we can blame Bill Clinton for Obama's approach to LGBT issues. He got a beating for don't ask don't tell and was rendered a eunuch, politically.

Promoting his book, "My Life" on C-Span's book show, he considered DADT his biggest failure and said if he could do it over again, he would have worked on the economy, healthcare and foreign relations before touching social issues like integration of LGBT in the armed forces.

Although random things have happened that look like he won't work for us, I believe he will, when the heavy lifting of the economy and healthcare under control.

I'm not happy with his economic people--Larry Summers, the not so bright former Havard President that dissed women engineers and Geithner, who is just another stooge for Wall Street. The bailout should have gone to people, not crappy, corrupt institutions.