|| Election 2008 ||
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Letters to President-elect Obama: Perez Hilton

Open letters from 26 gay men and lesbians.


Dear President Obama,

As the first president of color, you are making history in America. I am filled with optimism that your presidency will be a historic one.

You have a lot of work ahead of you. And I mean a lot! It will probably take awhile before you can help us get things back on track, but you’ll just have to go above and beyond. These next four years have to be so much better than the last four years.

And while you’re in office, I look forward to seeing you deliver on your promise of change.

One of the things you must change is your own personal view on gay marriage, which I strongly disagree with. You should know that separate but equal does not work. Gay marriage is a simple rights issue. It’s about equality, and it’s about time you support it.

Also of interest to me is placing importance on health care and better education for all Americans.

And while you’re doing all of that, you should make an effort to unify this country and be as bipartisan as possible. It would be a beautiful thing to see your cabinet filled with like-minded individuals who are Democrats, Republicans, and politicians who are not affiliated with any party.

And even though you don’t officially take office until January, you need to start working and acting as president today.

Don’t disappoint us!

Respectfully and optimistically,

Perez Hilton
Blogger, radio host, and television personality

More Letters to the President-elect:
Tammy Baldwin, Democratic member of Congress from Wisconsin

Daniel Tammet, author of Born on a Blue Day

Evan Wolfson, Executive director of Freedom to Marry and author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People’s Right to Marry

Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign

Melissa Etheridge, singer-songwriter

Michelangelo Signorile, radio host and author of Queer in America

Tammy Bruce, radio talk-show host and author of The New American Revolution

Kenji Yoshino, professor at New York University School of Law and the author of Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights

Vestal McIntyre, author of  You Are Not the One and the forthcoming Lake Overturn

Jarrett Lucas, codirector of the 2008 Soulface Q Equality Ride

Michael Lowenthal, author of Charity Girl and Avoidance

Suzanne Westenhoefer, comedian and star of the documentary A Bottom on Top

Jim Buzinski, CEO and cofounder of Outsports.com

Perez Hilton, blogger, radio host, and television personality

Carole Midgen, former California state senator

Pam Spaulding, Durham, N.C.-based blogger

Paris Barclay, Executive Producer/Director HBO’s In Treatment

Lorri L. Jean, CEO, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center

Jeffrey Prang, Mayor of West Hollywood

Jorge Valencia, Executive director and CEO of Point Foundation

Mark Leno, California assemblyman

The Reverend Doctor Troy D. Perry, founder and moderator emeritus, Metropolitan Community Churches\

Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality

Donna Rose, transgender activist

Peter Tatchell, LGBT human rights campaigner and spokesman for OutRage!

Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Morty
    Date posted: 12/16/2008 9:16:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    This is appaling, As a gay person, I am appalled that this guy is now considered as a prominent figure in the gay community.I feel that it is disgusting that he wrote this letter to the president elect.First it was awful where did he goto school and secondly how can he insinuate that the president elect,change his views, is that not what the Right was doing, forcing us to believe on only one way. He I feel is negative and only adds to further the negative for the LGBT community. Its shameful

  • Name: Mushu
    Date posted: 12/15/2008 4:15:00 PM
    Hometown: New Haven

    Comment:

    It's shocking that Perez Hilton is considered prominent among the gay community - a guy who obviously can't write and who sits at home all day blogging about Suri Cruise. Why should Barack Obama take advice, let alone change his views, for him?

  • Name: Kel
    Date posted: 12/15/2008 11:22:00 AM
    Hometown: New Orleans

    Comment:

    I am absolutely shocked that Perez Hilton was given the opportunity to write something. This is the same person who berates lesbians while harassing men to disclose their sexuality. He is only hurting the gay community. While I do agree that President-Elect Obama should do something to advance gay rights, I am completely appalled that Perez Hilton would ask him to change his own personal view. That is beyond an insult. Isn't that exactly what the far right fundamentalists are asking gays to do? Change who they are? I won't even go into him calling for the country to be UNIFIED and BIPARTISAN and requesting that President-Elect Obama start acting as President today. The "change is your own personal view on gay marriage" comment is enough, in itself, to make me wonder why The Advocate would choose to publish this. I truly hope that the President-Elect does not read this. Things like this do not help us.



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