White House Meeting Heats Up

A White House meeting with state equality organizations has inflamed the blogosphere after LGBT Liaison Brian Bond said he was frustrated with bloggers criticisizing an administration that is "99 percent" supportive on equality issues.

By Kerry Eleveld

WHITE HOUSE X390 (PHOTOS.COM) | ADVOCATE.COM

Details of a White House meeting August 6 between administration officials and about 60 LGBT representatives from state equality organizations have emerged this week, setting some members of the blogosphere on fire.

The White House Office of Public Engagement approached the Equality Federation, a national alliance of LGBT equality organizations, about setting up the briefing.

“The whole purpose was to talk to state leaders about the work this administration is doing around LGBT issues besides the issues that are getting the most attention — like the legislation, which we all know isn’t moving as fast as we would like,” said Toni Broaddus, executive director of the Equality Federation.

The briefing was conducted by Brian Bond, deputy director of the Office of Public Engagement (OPE) and the de facto White House LGBT liaison, and Tina Tchen, director of OPE, along with representatives from various agencies such as the Department of Health of Human Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Defense.

According to one detailed account of the meeting, Tchen “opened the gathering by asserting that the administration fully expects the provisions of the Defense Authorization Bill ending the Pentagon’s ‘don't ask, don't tell’ policy to win congressional approval by year’s end.”

Broaddus said the account (printed at the end of this article) was written by Laura Belmonte, an Equality Federation state leader from Oklahoma.

But many blogs, including Americablog, Pam’s House Blend, and Act On Principles, picked up on a version that was circulated by Michael Kenny, executive director of the Florida Together Federation, to his organization’s members and supporters under the title “Historic White House Meeting.”

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Reader Comments

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Name: Scott
Date posted: 9/7/2010 11:14:58 PM
Hometown: Grand Rapids

Comment:
I know how you feel. I live in MIchigan and my boyfriend lives in Thailand. It is hard not being able to see him everyday. I only hope that the government here will change its views and policies I just do not think it will happen in my lifetime. PLEASE prove me wrong on this.
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Name: Heino
Date posted: 9/1/2010 3:26:51 PM
Hometown: Germany

Comment:
It really is surprising when it comes to help people in war zones, the Americans are there for you. In zones outside the United States where natural catastrophe struck - the American are there. But why not be there where your own people demand something that is not so hard to achieve. I am 42 from Germany and lived with my bf for 15 years here in Germany. He decided to go back because his parents are getting older and they also need him. Sure, I can go and stay with him for a few days or weeks - but our whole life is turned up side down. He is there, I am here, we had to separate our dogs to make sure he has something from home - but it sure is not the same. I do miss him so much and we talk on Skype every day. Here in Germany we never had a problem with being together, we just were. People are fine with gays here and do not tread you like second class citizens. So,American people-just lighten up and allow us to be together again, this is all we want! We do no harm, we are people,too!
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Name: Heino
Date posted: 9/1/2010 3:26:12 PM
Hometown: Germany

Comment:
It really is surprising when it comes to help people in war zones, the Americans are there for you. In zones outside the United States where natural catastrophe struck - the American are there. But why not be there where your own people demand something that is not so hard to achieve. I am 42 from Germany and lived with my bf for 15 years here in Germany. He decided to go back because his parents are getting older and they also need him. Sure, I can go and stay with him for a few days or weeks - but our whole life is turned up side down. He is there, I am here, we had to separate our dogs to make sure he has something from home - but it sure is not the same. I do miss him so much and we talk on Skype every day. Here in Germany we never had a problem with being together, we just were. People are fine with gays here and do not tread you like second class citizens. So,American people-just lighten up and allow us to be together again, this is all we want! We do no harm, we are people,too!
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Name: MBD, Esq.
Date posted: 8/22/2010 1:15:02 AM
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Comment:
"going through the federal government code “line by line” to see what could be addressed." Really? It's all so covert, like O wants to be secretly supportive of lgbt Americans but doesn't want the masses to know. I'm sick and tired of having shame rule. Strong leadership, doing what's right, upholding the provisions of the US Constitution . . . in these, O has not been a success. Wise up, O. You're loosing Dem supporters by the truckload because of your misguided attempt to appease moderates. Gore lost the election to Bush doing the same thing. Make no mistake: more posters here are dismayed and disillusioned than forgiving. Do the right thing, uphold the U.S. Constitution, recognize that lgbt taxpaying Americans are legally entitled to federal protections and civil rights. Popular or not, the "strategy" for eliminating DADT and DOMA and passing ENDA is to do it swiftly and decisively. This foot dragging is BS, it's insulting, ineffectual and it's alienating voters.
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Name: beachcomberT
Date posted: 8/20/2010 9:57:25 PM
Hometown: Daytona Beach

Comment:
Obama's deficit commission is already sending signals about cutbacks in Social Security but is doing nothing about giving gay couples the same SS survivor benefits that married heteros enjoy. SS equality would give gay widows and widowers much more financial security. Caregivers who lost their partners to AIDS in the 80s and 90s would be in better financial shape today. But this issue doesn't even come up in the White House briefing.
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Name: nikki
Date posted: 8/20/2010 3:59:55 PM
Hometown: gary

Comment:
Let's start from the beginning. When Obama got elected his campaign was all about change. What people don't realize it that you cannot fix the flood overnight. LGBT issues are just as important as the next issues, I agree. But why can't the government meet us halfway as far as domestic partnership and civil unions so that we can get the same benefits as every American. What is so hard about that? I thought we were talking about change and does that include a healthier and equal America. Why are we so consumed by religious principle? Doesn't the 14th amendment also offer equal rights under law? What happened to the separation of church and state? Straight people can get two or three marriages and the LGBT community can't even get one. Just one.
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Name: d
Date posted: 8/20/2010 8:44:52 AM
Hometown: raleigh

Comment:
This week I received a letter from the DNC. They wanted me to list in order of priority the needs of the nation; from schools to our war record to transportation and highways etc. 14 points to ponder and not one of them anything to do with gay equality. I wrote in red marker across the survey "14 items here and you can't even mention gay equality? FUCK YOU TO HELL!" At the bottom of the survey was a place to check off the amount of your donation! FAT CHANCE! Talk About Insulting!
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Name: Allen
Date posted: 8/20/2010 7:55:59 AM
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale

Comment:
All of the progress on these various issues is really nice except for one problem. ALL of this progress can be reversed by one incoming GOP President in 2012! So none of these changes are permanent unlike all of Obama's grand promises (repeal of DOMA and passage of ENDA). We need permanent progess and security in our lives not bandaid fixes to get votes and money! We need our relationships recognized legally period.
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Name: 1of18000
Date posted: 8/20/2010 7:25:23 AM
Hometown: London

Comment:
I'm sorry but I refuse to believe that the American Dream has been reduced to accepting the lesser of two spineless, poll-obsessed cowards. It is Obama's obligation to stand up for what is right. Not what is expedient. Not what is comfortable for him personally. Obama sets the tone on major topics in the country. The tone he is setting is that discrimination against gays and lesbians is OK, there's no rush to fix it, it's not a front-burner priority. This would be unacceptable from any President. It is downright offensive from a President who committed to being our "fierce advocate" and is a member of another oppressed minority. When he was in LA he should have announced that reading Walker's ruling made him realize that it was time for him to support marriage equality. He should find the courage say that the stories from discharged soldiers has moved him to suspend enforcement of DADT for now. Instead, he's too busy flip-flopping on the issue of the mosque near Ground Zero.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Josephina Hease
Date posted: 8/20/2010 3:55:49 AM
Hometown: Jacksonville

Comment:
Either I've stepped into a Republican GOProud (lol) convention or no one here remembers 2004. When GWB Said "we ought to codify that" about banning gay marriage, if you remember, that helped push his re-election (along with other issues). Any President that supports gay marriage will F.A.I.L. after 2004. Get it? no? Remember California 2008? Prop 8? no? The majority of this nation is still not in our favor fully. (maybe 52%?) and you expect Obama to get a majority of congress to do something they won't or you will punish him? Is that right? Well like I said, either this is a GOProud (lol) convention or the vast majority of posters on this site is politically ignunt. If you don't support the party that is TRYING to support us then you are no better than our political enemies. P.E.R.I.O.D.

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