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Setting the Agenda ... the Gay One

COMMENTARY: Prior to the election of Barack Obama, the gay rights agenda risked becoming nothing more than a wish list. But after nearly 30 years during which no major piece of gay rights legislation has been passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, it is time to make a a real push for true equality. Our time at the back of the bus must end. Now.
An Advocate.com exclusive posted November 19, 2008
Setting the Agenda ... the Gay One

The election of Barack Obama as president of the United States marks the end of an unlikely journey to transform the American political scene. In just over four years, Obama went from an unknown Senate candidate to a master of oratory. Now he's the most powerful man in the world. Along the way, he vanquished one of the most formidable political giants of modern politics: Hillary Clinton.

It remains to be seen what change under Barack Obama will really mean. But with a margin of victory for a presidential candidate not seen in decades and an expanded Democratic majority in Congress, we can bet that some measure of change is assured.

Prior to his election the gay rights agenda risked becoming nothing more than a wish list. While gains made on the state level are meaningful and serve to build momentum, they will ultimately be only tokens of equality without securing a majority on the Supreme Court to uphold the promise of the words written by Thomas Jefferson that "all men are created equal." Obama's election greatly increases the likelihood of that happening.

In the meantime, it's come to the point where we must see action by Congress toward meeting the goals of our movement for equality. The Human Rights Campaign Fund began in 1980 with the purpose of lobbying Congress for this very reason. Since then, no major piece of legislation has been passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president. On the contrary, we have seen a ban on gays in the military and the Defense of Marriage Act passed. Our only successful defensive maneuver was to prevent the passage of the Federal Marriage Amendment.

Given our record, a change in strategy is warranted. The "stay the course" crowd's response to this is usually a "let's wait our turn" attitude. Our time at the back of the bus must end. Now.

There are tens of thousands of married couples. Our people serve at the highest levels of government. LGBT money is a major source of funding for politics and our economy. Corporate America treats us more equally than the laws of our country, as do our children. Thus we are reminded on a daily basis that prejudice and discrimination are not inherent -- they are taught and regularly used as weapons of fear.

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Lane Hudson is a communications and political consultant based in Washington, D.C.
Keywords:  2008 Election  Barack Obama 
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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Timothy
    Date posted: 2008-11-23 3:28 AM
    Hometown: Dana Point

    Comment:

    Ok...so you admit that there is a "Homosexual Agenda". The homosexual movement is a farce. What homosexuals want is to be have their sexual behavioral choices and practices socially accepted and legally justified, "whether you like it or not".


  • Name: Barb
    Date posted: 2008-11-19 1:41 PM
    Hometown: Seaside

    Comment:

    Wholeheartedly agreed! We have been patient, we have celebrated ourselves in Pride Parades and in "special" places. Out in to the streets, public and proud, I say! The movement has truly started with last week's spontaneous protests in cities across the nation and the world. No more apologies; no more second-class citizenship. America needs to regain her sense of true democracy and shed the fear based reactions. We have much to gain and nothing to lose at this point and I'm not taking NO for an answer. Peace and FREEDOM.


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