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The World as It Should Be

Michelle Obama states her case for why an Obama presidency would make for an LGBT-friendlier America.
From The Advocate  October 21, 2008
The World as It Should Be

In about a month, Americans will head to the polls to cast their votes for the next president of the United States. It will be a momentous day. But this presidential election has already changed our country in profound ways. The candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have smashed old barriers and broadened opportunities for all Americans. And I’m grateful to them -- both as a citizen and as a parent of two young girls.

But our country’s journey toward equality is not finished. It’s been five years since Lawrence v. Texas. It’s been 39 years since Stonewall. And we still have more work to do before we achieve equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

Election Day offers an opportunity to take another crucial step toward equality. Millions have joined this movement for change. People are hoping again -- believing again -- that we can come together to create a stronger, fairer nation. And on November 4 we’ll have a chance to put that hope into action.

Translating hope into action is something Barack has done for his entire career.

Barack and I met in Chicago 20 years ago. He thought the best way for me to know him was to get a sense of the work he cared about most. After college he had worked in neighborhoods that were devastated when steel plants shut down and jobs dried up. He’d been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to create new opportunities for their families. He asked me to come with him.

I watched as Barack took off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and instantly connected with every person in that room. He gave the most eloquent talk about “the world as it is” and “the world as it should be.”

Too often, he said, we accept the distance between the two, and we settle for the world as it is -- even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations. But he reminded us that we know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves and find the strength to strive for the world as it should be.

Barack Obama, the 2008 presidential nominee, is the same man I fell in love with on that day 20 years ago. He has never stopped pursuing that better world.  

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Keywords:  2008 Election  Michelle Obama 
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  • Name: DANTE F.
    Date posted: 2008-09-28 9:32 PM
    Hometown: CHICAGO

    Comment:

    No sane GLBT person would risk a McCain presidency. VOTING FOR A 3RD PARTY CANDIDATE IS A VOTE FOR McCAIN. Come ON people! it's time to grow up and get real. Obama is not perfect when it comes to GLBT issues, but consider McCain's record: he's more than against gay Marriage: he voted in favor of DOMA, he supports the California ban, he's "proud" of the Arizona constitutional ban, he supports a FEDERAL constitutional ban, and he's AGAINST CIVIL UNIONS! HE'S AGAINST GAY ADOPTION, HE'S AGAINST ADDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION TO THE FEDERAL HATE CRIMES LAW, and HE SUPPORTS "DON'T ASK DON'T TELL." He voted AGAINST EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION. There is no comparison. Stop whining and start thinking -- we must defeat the Repubs. Vote Obama, or we all suffer the consequences.


  • Name: Joseph Hill
    Date posted: 2008-09-26 5:17 PM
    Hometown: Worcester, MA

    Comment:

    I wholeheartedly agree with LeoOnTheEdge and Landon Bryce...up to a point. I will NOT vote for Senator Obama. Like so many in the timid and ineffectual "Democratic Party", Obama sees no problem in treating LGBTQ voters as back-of-the-bus cash cows with nowhere else to go, given the horrific Republican stance on anything even close to LGBTQ EQUALITY.These 'enlightened' Democratic candidates assume that we will not only settle for back-of-the-bus status, but will meekly chip in for gas. Why do they assume this? Why not? Our people, led by the HRC and other "mainstream" gay groups, ACCEPT second-class status...and dutifully devote their money and energies to electing candidates who offer us only SIMILAR--rather than EQUAL--rights. I will vote for a 3rd-party candidate (again!)...one who supports equality openly and unequivocally. I urge you all to vote your hopes...NOT your fears; otherwise, we will forever be treated as captives of the Democratic Party.


  • Name: LeoOnTheEdge
    Date posted: 2008-09-26 3:40 PM
    Hometown: Edgewater, New Jersey

    Comment:

    Michelle is correct...we still have a long way to go before achieving equality under the law. Maybe she can make her husband understand that our second class status today is as totally unacceptable as it was when blacks didn't have the the right to vote or were confined to 'black only' public facilities. As someone who understands the toxicity of discrimination and inequality and all of its ramifications, Barak Obama should know better and shame on him for his spotty and unreliable support of our community. He still has my vote, but it won't be an enthusiastic one.


  • Name: Kurt Dyer
    Date posted: 2008-09-25 1:09 PM
    Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

    Comment:

    Dear Michelle, I'm with you and Barack 100%. There are certainly some things that I wish Barack would be able to come out and publicly declare his support for, such as same-sex marriage. I feel confident that I know you support same-sex marriage and are certainly a champion of equal rights for all - which was witnessed during your tenure at Public Allies. I hope that everyone sees what a champion we'll have in Barack Obama. I am so proud to be able to vote for him on November 4th and hope that scores of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals will put him over the top in state after state on November 4. Thanks for all you do and for penning such an eloquent and beautiful letter.


  • Name: David
    Date posted: 2008-09-24 9:48 PM
    Hometown: Scranton, PA

    Comment:

    Nicely put, Mrs. Obama. I think anyone can reasonably doubt how genuinely compassionate and understanding both yourself and Mr. Obama are when it comes to the gay cause. You've definitely got my vote!


  • Name: Landon Bryce
    Date posted: 2008-09-24 5:30 PM
    Hometown: San Jose

    Comment:

    Dear Michelle, In the world as it should be, I would be able to choose a presidential candidate who believes that I am entitled to equal rights. Your husband does not believe the relationships of gay people should have the same status as your marriage. In the world as it should be, your husband would not be using bigotry against me to further his campaign. Apparently, he learned nothing from gay outrage at his use of Donnie McClurkin and is sending out Douglas Kmiec, another enemy of gay equality and dignity, to campaign for him. We are tired of being begged for money at the same time the word "gay" is banished from the party platform in order to make those who hate us more comfortable. If your husband deserved the support you request, he would have prevented that. I will vote for your husband. But gay people need to give our labor and money to gay candidates, to oppose initiative attacks on us, and to unambiguous allies. Your husband is not one of them.


  • Name: Landon Bryce
    Date posted: 2008-09-24 5:26 PM
    Hometown: San Jose

    Comment:

    Dear Michelle, In the world as it should be, I would be able to choose a presidential candidate who believes that I am entitled to equal rights. Your husband does not believe the relationships of gay people should have the same status as your marriage. In the world as it should be, your husband would not be using bigotry against me to further his campaign. Apparently, he learned nothing from gay outrage at his use of Donnie McClurkin and is sending out Douglas Kmiec, another enemy of gay equality and dignity, to campaign for him. We are tired of being begged for money at the same time the word "gay" is banished from the party platform in order to make those who hate us more comfortable. If your husband deserved the suppoort you request, he would have prevented that. I will vote for your husband. But gay people need to give our labor and money to gay candidates, to oppose initiative attacks on us, and to umambiguous allies. Your husband is not one of them.


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