State of the Union Address - One little comment about queer folks

[iamkeri1]

In a speech that ran one hour and twenty minutes, President Obama devoted one paragraph +/- to our people. He did not deal with equal rights on jobs and in housing, he did not call for the repeal of DOMA. BUT he did say that discrimination in US military would end for gays by the end of this year. That is a good thing for those who serve in our armed forces, and may result (I hope) in restoration of pension benefits for some who have been denied them due to sexual orientation. However, it saddens me that "we" (and I use this we loosely, because I have not ever served in the military) are allowed to suffer and die to give life and limb for our country, but are not supported as we choose who to love.
Disappointed smooches,
Keri

[Dylan]

It sounded half-hearted after all that great stuff in the beginning.

It sounded like some nice lip-service

"Going to work with the military..." sounds like "Oh, yeah, we're working on it...it's being processed...it's in the mail"


Dylan

[MsDemeanor]

Let's see.....

Record unemployment, record foreclosures, one job opening for every 6 applicants, individuals and small businesses drowning in health care costs, two wars, a crumbling education system, record bonuses on Wall Street a year after government bailouts. I'm sure that I missed a point or two.

One social issue covered in the speech, and it was a gay rights issue.

Yeah, he could have gone on for several minutes about equality and fair employment and DOMA, but it wouldn't be very good strategy to work so hard in that speech to grab the independents and undecideds and waverings, then turn them off with what the right wing would spin in to his wanting to give special hiring privileges to gays when straight folks can't find work. As is it, the Faux Newzers and tea baggers will latch on to his total disregard for the plight of the "average American" simply because he even bothered to mention us queers.

Yeah, it'd be nice to get more, but this was not the appropriate venue for him to offer more.

Personally, I was thrilled to see the repugs sitting on their hands when he suggested that the government should get back every penny from the banks. Any democrat who is not building an election or re-election commercial around that clip is an idiot.

[Toughy]

History tells us the military must be integrated before the culture changes. DADT must end first. The military must be the first 'institution' to integrate. Then when will get equality in marriage.

I actually think he will do this........the military brass are shifting..........leadership changes culture.

Originally Posted by iamkeri1

In a speech that ran one hour and twenty minutes, President Obama devoted one paragraph +/- to our people. He did not deal with equal rights on jobs and in housing, he did not call for the repeal of DOMA. BUT he did say that discrimination in US military would end for gays by the end of this year. That is a good thing for those who serve in our armed forces, and may result (I hope) in restoration of pension benefits for some who have been denied them due to sexual orientation. However, it saddens me that "we" (and I use this we loosely, because I have not ever served in the military) are allowed to suffer and die to give life and limb for our country, but are not supported as we choose who to love.
Disappointed smooches,
Keri

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by Toughy

History tells us the military must be integrated before the culture changes. DADT must end first. The military must be the first 'institution' to integrate.

Yeah, there's that too. Thanks, T.

[ButchBowWow]

While I would have cheered my ass off if he had talked more about us, I was thrilled he called the Supreme Court on their bullshit ruling and the Republicans on their just say no policy. I was really hoping he would tell the Democrats more forcefully to grow a spine.

[Andrew, Jr.]

I feel like Obama was just covering his butt. It was lip service when it came to our community.

I had to reread his speech a couple of times. We lost, by our govts estimate, 7 million jobs in the last 2 years. I think it is more than that. Look at all of those folks who are working underemployed, or who have 3 or 4 part time jobs just to make ends meet.

He beggs Congress not to let the health care reform go. He beggs? What kind of man beggs? Something is wrong with this. Maybe I read it wrong. I think we need this like yesterday.

The one thing Obama said is that "Wall Street is rewarded but hard work on Main Street isn't." Now that is about the one thing that stood out in my mind.

The United States has lost it's luster if you ask me.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by Toughy

History tells us the military must be integrated before the culture changes. DADT must end first. The military must be the first 'institution' to integrate. Then when will get equality in marriage.

I actually think he will do this........the military brass are shifting..........leadership changes culture.

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

Yeah, there's that too. Thanks, T.

joemygod:
Tony Perkins On DADT: Gay Soldiers Will Rape Your Christian Ass

"Last night in his State of the Union Address, President Obama repeated his call for Congress to repeal the military eligibility law that was passed in 1993, and to allow homosexual conduct within the ranks of the armed forces.

"This would put our military in the strange position of actively recruiting personnel who have an expressed intention to violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice (which still prohibits certain forms of sexual conduct, including homosexuality). Forcing soldiers to cohabit with people who view them as sexual objects would inevitably lead to increased sexual tension, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault. America's military exists to fight and win wars --not to engage in radical social engineering." - Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, who asks that you fill out the petition he's sending to every member of Congress.
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