Moore writes: "One reason the majority's opinion on this issue has changed is due, in large part, to the many of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who have taken the risk and come out of the closet."
Portrait, Michael Moore, 04/03/09. (photo: Ann-Christine Poujoulat/Getty)
Obama and Gay Rights
13 May 12
am deeply moved by the announcement made a short while ago that President Obama has gone back to his original position in 1996 and come out publicly in support of same-sex marriage. It may seem like a risky move, but the majority of Americans already support the equal rights of gays and lesbians to marry. Public opinion has completely flipped since 2004. It's been a faster change than anyone could have predicted. But the older generation with their anti-gay views are replaced with a younger generation who are not as rigid, hate-filled, frightened, and bigoted as many of their elders. Hate to have to put it that way, but that's the truth. It's why we were able to have an African American president, and it's why I believe, in spite of all other proof to the contrary, things WILL get better in this country.
One other point: One reason the majority's opinion on this issue has changed is due, in large part, to the many of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who have taken the risk and come out of the closet. By doing so to their friends, family, neighbors, classmates and co-workers, they have forced people to deal with them as human beings. It is much harder to hate when that gay person is your son, that lesbian is your aunt, that homosexual is the person who covers for you on the job when you've got a sick kid, and that gay couple next door have the best-kept yard on the block (I'm not saying they're better at gardening, I'm just saying, they're neighbors, like anyone else). So, the more people said they were gay, the faster that fear and hate peeled away.
To all of our gay and lesbian citizens who have had to suffer for far too long in this "land of the free," thank you (and President Obama) for making us a true home of the brave.
Addendum #1: Yes, Obama did the wrong thing not speaking out before the North Carolina vote to ban gay marriage yesterday. I don't know the guy, but let me suggest this: perhaps he was as disgusted by that vote as the rest of us were today and just couldn't remain silent any longer. For those of you who are commenting and saying that this was just a calculated political move on his part - well, what politician, the day after the public votes one way, comes out the OTHER way. This is a swing state. A slick pol, on this day after, would have either remained silent or said something to show he is "with the people." He didn't do that. He took the position opposite to the one the majority of people in North Carolina took. Look, I have a lot of criticisms of Obama. I have been profoundly disappointed by him. But when he does the right thing, he needs to hear from the majority that we support what he did. You can't stay stuck in your cynicism every single day.
Addendum #2: I agree there are many older people who aren't bigots and who are more open-minded than their peers. But the polls are very clear on the age issue: According to ABC News tonight, 61% of those under 40 are in favor of legalizing gay marriage. But for those over 65, the majority are opposed and believe it should be illegal, with only 40% in favor of same-sex marriage. That is a HUGE generational gap - and a testimony to the older boomers who raised these "kids" to grow up to be loving, accepting human beings.
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Comments
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And let's give Obama credit for this too!
And finally, credit to my boomer generation
for passing on the value of tolerance for
people who may not be exactly like what we are!
I do hope this means thing WILL indeed get better, Mr. Moore. And thanks for always being on the side of righteousness. You're a mensch!
But far more important, I want my political leaders LEADING!!! Not taking bribes, but running the country in a manner in the best interest of the citizens. ALL citizens, not just those Fat Cats that fund the elections!!!
By hinting of support for Gay rights, Obama is taking a page from their playbook, but targeting a different audience. His economic and civil liberties record has created serious problems for him with progressives, and he hopes to skirt those problems.
jlohman I respectfully disagree. These people are just people. They should not be LEADING. They should be FOLLOWING! Their job is to represent the interest of their elecorate. "We the people" are obligated to lead. They are supposed to follow our instruction and vote OUR direction. "We the people" have the responsibility to be our government. That is the "great experiment". I totally respect your philosophy but I am ashamed of of so many of our co-citizens who have abandoned the responsibility of self government. The idiot is Washington, the professional lobbyists, the career warriors and congressional crooks are OUR creation. Time to rework the clay. Do not re-elect anyone and only elect those who REPRESENT. That is their job. Leadership is ours.
The ones you are talking of those fat cats that do all religiously cast a vote, they only pay for campaigns not the election you pay from tax via treasury.
And, thanks to you Peacedragon, for your reminding me to be thankful for being lucky enough to be asked in the 1990's,by a dear old friend and former city councilman/comm unity organizer in human(e) rights named Luis Cortez, to be on the Colorado Springs Minority Coalition. I couldn't say no when his call for help came to be a rep. for the disabled on the coalition. Educated I was, while serving, regarding the incredible suffering the members of the LGBT community and their families/friend s go through, based far too often on erzatz Christian hatred and unending push to keep them invisible and in the closet.
A dear man on the coalition, Frank Whitworth Wimberly, fought the so discriminating, anti-gay law passed in Colorado, by and through his gay rights Ground Zero. All the way to the Supreme Court the fight went, and, miracle of miracles, the Supremes ruled in favor of Constitutional rights, and Amendment 6 went bye bye.
A few years ago, out came a great book from my friend, Fr. Patrick Hannon (another St.-Irish devil). The Notre Dame award winning priest/writer, wrote of his giving pre-nup counseling to a Lesbain couple, then blessing their marriage.
Full of determination and courage we must be, in these so troubled/justic e and peace quashed times.
We value our gay friends and want them to have all the rights others have in this country. And I have to wonder who does the polls...as I have never been polled.
The 3 Steps:
1st - it is ridiculed.
2nd - it is violently opposed.
3rd - it is accepted as being self evident.
Seems like the latest tactics by the GOP against same sex rights and their new war on Women are all but handing over the election in 2012.
I speak out with other older folk to let you all know that we are a highly verbal and motivated minority. Don't give up on us. We never did give up on you.
I still wonder WHY WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS? It IS THEIR RIGHT (period) just as it is the RIGHT for a woman to VOTE or a person of color to marry and a person of another color (or white) to marry.
As the GOP/TP regress to taking back a woman's right to "her body" - their "man/woman" marriage dictate is laughable. In fact, Mitt Romney came from a group who believe(d) in a man and many women -- so how does he .....
If a "gay" marriage hurt my welfare or marriage or ???? - then I'd say "no" but how, in any way- shape-form, can a marriage of 2 persons of same sex hurt me? WOW --
Vote Dem + Vote Obama + JUST VOTE!!!!!
And if you can spare a "time" - go to Dem headquarters & get registration forms and sit outside grocery stores in your "area" to get minority people registered. Explain "they, too, can mail-in their ballots" and don't have to stand in long lines (etc)
It is imperative ALL Americans VOTE (period) or the Koch led TP/GOP will continue to give us "the best govt money can guy"
Think about running for elections - even at the local level (we need good education)
I remain deeply disturbed by the lack of conversation on the gay marriage issue vis a vis separation of church and state. Under the US constitution, the state has an overt interest in, and responsibility for, the legal definition of marriage only. Any other meaning--econom ic, spiritual, religious, sexual--is constitutionall y beyond the reach of state up to the individual.
We need to argue about marriage, and everything else. It's the American way. Let's keep those arguments where they belong, and recognize a threat to the separation of church and state--the American raison d'etre--when it is staring us in the face.
Marriage morality is discourse for families, neighbors, communities, lovers and worshipers of any and every faith.
The economics of marriage is discourse for businesses and lawyers.
Because public discourse on this and many other issues has been effectively hijacked by the ever-so-effecti ve marketing and communication gurus tied to both parties, I am no longer a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent.
I am nothing more than, and nothing less than, a voter.
We don't get to vote for OTHER people's rights; the Constitution states we are BORN with those rights. Just as we did not "free" the slaves — they were BORN free — we stopped ENSLAVING them; likewise we don't need to GRANT gays their rights, we need to stop DENYING them their rights.
Hmm.
Cynical, damage limitation and/or a strategic diversion - work just as well AFAICT.
Jesus chose to travel with 12 mates whose feet he could wash with eyes at what level? But he preached love as we all should love and care for others is not to be a gossipy busybody interfering in privacy or others, I think.
But THEY make it and outing / blackmail an issue - FFS!
'Straights' don't.
"HI THERE. I AM OVERWHELMINGLY NORMAL!"
Boring ...
Obviously the 60% who are opposed in this age bracket due not read RSN and comment on these pages. Facts are facts and can be upsetting to those who do not agree.
But facts don't lie...older people are disproportionat ely more bigoted and conservative. These may not be the people many of you associate with-but they are out there.
Got it excuse my mistake. I'm only Bi since 32+ and 68nowslowing down.
You were out spoken in your youth but are less out spoken with age. You do not openly support gay anything outside of your immediate household unless with the anonymity of an online avatar (even with gay friends, offspring etc). I ask you to remember the days of our youth and activism.
Challenge your neighbor, card group, book club, whatever. Take your power back. Make your representative in congress do their job and represent YOU! Their job is not leadership. They are not beholden to any church, think tank or economic power. They are responsible to the voter only! Re-elect no one. Vote only for those who represent your philosophy not someone who owes allegiance to a church or corporation. Your life depends on it.
To me this whole gay issue is a distraction by the righties to get people focused on this crap instead of the real issues, like the economy and what a train wreck the Mittster already is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68LUHa_-OlA&feature=related
If polling showed disapproval at the rates of 2004, there's no doubt in my mind that Obama would not have evolved this quickly, no matter what his wife and daughters believe.
LGBT rights have been politicized to the extreme for decades and we're sick of it. Democrats rarely stand by LGBT people until polls show that it's safe to do so, then they reap the benefits. I understand the influence of the religious right, I might even buy an argument that it was necessary for Obama to flip flop on this issue because the threat of the Republican Party is so severe but when I see the New Yorker suggesting that Obama's statement will go down in LGBT history as monumental as Stonewall, it makes me cynical. There was nothing brave about it in my view. At the same time I can be pleased with the statement and supportive.
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