Lesbian couple invited on Inaugural Whistle Stop Tour

[Newsjock]

Source: Washington Blade

Today the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the names of 16 families who will join President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden on their Whistle Stop Tour to D.C. the Saturday before the inauguration.

Lesbian couple Lisa Hazirjian and her partner Michelle have been invited to join the Whistle Stop Tour and appear onstage with Obama and Biden during events.

Hazirjian, who is from Ohio, serves as an at-large board member of Equality Ohio, as a member of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats and as a volunteer for Cleveland Families Count, an organization formed to defend the new domestic partner registry in the city.

Read more: http://washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=23...

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. See, this is how it's done

I know there's outrage about Rick Warren, and I understand and share it, but this - just quietly doing the right thing, the inclusive thing, is how change takes place. A great big move that's simply the next thing to do.

Obama is smooth. I still believe.........................

[hisownpetard]

4. Great post. Your OP is right on. Thank you, and GOBAMA!!!!!!!

I truly believe that if we take a step back and let his plans play out, everyone will be included
in his vision for peace and equality, across the board.

I can't stand Rick Warren and felt insulted at the choice, but I have seen - time and time again - how
Obama's quiet and well-reasoned plans sometimes get played out in subtle stages.

I have faith, ultimately, in Obama's integrity and character and therefore feel that he will not let us down.
And by including that couple, without any big fanfare or attention-grabbing drama attached - well, that's just
how it should be!

[yardwork]

9. That's a very positive way to look at it.

I hope that you are right, and I agree that including this family is exactly the right thing to do, and I like how Obama's team did it.

[goclark]

12. That is a very positive way to look at it

[scytherius]

6. Agreed. Nicely said. n/t

nt

[No Elephants]

34. Yes, but maybe the outrage over Warren is what got them to do this.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluebear]

7. Read this. I know you won't understand, but please read it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Maybe you will open your mind enough to know why I hurt. Maybe not. I don't know.

[silverojo]

10. I'm a lesbian with an open mind, but I'm not "hurt"

I know Obama is human, and will make mistakes--sometimes colossal ones. I have my eye on the big picture: That he will take this country forward farther than John McCain and Sarah Palin ever could have done.

Gay marriage will happen (in fact, what pisses ME off is why it isn't called "gay/lesbian marriage"...as if only male homosexuals matter). Warren isn't going to stop it, and Obama's all-inclusiveness will help bring this country around to accepting the idea of GLBT marriage.

You can't win a war if you get hurt and cry over losing small battles. My eyes are on the prize.

[Lucky 13]

16. I'm right there with you.

I'm a lesbian. I'm not "hurt".

He is unquestionably the "smartest muthafucker in the room" and is constantly one step ahead of the media spin. He's gonna do the right thing and he's going to move this country forward.

People can't see the forest for the trees right now and need to look at the bigger picture.

[Cha]

19. Thanks, I love your positive attitude, silverojo~

I think it will happen too..I saved this quote from another forum on DU that helps keep me sane..

1. Events are unfolding as they should.
2. GLBTs will have full equal rights.
3. Twists, turns, detours will not affect the outcome.
4. This reality is bigger than any one man.
5. PC can feel the hearts broken at the Warren pick.
6. Pain precedes change.
7. Struggle and effort must happen to gain rights.
8. Wait and see.
9. The 21st Century: Real dialogue about real issues."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Th1onein]

26. Absolutely!

I think that homophobia is dying out, generation by generation. It can't be gone fast enough for me. But we have to be wise enough to pick our battles. AND to attack those who would destroy us completely, not each other.

[Th1onein]

15. Blue bear, my mind has ALWAYS been open.

For you to assume that it has not makes a statement about the openness of YOUR MIND, not MINE.

What astounds me is that we engage in politics, elect a politician and then expect that politician to not engage in politics. They ALL let us down, in some way. That is to be expected. That is the nature of politics.

Do you think that you are the only ones who worked to get this man elected? You're not. Do you think that he is capable of giving all of us everything that we want? You are mistaken, if you believe that.

But to engage in an all out attack as you and some other people on this board have done, before the man has even taken office, over something as palty and meaningless as who says a prayer at the inauguration, is both pointless and detrimental to your cause as well as mine.

[Bluebear]

24. Did you read the link? I am betting not, because you wouldn't again call it "paltry"

Read about Warren's murderous AIDS "help" in Africa. You will learn it is more than "a prayer".

And the perception of yours that we have engaged in some "all out ATTACK" on Obama is what I consdier hyperdramatic. But whatever, we just won't agree on this.

[Th1onein]

25. I read the link and then the link in the link, Bluebear.......

I still don't think you should have attacked the man the way that you did. He's not even in office yet. What I read, in either link, does nothing to change my opinion.

And, yes, you and others attacked him.

[Bluebear]

27. OK Th1onein, tuly sorry you feel that way. Bye.

[Th1onein]

30. I'm sorry, Bluebear. Truly.

I don't denigrate your cause. Or discount your feelings about the man.

I just worked so hard, along with so many others, to get this guy elected, it really pisses me off to see him attacked before he's even taken office. Surely you understand that, and we can agree to disagree? There's enough division amoung Democrats, as it is; we don't need to be the cause of anymore. We've got a much bigger foe to fight, and we must fight it together, if we're to win.

[Bluebear]

31. This is what you may be missing:

How hard *I* worked to get him elected. I phone banked, I drove people to the polls on election day. I believed. I set aside Donnie McClurkin because everyone told me it would be different once Barack was elected. What you define as "attacking" comes from somewhere deep inside of someone who worked hard too and feels left behind.

Of course I will fight beside you. But I will not be quiet when I see something I perceive as wrong. And just as Obama is not perfect, I am not either. I will get things wrong. But I won't be quiet

edit : spelling

[Th1onein]

32. If you worked hard, then that's even more reason to not attack Obama

ESPECIALLY before he's even in office. You have no idea, yet, what he is going to do.

To my way of thinking, your attacks on him destroy ALL of our hard work, not just yours. Don't you see that?

But, once again, we will agree to disagree.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheWraith]

17. Yes, people have said that. Repeatedly.

Check the GLBT forum.

[Fearless]

3. Told ya so.

[applegrove]

5. The tour is going ahead. Great.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bunnies]

13. That is WAY off base and totally uncalled for.

You just jumped the shark. Big time.

[Th1onein]

28. Are you talking to me, IndianaGreen?

?????

[ZombieHorde]

29. What does your post mean?

[bdamomma]

14. he is including "all" Americans

[dflprincess]

18. I honestly don't see how this excuses his continuing endorsement of a bigot (eom)

[Cha]

20. Good, that means

it's fine.

[dflprincess]

21. I've always suspected you leaned to the right

but giving your blessing to bigots having a national platform seems extreme.

[Cha]

22. Once again you

know nothing but are full of red herrings.

[dflprincess]

23. And, as always,

your well reasoned arguments give those of us who don't agree with you much to think about.

[donheld]

33. K & R