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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYes, the president is to be credited
from the People's View: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/11/four-years-after-prop-8-difference.html
The Impact of A President: A Personal Reflection on Equality
____ I remember telling people following (PBO's first) election - people who thought that they should have stayed in California and helped defeat Prop 8 instead of going to a swing state for President Obama - that they have nothing to regret. I was heartbroken over the loss on Prop 8, but somehow I knew, and I told my friends, that the election of Barack Obama was the biggest positive development in the LGBT rights movement since Harvey Milk.
Why, you ask, even though in 2008, Obama ran as a candidate who believed that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Well, because he was the one candidate I saw that went to audiences not traditionally friendly to gay rights and talked about the need for supporting us. Because Barack Obama was the one candidate who did not see us as expendable chips. Barack Obama promised to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, support our families, and always keep an open mind and continue to learn. He promised to be a fierce advocate for us, without batting an eye.
He has been. He repealed DADT. He ordered all hospitals accepting Medicare to treat our families the same way as anyone else's. And this year, on May 9 (on my birthday!), for the first time in United States history, a sitting American president said those words:
"At a certain point I've just concluded that for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married."
Another emotional avalanche. No tears this time, though. Just elation, jubilation, and pride. Pride in myself, pride in my country, pride in my President. Jumping up and down. The President had come through for us. He'd kept his promise to always listen, always embrace, and always be a fierce advocate. With those simple words, he turned the tide. He did. I don't know how many of you will truly understand this, but the power of the reality that for the first time ever, there sits a man in the highest office in this land who believes in our full civil rights is immense. This President stuck his neck out. For us. No, not just for us. For me. That's how I felt.
It made a big difference. With those words spoken by the President, the march of anti-marriage sweeps through the states stopped. Dead. Cold. Want evidence? On Tuesday, America elected its first openly gay Senator. Voters in Maryland, Washington, and Maine approved same-sex marriage, and voters in Minnesota turned back a Constitutional amendment seeking to restrict that right. They did this year what we couldn't do in 2008. And yes, the president is to be credited . . .
read more: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/11/four-years-after-prop-8-difference.html
RomneyLies
(3,333 posts)I was convinced it would be one, maybe two more generations before my LGBT brothers and sisters would enjoy equal rights.
I can say I have never been so glad to be wrong. We are just a few years away from complete equality.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)He succeeded in a sea of doubters, and props to those who stood by him and lifted him up.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)kick! and rec