Obama’s gay revolt

Will extending same-sex partner rights to federal employees make up for Obama’s inaction on gay issues?

America in 2009 is broadly supportive of gay rights, so why is President Obama “living in 1993”? said John Aravosis in AMERICAblog. After ignoring all eight of his campaign pledges to the gay community, Obama is now going to extend some same-sex partner benefits to gay federal employees. “That’s sweet,” but also “awfully convenient” just as wealthy gay donors are starting to close their wallets. Gay people are too "pissed off” for “cute photo ops.”

The gay community has ample reason to be upset, said the Los Angeles Times in an editorial, as Obama’s Justice Department defends the “odious” Defense of Marriage Act and Obama shows a “curiously passive” attitude toward ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” and other gay-rights priorities. But Obama could be right that a “hasty march” toward gay rights could actually set the movement back by years.

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