Symbolic gestures like Obama’s paper-tiger presidential memorandum granting same-sex partner benefits to federal employees sans health care benefits and “discussions” on repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” are hardly accomplishments at this point in history. According to recent Gallup Polls, 67% of Americans believe same-sex partners should receive employee benefits, INCLUDING health insurance, while 58% support REPEALING “don’t ask, don’t tell” now. Yet, despite public opinion in their favor on these two issues, the Democratic controlled federal government is doing nothing because, quite frankly, they are not held accountable. To be blunt, the Obama administration’s recent actions show how little sincerity it has in fulfilling its many campaign pledges to the gay community, notably repealing the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Unfortunately for the gay community and their supporters who expected, or HOPED as the case may be, for real change from Obama in their fight for equal rights, they have once again been blatantly misled, but this time by a new, smooth-talking populist president not named Clinton. Obama’s memorandum does NOTHING of significance. It allows some federal partner benefits to flow to same-sex couples, but does not include health care benefits as prohibited by DOMA. Again, what real progress has been made here? Very, very little and the gay community should feel betrayed.
However, the real travesty here is the President’s motivation – to placate the uproar on the heels of Obama’s Department of Justice brief DEFENDING the constitutionality of DOMA in which homosexual marriage was compared to incest marriage and statutory rape. Here is the rub - the memorandum only came AFTER high-profile gay advocates and donors backed-out of the upcoming LGBT 10th Annual Leadership Council fundraiser, er, Dinner featuring high profile state and Congressional Democrats, with special guest Vice President Joe Biden. Is this a coincidence or a weak attempt at political damage control to maintain the cash-flow from gay-rights advocates and credibility on their issues? The answer is pretty clear, but for good measure, let’s take a look at some fundraising figures.
By rough estimates, supporters of gay rights contributed well over $14 million (and likely millions more from donors not identifying their donations as “issue” focused) to Congressional Democrats the past two decades, not to mention approximately $5 million, likely much more, since 2000 contributed to state Democratic candidates. That’s right, nearly $20 million (not including support from non-profit organizations in form of ads, grassroots support, etc…)) that can be specifically identified, and likely millions and millions more, contributed to Democrats that has resulted in minimal progress at the state and national level. So let’s ask one question, a question that the gay community and their supporters for equal rights should also ask – are supporters of gay rights tired of being ideologically and financially fleeced by the Democratic Party? If they are, there is one solution – STOP SUPPORTING DEMOCRATS!
What “change” or action has this fleecing brought? Lip service to the equal rights cause, insincere campaign promises, more and more fundraisers to advance the cause (because hey, financial support is still given despite Democrat inaction - so why stop?!), providing them credibility with intellectual elitists and progressives alike in order to advance other agendas. The partnership between the Democrat Party and the gay community has been one-sided at-best, parasitic at worst. Maybe it’s time the gay-rights movement stopped resting its hopes for equality with a party that benefits more from their inequality and keep an open-mind with moderate Republicans in advancing their cause.
While the Republican Party at the national and state level has historically opposed gay-rights, as have most moderates and a large chunk of Democrats, that position is slowly, but surely, changing and in particular amongst its younger members like those involved in the Chicago Young Republicans. More and more, young Republicans are reaching out to the gay community to not only better understand their perspectives, but also prove to them that they are equal and appreciate members of society. You are welcome here.
