Why Are We Giving Obama So Much Credit for So Few Empty Words?

By West Village Bill

Everyone is falling all over themselves praising President Obama for saying what we can be pretty sure he's believed all along, despite his bullshit talk about how his views are evolving on the issue: He's got no problem with gay and lesbian couples getting married.

I'm not arguing that it isn't a significant development for a sitting president to endorse gay marriage. But let's not forget the other, all-important thing he said about same-sex marriage: It should be left up to the states to decide. So even though he believes it should be allowed to happen, he's not about to impose it on states that are repulsed by the very thought of it. And he's tacitly making the argument that the U.S. Constitution doesn't grant LGBT citizens the right to marry whoever they want. I'd like to ask him why states should get to decide this matter but not whether citizens of different races should be allowed to marry. And I'm saddened that it's mostly conservative and libertarian voices who are pointing out the ridiculousness of that part of Obama's statement.

And of course, he said this a day too late to have any effect on the opinions of the people of North Carolina, who enshrined discrimination against lesbian and gay couples into their state constitution.

Ultimately, it's just empty talk in an election year. Just like this too-little-too-late election-year spin from Harry Reid on how he was wrong to let the Republicans play him for a fool.

Obama still doesn't plan to sign an executive order banning discrimination against LGBT workers at companies with government contracts. That's something he could do right now that would have a definite, positive impace on people's lives.

And we can't overlook the fact that Joe Biden's response to a question forced Obama to make a statement now. I don't buy the story that the White House was planning to endorse marriage equality sometime before the election.

And we also must not forget the all-important issue of money. Donations from deep-pocketed LGBTers were down, and he probably thought this action these words would get the checks rolling in again. And he's almost certainly right about that.

We have to demand more from this self-described fierce advocate of our community. Despite his occasional public complaints about Wall Street behavior, the banksters have gotten everything they've wanted from Obama in return for heavily donating to his first campaign. Why do we LGBT citizens happily settle for so little?

Crossposted at Hawleyblog

Ready for my Wedding: Thank you, New York!

By Ivan Vargas

I'm proud to call myself a New Yorker. The State finally did the right thing. Now I need to find me a stud... and that Vera Wang dress. I'll make an adorable bridezilla and I'll make sure everyone shakes in terror as I prepare to say my vows. I'll have that luxurious wedding at Saint Pat's, the reception at any grandiose place of my choice that is comfortably nestled in Manhattan, preferably on the High-Line, and I'll finally be able to scream stylized bon mots at my husband during those nights locked inside our Manhattan hi-rise, preferably with a Central Park view, that will make George and Martha shake their head in shame and long for Albee to raise their verbal violence just inches short of gunfire and manslaughter. Oh, the expensive dinnerware and cutlery and Japanese vases we'll fling at each other full force, the nights filled with stares of sheer anger and nary a word uttered as the tension rises and Juanita the maid wonders if this will be the night she'll become mincemeat, and then, the operatic moments of fabulous man-sex that will cement that we, in short, are a Couple. Thank you, New York!

Gov Cuomo Continues Push for Same-Sex Marriage in NY

QNY's Justin Elzie Arrested in Protest

By Father Tony

QNY team member Justin Elzie and three other members of Queer Rising have just been arrested in a Valentine's Day Protest at the New York City Marriage Bureau Office at 141 Worth St. Justin is on the left in this William Berger photo.

Update: here's the video:

Union Square Marriage Equality Rally

Posted by Christian H.

We had a sunny blue morning in NYC. At this time of year I make a special effort to enjoy sunlight at every opportunity. During the late Autumn and Winter months, I am outdoors in the sun for only 10 or 15 minutes on my way to work in the morning. The first year I worked in Midtown, another motivation for our tall glass skyscrapers became clear: without them, we 9 to 5 worker bees would forget there's a sun at all.

By the time I arrived at last night's marriage equality rally in Union Square, night had fallen and a chill was creeping into the air. Outerwear in NYC trend to blues, blacks, and very dark colors, making the crowd look homogeneous to my eye. Compared to last year's Prop 8 march, there were far fewer signs. The sound system was not effective at the rear of the crowd, and those who couldn't hear were making small talk among themselves, compounding the problem.

Why I Love New York Tonight

Posted by Beau RN

I missed last night’s spontaneous rally at Times Square after the defeat of the Marriage Equality bill by the NY State Senate yesterday afternoon. When I heard more than a thousand people showed up to voice their outrage over the defeat my first thought was, “I’m not sure counting unaware tourists trying to get their theater groove on at TKTS necessarily constitutes a pro-gay marriage stance or organized outrage at the New York State Senate.” But whatever, I let it go.

I specifically wanted to make the NY Marriage Equality candlelight vigil tonight in Union Square because I missed last night‘s rally so I set out on the downtown 6 train from Harlem, anticipating wandering into a seething, undulating mass of righteously outraged LGBTer’s and their allies. My first tweet when I got up to the rally was, “Oh I see we’re on Gay Time” because ten minutes before the posted start of the event there were very few actual people other than those setting up around the platform and speaker. I started sweating and worrying that I missed a cancellation notice and end up milling about, tapping on my phone, trying not to look conspicuous until enough people pushed forward to make something of a small, angry mob.

My second tweet after the break....

Equality NOW!

posted by riot

Above is me (in orange) and Richard (with the black beard) at last year's rally protesting the Mormon involvement in passing Prop 8.

I missed the rally last night in Times Square. I'm going to the rally tonight in Union Square, details for which are below. I wish I had time to make big signs, but I'm stuck at the office today. I'll be creatively using my laser printer!

The NYC response to Prop 8's passage was huge. I hope that our response to this affront in our own state will be larger by several orders of magnitude. Last night and tonight should be the first of many rallies and huge political action.

And perhaps most importantly, we need to get rid of the Democrats who betrayed us and elect Democrats who will support us for the next vote. A clear message must be sent: we will not be taken for granted.

Union Square Rally for Marriage Equality
New York, New York
December 3, 2009
6:00pm

North End of Union Square
17th Street & Broadway