Gay activists meet with Obama team

[canis_lupus]

From The Washington Blade:

Gay activists met with members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team last week in a two-hour session focused on policy issues and presidential appointments, according to gay group leaders.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said transition leaders were “very receptive” to requests from gay activists.

“I think they went to great lengths to explain their vision for how would work and how our community would be a part of that,” he said.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said transition team officials were attentive during the meeting and very appreciate of the clarity of recommended policy changes.

“They were taking notes, they were listening, they were responding, they were asking questions, they were a very, very engaged transition team and that bodes well for our community moving forward,” she said.

http://www.washblade.com/2008/12-19/news/national/13787.cfm

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Was this pre- or post-Warren? nt

[IndianaGreen]

14. Pre-Warren! What a sucker punch!

There is a whiff of triangulation in the air.

[Gman]

2. There are people now with a place at the table than haven't had one in eight years

but there's still bitching and moaning and whining and complaining about Obama. But, oh... the GLBT leaders still showed up for this meeting.

[yardwork]

4. What is your problem?

[MNBrewer]

5. So that's what "a place at the table" looks like

Not very impressive.

[Zuiderelle]

6. Using words like bitching and moaning and whining don't help much.

Especially when you post them here in our forum.

Jesus.

[bluedawg12]

7. Oh wait, it's been 15 seconds and we haven't kissed the ground?

but oh wait---you showed up. Good ESAD.

[Raster]

8. No one, except warmongers and the energy mafia had a place at the table the last eight years.

So what is your fucking problem, eh?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. Here's what the Obama team told the gay reps:

"Don't worry about us throwing all of you under the bus. We promise we'll do something to make up for that in the future."

[bluedawg12]

11. LMAO

becasue it's true.

[Jamastiene]

12. Methinks thou doeth protest too much. n/t

[noamnety]

3. Thanks - it's interesting to see what they felt a week ago

and the differences between the reassurances they got, and what's actually happened since then. This week, Joe Solmonese says:

Dear President-elect Obama -

Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans. Our loss in California over the passage of Proposition 8 which stripped loving, committed same-sex couples of their given legal right to marry is the greatest loss our community has faced in 40 years. And by inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table.

Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, “there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population ... This is not a political issue -- it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about." Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it's a lie today.

Rev. Warren cannot name a single theological issue that he and vehemently, anti-gay theologian James Dobson disagree on. Rev. Warren is not a moderate pastor who is trying to bring all sides together. Instead, Rev. Warren has often played the role of general in the cultural war waged against LGBT Americans, many of whom also share a strong tradition of religion and faith.

We have been moved by your calls to religious leaders to own up to the homophobia and racism that has stood in the way of combating HIV and AIDS in this country. And that you have publicly called on religious leaders to open their hearts to their LGBT family members, neighbors and friends.

But in this case, we feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination. Only when Rev. Warren and others support basic legislative protections for LGBT Americans can we believe their claim that they are not four-square against our rights and dignity. In that light, we urge you to reconsider this announcement.

Sincerely,
Joe Solmonese
President
Human Rights Campaign

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/2500

[bluedawg12]

10. That meeting was 13 days ago - things change

Four days later Solomonese had to send a letter:

“I Will NOT Be Ignored” »
HRC’s Joe Solmonese: Rick Warren choice a “genuine blow” that indicates a “deep level of disrespect.”
By: Teddy Partridge Wednesday December 17, 2008 2:11 pm

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. I just read the article. I'll bet they met with the gay reps just BEFORE they were going to drop

the bomb that Obama had chosen a bigot-homophobe-woman-hater as his preacher.

Isn't that pretty.

[MountainLaurel]

15. I wonder what those reps are saying today? n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. Probably they're dismayed? nt