American Politics - The Difference Between the Presidential Candidates on Gay Issues

[CellarDweller]

Whenever I hear of someone who is not going to vote, I shake my head. The first settlers came over here to escape the rule of a king and put place the election system.

Is it perfect? No, but it's the system we have now, and to throw away your right to vote makes no sense to me.

As for not voting for a president, I understand your disappointment, however there are some facts that you need to remember.

NOM (National Organization for Marriage) has gotten Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachman & Mitt Romney to sign their "Marriage Pledge", saying that if elected president, they would support a ban on gay marriage.

President Obama may not have endorsed gay marriage, but he's allowing states to make their own decisions to support this cause. On top of that, President Obama has done A LOT for the gay community.

2009

Ordered Federal Government to extend key benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

Hosted the FIRST White House LGBT pride reception in history.

Awarded the highest civilian honor, the medal of freedom, to lesbian Billie Jean King, and the late gay activist Harvey Milk.

Created a National Resource Center for Lesiban, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Elders

Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.

2010

Ended discrimination based on gender identity in the federal government.

Lifted the ban that prohibited people with HIV/AIDS from entering the US.

Ensured Hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for gay & lesbain patients.

Allowed trans Americans to receive true gender passports without surgery.

Clarified the Family and Medical Leave Act ensuring family leave for LGBT employees.

Released America's first comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness, which includes homeless LGBT youth.

Awarded a grant to the Los Angelas Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center to work with LGBT foster youths.

Recorded an "It Gets Better" video.

Led a United Nations measure that restored "sexual orientation" to the definition of human rights.

Signed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".

2011

Ensured that government housing programs can no longer discriminate against the LGBT community.

Proposed more funding for LGBT priorities such as HIV/AIDS prevention and education, and bullying and teen suicide prevention.

Declared the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional and announced the administration will no longer defend its constutionality in court.

Hosted a conference on bullying prevention at the White House.

Completed an Institute of Medicine study on LGBT Heath, the first of its kind.

Clarified the meaning of "family" to include LGBT relationships, helping to protect bi-national families threatened by deportation.

Supported lesbian widow Edith Winsor in her suit against DOMA.

Issued guidence to foster safer working environments for transgender federal employees.

Strengthened enforcement of same-sex hospital visitation rights and decision making.

Implemented the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.



Why should we not support this President when he's clearly supporting us?