Obama Faces Gay Groups’ Growing Anger
The anger from gay rights advocates toward President Obama is starting to boil over.
On Monday, Joe Solmonese, the president of the establishment gay rights group The Human Rights Campaign, sent an angry letter to the president objecting to the decision by the Obama Justice Department to file a brief defending the Defense of Marriage Act.
“I realized that although I and other LGBT leaders have introduced ourselves to you as policy makers, we clearly have not been heard, and seen, as what we also are: human beings whose lives, loves, and families are equal to yours,” Solmonese wrote. “I know this because this brief would not have seen the light of day if someone in your administration who truly recognized our humanity and equality had weighed in with you.”
The Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, mandates (1) that the federal government not recognize same-sex marriages and (2) that states not be forced to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
Mr. Obama vowed to repeal DOMA as a presidential candidate but he has not taken any action to do so since becoming president. The Justice Department brief calls the legislation a “valid exercise of Congress’ power” and says it is “reasonable and rational for Congress to maintain its longstanding policy of fostering this traditional and universally-recognized form of marriage.”
“The government does not state why denying us basic protections promotes anyone else’s marriage, nor why, while our heterosexual neighbors’ marriages should be promoted, our own must be discouraged,” Solmonese writes in his letter.
He goes onto single out a portion of the brief referencing a case involving “marriage of uncle to niece” to support the Justice position.
“I cannot overstate the pain that we feel as human beings and as families when we read an argument, presented in federal court, implying that our own marriages have no more constitutional standing than incestuous ones,” he writes. See Obama Faces Gay Groups’ Growing Anger
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Baltimore lesbian couple found dead
(Baltimore) A lesbian couple was found dead in their apartment on Wednesday reports the Baltimore Sun. A daughter and niece of an upstairs neighbor were able to open the front door of the apartment and find the couple face-down on their bed.
Several clues indicate foul play, including an open front …
Tags: Apartment, Baltimore Sun, Couple Face, Foul Play, Lesbian Couple, Niece, Upstairs NeighborIs niece’s boyfriend gay?
Dear Amy: My dear 19-year-old niece, “Laura,” is in love with a terrific guy, “Franklin.” I recently met him and he’s definitely sweet and fun and shares all her interests. They are truly best friends. What’s not to love?
Well, I’m very suspicious that Franklin is gay, but in denial.
I’ve known a number of gay people in my life and my gaydar is pretty accurate. Laura, on the other hand, is a small-town girl and pretty naive in this regard.
If this were a “Will & Grace” friendship with all the cards on the table, or if Laura were a gay nephew, I would welcome Franklin into our family with open arms.
As it is, I fear that if I’m right (and maybe I’m not, of course), their marriage would end in devastating heartbreak.
I would blame myself if I ignored all the pink flags and let it happen.
I could talk to Laura’s mother about this, but if she asked, “What can I do?” I would not have any idea.
ANGUISHED AUNTIE
See answer @ Is niece’s boyfriend gay?
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN
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