As the 2012 presidential race gets underway, it is important for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to face facts; Barack Obama deserves our financial support, as well as our volunteer hours and of course, our vote.
The presidential race always introduces the silly season for LGBT politics. Activists, bloggers and some LGBT organizations begin to act as if there is a real choice in the presidential election. When you hear their arguments against President Obama, you need to ask one simple question; in 2012 who do they suggest our community support other than Obama?
Let’s take a look at the Republican presidential field and LGBT equality. Mitt Romney seems to be the best of the bunch. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan on CNN, Romney said “I’ve always been in favor of preventing discrimination against people, whether they are homosexual or straight. At the same time, I’ve said that marriage is between one man and one woman and that position has not changed. I am in favor of gay rights, but I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.”
Romney’s position on marriage equality seems to be the same as that of Obama, albeit the president says his position is “evolving.” The obvious Romney problem is whether he will repudiate the Mormon church’s unfavorable view of the LGBT community. If you believe the Mormon church is only against marriage equality, you would be mistaken. The Mormon church not only believes that same-sex attraction is a sin; it also believes that gays and lesbians should seek counseling and prayer to overcome homosexuality. Romney is a Mormon.
As Romney raises money from his many Mormon supporters, I am sure that his donors have an expectation he will not pass any laws or take any actions that advance LGBT equality. I only hope that the mainstream media does not let him dodge this obvious conflict as we get farther into this presidential election cycle.
Romney is as good as it gets. The Republican flavor of the week John Huntsman, also a Mormon, said on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, “I think redefining marriage is something that would be impossible and it’s something I would not be in favor of,” adding, ironically, what now amounts to his stump speech, saying, “But I believe, just subordinate to marriage we have not done an adequate job in the area of equality and reciprocal beneficiary rights. I’ve spoken out about that, my support of civil unions, some people like it, some people don’t.” Hmm, I will take president Obama’s evolving position over either that of Romney or Huntsman.
During the recent Republican presidential debate, Romney, Bachman, Pawlenty, Gingrich and Santorum all want to codify discrimination in the U.S. Constitution with an amendment that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This is in direct contrast to President Obama who thinks that the Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed to allow for federal recognition of same-sex relationships. Obama’s current position is that marriage is an issue that should be decided on a state by state basis.
The Republican field will not even support the existing law repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. With the exception of Ron Paul and Herbert Cain, both not considered viable nominees, not one candidate said they fully supported the repeal. Sounds like they want second-class citizenship in the military. I can only imagine what they would have said when integration of the military was considered in 1948.
So when the LGBT political circus comes to town and the clowns tell you that Obama is not the choice for the LGBT community, just laugh as most clowns expect you to do. There is only one clear choice in 2012 for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and that is President Barack Obama.
Casting your vote for anyone else would be like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders; the relationship will not end well.
STAMPP CORBIN,
Publisher
San Diego LGBT Weekly
So, basically, Romney and Huntsman both have the same stance as obama.
Was it not Mitt Romney, a Mormon, who signed as governor of Mass. for gay marriage to take effect there? So, where does Obama really stand regarding gay marriage when two Mormon republican politicians hold the same view as Obama?
So… you elect a president based on whether or not he aligns with your sexual preferences? Our nation is experiencing one of the worst financial periods in our history and all you can think about is this? No wonder our country is in trouble. We need a leader who will fix our problems, and clearly that is not Obama. Maybe you should not be so self serving and think about what is best for our country. And, by the way, just because Romney’s church believes one way, doesn’t mean he does. Romney and Reid are both Mormons, but the two could not be further apart politically. Maybe you should use that thing between your ears and think a little more before you open your mouth.
This statement is false; “The Mormon church not only believes that same-sex attraction is a sin; it also believes that gays and lesbians should seek counseling and prayer to overcome homosexuality.”
Here is the official stance of the LDS Church on the issue.
http://newsroom.lds.org/official-statement/same-gender-attraction
(As the editor it would admirable to correct your article so that it reflects the accurate position of the LDS Church.)
Hi Stampp and LGBT Weekly,
I’m surprised to read that with over a year before the 2012 elections you’re advocating the LGBT community support and vote for a President who does not support Marriage Equality. You then continue in an elitist, mainstream LGBT dictatorial manner to mock those who hold a position other than your own and attempt to embarrass the community to see the folly in their beliefs regarding who to support for President.
1. You concede the LGBT negotiating position with Obama when you suggest at this early stage that he deserves, “our financial support, as well as our volunteer hours and of course, our vote.”
2. President Obama is strategic about his support of the LGBT community. He only performs for us when he’s under pressure.
3. We need to withhold our support (and votes) until Obama’s finished evolving. If he wants our support, he needs to change his position BEFORE the election.
4. President Obama’s position is the same as opponents of Marriage Equality in suggesting it’s a state vs. federal issue.
5. President Obama has the luxury of stating DOMA should be repealed, but has no power to repeal it. It’s a political position to appease LGBT voters.
6. President Obama has the luxury of stating he contributed to the end of DADT when it was Log Cabin Republicans who challenged the law.
7. The courts were going to intercede on DADT, and the writing was on the wall. Obama jumped on the band wagon as the train had left the station.
8. President Obama does NOT have the luxury of standing against Marriage Equality in this election if he wants the vote of many LGBT voters.
It’s disappointing to see the “elite, mainstream LGBT media and LGBT organizations” pretending to act in the LGBT community’s interest in endorsing Obama so early and without condition. I can only imagine what other civil rights, women’s rights, and other movements in matters of equality would look like today if those wanting to effect change had willingly accepted the position of those who opposed them.
Perhaps since you have spent time at the circus, you’ve also seen the Fun House of Mirrors. I’d worry less about the clowns of the circus in the big tent and start looking closely at the Fun House.
In the Fun House, you’ll see President Obama’s reflection giving us the APPEARANCE that he stands right next to the LGBT community when in fact it’s just a mirror with his reflection. In reality, he is very far away. You will also see the reflection of many elite, mainstream LGBT media and organizations trying to lead the rest of the LGBT community in the direction of Obama. Unfortunately, the LGBT community is being told to “just follow us who are smart enough to know” to the promise land outside of the Fun House to Equality Land.
I for one am not willing to spend the next 4 years looking at mirrors filled with illusions of commitments and use well intentioned guides who really don’t know their way out of the Fun House any more than the “lay people” of the LGBT community.
Joe Reid
So Joe who do you suggest we vote for in 2012?