Alright that title's a bit misleading. I care. And I'm glad he supports it. Finally.
But can those of us who support same-sex marriage please not forget how long it took him to decide to be assertive on the issue - to do the right thing? Yes, yes I know you all want to celebrate this historical moment and it needed to happen. But when I look back on this historical moment, I'm not going to forget all the history that led up to it. The fact that Obama supported same-sex marriage in earlier days as a politician are not an indication that his views have been 'evolving' on same-sex marriage. We know his consideration of same-sex marriage is about votes and electability - please don't be deluded into thinking otherwise.
And yes, I know, electability is an important thing for a politician to consider - if you're not re-elected, you can't make some of the changes you want to make and blah blah blah. But am I the only one who feels insulted that it is only NOW important enough for him to stand behind an issue that he likely has supported personally for decades? Now that the Vice President made some pro-equality comments that made Obama look ass backwards. Thanks for finally making the decision to be an ally to the queer community on the issue of marriage - we appreciate your time and consideration. I hope you've enjoyed your nearly 20 year marriage in the meantime.
In a position as influential as say, President of our country, are we really willing to dismiss the fact he ignored and avoided this issue for years, when he likely has been quietly on the side of same-sex marriage for a long time? I guess it's an easy issue to avoid when you know your wife could make decisions if you were hospitalized and vice versa. It's not an easy issue to avoid for many.
Think of all the horror stories you've heard about same-sex couples being denied rights over one another - the partners who couldn't attend funerals because the partner's family wouldn't allow it. The partners who couldn't make decisions on behalf of a loved one in the hospital. The partners who lost the children they raised with the biological parent - because once s/he dies, partner has no legal guardianship over the children. Obama speaking out for same sex marriage today does NOT erase the fact that he could have - um, SHOULD have - pushed for progress sooner.
Am I glad Obama finally found his integrity and spoke what needed to be said? Of course. I don't know if pro same-sex marriage or anti same-sex marriage voters will rally harder - I don't know if this will affect his electability this fall. But I assure you he's thought long and hard on that consideration.
Please don't accept "Ok, now I support same-sex marriage" as repentence for his years of apathy and avoiding the subject when he damn well knows better. I'm not saying that it isn't a good thing that Obama spoke out in support of same-sex marriage, of course it is. But as a leader, as a President, as a person who claims to be an ally to queer communities - I think he deserves a little criticism here - not just the enthusiastic pride and excitement from queer communities and allies that I've seen throughout the day. Let's celebrate when action is taken. I'm not giving anyone a cookie for making the sensical statement that, hmm, maybe equality and civil rights are a good thing.
Hey there, Steph! Great blog! =) I thought I'd throw 2 cents in from "real america" (aka IN/IL/WI... the "midwest") where coming out in favor of same-sex marriage is still astonishingly taboo. From my perspective here, I am not sure if coming out in favor of same-sex marriage is a great idea for Obama politically - i.e. I think he actually came to the decision through evaluating his own personal, genuine values and morals - i.e. I do not think he was raised to accept same-sex marriage. The reason I argue that this was not a political stunt but actually Obama's honest change in values: See Indiana - he just barely won that state in 2008 and this decision will likely sway conservative voters away in this state and lose him those electoral votes. See North Carolina - another state he won in 2008 that just this week passed legislation to doubley-ban same-sex marriage (it was already banned). See Wisconsin, see Ohio, see Virginia - these are the states that hide people in nooks and corn fields that still vote for "family values" over logic. They are all states he won in 2008 that he could now lose. I agree that it took him far too long to get here, but I also think... perhaps it truly is meaningful and positive to have the president stand up as a role model.
ReplyDeleteP.S. For all of those anti-same-sex marriage folks out there... well, the tides are not in your favor. The future of this argument is comfortingly inevitable (cue music: "For what it's worth" - buffalo springfield)
Miss sharing a cubicle with you, Steph!
Hello--glad you are blogging again. I think this was a calculated risk on his part and all politics is calculated. However; i think this was the cherry on top considering that he ended Don't ask/Don't tell and has not backed the Defense of Marriage Bill. It's another step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteIt's a step in the right direction, for sure, but I am frustrated that he supported it, then didn't, now does again. I don't buy that he evolved, regressed, then evolved again haha. I suppose you can't say "Hey, I support this I was just too afraid to say so because I might lose votes, but now my VP looks more progressive than me and I seem foolish so I'm going to speak the truth" but honestly I think I'd respect that more.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm being harsh but I think Obama deserves some criticism here from the gay community, just trying to balance out all the feedback he's gotten on this :)
Julie - email me?? What are you up to these days?!
-Steph
You raise some interesting points about the nature of politics. It is very frustrating. I think that change happens especially on large divided issues like this incrementally. Over the past few years, tv is showing gay marriages, gay couples kissing...public opinion is shifting. Is Obama getting on the bandwagon..maybe. He is getting support from the gay community and he needs their $$, votes, volunteer hours. For whatever reasons, he is now the only President to ever support this and is now part of leading the change. I wouldn't want a president who isn't onboard with this...like say Romney who is going to pander to the religious loons.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php?APUB=wct&ADATE=2009-01-14&AGALLERY=obama
ReplyDeleteI mean, he signed this in 1996 saying he was in support of marriage equality. I certainly think he's a better choice than Romney - but who isn't :) (maybe just Santorum...) I just take issue with him letting his opinion 'evolve' - I think that's BS considering what he signed in 96.
Interesting point. For me, it isn't about accepting his "evolution" as an apology for former apathy, but about how we can best utilize his new stance. I can't change his former silence on the issue, but by vocally supporting his statement, I can do my best to show him that it was the correct decision. Hopefully it will compell him to take the initiative in the future.
ReplyDeleteI also love that a standing president running for re-election can publicly state his approval for marriage equality. It reminds me of how much has been accomplished thus far.
Just my two cents.
Rebecca you are far more optimistic than me :) It's a great opportunity - but I am holding the applause until he actually does something with that.
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