Joe.My.God. LGBT News
“Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall. The alliteration of that litany made it
seem obvious and inevitable, a bit of poetry just there for the taking.
Just waiting to happen. But it has waited a long time. And President Obama’s use of it in his
speech on Monday — his grouping of those three places and moments in one
grand and musical sentence — was bold and beautiful and something to
hear. It spoke volumes about the progress that gay Americans have made
over the four years between his first inauguration and this one, his
second. It also spoke volumes about the progress that continues to elude
us. [snip]
“Despite our strides, gay and lesbian couples even now can marry only in
nine states and the District of Columbia. The federal government doesn’t
recognize those weddings, meaning that in terms of taxes, military
benefits and matters of immigration, it treats gays and lesbians
differently than it treats other Americans. It relegates us to an
inferior class. The Supreme Court could soon change, or validate, that. There are
relevant cases before it. For his part Obama could show less deference
to states’ rights, be more insistent about what’s just and necessary
coast-to-coast, and push for federal protections against employment
discrimination when it comes to L.G.B.T. Americans. His actions over the
next four years could fall wholly in line with Monday’s trailblazing
words. My hope is real, and grateful, and patient.” – Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.
nine states and the District of Columbia. The federal government doesn’t
recognize those weddings, meaning that in terms of taxes, military
benefits and matters of immigration, it treats gays and lesbians
differently than it treats other Americans. It relegates us to an
inferior class. The Supreme Court could soon change, or validate, that. There are
relevant cases before it. For his part Obama could show less deference
to states’ rights, be more insistent about what’s just and necessary
coast-to-coast, and push for federal protections against employment
discrimination when it comes to L.G.B.T. Americans. His actions over the
next four years could fall wholly in line with Monday’s trailblazing
words. My hope is real, and grateful, and patient.” – Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.