Joe.My.God. LGBT News
“Dear President Clinton, What a year you’ve had, the kind that really burnishes a legend. At the
Democratic National Convention, on the campaign trail, in speeches
aplenty and during interviews galore, you spoke eloquently about what
this country should value, and you spoke unequivocally about where it
should head. Such a bounty of convictions, such a harvest of words,
except for one that’s long overdue: Sorry.
“Where’s your apology for signing the Defense of Marriage Act? And why, amid all the battles you’ve joined, and with all the energy
you’ve been able to muster, haven’t you made a more vigorous case for
same-sex marriage, especially in light of your history on this issue? You fret about your legacy, as any president would. For turning a blind
eye to the butchery in Rwanda, you struggled through a mea culpa of
sorts, and after Barack Obama seemed to lavish higher praise on Ronald
Reagan than on you, you seethed.
you’ve been able to muster, haven’t you made a more vigorous case for
same-sex marriage, especially in light of your history on this issue? You fret about your legacy, as any president would. For turning a blind
eye to the butchery in Rwanda, you struggled through a mea culpa of
sorts, and after Barack Obama seemed to lavish higher praise on Ronald
Reagan than on you, you seethed.
“Well, DOMA, which says that the federal government recognizes only
marriages of a man and a woman, is one of the uglier blemishes on your
record, an act of indisputable discrimination that codified unequal
treatment of gay men and lesbians and, in doing so, validated the views
of Americans who see us as lesser people. If our most committed,
heartfelt relationships don’t measure up, then neither do we. If how we
love is suspect, then so is who we are. No two ways to interpret that.
No other conclusion to be drawn.” – Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.
marriages of a man and a woman, is one of the uglier blemishes on your
record, an act of indisputable discrimination that codified unequal
treatment of gay men and lesbians and, in doing so, validated the views
of Americans who see us as lesser people. If our most committed,
heartfelt relationships don’t measure up, then neither do we. If how we
love is suspect, then so is who we are. No two ways to interpret that.
No other conclusion to be drawn.” – Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.