Stonewall Anniversary a Chance to Evaluate Nation's Progress

Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, one of the first instances of gay resistance to government-sponsored repression of sexual minorities. Not only was this a time to look back at a proud moment for the equal rights movement, but a chance to analyze how far we’ve come as a country.

Standards are particularly high for one President Barack Obama, and rightfully so. After opposing Don‘t Ask Don‘t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act during the campaign, Obama’s rhetoric and action since taking office have become tepid. As Michael Rowe writes in today’s Huffington Post, the excuses granted to the administration on delaying equality are becoming tiresome.

“There is a great deal that can be done now, and if there is to be a culture war, it's an inevitable one. The quest for "bipartisanship" should not be an excuse for sacrificing political integrity, or honoring a long-overdue commitment to a long-loyal and significant voting bloc. Ignoring the problem isn't going to make it go away, nor is pointing out the obvious fact that the Republicans are no friend of the LGBT community, or that a McCain-Palin administration would have been an express train to oblivion for gay rights. LGBT Americans voted for Obama to be their president too, not just the lesser of two evils.”

Check out the rest of Rowe’s razor-sharp inculpation here.

Obama is an incrementalist, but it has been 40 years since the Stonewall Riots. His expansion of rights to same-sex partners of federal employees was commendable, but hardly daring. The President’s conflicting takes on DOMA need to be reconciled and repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell must become a top priority.
Why must we continue to meet regressive bigots halfway? Gay rights have been back-burnered too many times as it is. Equal rights now!

*******UPDATE********
President Obama responded yesterday to criticism that he has been mollifying LGBT supporters.

Said Obama, "It's not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago."

Check out the full article over at Alternet.