Tag Archives: dont ask dont tell

I wanted to make sure you heard about this: At the most recent Republican debate, the audience booed a gay service member who asked the candidates if they would try to undo the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” And during the debate not a single one of the Republican candidates stepped up to support him, or even so much as thanked him for his service — even though he is fighting for our country every single day.

No member of our armed forces should face that kind of disrespect. So when President Obama spoke at the Human Rights Campaign‘s annual dinner this past weekend, he called out the Republican candidates for failing to stand up for all of our men and women in uniform. Check it out:

We should be proud of the work we all did to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” pass hate crimes legislation, extend benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, and more. And the organizing work we’re doing now for 2012 will help us protect what we’ve won and keep moving our nation forward towards equality. As the President put it, “every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society. It’s a pretty simple proposition.”

During his speech, he spoke of his commitment to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and making our schools safe for every student — just a few examples of the progress he’s been working for since before the 2008 campaign. He also said we have to keep working to ensure our families and our country as a whole prosper — creating jobs, bringing economic security to the middle class, and ensuring everyone has access to an affordable education affect LGBT Americans just as much as everyone else and are our fights, too.

This movement we’re building can break through the gridlock and inaction. We’ve already proved that.

Watch some highlights from the speech here, then ask your friends who care about equality to watch, too, and join up:

http://my.barackobama.com/President-Obama-Dinner-Speech

There’s a lot more to do. It matters that you’re in for the fights ahead.

Thanks,

Jamie

Jamie Citron
Director, LGBT Vote
Obama for America

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President Obama’s powerful message to everyone at the HRC’s 15th Annual National Dinner

10/03/2011 Nativegrl77

President Obama just finished his keynote address at HRC‘s 15th Annual National Dinner.It’s time to thank him for his support and remind him that we’re counting on him.Watch his speech here:

President Obama just delivered a stirring speech at HRC’s 15th Annual National Dinner that has left me ready for action.

In my introduction, I thanked the President for his leadership on repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” signing breakthrough hate crimes prevention legislation, ensuring hospital visitation rights for our loved ones, and declaring the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and indefensible.

When we got backstage, I turned to him and told him I could only imagine what his appearance at an event like this says to a teenager in Salt Lake City who’s too nervous to come out, or to a young soldier in Afghanistan who just wants to serve her country openly.

And then I shared a message that comes from people in every corner of the country: “Mr. President, there’s a lot more work to be done, but we’ll keeping standing with you if you keep standing with us.”

WWW.HRC.ORG

On the heels of his inspiring address, will you join me in thanking President Obama and asking him to redouble his efforts for equality? “We’ve got your back since you’ve got ours.”

WWW.HRC.ORG

President Obama is one of our most visible straight allies, and every pro-LGBT move he makes in the next few months is going to come with a heavy dose of political scrutiny.

You and I have watched as each of our victories turns radical, right-wing activists more livid and their attacks more vicious. Anti-equality legislators are going to continue to fight marriage equality in the states while trying to turn being pro-equality into a liability for the President. And far-right candidates will continue promoting their vision of a world where “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is law again and hate crimes against our community don’t receive the attention they deserve.

It’s moments like these that I’m glad the President is standing so publicly in our corner – but I can’t thank him enough by myself.

Will you help me thank the President and remind him of the work that’s still to be done? Send your message to President Obama now. WWW.HRC.ORG

Every National Dinner, I reflect on the amazing community of supporters HRC is blessed with. Every victory we’ve ever accomplished is thanks to your calls, your letters, and your dedication. Thank you for your activism and your enthusiasm in the fight for equal rights.

Proudly,
WWW.HRC.ORG
Joe Solmonese
President, HRC

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Campaign 2012

09/22/2011 Nativegrl77

The critical September 30th fundraising deadline is the primary focus of
the campaign for the next week and a half, but two things happened this
week that you ought to be proud of:

— President Obama laid out the Buffett Rule: a proposal to help bring
down our deficit by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their
fair share in taxes. It’s a position that more than 70 percent of
Americans agree with, but something that too many millionaire
politicians don’t have the guts to propose.

— “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” officially became history. It’s done. That’s
something that we’ll tell our kids about — and this President helped
finally do it.

What happens in the next week and a half is up to you.

The deadline we face in nine days is serious. It’s the official FEC
filing deadline, and it’s not arbitrary — it’s built into our
campaign’s budget plan. It will determine what kinds of resources we can
commit to which states as we expand our ground game.

WWW.BarackObama.ORG

Right now, you have a chance to affect what that picture looks like. Will you pitch in $5 or more to help get where we need to go by the deadline?

https://donate.barackobama.com/September-Deadline

Our President is out there doing great things. And right now, it’s on us
to get his back by showing the strength of the organization behind him.

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O’Malley Dillon

Deputy Campaign Manager

Obama for America

P.S. — As an added bonus, every donation you make before September 30th
will automatically enter you to win dinner with President Obama. Take ownership of this campaign today, and you could find yourself across the table from the President.

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“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is officially over …Jim Messina, BarackObama.com

09/20/2011 Nativegrl77

Today, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is officially over.

Gay men and lesbians in the military no longer have to hide who they are, and the servicemembers who were discharged under this policy can re-enlist.

This is one of the administration’s signature achievements. Countless Americans fought hard to end this law over the course of nearly two decades, and President Obama is proud to have signed the repeal.

But today’s news isn’t just a policy promise kept — it’s a personal promise kept to the thousands of people who needed and deserved this change.

I want to share a video the campaign put together about some of the people affected by this law: four stories from men and women who served in the military during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

You should watch the video and share it with everyone who cares about fairness and equality in America.

Before my current job, I was in the White House working on getting this done, and I can honestly say that repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is one of the greatest things I have ever been or ever will be a part of. I think about it every time I walk into my office, where I keep one of the pens the President used to sign the bill.

It’s a reminder that — as broken as Washington is and as long as change can take — people and organizations can do amazing things when they work together and never waver from the vision that unites them.

Watch four people say what today means to them — and let us know what it means to you:

http://my.barackobama.com/dadtvid

There’s a lot more to do in the months ahead. But today is one to savor.

Thanks,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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DADT … Jim Messina, BarackObama.com

07/25/2011 Nativegrl77

President Obama and our military service chiefs certified the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

In 60 days, it will be done.

This is huge and welcome news for every one of us who opposes discrimination of any kind. But now, the fight for equal rights moves on.

Here’s the next front: This week the President endorsed a bill to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, a discriminatory law that forces the federal government to ignore the rights of those in same-sex marriages, even those performed in states where gay marriage is legal. The New York Times has said it “ranks with the most overtly discriminatory laws in the nation’s history.”

President Obama sees repeal as a moral and legal necessity, while the Republican candidates oppose it. But millions of people — gay and straight — are watching what they’re doing, want this law gone, and will make their voices heard.

Can you be one of them? We’re putting together the group of people who want to be at the forefront of our efforts on this issue as the campaign develops over the next 16 months — the first to know when news breaks, and the first to help spread the word to your friends and in your community. Join us for what’s next:

BARACKOBAMA.COM

Under DOMA, rights afforded to straight married couples — such as receiving Social Security benefits for spouses or filing joint federal income-tax returns — do not apply to same-sex married couples.

It’s no secret that the President has long opposed this law. In February, he directed the Justice Department to stop defending a key portion of it in court. And this week, he endorsed the first Senate bill that would repeal the law in its entirety.

We can already see the direction the other side is headed in response. They called a witness at the Senate hearings this week to testify that repealing DOMA would “pave the way for polygamous and other polyamorous unions.” That’s the type of rhetoric we should be prepared to hear in the run-up to the next election.

But the broad American consensus is on our side. We’ve all seen that change in Washington doesn’t come overnight, and fighting for it can carry significant political risks. When opportunities to make real progress come up, it’s critical to show Washington that millions of voters have President Obama’s back.

This is a defining issue for many of us in this movement, and for this President. Join this fight today:

Thanks for your help,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager
Obama for America