The Fairy President
2017-03-03 10:43:15 UTC
With actions as sweeping as new workplace rules for gays and as
symbolic as a gender-neutral bathroom in the White House,
President Obama is stepping up his efforts in the sexual-
orientation culture wars and trying to burnish his legacy as a
champion of gay rights.
Activists in both parties say Mr. Obamas renewed push for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality could
have implications for the 2016 election, because his actions
will be difficult for the next president to reverse, and because
he is solidifying the Democratic Partys already-strong ties to
a part of its base that votes enthusiastically and raises
campaign money prodigiously.
Clearly, the president and his team are banking on milking the
waning hours of the culture war, said Greg McNeilly, a
Republican strategist in Michigan who is gay. Its working for
them now, and theyre trying to maximize that effect. I do see
him accelerating his efforts.
Since his first days in office, Mr. Obama has presented himself
as a friend of the LGBT community, appointing more gays to
judgeships, ambassadorial posts and other top government jobs
while ending the militarys ban on open homosexuals.
But Mr. Obama, who didnt endorse same-sex marriage until 2012,
has picked up the pace of LGBT-friendly actions in recent
months, from fully implementing his executive order banning LGBT
discrimination by federal contractors to appointing the first
U.S. special envoy devoted to LGBT issues to urging states last
week to ban conversion therapy that teaches young gays how to
become straight.
And Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said that he is open-
minded about lifting the Pentagons ban on transgendered people
from serving in the armed forces, a possible move that has
encountered strong pushback from senior military brass.
I feel that this administration has been moving steadily
forward on LGBT equality, and Im excited about the things that
have happened recently, said David Mariner, executive director
of the nonprofit DC Center for the LGBT Community. Everything
thats happened has moved us forward, and I would hope that
whatever happens in the next election cycle, weve made enough
steps forward that were not going back.
The White House also announced last week that it had opened a
gender-neutral bathroom in the Eisenhower Executive Office
Building, and said anyone can use whatever bathroom they feel
best fits their gender identity. The Eisenhower building is
located near the West Wing of the White House and is used by
White House staff.
Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett said that Mr. Obama
is determined to lead by example.
He has hired more openly LGBT Americans to serve in his
administration than any other in history, she said last week in
an online posting. And we have closely examined our internal
policies on everything from benefits, to restroom access, to how
we invite people to events, to ensure that everyone who enters
this building feels safe and fully respected.
John Feehery, a Republican strategist in Washington, said Mr.
Obamas actions achieve twin objectives from the presidents
perspective.
Obama knows that this issue divides Republicans more than it
divides Democrats, and he wants to make gay rights a part of his
legacy, Mr. Feehery said.
Public polling in the past year has found Republican voters
split on same-sex marriage, with younger Republicans more likely
to say their party isnt willing to go far enough to support it.
In addition to the policy disagreements, many Republicans are
watching the presidents moves with trepidation over the
potential political impact: The GOP already is viewed
unfavorably by many LGBT voters and their allies.
As the presidential campaign heats up, there is a movement afoot
by some young conservatives to get the Republican Party to
remove language opposing gay marriage from its 2016 platform.
Mr. McNeilly, a former executive director of the Michigan
Republican Party who, with his partner, became one of the
states first gay couples to marry legally last year, said the
GOP is allowing Democrats to set the tone for the debate.
This is a tough transition for the Republican Party, he said.
It starts with them beginning to understand the real political
damage thats being done to their brand. To win elections, you
win by addition, not subtraction. Its not just the 10 percent
of the voting population that may be LGBT personally, but its
the additional 30 percent who are their friends and allies and
their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. The way you talk
about [LGBT issues] is just instrumental. They [Republican
candidates] have to take a stand against intolerance, even if
the policy position isnt something they can give on.
Mr. Obama courted gay campaign donors aggressively in 2012, a
lesson that the next Democratic presidential nominee is likely
to embrace. Its estimated that about 1 in 6 of Mr. Obamas big-
money bundlers in 2012 people who raised $500,000 or more
for the reelection effort was openly gay.
Among the other steps that the administration has taken in
recent months on behalf of LGBT equality:
The Justice Department filed a brief April 3 in litigation in
Georgia that said prison officials have the obligation to assess
and treat gender dysphoria people who become distressed
about a mismatch between their biological sex and gender
identity just as they would any other medical or health
condition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 31
announced $185 million for grant opportunities for HIV
prevention among transgendered people and gay and bisexual men,
with a particular focus on people of color.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new
guidance in February designed to better serve LGBT Americans
seeking to obtain a home loan and to ensure appropriate
placement of transgender individuals in homeless shelters.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced in December the
governments position that protections against sex
discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
extend to claims of discrimination based on gender identity,
including transgender status.
Said Mr. McNeilly of the president: He is positioning himself
as well as the Democratic Party to be on the leading edge of
change.
Not to mention the biggest fraud and fiscal incompetent in
American history.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/12/obama-making-gay-
rights-his-legacy/?page=all
symbolic as a gender-neutral bathroom in the White House,
President Obama is stepping up his efforts in the sexual-
orientation culture wars and trying to burnish his legacy as a
champion of gay rights.
Activists in both parties say Mr. Obamas renewed push for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality could
have implications for the 2016 election, because his actions
will be difficult for the next president to reverse, and because
he is solidifying the Democratic Partys already-strong ties to
a part of its base that votes enthusiastically and raises
campaign money prodigiously.
Clearly, the president and his team are banking on milking the
waning hours of the culture war, said Greg McNeilly, a
Republican strategist in Michigan who is gay. Its working for
them now, and theyre trying to maximize that effect. I do see
him accelerating his efforts.
Since his first days in office, Mr. Obama has presented himself
as a friend of the LGBT community, appointing more gays to
judgeships, ambassadorial posts and other top government jobs
while ending the militarys ban on open homosexuals.
But Mr. Obama, who didnt endorse same-sex marriage until 2012,
has picked up the pace of LGBT-friendly actions in recent
months, from fully implementing his executive order banning LGBT
discrimination by federal contractors to appointing the first
U.S. special envoy devoted to LGBT issues to urging states last
week to ban conversion therapy that teaches young gays how to
become straight.
And Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has said that he is open-
minded about lifting the Pentagons ban on transgendered people
from serving in the armed forces, a possible move that has
encountered strong pushback from senior military brass.
I feel that this administration has been moving steadily
forward on LGBT equality, and Im excited about the things that
have happened recently, said David Mariner, executive director
of the nonprofit DC Center for the LGBT Community. Everything
thats happened has moved us forward, and I would hope that
whatever happens in the next election cycle, weve made enough
steps forward that were not going back.
The White House also announced last week that it had opened a
gender-neutral bathroom in the Eisenhower Executive Office
Building, and said anyone can use whatever bathroom they feel
best fits their gender identity. The Eisenhower building is
located near the West Wing of the White House and is used by
White House staff.
Senior presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett said that Mr. Obama
is determined to lead by example.
He has hired more openly LGBT Americans to serve in his
administration than any other in history, she said last week in
an online posting. And we have closely examined our internal
policies on everything from benefits, to restroom access, to how
we invite people to events, to ensure that everyone who enters
this building feels safe and fully respected.
John Feehery, a Republican strategist in Washington, said Mr.
Obamas actions achieve twin objectives from the presidents
perspective.
Obama knows that this issue divides Republicans more than it
divides Democrats, and he wants to make gay rights a part of his
legacy, Mr. Feehery said.
Public polling in the past year has found Republican voters
split on same-sex marriage, with younger Republicans more likely
to say their party isnt willing to go far enough to support it.
In addition to the policy disagreements, many Republicans are
watching the presidents moves with trepidation over the
potential political impact: The GOP already is viewed
unfavorably by many LGBT voters and their allies.
As the presidential campaign heats up, there is a movement afoot
by some young conservatives to get the Republican Party to
remove language opposing gay marriage from its 2016 platform.
Mr. McNeilly, a former executive director of the Michigan
Republican Party who, with his partner, became one of the
states first gay couples to marry legally last year, said the
GOP is allowing Democrats to set the tone for the debate.
This is a tough transition for the Republican Party, he said.
It starts with them beginning to understand the real political
damage thats being done to their brand. To win elections, you
win by addition, not subtraction. Its not just the 10 percent
of the voting population that may be LGBT personally, but its
the additional 30 percent who are their friends and allies and
their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. The way you talk
about [LGBT issues] is just instrumental. They [Republican
candidates] have to take a stand against intolerance, even if
the policy position isnt something they can give on.
Mr. Obama courted gay campaign donors aggressively in 2012, a
lesson that the next Democratic presidential nominee is likely
to embrace. Its estimated that about 1 in 6 of Mr. Obamas big-
money bundlers in 2012 people who raised $500,000 or more
for the reelection effort was openly gay.
Among the other steps that the administration has taken in
recent months on behalf of LGBT equality:
The Justice Department filed a brief April 3 in litigation in
Georgia that said prison officials have the obligation to assess
and treat gender dysphoria people who become distressed
about a mismatch between their biological sex and gender
identity just as they would any other medical or health
condition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 31
announced $185 million for grant opportunities for HIV
prevention among transgendered people and gay and bisexual men,
with a particular focus on people of color.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new
guidance in February designed to better serve LGBT Americans
seeking to obtain a home loan and to ensure appropriate
placement of transgender individuals in homeless shelters.
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. announced in December the
governments position that protections against sex
discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
extend to claims of discrimination based on gender identity,
including transgender status.
Said Mr. McNeilly of the president: He is positioning himself
as well as the Democratic Party to be on the leading edge of
change.
Not to mention the biggest fraud and fiscal incompetent in
American history.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/12/obama-making-gay-
rights-his-legacy/?page=all