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Obama Renews Promise To End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 11, 2009
Modified Oct 11, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Oct 11, 2009
Modified Oct 11, 2009
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On the eve of the National Equality March in Washington D.C., President Obama spoke at a Human Rights Campaign dinner, "I will end 'don't ask, don't tell.' That is my commitment to you." He also emphasized he wants to help bring gays and lesbians full civil rights, "I'm here with a simple message: I'm here with you in that fight."
Still, it's unclear whether his speech, shout-out to Lady Gaga and all, reassured the audience—and other gays and lesbians. The NY Times points out that he "failed to offer a timetable for [ending "don't ask, don't tell"] — an omission likely to inflame critics who say he is not fighting aggressively enough for gay rights."
The Washington Post notes that some in the gay and lesbian community are becoming impatient, "They accuse the president of putting their agenda on the back burner -- behind Wall Street regulation, health care, climate change and a series of foreign-policy issues. And although his sweeping rhetoric is appreciated, many are concerned that he has so far offered little beyond the symbolic and the incremental," on "don't ask, don't tell" as well as ending the Defense of Marriage act.
As for today's National Equality March, thousands are expected to take the Capitol for equal rights for the LGBT community. But Rep. Barney Frank, the openly gay Democrat from Massachusetts, told the AP that the march was "a waste of time at best," "The only thing they're going to be putting pressure on is the grass." Instead, he urged people to lobby their officials.
Tagged
barney frank
civil rights
don't ask don't tell
gay rights
National Equality March
president obama
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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