Obama Puts Out Rainbow-Colored Welcome Mat

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/20-4

Obama Puts Out Rainbow-Colored Welcome Mat

by Deb Price


At a recent White House cocktail party, gay leaders Joe Solmonese and Rea Carey sipped drinks in the Blue Room and guessed which way President Obama would enter.

Suddenly, the president walked in -- right behind Carey. "I said, 'Rea, turn around,'" recalls Solmonese, head of the Human Rights Campaign. "I physically turned her around to see the president."

To their happy astonishment, the president didn't just quickly shake their hands on his way to greet the 30 or so other guests that night.

Instead, he asked when hate crimes legislation will reach his desk so he can sign it. And he listened as they stressed the need for a federal ban on job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity -- legislation he supports.

"It was such a sharp contrast to the Bush administration -- to have a president that recognizes the issues that our community has been working on for a long time," says Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

The Obama White House invited gay leaders to the health care and fiscal responsibility summits, the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the executive order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls, and an online town hall. Gay parents were encouraged to bring their kids to the Easter egg roll.

The new access, says Solmonese, provides chances to make sure discussions of desired reforms include gay topics -- like how gay couples are taxed for partner health coverage and not recognized for Social Security survivor benefits.

snip//

Summing up the feelings of so many gay leaders about the Obama era, Solmonese says, "I feel incredibly hopeful on every front."

[Cha]

1. That's a nice way to say

it.."Obama Puts Out Rainbow-Colored Welcome Mat"

[HopeOverFear]

2. Amazing!

[vaberella]

3. Good news. Love my Pres. n/t

[roguevalley]

4. this is long overdue. I am so glad

[AtomicKitten]

5. Wonderful!

[george_maniakes]

6. im so stupid i thought he literally put out a rainbow coloured mat :)

[Kaleko]

7. "...he asked when hate crimes legislation will reach his desk so he can sign it."

They met the new boss, and he wasn't anything like the old boss. Ha!

[Clio the Leo]

8. Does the great DU battle of January...

.... and you all KNOW what I'm talking about, I dont dare say the man's name lol ..... seem like an eternity ago to anyone else but me?

[CitizenPatriot]

9. thankfully, yes:-)

this is such great news. A new day for humanity, for sure. We're all better off when we're all equal!!!