Obama has come out in opposition to the California and Florida anti-gay marriage amendments.

[terrya]

Good for him.

I hope he continues to state his opposition forcefully in the upcoming months. And I think his opposition can certainly make the difference in California. I don't see any political risk for him out there...he's drawing in scores of new younger voters across the country, younger voters who are supporting same-sex marriage. They can make the difference in helping to defeat these amendments.

Not sure about Florida, sadly...but I think the amendment in California has an excellent chance of being defeated.

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. And still adamantly opposes equal marriage

As has been pointed out repeatedly and at great length here in DU.

[terrya]

2. Yes, I know.

And, to be fair, so does Hillary.

I don't, for the life of me, understand their opposition to same-sex marriage equality. But at least he's coming out against these amendments. It's not the same thing, I know that, so please don't flame me.

Just grasping for straws here.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Hillary is now irrelevant. The topic is Obama

Can I declare than invoking Hillary Clinton is now the equivalent of Godwin's Law? :evilgrin:

[terrya]

5. Sure, I guess.

[galledgoblin]

12. but the majority of his supporters do

and so much of his platform is built on change that I cannot see him stymieing gay rights for very long.

[sui generis]

19. Isn't it funny

The man adamantly opposes us defining our lives as we wish, and yet if we say we adamantly oppose his candidacy, we're the evil ones.

I don't of course, oppose his candidacy, since I think we have a chance to guide his thinking now before we just bend over to the party and ask for a ride home.

Barack needs to understand that he can play dualism on this. He can say to his audience that he opposes equal marriage personally for reasons of faith, but that he supports it publicly for reasons of equality under the law.

He could say that it is wrong to be hung up on terminology when writing licenses and that it is wrong to allow states rights . . . . to discriminate. He could say that he recognizes we are Americans and adults and that we have an inalienable right to make our own decisions about our own lives and that anybody else interfering with that most American right of self determination is UN-AMERICAN.

He could offer a parable, that insisting that some Americans call themselves something different is as silly as insisting that we call protestants or catholics or jews "something else" when they get married.

He could be a leader instead of a lawyer, for a change.

Most of all, Obama could start by speaking TO us when he is addressing our issues. His single biggest sin in my regard is that he is always speaking to some other audience, seeking their approval for what he has concluded is "best for us".

Obama, dear heart. We are right here in front of you. If you want to know what's best for us, talk to us. Anything else is patronizing and utterly, profoundly INTOLERABLE.

We accept that other people think they know what's best for us. We just don't have to tolerate it.

[canis_lupus]

4. This is good news ...

And I say that as someone who was critical of Obama for some of his campaign gaffes with the LGBT community.

His position on marriage equality is not that much of a stumbling block for me since my priorities would be eliminating discrimination in the workplace and passage of ENDA, so it's good to hear him take positive steps on LGBT issues. I still think Obama needs some education on our issues, but it appears that he is open to hearing our concerns. If that willingness to listen translates into a willingness to act, then I'm hoping Obama will be the type of president we had hoped Bill Clinton would have been.

[flor de jasmim]

7. I think I must be missing something (which is entirely likely):

my impression is that Obama is in favor of complete equality of rights for same-sex unions, and for the celebration of the unions legally, but does not like (perhaps for religious reasons) calling them "marriages". Is that right?

[canis_lupus]

9. Yes, that's it in a nutshell. n/t

[Toasterlad]

14. Yes, Except....

It's NOT "complete equality", it's complete segregation. Civil unions for gays, marriage for whites. The black water fountain and the white one. They may look the same, but boy, don't you drink outta the wrong one!

However, Obama would like you to believe that he is, in fact, for complete gay equality. He just defines it irrationally. Seperate...but equal.

Okay. I'm gonna try and go two weeks without ripping Obama on same-sex marriage. Anyone think I can do it? Place your bets.

[Zuiderelle]

15. No, that's not right. Complete equal rights do not come from state civil unions.

He has stated several times that he wants to leave it to states to decide whether they will grant civil unions, but he has never addressed how those unions would be treated federally. The states that have marriage and civil unions for gays do not bring with them any of the 1000+ federal benefits/rights. He has never said that he favors civil unions that would give us ALL the same rights. He has made some statements about giving us a "set of basic rights" as if there are some basic rights among those 1000+ that he would want us to have, but he hasn't said we should be treated completely equally, and he hasn't said how he would get us those rights.

[xchrom]

6. there are certain thing a politician has to do if

they want to maintain their cred -- this would be one.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. good for him.

[libnnc]

10. its a step

And you know what? I have a feeling (make fun if you want) -- a hunch that if Obama is elected, we will see federal employees' benefits extended to same-sex partners.

I just have a feeling...

[PatSumFan]

11. great news!

[FreeState]

13. Link? n/t

[Creideiki]

16. Do we have a link to official statements put out yet?

Something that goes out beyond the LGBT community?

[terrya]

17. I should have mentioned in my OP. My bad....

This is what we were told by Steve Hildebrand, on a conference call for LGBT Democrats, sponsored by the Obama campaign last Friday evening. Hildebrand is the manager of the Obama campaign, I guess. He told the people on the call that Obama has come out in opposition to the California and Florida amendments. No one on the call was allowed to ask any questions.

I should have mentioned that in the OP. I apologize.

[FreeState]

20. I wish he would make a public statement himself and not a non statement to a

group of supporters on a phone call he was not even listening too. If thats where his priorities are for stopping the Amendments Im highly dissapointed.

[Not Me]

18. In Florida the bar is set at 60% to amend the constitution

As a result of a 2006 change in the law. That will make it a little tougher for the 'anti's', but one problem is there are 8 or 9 amendments being voted on. Confusion and apathy could play a mjor role here.