New President Barack Obama called for a 'new era of responsibility' as he took the oath of office as the United States' 44th president - and first African-American president in the country's history.
"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."
And doubly so as he was sworn in on the steps of the US Capitol Building which slaves helped build from the 1790s until the 1820s.
The 47-year-old president was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Kenyan father and a white American mother.
President Obama's address has been described by news outlets such as the New York Times as a 'stark repudiation of the era of George W. Bush' despite being couched in indirect terms. He referenced a wide range of issues from interrogation policies to the invasion of Iraq and the use of its military power and spoke of the need to "restore science to its rightful place."
He is expected to reverse some of the most contentious policies of the Bush administration such as banning the use of harsh interrogation techniques on suspected terrorists, giving a go-ahead for stem cell research and repealing the military's Don't Ask-Don't Tell policy which bans openly gay and lesbian personnel from serving.
On Tuesday, the White House web site was updated with a list of commitments to further LGBT rights on his civil rights agenda:
THE AGENDA CIVIL RIGHTS
Support for the LGBT Community
"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." - Barack Obama, June 1, 2007
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma - too often tied to homophobia - that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.
Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.
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Reader's Comments
Obama recalled his father might not have been served in a restaurant for being black in the US before Civil Rights...well today gay people are not permitted to be members of Saddleback Church (not that many of us would want to...but you get my point).
It is not easy to be consistent in the complex world of politics, but Obama lost a mountain of credibility with the gay community for honoring Rev Rick Warren, the noted homophobe and bigot, at his inauguration.
"...Obama lost a mountain of credibility with the gay community for honoring Rev Rick Warren, the noted homophobe and bigot, at his inauguration."
This is what politics about. I do not know who is this Rev Rick Warren but i'm sure that he is a influential person in the christian community. Obama is smart and witty. If Obama is able to 'bend' this Rev Rick and it will be a great "Alleluia" to all! I'm sure Obama has chosen the right person as a gateway towards the rights for LGBT community.
Long live Obama! I shall think of migrating to US now...
We must remember that the LGBT community constitutes around 5% of America population (which is rather insignificant compared to people or parties who support Barack Obama).
Even if he chose not to listen to us, it wouldn't have affected him politically. Even he will be unpopular among the conservatives, by supporting us.
But in this case,
he shows that he is sincere on supporting us.
One of which by countering LGBT criticism of choosing Rick Warren, one of a bigot bastard SUPER multi million dollars mega-church owner comparable to Fred Phelps, by choosing an openly gay pastor Eugene Robinson to bless his pre-inauguration.
Things won't happen overnight. Remember that America is being hit by worst economic crisis since the 1930 era of Great Depression, and tons of other problems like resolving war in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.
It would be his main agenda to fulfill. We couldn't expect him to just magically change everything, but at least we know that America is now in the right leader's hand.
He seems to be paying his cards so far so good to win him much supporters including the pink votes.
Unfortunately prop 8 was still passed after he became president elect. Okay some might say he is just a man, he has yet to in office what can he do? Fine, now that he has sworn in as president, we shall see shall we?
He does seem sincere in all that big talk [big clean up] he speaks of. Let's see if he walks the talk.
let the citizens of California and states decide the marriage thing, Obama at the Federal Level should stay put and let the grass roots work things out for a while:)
Mr Obama is already trying very hard to reach out to the marginalized in America- that includes gays, of course-and some of you can still b1tch & whine as though his efforts are worth nothing...with apathy like this, how the hell are we going to achieve social equality?? Ask yourself if YOU have half his guts & fortitude if you are in his shoes. Only than you will be qualified to give judgement.
to therd9=President Obama was trying to be inclusive of all people by inviting Rick Warren. I don't like what Warren stands for either, but he has a right to his opinion. did u forget that Reverend Lowery was there and he supports gay marriage, as well as openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson? he spoke too. or is it just easier for u to dislike President Obama because he has already succeeded at change by being different from all the rest...
to Basrat07=u should go to the Presidential website to see what President Obama has in store for us, or watch the news to see what the president has already done on "DAY 2" of his administration.
to California1=i just feel sorry for u.
I noticed that Rick Warren's speech was very subdued; insipid even. Having him speak may not be such a bad thing as long as he does not engage in anti-gay rhetoric. It makes sense for Obama to engage with all these people respectfully. People must be given every chance to change their attitudes. That will be possible only if you keep engaging with them positively and never missing an opportunity to put your message across. That is how you "win over" and influence them. Simply being confrontational and pushing them away is not going to achieve anything useful. Rather, it will only harden the negative attitudes and beliefs they hold about you.
I'd like to take the analogy of YOU getting a new job. Imagine you've been through an interview and have been selected. You're now walking up to your office for your FIRST DAY at work.
Let's say that one of the two situations I have described below is going to take place.
Situation 1: Your boss is standing in the doorway scowling at you. As you walk up for your FIRST DAY at work, he sneers that you are not going to get away with the BS you wrote in your resume and application. He shoves his face into yours and gives you a racist nickname. He follows you around the office, sneering at you. When you pause to think, your boss makes coarse references to your family members while everyone laughs. When you discuss something with a colleague, your boss makes mocking references to your physical appearance while everyone laughs. When you try to get started on some area of work, your boss makes you some lewd sexual propositions while everyone laughs. He never lets up, that day or on any day following that. It only gets worse.
Situation 2: Your boss greets you warmly as you turn up for your first day of work. He introduces you to your colleagues and gets you started with your team. He steps back and lets you get on with your work, being available for advice or help when required. He ensures regular feedback sessions, engages you in fruitful dialogue, etc.
Now, which one of the above two situations makes sense to you?
Which one do you think would benefit everyone in general?
Which one do you think you deserve?
Why would you think Obama deserves any less?
It seems we who protest so strongly at all the vile things hurled at us, are only too ready to respond in exactly the same vile manner towards every friendly overture made in our direction. The FIRST thing some of us respond with is "liar", followed by other snide remarks. (Why? Because deep down we feel we are unworthy of his efforts for us?)
A soup company makes a friendly gesture towards the gay community (in another thread), and we instantly "remember" a dirty song about that company from our childhood, that we gleefully post online for them to read?
Somebody's friendly gesture towards us "suddenly reminds us of dirty things about them"? And we will proceed to tell them about it, and in great detail?
So, would you agree that if you happen to perform well at work, your boss should reward you with a dirty song about faggots that he "suddenly remembered from his childhood"?
Some of us take a very strong "all or nothing" approach that is self defeating. Sorry, NOBODY out there is going to make a comprehensive list of ALL your grievances, solve them ALL for you in one go, and come and present them all together in a platter in order to win a tiny pat from you. Let's face it: if at all anything good happens, it will happen in steps big and small; even tiny. If you keep complaining and whingeing at each tiny step, you are just fouling it up for the rest of us.
We also need to appreciate that getting from A to B may not necessarily be possible in a perfectly straight, logical line. The other party may need to take a few side roads, back roads, detours, etc. Some of those paths may be rocky, covered with sludge, etc. You cannot micro-analyze each step and start screaming and hurling filthy abuses the moment you think he is headed in a direction that is not perfectly towards Destination B. "OH, the filthy ba5tard, he's driving us straight into the sludge. Oh, look where the compass is pointing. Oh, woe unto poor, poor me", etc.
Even in the BEST planned cities, it is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to come up with a layout in which you can get from ANY PLACE to ANY OTHER PLACE in a perfectly straight line. Also, not every road is going to be a perfect broad tree-lined avenue for your perfect riding comfort.
You can imagine how much more difficult it would be to find perfectly straight paths from current situation to final goal in matters like gay issues which just happen to arouse strong emotions of hatred and disgust among a majority of the world's population.
The FACT is that a LOT of people out there -- forming the MAJORITY of the world's population -- are utterly revolted at the whole gay thing. And Obama HAS to work with some of these people to get things done. You will NOT see these people springing aside from his path with alacrity and saluting, "After you, Noble Sire!"
Does that little sludge experience or the deviation make the other party a liar and a hypocrite? What you have to do is understand and appreciate the other party's ultimate objective; his ultimate goals. That is what matters.
There is no use constantly bleating like a freshly castrated banshee: "OH, he PROMISED to take us from A to B, but now look at that sludge spot on my brand new Gucci loafers. A POX on him!", etc. You cannot keep second guessing him and anticipating his every move based on your fevered imagination and your little sludge spot. Your back seat driving is just going to be self defeating, however logical it may appear to you. The driver has a slightly different view and understanding of the road. Try to remember that.
Maybe if you gave Obama just a fraction of the breathing space that you would have expected for yourself, you would be doing YOURSELF a great favour.
(But if you are like Rush Limbaugh and WANT Obama to fail so that you can have the satisfaction of bragging "I told you so", you're going great guns.)
"Focus on the Family, founded by Dr James Dobson, has reacted with great concern to the new White House agenda.
"President Obama is no friend of family values, and that is made perfectly clear on the White House Web site," said Ashley Horne, federal policy analyst at Focus on the Family Action.
"This is the most bold and comprehensive pro-homosexual, abortion-friendly administration agenda we've ever seen. And this is no time for Christians to remain silent."
Well, if they're worried it must be good news for human values and the human race.
Personally I think Obama is good news for everyone, and will do much to bring together many in the polarised halves of American society.
A Dream for the USA ?
On another front, it is for certain that our religious groups have gotten totally out of control. They have abused their power and privilege and seem to act with impunity . I'd like to donate to a publication or website that counters their self righteous rhetoric and promotes stricter control over these over zealous bigots. Most are deserving of being charged with fraud and deception.
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