Saturday evening, White House Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Brian Bond, had posted an entry on the official White House OPE Blog which was entitled 'It Gets Better' using Savage's phrase from his YouTube Video campaign that has led off a massive amount of participation by LGBT persons globally.
In his blog piece, Bond had solely posted the entire text of Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett prepared remarks of a speech that she was due to deliver at the Human Rights Campaign's 14th annual dinner & gala. [ Video Of Jarrett's Speech Here. ] There was no mention of the YouTube campaign nor Savage or other LGBT activist's work on addressing the recent spate of Gay Teen suicides that had inspired it.
Savage wrote:
There has also been outrage that President Obama has not personally addressed the deaths and pushed the Senate Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation pending that would assist in Federal efforts to push school districts to implement more effective anti-bullying campaigns.
The Safe-Schools Act is opposed by pro-Christian activist organisations, such as Colorado Springs based 'Focus On The Family,' who view the legislation as promoting a "homosexual agenda."
Savage wrote:
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| Dan Savage |
F**k you, you pack of co-opting cowards.
Seriously. You can do a more than offer hope. You have the power to make it better. Right now. Suspend enforcement of DADT. Don't appeal the decision by a federal judge that declared DADT unconstitutional. Stop defending DOMA in court. Keep your promises. Make it better. And if you're not going to keep your promises or do what you can to make it better, White House, then you could at least have the simple human decency to shut the f**k up.
State-sanctioned discrimination against LGBT people legitimizes the kind of anti-gay attitudes and beliefs that lead directly to anti-gay bullying at the ballot box and anti-gay bullying in schools. You can do more. Enough with the speeches. Enough with the pretty words—particularly lifted ones.
F**k you.Savage's column has received support from numerous LGBT activists who are decrying what is generally perceived to be as a complete lack of proactive support from the White House on LGBT issues, a majority of whom are still angered by the recent Senate vote that effectively halted repeal of DADT until after the elections next month, and the lack of a presidential 'stop-loss' executive order that would freeze discharges and stop enforcement of DADT.
There has also been outrage that President Obama has not personally addressed the deaths and pushed the Senate Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation pending that would assist in Federal efforts to push school districts to implement more effective anti-bullying campaigns.
The Safe-Schools Act is opposed by pro-Christian activist organisations, such as Colorado Springs based 'Focus On The Family,' who view the legislation as promoting a "homosexual agenda."
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2 comments:
From the Jarrett's speech: "That’s why, last year, we created a new federal task force on bullying."
And sadly, how was that effective?
Talk is fine it's the way we communicate, unless we use it to dodge the issue, and Dan is right. I hope his message gets communicated.
Civil Rights and Human Rights must not be further delayed with rhetoric disguised as action, concern and promises.
The only thing you can say is that Jarrett's speech is better than the ones from the other side of the political spectrum...just.
Damn it, my American brothers, and sisters, make sure you vote or we won't even get this much from the Right wing. That is so frustrating.
At long last, someone is finally willing to call a spade a spade. No pun, or otherwise intended, without my going all "Politically Correct" on everyone.
Dan Savage is right on; and more of the BlogSphere journalists should speak up and be heard with words just as harsh, if not more so with each passing day until the Obama Presidency actually does get off their collective asses and keep their campaign promises. I did a week ago in my own Blog, with a copy of my comments sent directly to the White House that same day.
I know that if I were voting in the forthcoming mid-terms I would be seriously considering ditching the whole kit and caboodle in favour of an independent.
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