Joyce Arnold is a liberal Independent activist whose weekly column “Queer Talk” appears on Saturday.
Why the big smile from Obama, this past Thursday night, while at the “Gala with the Gay Community” in Manhattan? This was the day before the New York state Senate followed the Assembly’s earlier vote in passing the bill that made New York the latest state to provide legal marriage for same-gender couples, joining Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia. NY is the first GOP controlled state legislature to do this, and the fact that some of those affirmative GOP votes were cast by legislators who spoke from the floor Friday night about undergoing a change, of, in other words, “evolving” on the issue, adds to the mounting evidence that this is a “bending of the arc of history toward justice” movement.
On Thursday, Mr. Obama had to acknowledge the then still on-going debate, but he still didn’t say, “I support same-gender marriage.” The big smile was, I’d guess, because he had the endorsement of “the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization” (the tag line for HRC) before his campaign really kicked off, and will use that to claim the support of the LGBT communities. And, because he’s looking out at a crowd of 600 people who paid between $1250 and $35,800 to be there.
Although he didn’t use it Thursday, Obama fairly often refers to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. – “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice ….” In the last few weeks, it’s been other words from Obama that have gotten a lot of attention. Some time back, America Blog’s Joe Sudbay asked Obama about his position on marriage equality, to which the president responded that it’s “evolving.” Since then, Sudbay’s phrase has been widely picked up: Evolve Already.
“Bending” and “evolving” go together. It’s the Non-Insider and Access people who do much of the very often unacknowledged hard work that “bends” the arc of history toward justice, and makes “evolving” happen. Of course there are leaders and organizations who play significant roles, for or against, in the work toward equality. Certainly that was true in NY. One of the jobs of the majority of us in the Non-I & A group is to find ways to deal with the power of such individuals and organizations, as well as that of Electeds. That’s a part of what we’re seeing play out now in the nation’s LGBT communities.
Obama placed himself in the role of “fierce advocate,” he chose the “evolving” framework. Advocacy includes letting him know when we see his failures in his self-appointed role, as well as the failures of Access complicity. Whether Obama ever gets to the evolved stage of seeing same gender couples as deserving of equal rights (and if he doesn’t, then he also doesn’t see individual LGBTs as equal) isn’t unimportant. He’s in the WH. He’s Democratic Party Leader in Chief. This isn’t just about his personal evolution.
But we can’t get stuck at that point, either, with a focus solely on him. If you ignore him, you leave the “evolving” cover unchallenged. If you limit your focus to just him, you let lots of other people off the hook. Pointing accurately critical fingers at DC Electeds and Insiders is essential, but no more so than work on state and local levels. In fact, more often than not, I think that’s where the absolutely critical work is done.
This is where LGBTs and allies find ourselves regarding Barack Obama – how much time and effort should be spent on trying to push him, along with that arc of history, toward justice? I’m certainly not alone in observing that Mr. Obama’s “evolving” language, like his “fierce advocacy” language, seems as much about providing rainbow flag-like cover as anything else. If we let it.
I’ve seen the arguments that Obama’s multiple and not always consistent “positions” on marriage equality are actually a part of a plan, that playing out his “evolving” on the national stage is a calculated move, meant to teach the nation. That sounds like an “11 dimensional chess” claim to me. It also sounds very convenient, and sometimes, a little desperate.
Holding Obama accountable is imperative. But even more essential is moving on, with or without him. And many are doing that – see NY.
Inside the Gala, Obama heard from a few in the crowd who called out asking about marriage. Good for them. Obama basically made a joke, the crowd laughed, and he moved on. Outside the Gala, GetEQUAL and others protested. The LGBT media and blogs, and even the mainstream media, focused on the contrast of Obama’s back and forth positions on marriage equality, (see a timeline here) / a “gala gay” fundraiser, and the drama playing out in the NY Senate.
Go here to read the transcript of Obama’s speech to the Gala group. Here’s how it ends:
And that’s the story of progress in America. That’s what all of you represent – of the stubborn refusal to accept anything less than the best that this country can be. And with your help, if you keep up the fight, and if you will devote your time and your energies to this campaign one more time, I promise you we will write another chapter in that story. And we are going to leave a new generation with a brighter future and a more hopeful future. And I’ll be standing there, right there with you.
Keep up the fight, he says, by devoting your energies, and giving your money, to my campaign. In fact, and all the while, at state and local levels, queer activists and allies do keep on fighting. That’s what happened in New York. Not that those working at state and local levels aren’t aware of the power of the DC Electeds and Elites. But these folks are quite capable of letting their concerns and expectations be known to those in DC, while simultaneously working to hold back local anti-LGBT efforts, and push forward toward equality.
I wish someone would hold some Gala fundraisers for them, at local and state levels. That could help bend that arc of history toward justice, and equality.
For now, congratulations to NY – Non-Insider and Access; the bi-partisan coalition of organizations; the Electeds, legislative and executive, who were already there and those who evolved. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, the District of Columbia, New York. Next?
UPDATE: Last night, from Pam of Houseblend:
I’m in Tampa, FL for the National Organization for Women conference, and conventioneers were celebrating off-the-hook in tiaras singing ‘New York, New York’ after the news about the vote. I was in the suite of NOW Action Vice President Erin Matson Tweeting the action.
Today, from Joe at AmericaBlog: “White House issued perfunctory statement on New York marriage. Seriously: Evolve Already.” This really is of the “must read” category. Joe writes: “I’m really glad I didn’t read the White House statement on marriage last night. It’s really embarrassing. Might have been useful circa 2004. …”
He provides information about the statement, via Chris Johnson, which includes (emphasis in original):
‘The president has long believed that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and legal protections as straight couples,’ Inouye said. ‘That’s why he has called for repeal of the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ and determined that his administration would no longer defend the constitutionality of DOMA in the courts. The states should determine for themselves how best to uphold the rights of their own citizens. The process in New York worked just as it should.’
Maybe within the confines of the White House that statement makes sense. But, in the real world, it sounds pathetic.
(photo via Rod 2.0 )
