President Obama signed a memorandum yesterday he says is a step in our nations pursuit of equality. The bill grants gay Federal employees family medical leave, health benefits for non-biological children and hospital visitation rights.
The measure does not grant partners full medical coverage. That angers some in the gay community who say Obama’s lacked action when it comes to gay rights. Dr. Monica Crowley explains why on the FOX News Channel.
“What Obama did today in extending very limited rights to same sex couples in the federal government, federal employees, was the right thing to do. But remember, Obama said he was going to repeal the defense of marriage act now that he’s president. He’s not. No way.”
CNN’s Paul Steinhauser agrees. He says many in the gay community view the recent memorandum as too little too late by the administration.
“I guess they see this as a positive step but you’re right, Reggie, a lot of people in the gay and lesbian community are upset with this president because they feel that he hasn’t done enough so far since he’s been president. Things that they say he promised last year.”
The New York Times editorial staff says the memorandum isn’t perfect, but is groundbreaking.
“The strong symbolism of the president’s move cannot be denied. The federal government is, for the first time, acknowledging that its employees’ same-sex partners are worthy of respect.”
John Aravosis, a Salon.com blogger, views the memorandum as a way for Obama to appease gay and lesbians. He says they were outraged by last week’s upholding of the Defense of Marriage Act.
“The president would like us to believe that he's awfully busy being president, and if we only wait a little while longer, we'll get our rights. Of course, the president isn't too busy to stab the community in the back by…defending DOMA, and comparing us to pedophiles.”
On MSNBC, radio host Michelangelo Signorile thinks the current administration, rather than the country, are holding the movement back.
“There is absolutely no question that we are winning and winning very fast and very big. The administration is way behind...We’ve got a whole different world now and people are ready to accept basic equality.”
Has the media blown this story out of proportion? Is it too early in Obama’s presidency for gay activists to call him out on campaign promises?
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