Obama proven a hypocrite on gay rights

June 12, 5:34 PMInternational LGBT Issues ExaminerKelvin Lynch

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During what he declared National LGBT Pride Month, President Obama has revealed his bias against gay people, which may prove to set back the gay marriage movement for his entire tenure in office.

Yesterday, the Department of Justice had a federal case dismissed by a California gay married couple challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), saying (rightfully so) that the couple lacked standing.  However, the administration's position on gay rights became ever more clear with the release of its case brief.

Andrew Sullivan reported today that the Obama administration's brief "reads as if it were written by one of George W. Bush's appointees."  Obama doesn't merely argue technicalities about DOMA, he says it is reasonable and constitutional. 

Among other things, Obama's brief argues the following:

• Prior Supreme Court gay rights victories should not be interpreted to give gays rights in other areas, such as marriage
• DOMA is rational, constitutional, and is similar to laws preventing child rape, child marriage, and incest
• DOMA doesn't discriminate against gay couples
• Blacks deserve more civil rights than gays
• DOMA is good because it saves the federal government money
• DOMA is consistent with equal protection and due process rights
• Gays have no constitutional right to marry, nor to have their state marriages recognized by other states
• DOMA is good because it "cautiously limits" society's still-evolving understanding of the institution of marriage

John Aravosis of America Blog said, "Obama chose to defend DOMA, denigrate our civil rights, go back on his promises, and contradict his own statements that DOMA was 'abhorrent.'  Obama's lawyers are even trying to diminish the impact of Roemer and Lawrence, our only two big Supreme Court victories. Obama is quite literally destroying our civil rights gains with this brief. He's taking us down for his own benefit."

David Link of Independent Gay Forum agrees, saying:

"It is gratuitously insulting to lesbians and gay men, referring (unnecessarily) to same-sex marriage as a “form” of marriage, approving of congressional comparisons between same-sex marriages and loving relationships between siblings, or grandparents and grandchildren, and arguing (with a straight face, I can only assume) that discrimination against same-sex couples is rational because it saves the federal government money. There are some respectable arguments in this motion, and this kind of disrespect is offensive.

 The Department of Justice issued this statement:

"As it generally does with existing statutes, the Justice Department is defending the law on the books in court. The president has said he wants to see a legislative repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act because it prevents LGBT couples from being granted equal rights and benefits. However, until Congress passes legislation repealing the law, the administration will continue to defend the statute when it is challenged in the justice system."

Given the strong wording of Obama's arguments in favor of DOMA, it appears he has no real intention of ever working to repeal the law.  In fact, Mr. Obama's arguments fly in the face of past statements he has made to LGBT citizens of this country that led us to believe he was looking out for our rights.  It seems we are stuck in a schizophrenogenic relationship with this President, one filled with mixed signals and confusion.  When, if ever, can we expect to be treated as equal citizens of this country?

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