Connect with us

Time To Start Facing The Gay Rights Realities Of A Post-Obama America?

Published

on

It’s time for me to start wrapping my head around the idea that Barack Obama may not make it. I’m not saying he will definitely lose his bid for reelection, merely that things are looking a little bleak. His poll numbers are down, and more disturbingly, are on a downward trend. The economic numbers are anemic at best, and even if we all woke up tomorrow with a fully restored economy, public approval ratings take awhile to catch up with reality. At the moment, the future of our nation appears to hinge on how crazy the Republican nominee will be, and how much of this insanity the voters will be tolerant of, (or enthusiastic about,) on election day.

Awesome.

With the outcome of the next election riding on the good sense and civic understanding of the American people, I am very, very worried. As a gay man, I am positively terrified. Where the Republican party used to rely on Adam Smith and William F. Buckley for its ideology, today’s Conservative is a pungent mix of equal parts Ayn Rand, Pat Robertson, and P.T Barnum. As it turns out, the circus is way more effective.

So, it’s time to start facing the realities of a Post-Obama America. Just in case. I know. My teeth are clenched too, but it’s time we faced the possibility.

The LGBT community has enjoyed a very hospitable few years. I, for one, have gotten a little spoiled. Obama likes us, or is at least willing to pander to us, and as a result we have seen an unprecedented series of victories.

While this could entice one into thinking that the political landscape is relatively stable for LGBT people in the modern era, I’m not overwhelmed by the situation. In the latest ABC News/Washington Post Poll, 51% of respondents voiced support for gay marriage. While that is better than it has been in the past, that number still blows. If I were in a room with ten people, and five of them wanted to deny me my civil rights, I would want to leave that room. And you can bet at least a few of them would like to see me in jail, or at least publicly shamed and driven out of polite society forever for being gay. We still live in a country where most states have no protections of any kind for LGBT people.

Don’t believe me? Just go look at the Wikipedia entry for LGBT rights in the United States. Or take the Benjamin Phillips Challenge: Try reading the comments section of any article anywhere when the story regards gay rights, and see if you don’t get sick to your stomach by the end of the first page. Those anonymous postings are, in my opinion, the real views of the people in this country.

Despite who may beat Obama, if he is to be beaten, things are going to start getting worse. No longer will we have the limited protection of our president. No matter if it’s President Rick “George W. Bush with less intellectual scruples” Perry, or President Mitt “Let me be president and I’ll say whatever you want me to” Romney, we will have a chief executive who will sign any crazy-ass, bigoted, wildly anti-gay piece of legislation Congress can manage to slide across his desk. And may the deity of your choice help us if Michele Bachmann gets to sit in the big chair. Perry and Romney are largely just pandering, power-hungry ego maniacs for whom LGBT people are little more than a easy scapegoat. Michele Bachmann really hates us. Who knows what horrors await us should she get her hands on any real amount of executive power. I hate to speculate, as my mind goes to terrible places thinking of it. I can assure you however, the sheer volume of anti-gay constitutional amendments she would support would crush even the heartiest of desks.

I ask you to envision this future as you watch the Republican Presidential Candidates debate over the next few months. Try to hold back the vomit, and listen to their responses when the inevitable questions regarding gay rights come up. Unless Obama can pull it together, this is our future.

Discouraging? You bet. Not a fan? Then do everything in your power to see that Obama gets reelected. He isn’t perfect, but he’s far better than these yahoos.

Benjamin Phillips is a Humor Writer, Web Developer, Civics Nerd, and all around crank that spends entirely too much time shouting with deep exasperation at the television, especially whenever cable news is on. He lives in St. Louis, MO and spends most of his time staring at various LCD screens, occasionally taking walks in the park whenever his boyfriend becomes sufficiently convinced that Benjamin is becoming a reclusive hermit person. He is available for children’s parties, provided that those children are entertained by hearing a complete windbag talk for two hours about the importance of science education, or worse yet, poorly researched anecdotes PROVING that James Buchanan was totally gay. If civilization were to collapse due to zombie hoards or nuclear holocaust, Benjamin would be among the first to die as he has no useful skills of any kind. The post-apocalyptic hellscape has no real need for homosexual computer programmers who can name all the presidents in order, as well as the actors who have played all eleven incarnations of Doctor Who.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment
 
 

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.

NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

News

Trump Indicted by Grand Jury: Reports

Published

12 hours ago

on

June 8, 2023

By

Donald Trump’s attorneys have been notified a grand jury has voted to indict the ex-president on numerous federal charges and ordered to appear in a Miami court next Tuesday, according to ABC News, CNN, and NBC News. Trump on his Truth Social account made a similar claim..

“Former President Donald Trump has been indicted in the special counsel’s classified documents probe, sources familiar with the matter tells CNN,” the network reports. “Trump has been charged with seven counts in the indictment, according to another source familiar with the matter.”

“We’re learning from our sources that there appears to be at least seven counts here,” ABC News’ Katherine Faulders reported on-air, ABC News online reports.. “This ranges from everything from the willful retention of national defense information to conspiracy to a scheme to conceal to false statements and representations.”

MSNBC on-air reports NBC News has confirmed the Trump indictment, and NBC News online reports the indictment is “in connection with his mishandling of more than 100 classified documents that were discovered last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, making the twice-impeached former commander-in-chief the first former president to face federal criminal charges.”

Watch this currently ongoing ABC News live streaming video:

In three separate entries on his Truth Social platform, Trump writes: “The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted,” along with several false allegations NCRM will not publish.

“I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM,” he adds.

He also declares he is “innocent.”

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change.

Continue Reading

News

‘Where’s the Money?’: Biden Laughs Out Loud, Mocks GOP’s Allegations

Published

13 hours ago

on

June 8, 2023

By

Just as his press conference with the U.K. Prime Minister was coming to a close and reporters were asked to remain seated, a jovial President Joe Biden stayed and took several questions from reporters desperate to ask about Republicans’ baseless and unsubstantiated claims he accepted millions in bribe money when he was vice president.

Shouting “bribery allegations,” one reporter told the President, “Congresswoman Nancy Mace says there’s damning evidence in an FBI file that you sold out the country.”

As a smile worked its way across the President’s face, the reporter continued saying: “Do you have a response to congressional Republicans?”

The President did.

“Where’s the money?” he deadpanned.

“I’m joking,” he added.

READ MORE: Watch: Stunned Bill Barr Speechless After Fox Host Asks Why DOJ Is Pursuing Trump ‘In the Middle’ of an Election

“That’s a bunch of malarkey,” Biden ultimately responded, denying the claims which were fueled by FBI Director Chris Wray’s decision to allow the entire House Oversight Committee, in eluding far-right Republicans, access to an old FBI form documenting a second-hand tip alleging bribery.

NBC News Peter Alexander then threw a curious question at the President.

“Mr. President, what do you say to Americans to convince them that they should trust the independence and fairness of the Justice Department when your predecessor, Donald Trump, repeatedly attacks it?”

Biden quickly became less jovial.

READ MORE: SCOTUS ‘Surprise’ Voting Rights Decision Could – and Did – Have Big Implications for Democrats, Legal Experts Say

“Because you notice,” he said very seriously, pointing his finger at the reporter, “I have never once, not one single time, suggested to the Justice Department what they should do or not do relative bringing a charge or not bringing a charge.”

“I’m honest,” he stressed.

Foreign policy, national security, and political affairs analyst and commentator David Rothkopf responded to the video clip, stating: “Questions like these are not serious journalism.”

Watch below or at this link.

 

Continue Reading

News

Watch: Stunned Bill Barr Speechless After Fox Host Asks Why DOJ Is Pursuing Trump ‘In the Middle’ of an Election

Published

15 hours ago

on

June 8, 2023

By

Former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr, once one of the ex-president’s top defenders, appeared stunned and speechless Thursday afternoon when a Fox News host surprised him by asking why the U.S. Dept. of Justice is pursuing a criminal investigation against Trump over classified documents while he is running again for president.

“Why is this process happening so quickly in the middle of a presidential election?” Fox’s Martha MacCallum asked. She neglected to mention that Donald Trump reportedly announced his presidential campaign to avoid being charged.

Barr, who is on record stating he opposes Trump’s actions surrounding the hundreds of classified and top secret documents he likely unlawfully removed from the White House and refused to return, paused for several seconds before replying.

“Uh,” Barr finally replied, “This, this was a fairly simple case,” he said, appearing to defend DOJ.

READ MORE: SCOTUS ‘Surprise’ Voting Rights Decision Could – and Did – Have Big Implications for Democrats, Legal Experts Say

“The Mar-a-Lago case. This is a case that can be done relatively quickly, and that’s why I thought, it’s the main – because it’s a very limited question,” Barr explained, shifting gears. “It relates to, ah, one collection of documents and and why they weren’t given to the government once they were subpoenaed. And it’s a pretty simple case.”

Moving on, MacCallum asked, “And you believe that the charge will be obstruction, based on what you’ve said before?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Barr responded, seeming to not want to bet pinned down to an answer, “if I had to bet I think that that there’s going to be an indictment here on that basis, but it’s not going to be because he took the documents, or even had the documents for a while. I think it’s because they believe that he acted deceitfully once the government tried to get the documents back.”

On Tuesday, Barr spoke with CBS News to refute his ex-boss’s “witch hunt” claims, said the ex-president had “jerked” DOJ around over the hundreds of classified and top secret documents he refused to return, and added there was “no excuse” to do so.

READ MORE: Biden Launches Major Initiative to Protect LGBTQ Community Ahead of Massive White House Pride Celebration

Watch Barr below or at this link.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2020 AlterNet Media.