America in 2009 is broadly supportive of gay rights, so why is President Obama “living in 1993”? said John Aravosis in AMERICAblog. After ignoring all eight of his campaign pledges to the gay community, Obama is now going to extend some same-sex partner benefits to gay federal employees. “That’s sweet,” but also “awfully convenient” just as wealthy gay donors are starting to close their wallets. Gay people are too "pissed off” for “cute photo ops.”
The gay community has ample reason to be upset, said the Los Angeles Times in an editorial, as Obama’s Justice Department defends the “odious” Defense of Marriage Act and Obama shows a “curiously passive” attitude toward ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” and other gay-rights priorities. But Obama could be right that a “hasty march” toward gay rights could actually set the movement back by years.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'A new era of hurricanes'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
How Britain's demographic is changingA 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
-
The story of Japanese jeweller TasakiThe Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockadeSpeed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attemptSpeed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPBSpeed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion banSpeed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling BiblesSpeed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitnessIn Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
