Obama’s LGBT Friends Speak Out
As a long-time advocate of minorities and basic civil rights, Senator Obama has a deep-seated understanding of the challenges that LGBT individuals face. Friends and members of our community – from celebrities to legal experts to fellow politicians – have recognized Senator Obama’s work and have spoken out in support of his campaign. They all share the belief that an Obama victory this November will be the critical first step in changing our country’s political and social landscape.
Here’s what our LGBT friends have said:
| “The world yearns for an American leader who can make them proud to be our friend again. And having much of the world rooting for us and looking to us for inspiration again would be good for business, good for our national security, good for our own sense of self worth, and good for our ability to help lead the world through the challenging decades ahead. A third Bush term won’t do this for us. Barack Obama will.” — Andrew Tobias, Financial Expert, Columnist & Author |
| “I was so depressed about politics, the war and melting polar icecaps – and then the speech of Senator Obama the night of the Iowa caucuses. I was hooked and endorsed the next day. Give me a brilliant orator anyday who can inspire Americans to work towards greatness once again.” — John Duran, West Hollywood Councilmember |
| “This election, unlike any other, is so very important in preserving the rights that we have fought for over the years. Yes, I am talking about the Supreme Court, and the next President will determine the conservative or the liberal road for the Court. We, as the LGBT community, cannot afford to take steps backwards, and only President Obama will appoint liberal Justices who will preserve our rights and take the necessary steps forward to protect our EQUAL rights.” — Babak Movahedi |
| “Barack Obama talks with reason, common sense and clearly from his head and heart, without the political rhetoric and sound-bite campaign speak. I think he can bring people together, lead the country toward solving our major problems and inspire our nation to be greater within our borders and once again be the respected leader of the world. Barack is on my side regarding LGBT rights issues, and I believe he is sincere because he talks about these issues to all audiences, not just when he is before a gay/lesbian audience. I truly believe Barack is the leader the USA needs to bring all Americans together for our common well being.” — Thomas Bruny |
| “My hope for an Obama victory is rooted in my desire for equality for all people. I feel the world is ready for, and in great need of, a seismic change in the way we relate to and treat each other. So it is my vision of a world where all minorities – the GLBT community, people of color, women, people with disabilities, people living below the poverty level, people without health insurance, people whose voices are not being heard – will have someone fighting for the rights they deserve.I truly believe Barack Obama is that person. We cannot afford to not have him elected. I am confident he will make us proud to be Americans, after a very long hiatus.” — Barry Karas |
| “I have used my voice and my blog to support Barack Obama from the beginning. We need him now, more than ever, and I am convinced he will be one of the most important and significant presidents we have ever seen.” — Christopher di Spirito, fromtheleft.wordpress.com |
| “Without a doubt, this is the most important election in the history of the LGBT movement. Barack Obama, while not perfect, offers us hope and progress like never before. What a change it would be for the LGBT community after eight years of attacks and oppression by the Bush Administration! In Obama, we have a man standing by our side in the battle against Constitutional Amendments in Florida and California – who will allow our patriotic LGBT service members serve with honor, who will help end discrimination and hate directed toward our community. Can’t wait to see this man become our President!” — David Mixner |
| “Barack Obama demonstrates great leadership by asking us to join him in a journey to become a better people. To grow and reclaim the higher ground. To reconnect with the fundamental values of human rights, mutual respect and personal dignity. He not only respects our community, but he embraces it. He understands the integral role we play in our families and workplaces, in our schools and churches, and in our communities. After eight years of the politics of fear, assault on our freedoms and international belligerence, America needs to heal at home and with the world. I have been with him since he announced his candidacy in Illinois and am totally committed to doing anything I can to help him succeed.” — John Tedstrom, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria |
“My partner and I (both 72, retired, and Independents) will celebrate our 53rd Anniversary on Sept. 14, 2008. Although we have lived through the continuing evolution of the inclusion of LGBT persons in both church and state since the movement’s inception, and although we are registered domestic partners in Palm Beach County, we still lack the 1000+ legal protections provided married, heterosexual couples. However, never before have we been so enthusiastic about a presidential election – in which the (r)evolution will clearly continue. People younger than we are will benefit enormously by an Obama-Biden administration, but we will take great personal satisfaction in knowing that the movement will continue effectively. We are pleased to have made a significant (for us) contribution today!” — Canon Richard T. Nolan & Robert C. Pingpank, (www.nolan-pingpank.com), of the Episcopal Church in the USA |
“As I listened last evening to the sarcasm and cynicism coming from the Republican nominee for Vice President, I became nauseated. The governor of Alaska was mocking not only Barack Obama, when she derided his years devoted to community activism, but she also was belittling us, since all of us have spent time organizing other people in support of just causes, whether they be founding the first LGBT organization of physicians, helping to build communities in Central America, or volunteering for the campaigns of candidates and initiatives we believe in. At the same time, the governor ignored so many critical issues of our time like health care access, which are important to me and my patients, many of whom are battling HIV/AIDS.
Sarah Palin’s speech motivated me to make a contribution to the Obama campaign, but I wanted to do it in a way that would recognize the fact that LGBT people are an important piece of the fabric of this country as well as significant contributors to Barack’s quest for the presidency. I discovered that Terry Bean, a long-time Oregon gay activist and philanthropist who is active in the LGBT steering committee for Obama for America, had set up a website for LGBT supporters: http://www.lgbtforobama.com. If you make a contribution via this website, it lets the Obama campaign know where your contribution is coming from. I believe strongly that it is important to aggregate the voices of LGBT Obama supporters across the country. Viewed together, our contributions will be more visible as a community than if we made the contribution as individuals via the regular Obama for America website.” — Bill Owen, MD (www.owenmed.com), Founder of Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights (BAPHR) – predecessor of Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) |
“If Barack Obama wins and we pick up a few Senate and House seats, we will remove absolutely every legal expression of prejudice against us at the Federal level. Be part of it, so you can say you were there when we broke the back of bigotry.” — Congressman Barney Frank |
We encourage you to take some time to express what Senator Obama’s campaign means to you – a fresh start, increased acceptance, the end of workplace discrimination, the possibility of marrying the one you love — the hope for a better tomorrow.
Click here to send us your thoughts. Be sure to include your full name, as well as any organizational affiliation that you’d like included with your comment.
Send Page To a Friend
