Good news, everyone!
I admit it: this week was the first time this commentator seriously doubted President Obama’s commitment to follow through on his promise of advancing gay equality. I tried to reason it away, and while I stand by those posts that suggested that the dreaded “DoJ Brief” was not, in fact, as bad as it sounded, I could not expiate the sense of looming betrayal. Gay Americans – and their straight allies, like myself – have pinned so many hopes on this President. We deserve a victory.
Well, good news everyone! We may get one. Politico reported today, at 8:53 PM, that Obama will sign tomorrow a presidential order, extending health benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees.
This is a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Health benefits for same-sex partners are almost a valence issue, popular across the board. Just so: no-one can honestly deny these rights, without denying the essential humanity of gay couples. It’s fair to call this “the least he [the President] can do”: the decision expends no political capital, requires no brokered deal, and need not implicate any of the other vitally important policiy proposals currently coming out of Washington. On the other hand, it is precisely the unilateralism of this decision that makes it important.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and here it is. We’re on the right path. God bless America: for once, the system works.
I think your analysis of the DOMA defence was spot on (I recommended it as reading in a comment elsewhere) and this, I think, goes to the heart of the issue – while there has been a certain amount of shrieking over it on certain blogs, I think, especially in light of the reasons you gave, that this is a hopeful sign.
Posted by Mike | June 17, 2009, 2:40 amThis is just a symbolic act to pacify the wrath of gay Americans — the reality is that this will likely not even provide healthcare coverage or any monetary benefits whatsoever.
Posted by legalboxerbriefs | June 17, 2009, 11:09 amIt’s not a meaningless move, but it’s not the best he could do, that’s true.
Posted by ACG | June 17, 2009, 11:22 am