Barack Obama on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

In commemoration of National Black HIV / AIDS Awareness Day, Senator Barack Obama sent a letter to the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles, which will be read at their ceremony this evening honoring numerous "Heroes in the Struggle" against this ongoing epidemic. Here are excerpts from the letter, which may also be found at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog.

HIV/AIDS is appropriately described as a global challenge. Yet we know that the struggle against HIV/AIDS is not distant – our determination to take action must begin in our own communities.

A report released a few months ago on the state of HIV/AIDS in the District of Columbia makes this point painfully clear. Over 12,500 people living in the District are known to have HIV/AIDS. One in 20 residents has HIV, and 1 in 50 has AIDS – the highest rate of infection of any city in the country. The impact is particularly grave in the African American community, as more than 80 percent of HIV cases identified in the District between 2001 and 2006 were African Americans.

Continue reading "Barack Obama on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day"

Obama Picks Up LGBT Supporters From Edwards

The Advocate reports "a critical mass of John Edwards's LGBT steering committee is going public with support for Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton. Twenty-two members of the Edwards campaign's original 59-person gay and lesbian committee will now be working for Obama victories next Tuesday and throughout the rest of the primary season.

The new Obama converts include Eric Stern, who headed up Edwards's LGBT steering committee, and longtime gay activist David Mixner, who famously campaigned for Bill Clinton in 1992, holding some of the first gay fund-raisers for a U.S. presidential candidate."

Barack Obama on Ending Discrimination in the Military

Marking the 14th anniversary of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, the Human Rights campaign has asked the leading Democratic candidates for President to respond to the question, “If you are elected President, what concrete steps would you take to overturn ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?’

Barack Obama responds on HRC Backstory

Fourteen years ago, the Democratic Party faced a test of leadership, and our party failed that test. We had an opportunity to be leaders on the World stage in eliminating discrimination against gay and lesbian service members, to recognize the patriotism and heroism of the hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian citizens who have served our country. Instead, we bowed to fear and prejudice.

We were told that American soldiers weren’t ready to serve next to gay and lesbian comrades. We were told that our airmen, sailors and Marines would lose their “unit cohesion” if we implemented a policy of equality. And so, rather than embracing leadership and principle, we embraced Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — a policy that is antithetical to the values of honor and integrity that our military holds most dear. Patriotic gay and lesbian Americans are now told that they may serve their country only if they hide their true identities. They are forced to live a lie as the price of risking their lives for their country.

Fourteen years later, the United States of America lags far behind. We lag behind our military allies, who are repudiating discrimination against lesbian and gay soldiers in ever increasing numbers — in Great Britain, Canada, Israel, nearly every NATO member in Europe — all with no impact upon military readiness and performance. And our politicians lag behind the American people, who now call for the repeal of Don’t Ask,Don’t Tell in super-majority numbers. It is time for a change.

As president, I will work with Congress and place the weight of my administration behind enactment of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, which will make nondiscrimination the official policy of the U.S. military. I will task the Defense Department and the senior command structure in every branch of the armed forces with developing an action plan for the implementation of a full repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. And I will direct my Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to develop procedures for taking re-accession requests from those qualified service members who were separated from the armed forces under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and still want to serve their country. The eradication of this policy will require more than just eliminating one statute. It will require the implementation of anti-harassment policies and protocols for dealing with abusive or discriminatory behavior as we transition our armed forces away from a policy of discrimination. The military must be our active partners in developing those policies and protocols. That work should have started long ago. It will start when I take office.

America is ready to get rid of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. All that is required is leadership.

A call for full equality

by Sen. Barack Obama
http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=10906

Over the last several weeks, the question of GLBT equality was placed on center stage by the appearance of Donnie McClurkin at one of my campaign events. McClurkin is a talented performer and a beloved figure among many African Americans and Christians around the country. At the same time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I completely reject.

The events of the last several weeks are not the occasion that I would have chosen to discuss America’s divisions on gay rights and my own deep commitment to GLBT equality. Now that the issue is before us, however, I do not intend to run away from it. These events have provided an important opportunity for us to confront a difficult fact: There are good, decent, moral people in this country who do not yet embrace their gay brothers and sisters as full members of our shared community.

We will not secure full equality for all GLBT Americans until we learn how to address that deep disagreement and move beyond it. To achieve that goal, we must state our beliefs boldly, bring the message of equality to audiences that have not yet accepted it, and listen to what those audiences have to say in return.

For my entire career in public life, I have brought the message of GLBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones. No other leading candidate in the race for the Presidency has demonstrated the same commitment to the principle of full equality. I support the full and unqualified repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples. I will also fight to repeal the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, a law that should never have been passed, and my Defense Department will work with top military leaders to implement that repeal.

As President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples – whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. I will also place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I have supported fully inclusive protections since my days in the Illinois legislature, when I sponsored a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination that expressly included both sexual orientation and gender identity.

That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of GLBT equality to people who are not yet convinced.

That’s why I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I reiterated that message in the speech announcing my candidacy for President. Since beginning my campaign, I have been talking about GLBT equality on the stump, from rural farmers to Southern preachers. Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say in return. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all GLBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work that we need to do if we are going to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.

The American people have been poorly served by two terms of an administration that seeks to manipulate us through fear: fear over national security, fear over immigrants and fear over gay and lesbian couples in loving relationships. Americans are yearning for leadership that will put an end to the fear mongering and instead begin empowering us once again to reach for the America we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of GLBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that appeals to the best parts of the human spirit, rather than the worst. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.

Obama Explains Why He's the Best Candidate for LGBT Americans

Senator Obama talks about the McClurkin issue in an interview with the Advocate:

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50021.asp

The Barack Obama Plan to Fight HIV/AIDS

The following is a reprint of the Barack Obama Plant to Fight HIV/AIDS, released in October, 2007

Barack Obama, Fighthing HIV/AIDS Worldwide

“We are all sick because of AIDS - and we are all tested by this crisis. It is a test not only of our willingness to respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a question of either treatment or prevention – or even what kind of prevention – it is all of the above. It is not an issue of either science or values – it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But there must also be a change in hearts and minds, in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist, neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck
effort.” -Barack Obama, World AIDS Day Speech, Lake Forest, CA, 12/1/06

BARACK OBAMA’S PLAN TO COMBAT GLOBAL HIV/AIDS

There are 40 million people across the planet infected with HIV/AIDS, including more than 1 million people in the U.S., with nearly 8,000 people dying every day of AIDS. Barack Obama believes that we must do more to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as malaria and tuberculosis. In 2006, Obama traveled to Kenya and, along with his wife Michelle, took an HIV/AIDS test to encourage African men and women to be tested for the disease. Obama believes in working across party lines to combat this epidemic and joined Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) at a large California evangelical church to promote greater investment in the global AIDS battle. As president, Obama will continue to be a global leader in the fight against AIDS.

HIV/AIDS IN AMERICA

Develop a National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Obama has pledged that, in the first year of his presidency, he will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care, and reduce HIV-related health disparities. His strategy will include measurable goals, timelines, and accountability mechanisms.

Fix the Nation’s Health Care System: 47 million Americans are uninsured in this country. Barack Obama is committed to signing universal health care legislation by the end of his first term in office that ensures all Americans have high-quality, affordable health care coverage. Obama’s plan will save a typical American family up to $2,500 every year on medical expenditures by providing affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage for every American; modernizing the U.S. health care system to contain spiraling health care costs and improve the quality of patient care; and promoting prevention and strengthening public health to prevent disease and protect against natural and man-made disasters. His health plan will ensure that people living with HIV have access to lifesaving treatment and care.

Fight Disparities: HIV has hit some communities harder than others. For example, while African-Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, they make up 49 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases. AIDS is the leading cause of death in African-American women aged 25-34, and the third leading cause of death in African-American men in the same age group. In 2005, 64 percent of women living with HIV/AIDS were black. Obama will tackle the root causes of health disparities by addressing differences in access to health coverage and promoting prevention and public health, both of which play a major role in addressing disparities. He will also challenge the medical system to eliminate inequities in health care through quality measurement and reporting, implementation of effective interventions such as patient navigation programs and diversification of the health workforce.

Improve Quality of Life for Those Living with HIV/AIDS: Obama is a strong supporter of the Ryan White Care Act (RWCA), which provides critical access to life-saving treatment and care for over half a million lowincome Americans with HIV/AIDS. The RWCA is one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary health care and support services for patients with HIV/AIDS. The bill was named after Ryan White, an Indiana teenager whose courageous struggle with HIV/AIDS helped educate the nation. Throughout the reauthorization process of the RWCA, Obama worked closely with RWCA service providers, the Chicago Department ofPublic Health, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to analyze and find ways to improve the program for Illinois and for the nation. Obama will continue to protect the multifaceted care upon which RWCA beneficiaries depend.

Assure Adequate and Safe Housing for Those Living With HIV: Obama supports increased funding for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) and other pertinent housing programs. These programs aim to assure that adequate and safe housing is available for all disabled and low-income people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S.

Expand Funding for Research: Barack Obama will expand funding for research, especially for prevention options including a vaccine and microbicides. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. Obama led an effort with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and others to introduce the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses.

Promote AIDS Prevention: In addition to assuring access to treatment, Obama believes we need to increase the focus on preventing new infections. We cannot keep pace with treatment needs if we don’t also focus on prevention. This means pursuing a strategy that relies on sound science and builds on what works. Obama supports comprehensive sex education that is age-appropriate. He supports increasing federal appropriations for science-based HIV prevention programs. Obama supports the JUSTICE Act, which would prevent transmission of HIV within the incarcerated population. He also supports legislation that would lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange as a strategy to reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users and their partners and children.

Bring Medicaid Coverage to Low-Income, HIV-Positive Americans: Obama is a co-sponsor of the Early Treatment of HIV Act, which would provide Medicaid coverage to more low-income, HIV-positive Americans.

GLOBAL HIV/AIDS

Reauthorize and Revise PEPFAR: The U.S. has dramatically increased funding for global HIV and AIDS programs through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), but the program has faced controversy. Obama believes that our first priority should be to reauthorize PEPFAR when it expires in 2008 and rewrite much of the bill to allow best practices – not ideology – to drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs.

In addition, Obama supports adding an additional $1 billion a year in new money over the next five years to strengthen and expand the program to Southeast Asia, India, and Eastern Europe, where the pandemic is expanding.

Increase Investments for HIV Treatment: Barack Obama is committed to increasing U.S. investments in the capacity building needed to ensure that poor countries are able to develop the health care infrastructure necessary to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, promote basic health care, reduce the spread of malaria and TB, and prevent and, if necessary, contain the spread of avian flu and other pandemics.

Increase Contribution to the Global Fund: Obama supports increasing U.S. contributions to the Global Fund for AIDS, malaria, and TB so that our assistance is coordinated with aid provided by other governments and private donors and so that the burden on poor countries is reduced.

Provide Access Through Trade: Barack Obama believes that people in developing countries living with HIV/AIDS should have access to safe, affordable generic drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. He will break the stranglehold that a few big drug and insurance companies have on these life-saving drugs. Obama supports the rights of sovereign nations to access quality-assured, low-cost generic medication to meet their pressing public health needs under the WTO’s Declaration on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He also supports the adoption of humanitarian licensing policies that ensure medications developed with U.S. taxpayer dollars are available off-patent in developing countries.

Achieve the Millennium Development Goals: As president, Barack Obama will double U.S. foreign assistance from $25 billion per year to $50 billion per year to ensure the U.S. does its share to meet the Millennium Development Goals, including halving the number of people who die of tuberculosis and/or are affected by malaria. In 2005, Obama cosponsored the International Cooperation to Meet the Millennium Development Goals Act. Barack Obama will target this new spending toward strategic goals, including helping the world’s weakest states to build healthy and educated communities, reduce poverty, develop markets, and generate wealth. He will also help weak states to fight terrorism, halt the spread of deadly weapons, and build the health care infrastructure needed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS as well as detect and contain outbreaks of avian influenza. Obama will dedicate as much funding to HIV/AIDS as possible – without cutting into other critical foreign assistance programs – to ensure a comprehensive fight against this global pandemic.

Reduce Debt of Developing Nations: Developing nations are amassing tremendous amounts of foreign debt that limit their economic development and make investments in public health, education, and infrastructure extremely difficult. Debt in Sub-Saharan Africa stands at $235 billion, 44 percent of the region’s gross domestic product and an increase of 33 percent since 1990. Obama would work with other developed nations and multilateral institutions to cancel remaining onerous debt while pushing reforms to keep developing nations from slipping into fiscal ruin. Obama also would better coordinate trade and development policies to use the full range of America’s economic power to help developing nations reap the benefits of the global trading system. Obama cosponsored the Multilateral Debt Relief Act of 2005 to provide multilateral debt relief to Heavily Indebted Poor Countries.

Barack Obama: Make Everyone Welcome at Gospel Concert

Barack Obama has shocked and disappointed many of us with the news that he will appear with an anti-gay evangelical gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. McClurkin was a favorite of George Bush, during his 2004 campaign. His work promoting anti-gay ballot measures in 2004 mobilized right-wing voters.

America Blog writes: "Funny how Obama is a big supporter of civil rights when blacks are being maligned, but not so much when gays are the victims. Kind of puts his screw up over General Pace's homophobia in a whole new light."

Pams House Blend writes: "McClurkin believes one can pray away the gay, that it is a choice, and, according to Keith Boykin, Donnie McClurkin compares gays and lesbians to liars."

And from Truth Wins Out: "We strongly urge Obama to part ways with this divisive preacher who is clearly singing a different tune than the stated message of the campaign," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "We can only hope that Obama is unaware of McClurkin's anti-gay history and will swiftly condemn such intolerance. Real leadership includes standing up to those who drive wedges between the American people."

Still, Obama continues to back Donnie McClurkin. He released the following statement on his website:

"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts of our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division."

It is hard to grasp why Obama would choose to continue to appear with someone who has a track-record of attacking the LGBT community. Given the General Pace Incident, it's only natural that LGBT community members would be concerned by Obama's decision to stand on stage with an anti-gay minister Donnie McClurkin. Top Democrats have been telling us what we want to hear for years, but actions speak louder than words. And this action is troubling.

Barack Obama is best advised to pull Donnie McClurkin out of the gospel concert lineup. If he insists on moving forward with McClurkin, however, he should make a genuine effort to show the LGBT community that we are welcome.

Unfortunately these kinds of debates often play out as "evangelicals vs. gays" or "African Americans vs. gays". This means that unfortunately, LGBT Christians and LGBT African Americans are left out of the debate.

Let's change that.

Obama can demonstrate that the LGBT community is welcome at this Gospel Concert, by inviting an LGBT Gospel Choir to perform alongside the other performers. I know here in Washington DC, we have an amazing gospel choir at the Washington DC Metropolitan Community Church. I would venture to guess that at least one of the Metropolitan Community Churches in South Carolina has an excellent gospel choir as well.

If Barack insists on keeping Donnie McClurkin at this gospel concert, he must demonstrate that LGBT folks are welcome and part of this event. LGBT community members need a president who will do and say the right things not just at LGBT community forums, but all the time. At this moment, Obama has an opportunity to demonstrate that.

Barack Obama Statement on Passage of Hate Crimes Prevention Act

U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) made the following statement on the passage of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was offered as an amendment to National Defense Authorization Act. Obama is an original cosponsor of the legislation, which expands federal law to investigate and prosecute hate crimes to include crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

"This vote was about who we are as Americans and whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality. Those who commit hate crimes should be punished no matter whether those crimes are committed on account of race, gender, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Today's vote is a victory for all of us in upholding basic rights and protections in this country. I urge the President to reconsider his veto threat and support this legislation. Passing this bill will help us live up to the principle that in this country, we treat all of our citizens with dignity and respect."

Barack Obama on LGBT Immigration

Chris Crain has a great post up which clarifies Barack Obama's position on LGBT immigration, and specifically, the Uniting American Families Act. The Obama campaign reports:

"Barack believes that LGBT Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a choice between staying with their partner and staying in their country. That's why he supports changing immigration policy through the Uniting American Families Act. He does, however, have some reservations about the fraud provisions of the present bill."

read the full post here.

Needle Exchange: An Important Distinction between Obama and Clinton

Ben Smith from the Politico has a post up highlighthing an important distinction between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Obama supports federal funding for needle-exchange programs to prevent; Clinton is still waffling.

We have overwhelming scientific evidence that needle-exchange programs are an effective way to reduce HIV infections among injection drug users. Even the CDC supports needle exchange (and has for several years). Most of Hillary's fellow candidates including both Obama and Edwards, have supported federal funding for needle exchange. So I'm not really sure what basis Clinton could have for her indecision, but it's an important distinction to make.

Ben writes: "Obama was quick to say at his July appearance he supports lifting the ban on federal funding for needle exchange. Clinton, by contrast, performed what King called "an interesting waffle" at her April 23 event."

read the article and see the video footage here

On the Record: Barack Obama at the HRC/Logo Debate

Text of the HRC/Logo Debate

CARLSON:
And now with that, it is my pleasure to introduce our first candidate. Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate from Illinois in 2004. The senator
previously served eight years in the state Senate in Illinois. Please welcome Senator Barack Obama.
(APPLAUSE)
CARLSON:
Good to see you again.
OBAMA:
Thank you. Thank you.
CARLSON:
Well, welcome, Senator. You are a rock star, I think.
OBAMA:
Oh, I don't know about that.
CARLSON:
It's not quite as hot here as it was in Chicago the other night, literally and figuratively, perhaps.
OBAMA:
Absolutely. Well, it's wonderful to be here. I want to thank, first of all, HRC and LOGO for setting this up. I think it is a historic moment, not just for the
LGBT community, but for America. And so I'm glad that I'm participating and glad I kind of got the ball rolling.
CARLSON:
Yes. Start-off batter here.
OBAMA:
Absolutely.
CARLSON:
Welcome.
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA:
Thank you. Thank you.
CARLSON:
I'm going to have some questions for you, but first I'm going to turn it over to Joe.
SOLMONESE:
Senator, thank you so much for joining us. It's a real honor to have you here with us tonight. And thank you for being the first to accept our invitation.
You have said in previous debates that it is up to individual religious denominations to decide whether or not to recognize same sex marriage, and so my
question is what place does the church have in government-sanctioned civil marriages?
OBAMA:
Well, it is my strong belief that the government has to treat all citizens equally. I come from that, in part, out of personal experience. When you're a black
guy named Barack Obama, you know what it's like to be on the outside. And so my concern is continually to make sure that the rights that are conferred by the
state are equal for all people. That's why I opposed DOMA in 2006 when I ran for the United States Senate.
(APPLAUSE)
That's why I am a strong supporter not of a weak version of civil unions, but of a strong version, in which the rights that are conferred at the federal level to
persons who are part of a same sex union are compatible.
Now, as a consequence, I don't think that the church should be making these determinations when it comes to legal rights conferred by the state. I do think
that individual denominations have the right to make their own decisions as to whether they recognize same sex couples.
My denomination, United Church of Christ, does. Other denominations may make a different decision. And obviously, part of keeping a separation of
churches and state is also to make sure that churches have the right to exercise their freedom of religion.
But when it comes to federal rights, the over 1,100 rights that right now are not being given to same sex couples, I think that's unacceptable, and as president
of the United States, I'm going to fight hard to make sure that those rights are available.
(APPLAUSE)
SOLMONESE:
So to follow up on your point about the state issue, if you were back in the Illinois legislature where you served and the issue of civil marriage came before
you, how would you vote on that?
OBAMA:
Well, my view is that we should try to disentangle what has historically been the issue of the word "marriage," which has religious connotations to some
people, from the civil rights that are given to couples in terms of hospital visitation, in terms of whether or not they can transfer property or any of the other --
Social Security benefits and so forth.
So it depends on how the bill would have come up. I would have supported and would continue to support a civil union that provides all the benefits that are
available for a legally sanctioned marriage. And it is then, as I said, up to religious denominations to make a determination as to whether they want to recognize
that as a marriage or not.
SOLMONESE:
But on the grounds of civil marriage, can you see to our community where that comes across as sounding separate, but equal?
OBAMA:
Well, look, when my parents got married in 1960 or '61, it would have been illegal for them to be married in a number of states in the South. So obviously,
this is something that I understand intimately. It's something that I care about.
But I would also say this, that if I were advising the civil rights movement back in 1961 about its approach to civil rights, I would have probably said it's less
important that we focus on an anti- miscegenation law than we focus on a voting rights law and a nondiscrimination employment law and all the legal rights that
are conferred by the state.
Now, it's not for me to suggest that you shouldn't be troubled by these issues. I understand that, and I'm sympathetic to it. But my job as president is going to
be to make sure that the legal rights that have consequences on a day-to-day basis for loving same sex couples all across the country, that those rights are
recognized and enforced by my White House and by my Justice Department.
CARLSON:
Before I go to Melissa with a question -- I've been working with the LOGO people for a couple of days, so I have more of a feeling for what troubles them --
it seems like religion owns the word "marriage" or you're letting religion have marriage, and then civilly, you get civil unions.
But you got to get married and I got to get married, but Joe doesn't get to be married. And that really does mean that it's a lesser thing. It looks like a
politically feasible thing to do, but...
OBAMA:
Well, as I've proposed it, it wouldn't be a lesser thing, from my perspective. And, look, semantics may be important to some. From my perspective, what I'm
interested in is making sure that those legal rights are available to people.
And if we have a situation in which civil unions are fully enforced, are widely recognized, people have civil rights under the law, then my sense is that's
enormous progress, and that is the kind of progress that I think HRC would be proud of and I would be proud of as president, and that's what I'm going to try to
lead.
CARLSON:
Thank you.
Melissa?
ETHERIDGE:
Thank you very much. First, I just want to say how incredibly humbled and honored I am to be here. I am not a professional politician. I'm not even a
journalist. I'm an incredibly privileged rock star...
(APPLAUSE)
OBAMA:
That's a good enough reason.
ETHERIDGE:
I'm very, very grateful and honored to represent my community and be able to speak for so many people who need to have their government's help. And with
that, thank you.
I want to say hello. It's a pleasure to meet you, Senator Obama.
OBAMA:
It's great to meet you.
ETHERIDGE:
And you have this reputation, and not only in my heart and my experience of you, of being an incredible orator. You speak, you touch many of us, and you
have. And we have lots of hope.
And I see you speaking to a very divided America. The last eight years we have been subject to a great fear that has divided us all -- between races, between
economic classes and, of course, gays and lesbians often feel like we are at the very end of that "us" and "them" role.
OBAMA:
Right.
ETHERIDGE:
If you are elected president, what are you going to do? What are you going to do to bring this country back together?
OBAMA:
It's a great question. Part of the reason that LGBT issues are important to me is because I got into politics in part because I don't like people looking down on
other people. It bothers me. Maybe it's something that my mother instilled in me. Maybe it's the experience of being an African American and at times being
discriminated against.
So the cause that all of you are involved with is part of what prompted me to get into politics. But part of what prompted me is also this hopefulness, this
belief that there is a core decency to most people, and certainly most Americans, and that our founding documents, I think, have a set of universal truths that are
really important.
And the key question for the next president is can we tap back into that core decency? And can we appeal to what Lincoln called the better angels of our
nature?
And part of that involves, I think, when it comes to LGBT issues, acknowledging the reality that people experience every day. That's why when I was at the
Democratic convention in 2004, I said there are no red states; there are no blue states. But I also said we've got gay friends in the red states, and we played little
league in the blue states, trying to acknowledge that people's experience on a day-to-day basis is they've got gay friends, they've got gay family members. They
love them and they cherish them, and somehow our politics creates craziness and fear that doesn't match up with people's day-to-day experience.
And it's the job of the president, I think, to talk about these issues in ways that encourage people to recognize themselves in each other. And when I talk like
this, by the way, sometimes the Washington press corps rolls its eyes and says, "Ah, he's so naive."
CARLSON:
No eye-rolling here yet.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA:
But people do, because the sense is, you know, Obama -- he's always talking about hope. I'm a hope-monger.
(LAUGHTER)
But I believe that, and...
(APPLAUSE)
ETHERIDGE:
I grew up in the Midwest. I grew up believing that if you work hard and you're good, then you'll succeed and you can be a good citizen. I grew up believing
in our country, in this great America. It's the greatest country, and I grew up believing in those documents. And those documents say equality to everyone...
OBAMA:
Absolutely.
ETHERIDGE:
... given by our creator. And my creator made me what I am. And I believe that.
(APPLAUSE)
ETHERIDGE:
And please, as you go and as you leave, don't be afraid. Don't let that fear -- be the first one to make the change to bring it, all right? Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
CAPEHART:
You've gotten some praise for taking to the pulpits of black churches and telling the black community, talking to the black community about its
responsibilities.
Now, you and I both know that there's a homophobia problem in the black community. So how are you going to talk to the black community about that, both
as a candidate and, if you are elected to the White House, as president?
OBAMA:
I have already done so. Some of you saw at the Howard debate that Tavis Smiley had organized I specifically raised the homophobia in our community as an
impediment to dealing with AIDS issues. I'm somebody who talks about LGBT issues not just before HRC.
I was with Harold Ford. He organized a forum of black ministers in Tennessee. And I specifically talked about the degree to which the notion of gay
marriage in black churches has been used to divide, has been used to distract. I specifically pointed out that if there is an pastor here who can point out a marriage
that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then you should tell me, because I haven't seen any evidence of it.
(APPLAUSE)
And what I've also said is if you think that issue is more important to the black family, which is under siege -- if you think that's more important than the fact
that black men don't have any jobs and are struggling in the inner cities, then I profoundly disagree with you.
So this goes to the earlier point that we were talking about, Melissa. I think when there's truth-telling involved, people respond, as long as you don't come at
people in a heavy-handed way, but rather you approach them based on their own experience and their own truth.
And the black community, I think, has a diversity of opinion, as you and I both know. There are people who recognize that if we're going to talk about
justice and civil rights and fairness, that should apply to all people, not just some. And there are some folks who coming out of the church elevated one line in
Romans above the Sermon on the Mount.
So my job as a leader, not just of African Americans, but hopefully, as a leader of Americans, is to tell the truth, which is this has been a political football
that has been used. It is unfortunate. It's got to stop. And when it stops, we will then be able to address the legitimate and serious concerns that face the black
families.
CAPEHART:
Senator, real quickly, a recent poll out of the New York Times and MTV of Americans ages 17 to 20 show that 44 percent of them favor same sex marriage
compared to 28 percent of the public. Now, you're running as a candidate of change, but how can you run as a candidate of change when your stance on same sex
marriage is decidedly old school?
OBAMA:
Oh, come on now. I mean, look, we can have this conversation for the duration of the 15 minutes, but there's a reason why I was here first. It's because I've
got a track record of working on these issues.
If people are interested in ENDA at the federal level, they can look at who was the chief co-sponsor of Illinois' version of ENDA, which we passed. If
people are interested in my stance on these issues, I've got a track record of working with the LGBT community.
What I have focused on, and what I will continue to focus on, is making sure that the rights that are provided by the federal government and the state
governments and local governments are ones that are provided to everybody. And that's a standard that I think I can meet, and I don't make promises I can't keep.
And on this issue, I have been at the forefront of any of the presidential candidates.
CARLSON:
Senator, I want to do a viewer-generated question. I want to do a moderator-generated question very quickly.
OBAMA:
Go ahead.
CARLSON:
Would you put the fight among gays and lesbians for civil rights on a par with the civil rights movement for African Americans?
OBAMA:
Well, my attitude is if people are being treated unfairly and unequally, then they are being treated unfairly and unequally, and it needs to be fixed.
So I'm always very cautious about getting into comparisons of victimology. The issues that gays and lesbians face today are different from the issues that
were faced by African Americans under Jim Crow. That doesn't mean, though, that there aren't parallels in the sense that legal status is not equal. And that has to
be fixed.
But I think it's important not to look at the black candidate and wonder whether or not he's going to be more sympathetic or less sympathetic to these issues.
I'm going to be more sympathetic not because I'm black -- I'm going to be more sympathetic because this has been the cause of my life and will continue to be the
cause of my life, making sure that everybody is treated fairly and that we've got an expansive view of America where everybody's invited in, and we are all
working together to create the kind of America that we want for the next generation.
CARLSON:
Well, I had a great viewer-generated question here for you. You're never going to know what it is, but now you get to sum up for 30 seconds or a minute.
OBAMA:
Well, listen, it's a pleasure. This went too quick. I want more time, but I don't have it.
CARLSON:
We'd like to give it to you.
OBAMA:
But the only thing I want to say is this. All the candidates in this race are going to be terrific on these issues compared to, certainly, the candidates in the
other party right now. And that's unfortunate, because this shouldn't be a partisan issue.
The one thing I guess I would say about my candidacy, and something you should think about, is I don't just talk about these issues where it's convenient.
There's a reason that I spoke about the importance of gay and lesbian issues in the most important speech of my life. I didn't have to. There's a reason why in
my announcement I talked about these issues. There's a reason why I talk about gays and lesbians and transgender people in my stump speeches.
I'm somebody who I think is willing to talk about these issues even when it's hard -- in front of black ministers. I'm willing to talk about AIDS at Saddleback
Church to evangelicals and talk about why we need to have condom distribution to deal with the scourge of AIDS. So that's the kind of political purge that I hope
all of you recognize is going to be necessary in order for us to create the kind of America that we all want. And I appreciate your time. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
CARLSON:
And we're happy you came here.
OBAMA:
I had a great time.
CARLSON:
It's good to see you. Bye now.
OBAMA:
Thank you. Thank you so much.

LEADING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO PARTICIPATE IN HISTORIC FORUM ON GAY ISSUES

Human Rights Campaign Foundation and MTV Networks’ Logo channel to co-present live televised event August 9th with co-panelists Melissa Etheridge and Joe Solmonese

Los Angeles, CA – July 10, 2007 – Logo, a division of Viacom’s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks, and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation today announced they will co-present an historic televised forum on issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with the leading 2008 Democratic presidential candidates, including currently confirmed and in alphabetical order, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The one-hour event will be held on August 9th at 6:00PM PT / 9:00 PM ET in Los Angeles before a studio audience and broadcast live, without commercial interruption, exclusively on Logo’s 24/7 cable television channel as well as through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com. Logo is the nation’s leading television and broadband channel for the LGBT audience and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization.

This event, which marks the first time in history the major presidential candidates will address a live LGBT television audience, is part of MTV Networks’ award-winning pro-social efforts and dedication to engaging its audiences on the issues that are most important and relevant to them.
The event also continues the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s efforts to educate and bring awareness to issues of equality and fairness that continue to affect the lives of LGBT Americans.

Candidates currently agreed to participate in the forum and share their views with the LGBT community are, in alphabetical order, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The candidates will appear sequentially and engage in conversation with co-panelists Melissa Etheridge, performer and advocate, and Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The panelists plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues.

“In the 2008 presidential election, issues of concern to the LGBT community have already been at the forefront of the national conversation,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. “From the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” to the recent signing of a civil unions bill in New Hampshire, there is no doubt that voters will demand answers to important questions affecting our community.”

“We're honored to give the presidential candidates an historic opportunity to share their views directly with the LGBT audience,” said Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group, and President, Logo. “This forum continues MTV Networks’ tradition of engaging vital niche audiences with voting and the electoral process.”

The forum will include significant online components at LOGOonline.com and HRC.org, including online question submission. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Logo invited the leading Democratic and Republican candidates to participate in the forum.

The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population. Los Angeles was chosen as the site for the event because of the state’s early primary election, on February 5th, 2008. The event will take place at Studio City, CA, at HD Vision Studios and this event represents the first live event airing on Logo.

ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRCF strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

ABOUT LOGO

Logo is the ad-supported television and broadband network for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) viewers, launched by MTV Networks. The network launched June 30, 2005 with more than one thousand hours of content and has approximately 27 million subscribers across the United States. Logo provides LGBT audiences with a place where they can see themselves and be themselves through a mix of original and acquired entertainment programming that is authentic, smart and inclusive. Logo joins Viacom's roster of popular and highly targeted cable networks which includes MTV, Comedy Central, BET and Spike TV.

ABOUT MTV NETWORKS

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 137 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

# # #

CONTACTS

For Logo For Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Steven Fisher Brad Luna
212-654-3035 202-216-1514
steven.fisher@logostaff.com brad.luna@hrc.org

Elizabeth Edwards announced her support for legalized gay marriage at SF Gay Pride

http://origin.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_6223612

Barack Obama Answers HRC Questionaire

Barack Obama has responded to a presidential candidate survey from the Human Rights Campaign.

click here to see Barack Obama's responses (pdf file)

Barack Obama on Pride Month

CHICAGO , IL-- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement to commemorate Pride Month.

"Pride Month is a reminder that while we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do."

"Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

"It's time to turn the page on the bitterness and bigotry that fill so much of today's LGBT rights debate. The rights of all Americans should be protected -- whether it's at work or anyplace else. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" needs to be repealed because patriotism and a sense of duty should be the key tests for military service, not sexual orientation. Civil unions should give gay couples full rights. And those who commit hate crimes should be punished no matter whether those crimes are committed on account of race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation."

"This Pride Month, let's make our founding promise of equality a reality for every American."

Barack Obama's LGBT Supporters

Barack Obama's campaign has released a list of his LGBT supporters. The list, which primarily includes Chicago residents, including two people I know well. First, Jessica Halem is someone I had the pleasure of working with when she was the Executive Director of the Lesbian Community Cancer Project. Jessica has since left the organization to work full-time as a stand-up comic. Second, Jim Pickett is someone I first met at one of the Gay Men's Health summits. Jim is active in numerous LGBT and HIV/AIDS organizations including the International Rectal Microbicide Working Group.

I'm pleased to see that there are some great LGBT advocates involved in many of the campaigns, including Obama's. The complete list he sent out is listed below:

Michael Bauer, political consultant

Phil Burgess, Walgreen's pharmacy executive

Thomas Chaderjian, Stonewall Democrats

Rick Garcia, Equality Illinois

Vernita Gray, LGBT activist

Jessica Halem, Lesbian Comm. Cancer Project

Greg Harris, Illinois House of Representatives

Kevin Hauswirth, former editor, The Advocate

Robert Kohl, Chairman, Center on Halsted

Larry McKeon, former member, Illinois House

Gail Morse, attorney, partner in Jenner & Block

Mary F. Morten, former LGBT liaison to Mayor Richard M. Daley

Ed Mullen, attorney, partner Ross, Dixon & Bell

Jim Pickett, AIDS Foundation of Chicago

Debra Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago

Rev. Stan Sloan, exec. director, Chicago House

Tom Tunney, Chicago alderman

Richard Wilson, chair, National Lesbian and Gay Law Association

Lauren Verdich, political and health consultant

The Race for LGBT Dollars

Lisa Keen has a great article in PrideSource looking at which Democratic Presidential Candidates are getting LGBT dollars. She writes:

"In ten zip code areas with well-known heavily gay neighborhoods in seven cities, Clinton took in 51 percent of contributions made to the top three Democrats, as reported in the April quarterly report made available by the Federal Elections Commission this week. Obama raked in 39 percent, and John Edwards 10 percent. In Ann Arbor's zip code of 48104, Clinton took 68 percent of the money given to the top three Democrats, followed by Obama with 20 percent, and Edwards with 12."

It's always hard to tell just how much LGBT money goes to Democratic causes. Obviously we don't just live in those zip codes, we are everywhere. But unless you make it clear that your donation is from an LGBT Democrat, who's going to know?

Which Presidential Candidate is Winning over Web Activists?

As 2004 showed, internet activists, bloggers, and netizens can play an incredibly important role in campaigns. So it's only natural to ask - which presidential candidate is winning over web activists? Obama, Clinton, and Edwards appear to have relatively equal traffic to their sites. Obama currently holds the highest Alexa Rating, which is based on web traffic going back several months. In the past week however, John Edwards came out on top.

Obama and Edwards have both gotten another important web nod. They were the top two candidates in an online poll sponsored by Democracy for America, the grassroots organization that is the legacy of the Howard Dean 2004 Campaign.

Clinton and Obama Clarify Positions on Morality

Stonewall Democrats Press Release

Washington, DC - Today, the National Stonewall Democrats recognized statements issued on Thursday by Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) which clearly stated that sexual orientation is not linked to morality. The organization also urged all Democratic candidates to speak positively on issues that impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans within their campaigns and before the American public.

"We appreciate the strong statements from Senators Clinton and Obama following the aggressive campaign undertaken by our members, donors and staff over the last several days," said Jo Wyrick, Executive Director. "Most Democrats understand that morality isn't derived from sexual orientation or gender identity. Democrats should also understand that our families must no longer be seen as a liability on the campaign trail, but as positive partners within the American community. Our members aggressively communicated that message to both campaigns this past week. We now look forward to helping all of our Democratic candidates further engage our community and better vocalize their support for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

This week, Senators Clinton and Obama were each asked by reporters whether homosexuality was immoral following comments by Marine General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff, which indicated that. At the time, both Senators declined to answer the question.

National Stonewall Democrats, in response, initiated an internal effort to mobilize leaders and donors close to both Senators to lobby the campaigns on this issue. Stonewall also directly contacted each campaign and initiated a media effort this week with appearances on national television, radio and in print publications in an effort to talk about morality and Democratic values and to persuade both Senators to clarify their positions.

Yesterday, Senators Clinton and Obama each issued statements which strongly declared their beliefs regarding sexual orientation and individual morality.

"I've heard from a number of my friends, and I've certainly clarified with them any misunderstanding that anyone had, because I disagree with General Pace completely. I do not think homosexuality is immoral." - Statement of Senator Hillary Clinton

"I do not agree with General Pace that homosexuality is immoral. Attempts to divide people like this have consumed too much of our politics over the past six years." - Statement of Senator Barack Obama

Both Senators also reaffirmed their opposition to the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy employed by the military.

Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) has recently introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that would revoke the current policy on gay personnel. The removal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy is supported by leading Democrats and is the official position of the Democratic Party as espoused in the 2004 platform of the Democratic National Convention.

But What Does Obama Really Think of Me?

Today Barack Obama (and Hillary Clinton) failed to answer a very basic question: 'Do you think being gay is immoral?'. Here's the scoop from Newsday:

Newsday caught Obama as he was leaving the firefighters convention and asked him three times if he thought homsexuality is immoral. Answer 1: "I think traditionally the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman has restricted his public comments to military matters. That's probably a good tradition to follow." Answer 2: "I think the question here is whether somebody is willing to sacrifice for their country, should they be able to if they're doing all the things that should be done." Answer 3: Signed autograph, posed for snapshot, jumped athletically into town car. Why the dance? Maybe it has something to do with not wanting to alienate moderates -- or social conservatives, the churchfolk who view homosexuality as a sin.

Obama & Snow Introduce Important HIV Prevention Research Legislation

This week Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), introduced the Microbicide Development Act of 2007.

“It is time to speak the truth and acknowledge the facts,” stated Senator Barack Obama. “It's women who are biologically and socially more susceptible to the HIV infection, in part as a consequence of biology, but mostly because of uneven power between the sexes around the world. It is a fact that marriage is no protection from HIV transmission for women.”

The Microbicide Development Act would establish a dedicated microbicide research and development branch at the National Institutes of Health and strengthen microbicide activity at the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Centers for Disease Control. Regarded as one of the most promising new technologies to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic, microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women could use to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections.

While microbicide research focuses on vaginal microbicides for women, research is also being done on rectal microbicides, which if developed, could be an important HIV prevention tool for gay men. Advocates stressed the importance of new preventions tools for women, however, introducing the legislation on International Women's Health Day

“Passage of this bill will bring us closer to the goal of getting critical prevention tools into the hands of women,” stated Lori Heise, Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides. “Current prevention options are simply not enough. We need user-initiated HIV prevention strategies that take into account women's real needs and vulnerabilities.”

Women and girls are increasingly affected by HIV/AIDS in every region of the world. Worldwide, more women are getting infected with HIV than men - the majority by their male partners. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly three quarters of young people ages 15-24 living with HIV are women.

“This is not just an issue for women in developing countries,” notes Dazon Dixon Diallo, founder/CEO of SisterLove, Inc. “We need microbicides right here at home too, because many of the issues that place black women at risk are the same the world over. AIDS is the number one cause of death among African American women aged 25-34.”

For Barack Obama Supporters

Do you want to show your support for Barack Obama in 2008? Do you have a website? Here are two very easy things you can do.

First, if you know RSS, you can add the Out for Obama RSS Feed to your website.

Second, I've created this banner graphic to promote the Out for Obama site. If you would like to add this banner code simply cut and paste the HTML below to your website:

<A HREF=http://www.outforobama.org><img src=http://www.outfordemocracy.org/images/banners/obama1.gif width=468 height=60 border=0></a>

Team Obama

Are you supporting Barack Obama in 2008? Well then in addition to signing up for the Out for Obama Yahoo Group, you'll want to register on the official Barack Obama website. And when you signup be sure to add 'Out for Obama' on your list of friends.

* Click here to register on the official site
* click here to register & make a donation.

2008: Three Emerge, War Top Issue for LGBT Voters

Lisa Keen has a great article in the Bay Area Reporter, in which she notes two important trends in the 2008 presidential campaign. First, LGBT voters are looking closely at three candidates: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. LGBT issues continue to be important to our community. Much like the rest of the country, however, the War in Iraq is a defining issue.

Barack Obama on Gay and Lesbian Issues

Kathy Belge from About.com has posted the following review of Barack Obama on Gay and Lesbian Issues.

Barack Obama and Gay Rights in Illinois: Barack Obama supported gay rights during his Illinois Senate tenure. He sponsored legislation in Illinois that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Barack Obama in the United States Senate: Every two years the Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay and lesbian organization, issues a scorecard for members of the Senate based on their sponsorship and voting on key issues of importance to gay and lesbian citizens. Barack Obama scored 89 out of 100% in the 2006 scorecard. Here's how HRC rated Barack Obama:

Federal Marriage Amendment: Barack Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (S.J. Res. 1) which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and included language which could have prevented recognition of civil unions and domestic partnership benefits. The amendment failed by a vote of 49-48.

Confirmation of Judge William Pryor : HRC opposed the confirmation of Judge William Pryor to Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals because of his opposition to equal rights for gays and lesbians. Barack Ombama voted against Pryor's nomination, but Pryor was nominated in June 2005.

continue reading this article at about.com

LGBT Leaders Look to Obama, Edwards

The Blade has an article this week in which John Edwards and Barack Obama are singled out among the Democratic Presidential Candidates.

According to the article DNC LGBT Caucus Chair and others feel that "Edwards and Obama have quickly outshined a crowded field of other White House hopefuls because they’re prepared to sincerely discuss gay issues."

Read the whole article here

Barack Obama & Chuck Schumer Work for Fair Elections

From the National Campaign for Fair Elections: Forty years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, Americans across the country continue to be targets of deceptive practices and intimidation as they attempt to cast a ballot. Over the past two election cycles, Election Protection has documented attempts to influence voters through dirty tricks from across the country. Voters deserve better. And now you have an opportunity to do something about it.

Today, Senators Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer, responding to the evidence provided by the National Campaign, introduced comprehensive legislation to provide real solutions to the deception and fraud Americans face when they attempt to vote. Act now to urge your Senators to co-sponsor The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007.

Voter harassment and intimidation is not a thing of the past. Since 2004, Election Protection collected reports of deceptive practices or voter intimidation from more than 30 states. Over the past four years, voters had to endure:

• fliers distributed in Milwaukee telling voters they can't vote if they didn't pay their parking tickets;
• reports of armed gunmen intimidating, mocking and misinforming voters at heavily Latino precincts in Arizona;
• deceptive flyers in Maryland misleading voters about the party affiliation of candidates for key state wide officials;
• phone calls telling voters they were no longer eligible to vote; and
• emails sent to voters in Virginia providing false information about where to vote.

These attempts deliberately mislead or intimidate voters in an effort to alter the outcome of an election, undermining the right to vote for countless Americans across the country. But, surprisingly, intentionally misleading voters is not against the law.

American voters need the Senate to pass Senator Obama's bill so we can put a stop to these despicable practices.

The National Campaign worked closely with Senator Obama to create effective solutions to the problems we witnessed as the lead legal partner in Election Protection. The bill introduced today includes provisions that address many of the new tactics reported to Election Protection during the 2006 elections.

The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act:

• provides comprehensive definitions of what constitutes a deceptive practice;
• criminalizes such practices and states appropriate penalties;
• outlines an innovative system to help disseminate correct information to voters who have been victims of these practices;
• creates a reporting structure for incidents that will help citizens to address grievances; and
• calls on the Department of Justice to work with leading civil rights and voter protection organizations, other Federal agencies, and state officials to develop the most effective way to address this problem.

Help make elections more open, fair, and honest by supporting the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act today.

Barack Obama Blogroll Graphics

I designed these blog roll graphics for the site, and I thought I'd share them in case you want to use them on your site as well. If there are other Barack Obama websites you'd like me to create a graphic like this for, please let me know. Enjoy!

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Barack Obama Ringsurf Ring

Have a blog or website? Want to show your support for Barack Obama? Join the new Barack Obama Ringsurf Ring.

Ringsurf is a completely free service that lets user quickly and easily navigate thousands of related websites organized by areas of interest. Check it out by looking at a list of websites already in the Barack Obama Ring or go directly to a random ring member site.

And when you're ready to add your site to the list, just click here.

Keith Boykin on Barack Obama

Keith Boykin shares his impression of Barack Obama: "I attended Harvard Law School for 2 years with Barack. He graduated in 1991. I graduated in 1992. We were not close friends, but we were both well known on campus for entirely different reasons. Barack was something of a celebrity on campus even in law school. That's because he was the first black student elected as president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. I, on the other hand, was a campus activist, deeply involved in the movement for faculty diversity."

Continue reading this article

Find Barack Obama on Friendster

Do you have an account on Friendster to connect with your friends? If you do, you also have an easy way to help spread the word about Barack Obama. It's simple, just add Barack Obama to your friendster list:

http://www.friendster.com/barackobama

Check it out and be sure to add Barack Obama to your friend list. Oh, and if you have a website and want to help spread the word, feel free to add this new banner to your website.

Barack Obama on HIV/AIDS

The following speech by Barack Obama is from the 2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church, World AIDS Day 2006.

I want to start by saying how blessed I feel to be a part of today and how grateful I am for your church and your pastor, my friend Rick Warren.

Ever since Rick and Kay visited Africa to see the pain and suffering wrought by AIDS, the Warrens and this church have proved each day that faith is not just something you have, it's something you do. Their decision to devote their time, their money, and their purpose-driven lives to the greatest health crisis in human history is not one that's always reported on the news or splashed across the front pages, but it is quietly becoming one of the most influential forces in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. The resources of governments may be vast, and the good works of philanthropists may be abundant, but we should never underestimate how powerful the passion of people of faith can be in eradicating this disease.

One of those passionate individuals is the man we just heard from - my friend and colleague, Sam Brownback. Now, Sam and I may not agree on every issue, but I could not be more impressed with his efforts on issues like AIDS, the crisis in the Congo, the genocide in Darfur and sexual trafficking - issues that touch some of the world's most vulnerable people. I am proud to work with him on many of these issues, and I'm proud to be by his side today.

I took my own trip to Africa a few months ago. As I'm sure Rick and Kay would agree, it's an experience that stays with you for quite some time. I visited an HIV/AIDS hospital in South Africa that was filled to capacity with people who walked hours - even days - just for the chance to seek help. I met courageous patients who refused to give up for themselves or their families. And I came across AIDS activists who meet resistance from their own government but keep on fighting anyway.

But of all that I heard, I encountered few stories as heartbreaking as the one recently told by Laurie Goering, a Chicago Tribune reporter based in Johannesburg who had covered our trip for her newspaper.

Three years ago, Laurie hired a woman named Hlengiwe Leocardia Mchunu as her nanny. Leo, as she is known, grew up as one of nine children in a small South African village. All through her life, she worked hard to raise her two kids and save every last penny she earned, and by the time Leo was hired as Laurie's nanny, she had almost finished paying off the mortgage on her home. She had even hoped to use the extra money from her new job to open a refuge for local children who had been orphaned by AIDS.

Then one day, Leo received a phone call that her eldest brother had fallen ill. At first he told everyone it was diabetes, but later, in the hospital, admitted to the family it was AIDS. He died a few days later. His wife succumbed to the disease as well. And Leo took in their three children.

Six months later, Leo got another phone call. Her younger brother had also become sick with AIDS. She cared for him and nursed him as she did her first brother, but he soon died as well.

Leo's pregnant sister was next. And then another brother. And then another brother.

She paid for their caskets and their funerals. She took in their children and paid for their schooling. She ran out of money, and she borrowed what she could. She ran out again, and she borrowed even more.

And still, the phone calls continued. All across her tiny village, Leo watched more siblings and cousins and nieces and nephews test positive for HIV. She saw neighbors lose their families. She saw a grandmother house sixteen orphaned grandchildren under her roof. And she saw some children go hungry because there was no one to care for them at all.

You know, AIDS is a story often told by numbers. 40 million infected with HIV. Nearly 4.5 million this year alone. 12 million orphans in Africa. 8,000 deaths and 6,000 new infections every single day. In some places, 90% of those with HIV do not know they have it. And we just learned that AIDS is set to become the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide in the coming years.

They are staggering, these numbers, and they help us understand the magnitude of this pandemic. But when repeated by themselves, statistics can also numb - they can hide the individual stories and tragedies and hopes of the Leos who live the daily drama of this disease.

On this World AIDS day, these are the stories that the world needs to hear. They are the stories that touch our souls - and that call us to action.

I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like if Leo's family was my own. If I had to answer those phone calls - if I had to attend those funerals. All I know is that no matter how or why my family became sick, I would be called to care for them and comfort them and do what I could to help find a cure. I know every one of you would do the same if it were your family.

Here's the thing - my faith tells me that Leo's family is my family.

We are all sick because of AIDS - and we are all tested by this crisis. It is a test not only of our willingness to respond, but of our ability to look past the artificial divisions and debates that have often shaped that response. When you go to places like Africa and you see this problem up close, you realize that it's not a question of either treatment or prevention - or even what kind of prevention - it is all of the above. It is not an issue of either science or values - it is both. Yes, there must be more money spent on this disease. But there must also be a change in hearts and minds; in cultures and attitudes. Neither philanthropist nor scientist; neither government nor church, can solve this problem on their own - AIDS must be an all-hands-on-deck effort.

Let's talk about what these efforts involve. First, if we hope to win this fight, we must stop new infections - we must do what we can to prevent people from contracting HIV in the first place.

Now, too often, the issue of prevention has been framed in either/or terms. For some, the only way to prevent the disease is for men and women to change their sexual behavior - in particular, to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage. For others, such a prescription is unrealistic; they argue that we need to provide people with the tools they need to protect themselves from the virus, regardless of their sexual practices - in particular, by increasing the use of condoms, as well as by developing new methods, like microbicides, that women can initiate themselves to prevent transmission during sex. And in the debate surrounding how we should tackle the scourge of AIDS, we often see each side questioning the other's motives, and thereby impeding progress.

For me, this is a false argument. Let me say this - I don't think we can deny that there is a moral and spiritual component to prevention - that in too many places all over the world where AIDS is prevalent - including our own country, by the way - the relationship between men and women, between sexuality and spirituality, has broken down, and needs to be repaired.

It was striking to see this as I traveled through South Africa and Kenya. Again and again, I heard stories of men and women contracting HIV because sex was no longer part of a sacred covenant, but a mechanical physical act; because men had visited prostitutes and brought the disease home to their wives, or young girls had been subjected to rape and abuse.

These are issues of prevention we cannot walk away from. When a husband thinks it's acceptable to hide his infidelity from his wife, it's not only a sin, it's a potential death sentence. And when rape is still seen as a woman's fault and a woman's shame, but promiscuity is a man's prerogative, it is a problem of the heart that no government can solve. It is, however, a place where local ministries and churches like Saddleback can, and have, made a real difference - by providing people with a moral framework to make better choices.

Having said that, I also believe that we cannot ignore that abstinence and fidelity may too often be the ideal and not the reality - that we are dealing with flesh and blood men and women and not abstractions - and that if condoms and potentially microbicides can prevent millions of deaths, they should be made more widely available. I know that there are those who, out of sincere religious conviction, oppose such measures. And with these folks, I must respectfully but unequivocally disagree. I do not accept the notion that those who make mistakes in their lives should be given an effective death sentence. Nor am I willing to stand by and allow those who are entirely innocent - wives who, because of the culture they live in, often have no power to refuse sex with their husbands, or children who are born with the infection as a consequence of their parent's behavior -suffer when condoms or other measures would have kept them from harm.

Another area where we can make significant progress in prevention is by removing the stigma that goes along with getting tested for HIV-AIDS. The idea that in some places, nine in ten people with HIV have no idea they're infected is more than frightening - it's a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

So we need to show people that just as there is no shame in going to the doctor for a blood test or a CAT scan or a mammogram, there is no shame in going for an HIV test. Because while there was once a time when a positive result gave little hope, today the earlier you know, the faster you can get help. My wife Michelle and I were able to take the test on our trip to Africa, after the Center for Disease Control informed us that by getting a simple 15 minute test, we may have encouraged as many as half-a-million Kenyans to get tested as well. Rick Warren has also taken the test. Sam Brownback and I took it today. And I encourage others in public life to do the same. We've got to spread the word to as many people as possible. It's time for us to set an example for others to follow.

Of course, even as we work diligently to slow the rate of new infection, we also have a responsibility to treat the 40 million people who are already living with HIV.

In some ways, this should be the easy part. Because we know what works. We know how to save people's lives. We know the medicine is out there and we know that wealthy countries can afford to do more.

That's why it was so frustrating for me to go to South Africa, and see the pain, and see the suffering, and then hear that the country's Minister of Health had promoted the use of beet root, sweet potato, and lemon juice as the best way to cure HIV. Thankfully, the South African government eventually repudiated this, but it's impossible to overestimate how important it is for political leaders like this to set a good example for their people.

We should never forget that God granted us the power to reason so that we would do His work here on Earth - so that we would use science to cure disease, and heal the sick, and save lives. And one of the miracles to come out of the AIDS pandemic is that scientists have discovered medicine that can give people with HIV a new chance at life.

We are called to give them that chance. We have made progress - in South Africa, treatment provided to pregnant women has drastically reduced the incidents of infants born with the infection. But despite such progress, only one in every five people with HIV around the world is receiving antiretroviral drug treatment. One in every five. We must do better. We should work with drug companies to reduce the costs of generic anti-retroviral drugs, and work with developing nations to help them build the health infrastructure that's necessary to get sick people treated - this means more money for hospitals and medical equipment, and more training for nurses and doctors.

We need a renewed emphasis on nutrition. Right now we're finding out that there are people who are on the drugs, who are getting treatment, who are still dying because they don't have any food to eat. This is inexcusable - especially in countries that have sufficient food supplies. So we must help get them that nutrition, and this is another place where religious organizations that have always provided food to the hungry can help a great deal.

And even as we focus on the enormous crisis in Africa, we need to remember that the problem is not in Africa alone. In the last few years, we have seen an alarming rise in infection rates in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. And on this World AIDS day, we cannot forget the crisis occurring in our own backyard. Right here in the United States, AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34, and we are also seeing many poorer and rural communities fail to get the resources they need to deal with their vulnerable populations - a problem that unfortunately some in Congress are trying to address by taking money away from larger cities that are still facing enormous problems of their own.

Now let me say this - I think that President Bush and this past Congress should be applauded for the resources they have contributed to the fight against HIV and AIDS. Through our country's emergency plan for AIDS relief, the United States will have contributed more than $15 billion over five years to combat HIV-AIDS overseas. And the Global Fund, with money from the United States and other countries, has done some heroic work to fight this disease. As I traveled throughout Africa this summer, I was proud of the tangible impact that all this money was having, often through coordinated efforts with the Centers for Disease Control, the State Department, foreign governments, and non-governmental organizations.

So our first priority in Congress should be to reauthorize this program when it expires in 2008. Our second priority should be to reassess what's worked and what hasn't so that we're not wasting one dollar that could be saving someone's life.

But our third priority should be to actually boost our contribution to this effort. With all that is left to be done in this struggle - with all the other areas of the world that need our help - it's time for us to add at least an additional $1 billion a year in new money over the next five years to strengthen and expand the program to places like Southeast Asia, India, and Eastern Europe, where the pandemic will soon reach crisis proportions.

Of course, given all the strains that have been placed on the U.S. budget, and given the extraordinary needs that we face here at home, it may be hard to find the money. But I believe we must try. I believe it will prove to be a wise investment. The list of reasons for us to care about AIDS is long. In an interconnected, globalized world, the ability of pandemics to spread to other countries and continents has never been easier or faster than it is today. There are also security implications, as countries whose populations and economies have been ravaged by AIDS become fertile breeding grounds for civil strife and even terror.

But the reason for us to step up our efforts can't simply be instrumental. There are more fundamental reasons to care. Reasons related to our own humanity. Reasons of the soul.

Like no other illness, AIDS tests our ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes - to empathize with the plight of our fellow man. While most would agree that the AIDS orphan or the transfusion victim or the wronged wife contracted the disease through no fault of their own, it has too often been easy for some to point to the unfaithful husband or the promiscuous youth or the gay man and say "This is your fault. You have sinned."

I don't think that's a satisfactory response. My faith reminds me that we all are sinners.

My faith also tells me that - as Pastor Rick has said - it is not a sin to be sick. My Bible tells me that when God sent his only Son to Earth, it was to heal the sick and comfort the weary; to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; to befriend the outcast and redeem those who strayed from righteousness.

Living His example is the hardest kind of faith - but it is surely the most rewarding. It is a way of life that can not only light our way as people of faith, but guide us to a new and better politics as Americans.

For in the end, we must realize that the AIDS orphan in Africa presents us with the same challenge as the gang member in South Central, or the Katrina victim in New Orleans, or the uninsured mother in North Dakota.

We can turn away from these Americans, and blame their problems on themselves, and embrace a politics that's punitive and petty, divisive and small.

Or we can embrace another tradition of politics - a tradition that has stretched from the days of our founding to the glory of the civil rights movement, a tradition based on the simple idea that we have a stake in one another - and that what binds us together is greater than what drives us apart, and that if enough people believe in the truth of that proposition and act on it, then we might not solve every problem, but we can get something meaningful done for the people with whom we share this Earth.

Let me close by returning to the story of Leo, that South African woman burdened by so much death and despair. Sometime after the death of her fifth sibling, she decided that she wasn't just going to stand idly by. She decided to call the town's first public meeting about the AIDS crisis - something that no one had even talked about, let alone met about. 200 people showed up. Some had walked for miles to get there, a few with their grandchildren on their back.

One by one, they stood up and broke their silence, and they told their stories. Stories of tragedy, and stories of hope. And when they were done, Leo rose and said, "I don't know whether we will win this war, but I'm looking for people who will stand up and face the reality. The time for sitting silently has come to an end."

Everything did not suddenly get better after that meeting, but some things did. Despite all the children she had to raise and all the sick relatives she still had to care for, Leo still decided to open the AIDS orphanage she had dreamed about so long ago. She began building a daycare center that would house one hundred orphans. And she started plans on a youth center and a soup kitchen.

I hear that part of the story and I think, if this woman who has so little, and has lost so much, can do so much good - if she can still make a way out of no way - then what are we waiting for?

Corinthians says that we are all of one spirit, and that "if one part suffers, every part suffers with it." But it also says, "if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

On this World AIDS day, it is the stories of overcoming, and not just illness, that the world needs to hear. Yes, the stories of sadness call us to suffer with the sick. But stories like Leo's also call us to honor her example, rejoice in the hope that it brings, and work to help her find that brighter future. Thank you, and God Bless you.