Obama's Not Going to Push for Gay Marriage

They say they were just following (his) orders

(NEWSER) - Gay soldiers arrested for chaining themselves to the White House fence in April to protest Don't Ask, Don't Tell have issued a subpoena to Barack Obama to testify in their trial. Charged with some minor civil disobedience offenses, the soldiers are arguing that they were just following orders—in this case, Obama's orders, since he asked gay rights advocates to put pressure on him, writes Ben Smith at his Politico blog . More»

President vows to repeal DOMA, open military to all

(NEWSER) - President Obama turned on the charm at a reception yesterday for gay, lesbian, and transgender activists at the White House, where he tried to dispel worries he was dragging his feet on campaign promises. "I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration" by the time it's over, he said to applause. As the Washington Post reports, many advocates were happy for the recognition, on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, but still angry at perceived slights. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has called himself a “fierce advocate of equality for gay and lesbian Americans,” but with legalized same-sex marriage spreading to state after state and “don’t ask don’t tell” ripe for repeal, he’s been silent, complains Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post. Washington politicians can let the states and the courts sort out gay marriage, “but that’s a dodge, not a stance. It certainly can’t be confused with leadership.” More»

Charles Krauthammer: If it's a civil right, how can he let states deny it?

(NEWSER) - Charles Krauthammer sees a "howling contradiction" in President Obama's new position on gay marriage. It's one thing to have "empathy" for the cause, he writes in the Washington Post , to feel badly for gay friends and acquaintances who can't legally marry. It's quite another to call it the next logical step in the civil rights battle, as the president did. If gay marriage is, in fact, a civil right, how can Obama abide any state denying it? More»

Calls New York's gay marriage law 'very important'

(NEWSER) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel hopes that the land of Lincoln will follow New York's lead on gay marriage, reports Politico . “I would hope that the state would move in that direction,” said Emanuel. “Tremendous progress has been made across the country on a value statement. And I think that’s very important.” But Emanuel avoided criticizing President Obama's avoidance of endorsing all-out marriage for gay couples. “Whatever perspective I have, I’ll share with him,” Emanuel said. More»