Is Obama Finally Focusing On The Gay Issue?

This Saturday, President Obama will become only the second sitting president to address a gay rights organization, the Human Rights Campaign. (Bill Clinton was the first, in 1997.)  This comes a day before thousands are expected to march on Washington to call for gay civil rights.

Many gay rights activists have become increasingly vocal about their frustration over what they see as tepid support from Mr. Obama. While the president has professed support for overturning the ban on gays in the military and called the law that precludes federal recognition of same-sex marriages discriminatory, he has not engaged on gay rights issues as actively as some had hoped.

The Justice Department is defending the federal marriage law, known as Defense of Marriage Act, much to the dismay of many gay rights advocates. And Mr. Obama has been noncommittal about when he will move to end the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. In June, he acknowledged their irritations at the slow pace of change at a gathering of about 250 gay rights leaders who had been invited to the White House.

Just what Obama will say, and what he should say, is a matter of debate.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.