The Capital Region Stonewall Democrats voted to declare our endorsement to re-elect President Obama in 2012. Taking this action, our regional chapter echoed the National Stonewall Democrats in stating, “A victory for President Obama in 2012 is a victory for the LGBT Community.”
President Obama’s record on LGBT issues is without question the best record of any administration to date.
The CRSD endorsed Barack Obama because of his accomplishments on advancing LGBT issues, including (1) the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; (2) the largest number of appointments of LGBT people to major administration posts; (3) the order that the Department of Justice stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act; (4) the banning of discrimination based on gender identity in federal employment; (5) the direction that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure hospital visitation and decision-making rights for LGBT individuals; (6) the funding of studies on LGBT endangered youth; (7) the funding for LGBT seniors; and (8) the support of LGBT issues at the U.N., including his signature on the U.N. Declaration on Gay Rights.
The election of any of the potential Republican candidates threatens to halt the progress made in the last three years. Given the positions the GOP candidates are already taking with regards to the LGBT community, one can readily assume that a GOP victory would be detrimental to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in America.
We still have much work to be done in our fight for equality. The Capital Region Stonewall Democrats pledge to roll up our sleeves to work our hardest to be sure we have the President on our side for the next four years to continue the fight. We urge all LGBT citizens to get involved and to help us ensure a victory for Barack Obama in 2012.