In a recent poll, we asked our readers what they believed was the biggest LGBT news story of 2011 and an overwhelming majority of you voted for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell as the news story of the year.
We couldn’t agree with you more. In fact, it inspired this issue’s beautiful and provocative cover created by our Art Director Jake Stevens.
In a monumental victory for equality in a year peppered with victories throughout (see the big story on Page 7) DADT’s demise could be the most exciting. A pledge by President Barack Obama to end the discriminatory policy banning gay and lesbian service members from publicly being who they are was realized in September. Since then, military brass reported no instances of violence, confusion or turmoil within the ranks. It’s a step in the right direction and it proves, once again, how unfounded the fears of those who oppose equality for all can be.
No matter your party affiliation, we can credit the advancement of equality to Obama.
It’s true that the economy is floundering and that unemployment is still at an unacceptable rate. And it’s no secret that government spending is at outrageous levels. As the leader of the nation, the responsibility to repair the country’s finances lies squarely on our president’s shoulders, whether he created the crises or not.
But never in the history of our country has a president been more pro-LGBT equality than Number 44.
Besides leading the charge to repeal DADT, Obama has expressed his support for the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation that would require the federal government to not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. This past year he also issued a presidential memorandum ensuring those hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds will give gay and lesbian patients and their families the compassion, dignity and respect they deserve in difficult times.
In 2010, Obama signed a National Defense Act that included the Matthew Shepard Act, protecting LGBT citizens. And also that same year, our president signed a memorandum that expanded federal benefits for same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees.
While we celebrate these advances, hopeful candidates are using them to attack the president in bids for the White House. Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney have all cited Obama’s successes in LGBT equality as reasons to unseat him in 2012.
But rather than focus on Perry’s new ad demonizing gays and Romney’s pledge to define marriage as a one man-one woman institution, we can celebrate that a new generation armed with technology and knowledge are picking up the fight.
Earlier this month, a shy, soft-spoken 8-year-old boy made headlines when he confronted Bachmann about her views on homosexuality. In a viral video on YouTube, Bachmann is seen coaxing the child to speak with her during a book signing. When he finally does reach her, he tells her, “My mommy, Miss Bachmann, my mommy’s gay but she doesn’t need any fixing.”
The comment by the young child effective silenced Bachmann, who admits she’s rarely speechless.
And after a town hall meeting in Iowa, a 14-year-old bisexual girl approached Perry and asked him, “I just want to know why you’re so opposed to gays serving openly in the military, why you want to deny them that freedom when they’re fighting and dying for your right to run for president.” Perry responded with a “don’t hate the sinner’ argument and showed his true colors once again for a worldwide audience to see.
The ranks of equality-seeking youth are growing, and will become an essential part of the upcoming 2012 presidential election.
As always, the staff of Watermark Media will stay on top of the news through these pages, our website and our newly updated Twitter feed (Twitter.com/WatermarkOnline), which now tweets whenever a new story or update is added to our website.
Who knows? Maybe next year’s poll seeking your input on 2012’s biggest news story will be the fall of the Defense of Marriage Act or the federally recognized institution of same-gender marriage. As 2011 proved, a lot can change in 12 months.
Happy Holidays to all of our readers and have a happy and safe New Year.
