Me and Potus: ‘The Kiss’

August 2  was a remarkable day for me.  After President Obama's campaign appearance at Rollins College, I met privately with him as a reward for my activism on behalf of the LGBT community. The most powerful man in the world gave me a hug and thanked me for my efforts.  Amazingly, he even planted a kiss on my right cheek!  During these two surreal minutes, I thanked the President for his incredible support for LGBT equality, and he went out of his way to send greetings to my wife, Vicki, by name.  If I didn't have photographic evidence of our meeting, I could easily believe I had dreamt it.  The President of the United States (â┚¬Å”POTUSâ┚¬Â), who has transformed the worldwide conversation about LGBT rights in a way that now leads me to believe we will achieve equality in my lifetime, thanked me?

I then floated in a euphoric haze across town to The Center for a meeting with 2 prominent psychologists from the American Psychological Association.  They were conducting a workshop for LGBT activists on how to recognize and cope with the unique psychological stressors of being on the front line in the battle for LGBT equality.  I listened to their insights, and their warnings about the inherent dangers of being continually exposed to that toxic environment, and I absolutely knew they were right.  But my mind drifted back to that earlier moment when the most influential person in the world planted that kiss on my cheek in appreciation for me having waged that toxic battle for LGBT equality.  And I thought â┚¬Å”My, oh my, how things have changed!â┚¬Â

I recall the last President pounding his fist on a podium and swearing to defend the country from the evils of same-sex marriage, fighting against every LGBT civil rights initiative, and cynically using homophobia as a campaign strategy.  That President repeatedly punched us in the gut.  And right here in Orange County we took some low blows from our recalcitrant Mayor (Teresa Jacobs), who fought long, hard and dirty to block a Domestic Partnership Registry.  She ultimately succumbed to the media and community outcry, and Orange County finally implemented the Registry which grants to unmarried gay and straight couples seven of the 1,138 rights and benefits automatically granted to heterosexual couples the moment they say â┚¬Å”I do.â┚¬Â  As we fought bitterly with Jacobs for those seven rights, President Obama did something truly extraordinary.  He became the first sitting President, and the most influential person ever, to publicly endorse same-sex marriage and our right to enjoy all of those 1,138 rights and benefits.  

I remember speaking at the LGBT rally at Orlando City Hall right after the 2008 election, when our community was elated at the election of Barack Obama but simultaneously devastated by the passage of Amendment 2.  I said then, â┚¬Å”I know this hurts really bad right now.  But we have to look ahead.  The election of Barack Obama will represent a sea change for our community.â┚¬Â  I admit that I had some doubts and concerns early on.  Was he moving fast enough?  Was he passionate enough?  But all doubts are long gone.  Consider this amazing list of the President's LGBT accomplishments:

• The Matthew Shepard / James Byrd Hate Crimes Act.  
• Repeal of â┚¬Å”Don't Ask Don't Tellâ┚¬Â
• Executive Order for hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for same-sex couples
• Executive Order protecting LGBT federal employees from employment discrimination
• Ceased enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act, and supports it's repeal
• Ordered cabinet secretaries to extend all possible benefits to same-sex partners
• Hosted first-ever White House LGBT Pride reception
• Awarded Medal of Freedom to Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk, and Citizen’s Medal to Janice Langbehn
• Created National Resource Center for LGBT Elders
• Lifted ban that prohibited people with HIV/AIDS from entering the U.S.
• Enacted programs for LGBT youth; hosted first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in America’s schools; recorded â┚¬Å”It Gets Betterâ┚¬Â video
• Clarified Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure family leave for LGBT employees
• Allowed transgender Americans to receive true gender passports without surgery
• Led a United Nations measure to restore ‘sexual orientation’ to the definition of human rights; created first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad
• Ordered Institute of Medicine study on LGBT health, and promoted equal access to quality health care for same-sex partners
• Clarified meaning of â┚¬Å”familyâ┚¬Â to include LGBT relationships, helping to protect bi-national families threatened by deportation
• Issued presidential proclamation calling for equal treatment for same-sex adoptive parents
• Announced HUD rule preventing housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
• Announced White House LGBT Conference Series to address issues affecting LGBT Americans
• Nominated numerous gay nominees confirmed to the federal bench
• Ensured transgender veterans receive respectful care through the Veterans Health Administration
• Appointed two pro-gay rights judges to the U.S Supreme Court
• Publicly endorsed marriage equality!

Thank you, Mr. President!

That Presidential kiss on my cheek was a sweet reward for my small role in advancing the cause, but this President has passionately embraced all of us.  No matter what political ideology, or economic philosophy, you may support, nothing is more important than securing our civic equality and our dignity as human beings.  President Barack Obama is doing courageous and amazing things to lead us to that Promised Land, and he deserves our full-throated and unequivocal support.  When I recover from the swoon induced by â┚¬Å”The Kiss,â┚¬Â I intend to return his embrace of our community, and will do everything within my power to make sure he gets re-elected to another term, so that our journey to equality will be complete.