Gay rights demonstration meant for President Obama to make changes

Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. expressed frustration with President Obama's lack of progress in LGBT reform.

Gay rights supporters organized the largest demonstration for gay rights in almost a decade in Washington D.C. yesterday, continuing pressure against President Obama and his lack of LGBT movement.

Gay rights supporters marched in Washington, D.C. Sunday to pressure President Obama's lack of LGBT campaign promises. Photo courtesy of New York Times.
Gay rights supporters marched in Washington, D.C. Sunday to pressure President Obama's lack of LGBT campaign promises. Photo courtesy of New York Times.

About 150,000 supporters were present for the demonstration, according to organizers. The demonstration was in response to disappointment with Obama and very little action with his LGBT campaign promises. Many feel Obama’s greater concern continues to revolve around his domestic agenda, including health care and the economic recovery, according to a New York Times article.

President Obama spoke at a black-tie gala Saturday hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, motivating his supporters with his commitment to repeal the “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” military policy and promise to support gay rights. Some criticize he did not cover anything new and did not acknowledge a tentative plan for repealing the legislation that prohibits LGBT people to openly serve in the military , the National Equality March happening that weekend or many of the states pushing for same-sex marriage rights.

“In our community, there are people working hard to build a relationship with the president and people screaming in the streets for their rights,” Robin McGehee, co-director of the march, told the New York Times. “There is an urgency with the people on the streets and a sense of ‘Oh, he’ll come around’ with the people who ate dinner with him.”

The demonstration Sunday was led by the Stonewall 2.0/Prop. 8 Generation with many of them displeased with President Obama’s lack of response.

“I think this march represents the passing of the torch,” Corey Johnson, an activist and blogger for the gay-themed Web site Towleroad.com, told the New York Times. “The points of power are no longer in the halls of Washington or large metropolitan areas. It’s decentralized now. You have young activists and gay people from all walks of life converging on Washington not because a national organization told them to, but because they feel the time is now.”

Read the full article here

—Kim Brown

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