In President Obama’s first 60 days, he’s made some great strides toward undoing some of the damage left by eight years of President Bush. The first bill he signed was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, undoing a Supreme Court decision and allowing for equal-pay protection.
In his first week, he lifted the “global gag rule,” which barred international family-planning groups that receive federal funds from providing abortion information or services.
He’s also created a White House Council on Women and Girls, lifted the ban on stem-cell research, appointed openly gay and lesbian staff to head federal agencies and designated a point person for LGBT media contacts.
Last week, he set to work on undoing the overly broad “provider-conscience” rule that Bush instituted shortly before he left office, which allows already-protected healthcare providers to refuse service on moral grounds, with potentially devastating effects on access to information and services for women’s reproductive health and LGBT healthcare.
This week, the administration announced it would endorse a United Nations declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, which Bush had previously refused to sign. (In December, the U.S. was the only Western government that had refused to do so.)
And earlier this month, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on openly gay servicemembers.
While the media coverage seems to focus on federal bailouts, executive bonuses and who’s leading the Republican Party these days (thanks, Michael Steele, for your tepid support of gays and partner rights!), the Obama administration seems to be taking steps to expand rights and freedoms and promote equality.
To be sure, the LGBT community shouldn’t expect Obama to implement all of his campaign promises in the first 100 days. Several, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, will need bipartisan support and, in the case of the latter, military buy-in.
Considering the current state of the economy, the heat Obama is taking for his economic stimulus, his efforts to begin healthcare reform and changes in troop deployments and strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s notable that the administration has taken time to consider LGBT issues, make progress on them and push for change. Frankly, it speaks to a team effort and a leader who can delegate tasks and trust his advisors to make decisions that reflect and support his stated positions.
As the post-election bipartisan honeymoon is over and party bickering has returned in full force, it will take political skill to move on some LGBT issues. Let’s hope the president still has the political capital.