President-elect Obama promises to back gay rights legislation

By Tony Grew • November 19, 2008 - 14:03

Barack Obama has reached out to gays

The next President of the United States has published a comprehensive list of action he will take on gay rights.

In a statement published on the Presidential transition website, Barack Obama and the Vice President-elect, Joe Biden, committed themselves to strengthening federal hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act.

The President-elect also committed to support civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples.

"Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples," the statement read.

"Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defence of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognised unions.

"These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights."

President-elect Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, "and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

"While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy," the statement read.

The President-elect said he would oppose a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and the prohibition on openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people serving in the US Armed Forces.

"Barack Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve.

"Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation.

"Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic.

"Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defence goals."

President-elect Obama said he believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.

Well, during the campaign he said he wouldn't support gay marriage, hahahaha....So, if this is true he was playing a political word game that I am all in favor of which is to forget the word marriage and use a different word that has the same rights as a married person.......perfect if he really does this. Everyone will call it marriage anyway since it is the same thing. hahahaha but you avoid the religious implications.......And, if he really does this then I could have married my last foreign BF instead of having to have him marry my lesbian friend, hehehehehe........sweet...........