I don't expect Obama to come out in support of gay marriage. I never did. I've always figured that it will be something that happens gradually, state by state, as it seems to be doing in America. Does that make it what I want? No. I would like to be able to live freely in my own nation and marry my partner and live wherever we wish. But that's not where were at yet.

Obama does have a lot on his plate. Bush handed him a stinking, flaming pile of shit when he skipped out of office to spend the rest of his life down in Texas with his thumb in his ass. Obama has to fix the economy, healthcare, the wars, the environment, etc. Honestly, even for me- a gay man- I think that the economy and healthcare are certainly more pressing.

However, I don't understand at all Obama's continued support of DADT. Logical people on both sides of the aisle realize that depriving our armed forces of needed and valuable service members- in a time of war, mind you- due to their sexual orientation is foolish and counterproductive. How many times have we heard reports of Arabic translators being dismissed from the Army for being gay? Doesn't that strike anyone in the federal government as a useful skill, especially since we're engaged in a war with a country whose citizens speak Arabic!?!

The Justice Department's language in the DOMA brief is beyond reprehensible. I am an upstanding citizen of this country, who has never committed a crime, who gives back to my community, who works hard and has always acted with integrity and respect when I am out in the world. To equate me, and my gay family members, my partner, my friends, and millions of Americans with child molesters and people who practice bestiality is so beyond the pale, so reprehensible, and so utterly offensive that I am shocked that something so disgustingly crass came from our government, and not some backwoods, redneck, hatemonger screed.

I don't expect miracles. But I DO expect that my government uphold my basic humanity, and my basic human dignity in its actions and decisions.

I think the boycott of this event is a good step. We need to be measured, respectful and forceful. I think for too long the Democratic Party has just assumed that we would fall in line no matter how we were treated. Well, no longer. I won't give a nickel to this party, nor a minute of my time to their efforts until they make the simple acknowledgment of mine, and millions of other's humanity.

Thank you for your ideas about the legal issues. I hadn't thought of that before, and I hope you're right.

If she or, God forbid, McCain would have won, we'd be ramping up our next "Operation Protest Freedom" or "Operation Persian Liberation" or whatever bullshit name we'd be tacking on to a war with Iran.

Obama is making a wise move here- non interference. I can't imagine that sticking our nose in the middle of this hornets nest would be good for Iranians or the US.

Obama's actions in granting benefits for same sex partners of federal employees is nothing more than blatant tokenism. It's an action designed to shut us up and push us away, lest we ruin his overtures to the right wing (who will disagree with him no matter what, btw) in hopes he can bring them to the table to pass his legislation. Right.

This is nothing more than a craven political move wherein Obama hopes we'll be satisfied with our newest crumb from the table and go disappear, lest the right wing fundies catch wind that all GLBT people didn't just disappear after November.

Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not satisfied waiting around for the crumbs to fall from the table. Neither are millions of other GLBT citizens in this country. For decades, we've been patted on the head and lied to, told time and again that "Your turn is coming soon! Just be patient!"

Yet, when we get a Democratic president in office with a large political mandate, who could make at least ONE rational and effective pro-gay policy action- the repeal of DADT- he turns the other way and does as much as he can to shore up his credibility with fundamentalist bigots.

This is not the "change" I voted for. This is not the "change" I gave my extremely small amount of disposable income toward. I want a president that treats me like a human being. Is that too much to ask?

I and millions of Americans voted for Obama because we demanded actual and substantial changes to the failing policies of the Federal government. We demanded a change- and a fix- to the perennial unsolved issues of healthcare, the environment, and a return to the rule of law.

Instead, all we've recieved is window dressing from this administration. Obama signs an order for transparency and then gives a speech to the CIA, kowtowing to known lawbreakers and torturers. We still hold detainees without charge. Our government still spies upon law-abiding US citizens. And the list goes on and on. Thusfar, the Obama administration has been all sizzle and no steak.

We need strong, absolute and positive changes to our healthcare system. The for-profit ponzi scheme is a diseased failure. Most Americans want a better system, and a great many of us demand universal healthcare. We need to re-structure our entire health apparatus in this nation. First by removing the cancer that infects it- the executives, CEO's and very industry that makes obscene profits off of the illness, misery and deaths of thousands of Americans every year.

I hope that Obama will discover that he actually has a mandate to make real change, and remember that the vast majority of Americans demand this passionately. Obama needs to stop kissing up to obstructionists and playing nice with those who cause the most harm to the economy, environment and physical welfare of our nation.