Hillary Clinton was later to come around publicly on the issue than many Dems. But she has a long track record of support for the gay community, so it doesn't worry me. She also, in 2008, was in the position of having to defend DOMA because it was part of her husband's legacy.
Obama has easily been the greatest president on gay rights, but don't forget that he didn't fully embrace the issue until the start of his second term.
The only thing he hasn't done, really, is have more openly gay appointees to high positions.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/15/politics/hillary-cl … index.html
Here is an letter to the editor in Champaign Illinois that sums it up nicely:
Equal rights necessary for gays
Thu, 04/16/2015 - 7:00am | The News-Gazette
It is interesting that in the 21st century the discussion we are having is about deeply held religious beliefs and if that gives people the right to refuse services, withhold medical attention, fire someone from a job or deny others housing.
As an openly gay, legally married man, I am so fortunate that Illinois and Champaign-Urbana laws treat us as equal citizens.
I understand how social change and justice can be a difficult thing for some to accept. In recent weeks, states have passed Religious Freedom Acts, giving special protections to persons of deeply held religious beliefs from being sued or prosecuted for following their beliefs.
The Michigan House passed a bill that gives EMTs the right to refuse medical help based on their beliefs. In California, there is a proposed proposition, Kill the Gays, in which an attorney wants to be able to put a bullet in the brain of an LGBT person so as not to speed up the second coming of Christ. Really?
These laws will eventually be decided in the courts. Unfortunately until that happens there will be many who suffer and perhaps die in the name of deeply held religious beliefs.
Easter was the end result of joining religion and politics and used against Jesus because some with deeply held religious beliefs felt he was a blasphemer for saying he was the Son of God, and he gave people the possibility of everlasting life. They felt righteous in his crucifixion. That did not turn out so well for those leaders.
RICHARD L. HAYES
Champaign