Gay activists impatient with Obama and Congress

June 18, 2009

The Associated Press
June 18, 2009

Frustrated gay-rights leaders want President Barack Obama to be far more forceful in supporting their political goals, but they also fault the Democratic-led Congress and vow to step up lobbying efforts in hopes of seeing campaign promises fulfilled. "We can wait for the president to try to move members of Congress, or we can redouble our efforts and get about doing that work ourselves," Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said Thursday. Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry, which campaigns nationally for gay marriage rights, said he remains optimistic over the long term because the American public "is ready for change. What we need now is leadership from the president, Congress and state officials to deliver that change," he said. "I'm frustrated and disappointed that the administration has not yet delivered on the vision we share for a more equal America." [Link]