National Sexuality Resource Center Advisory Board Member Bishop Yvette Flunder, head of the City of Refuge Community Church UCC and outspoken national proponent for the acceptance of same-gender loving people within communities of faith, heads to the White House today. Bishop Flunders is part of a cadre of national LGBT leaders who will meet with the Obama administration at an LGBT Pride Reception to honor pride month, and will be joined by representatives from Lambda Legal, SAGE, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and other groups.
And, many say, the meeting couldn't come at a better time. Many gay and lesbian activists have been disappointed--to say the least--by the Obama administrations failure to keep campaign promises to the LGBT community. From using humiliating language (comparing same-sex marriage to incest and bestiality) to bolster the evil Defense of Marriage Act, to failing to intervene in the dismissals of hundreds of queer military personnel since his inauguration in spite of guarantees to overturn Don't Ask Don't Tell, the administration has showed a shameful lack of leadership and interest in supporting the rights of GLBT persons. And GLBT folks aren't the only ones who are upset. Seventy-seven members of Congress sent Obama a blistering letter last week, asking that he repeal DODT already--a story that was buried in the mainstream media.
We look forward to the real leadership of Bishop Flunder and her colleagues on LGBT issues, and hope to see some real progress as a result. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, please sign on to this petition from the Courage Campaign, in support of Lt Dan Choi, a heroic (and gay) serviceman whose dismissal from service is being heard tomorrow.
