WATCH: Obama Asked About Gay Rights and Marriage in Tampa

Appearing Thursday at town hall meeting in Tampa, President Barack Obama took a question from a young University of Tampa student on the Administration's strategy for obtaining equal benefits for gay and lesbian couples. The question dove-tailed Obama's discussion of gay rights in the State of the Union Address.

The President avoided discussing marriage or the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prevents the federal government from granting benefits to or recognizing same-sex couples. Obama pivoted to the bill to provide federal benefits to same-sex partners.

The transcript:

QUESTION: All right, I'm Hector and I'm a student at UT. And my question is, last night you talked about repealing "don't ask, don't tell," and my question is what are you doing now to put in motion so that same-sex couples and homosexuals are treated as equal citizens of the United States, i.e., same-sex marriages and the thousand-plus benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy after marriage?

THE PRESIDENT: Look, as I said last night, my belief is, is that a basic principle in our Constitution is that if you're obeying the law, if you're following the rules, that you should be treated the same, regardless of who you are. I think that principle applies to gay and lesbian couples. So at the federal level, one of the things that we're trying to do is to make sure that partnerships are recognized for purposes of benefits so that hospital visitation, for example, is something that is permitted; that Social Security benefits or pension benefits or others, that same-sex couples are recognized in all those circumstances.

I think that we've got to—we actually have an opportunity of passing a law that's been introduced in Congress right now, and my hope is this year we can get it done, just for federal employees and federal workers. A lot of companies, on their own, some of the best-run companies have adopted these same practices. I think it's the right thing to do and it makes sense for us to take a leadership role in ensuring that people are treated the same.

Look, if you are—regardless of your personal opinions, the notion that somebody who's working really hard for 30 years can't take their death benefits and transfer them to the person that they love the most in the world and who has supported them all their lives, that just doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem right. And I think it's the right thing to do.

The bill in question: The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations (DPBO) Act recently introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Aetna) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to grant same-sex benefits for the nation's largest employer. Meanwhile: The Administration is obviously "defending" DOMA more than trying to "repeal" it ...

Notice how supportive the crowd was of the student's question. Obama ends his reply with the same phrase he used in the SOTU: "It's the right thing to do." Via Firedoglake, watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Comments

[Da' Realist One]

Okay, not trying to be a pessimist, but what about all the other citizens of this country who aren’t federal employees? Just because a corporation or business offer limited (and I do mean limited) domestic partner benefits to SS couples, that STILL doesn’t give them the same protections that straight couples get?

We still can’t get married
We still can’t openly serve in the military (and coverage isn’t extended to their partners as well at this time)
We’re still told to “WAIT” and “HOPE” that this MAY happen.

Although I know that maybe many GLBT people (especially those of color) may not necessarily care or think much into what he stated - but the underlying message here is that the current administration is willing to give GLBT people the LEAST MINIMAL but yet claim that you are getting “cream of the crop”!

I’m sorry but I believe I’m not the only one that can see past the visions of hope and harmony.
The truth of the matter is the Pres can use his executive authority RIGHT NOW to stop DADT until congress can come up with a plan to rectify the problem and repeal it, why doesn’t he do it?
Dems have the majority in all chambers of congress and time and time again shirk their responsibility in protecting the rights of their GLBT voters.

Sure we have “other” things to worry about, sure we have “bigger” problems to solve, but in all honestly, these situations are very solvable and in my opinion should have been taken care of a long time ago. So to sit here and “hope” that we’ll have a shot at equality while the current administration sits on their hands and recite poetic justice speeches is really getting old and tired at this point.

Nothing speaks better than words than ACTION!
Time to put the mic down and put the pen to the paper.

[CC]

Check out the wording used by Obama in his response:

we're trying to do is to make sure that partnerships...

Didn't Hector ask about same-sex marriages???

Does he not know that there is a difference, and we know that?

[Greg G]

>>>Although I know that maybe many GLBT people (especially those of color) may not necessarily care or think much into what he stated - but the underlying message here is that the current administration is willing to give GLBT people the LEAST MINIMAL but yet claim that you are getting “cream of the crop”!

You're absolutely right. I feel the same way. There is no leadership in Congress and the president is scared. And to be very franl...black gay men really don't care. Few ever weigh in on this topic at this blog, unless its to defend Obama or claim anyone who is gay and criticizes him is a 'racist'. I dont know what that makes me cuz I'm black too.

The problem for me is black gay men are used to getting nothing and feel they should never ask for anything. And those of us who arent closted, arent 20 years old and at the club or 60yo and given up on life, we are made to feel bad. Its a shame when people come thru here trying to start shyt with rod for simply telling the truth... we arent get getting much from the black community, we arent getting much for gay community bc we wont be active and are at the bottom of the totem pole.

I'll be glad the Democrats and Obama get some backbone. I have a partner and its a massive fail to try to even get his name on car insurance. Car insurance!

[Osiris]

I live in Tampa and there's a lot more that's not shown. He spoke more about DADT in another part of his speech and I was surprised at how open he was. I wish I remembered more so that I could share it but I remember texting my "friend" about how surprised I was at his honesty.

As far as support, there were a lot of students there. Even though the older folks don't care about gay rights, the students do. Straight/gay, black/white/whatever... the younger generation has it right around here.

[Tom]

Since we aren't recognized by the federal government, when our community members do receive the benefits, it will be considered taxable income. Of course this isn't the case with married couples.
I worked for one of those corporations that allowed me to add my partner to my benefits plan. I had to pay extra for my partner (about $100 a month) but the value of the companies portion they supposedly paid was about $350 a month. That $350 was considered additional income which I had to pay income tax on. That roughly doubled the amount it cost me.

[Tom]

clarification: I should of said "married couples recognized by the federal government (ie: heterosexuals only)"

[alicia banks]

notice how this lying bastard did not respond with a single word re outlawing gay marriage???

he is annoying to listen to as he is horridly inarticulate without his trusty teleprompter!

see more:

http://aliciabanks.vox.com/library/post/political-pablum-pavlovian-praises-perpetual-patronizing-promises.html?_c=feed-atom