10 things you get to keep with Obamacare
The real problem with Obamacare
US Supreme Court upholds Affordable Healthcare Act
Remarks from President Obama on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Healthcare Act.
The Supreme Court ruling on President Obama’s health care law is complicated, just like the law itself. Today the court said the law is mostly constitutional. Here is what it means for you:
– You have to buy health insurance or be subject to a tax
– If you are under 26, you can get health insurance from the plan your parents use.
– If you’re on Medicare, you can get free mammograms.
– If you have what’s called a pre-existing condition, you can get health insurance.
– Insurance companies can’t deny you coverage even if you get sick and make a mistake on your health insurance application.
Human Rights Campaign issued this statement:
The Supreme Court’s decision means millions of Americans – including many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families – will be better served by our nation’s healthcare system. The Affordable Care Act addresses a number of the barriers LGBT people face in obtaining health insurance, from financial barriers to obtaining affordable coverage to discrimination by insurance carriers and healthcare providers. While there is a great deal more that must be done to ensure that the health needs of all LGBT people are fully met throughout the healthcare system, today’s decision is an important victory in the fight for healthcare equality.
Keeping his word: Equality for LGBT Americans
Remember folks. No president has done more for LGBT rights than President Obama.
While Romney supports a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality, and points to the economy and says it’s not improving fast enough and he could do better, please think about the facts:
1. After 8 years of bad policies we hit the biggest recession since the Great Depression.
2. You walk 8 miles into the forest, it’s 8 miles back out.
President Obama is doing what he said he’d do despite the opposition doing everything they can to slow the economy down in the hopes he won’t be elected.
In the meantime, while the economy IS slowing improving, President Obama kept his work to the LGBT community.
I now have a job AND my dignity with a President who believes I’m equal.
Yeah – I’m voting for President Obama 2012.
On pride and dignity
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| Taken at a gay pride event and shared on the Obama twitter account |
“The most sweepingly positive changes any president has ever made to address gay rights. How can we not vote for that? I may not have a job yet, but I have my dignity! OBAMA 2012”
I was reading on some of my favorite blogs and saw this comment on JoeMyGod. It was posted as a guest, but I wish I could attribute it to the author.
That sentiment resonates to my core.
While the terrible economy continues to slowly improve – in spite of the GOP obstruction in Congress to keep things from improving so President Obama might not be re-elected – I have to say the statement above says a lot about why and who supports President Obama.
No President has done more for lifitng the level of respect for LGBT Americans than President Barack Obama.
From repealing DADT (which he said he would do, and he did) to refusing to defend the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, to supporting marriage equality for all Americans – NO President has done more to help us feel equal.
The conservative gays at GOProud love to rally ’round the GOP saying gays rights aren’t the only issue and “economic issues affect us all.” Yes – economics affect us all, but before you make money, have a job, raise children or even just get up in the morning we all need to feel our worth. Our dignity.
I’m not in campaign mode here, but Mitt Romney does not see some Americans as being as equal as others. He has said he would support a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality for millions of gay Americans. He did not support the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Thousands of American men and women, who put their lives on the line for our country every day, that Mitt Romney does not feel should be able to serve their country.
Jobs are slowly coming back after the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. There’s a saying: “you walk seven miles into the forest, it’s seven miles back out.” It took eight years of bad decisions on behalf of the last administration to get us into the mess Obama inherited. The worst recession in 80 years isn’t going to be resolved in three.
President Obama is doing his best despite a Republican party that stated that their number one goal was not to create jobs for Americans; it was to deny President Obama a second term. And it’s clear that’s what their focus has been on.
America’s future continues to improve. We are still the great country we always have been. AND the LGBT community has many reasons to support a President who sees us as equals. Who treats us with dignity.
I’m pretty sure that falls under the definition of the word “pride.”
Celebrate Pride kids.
Forward. No fear.
10 straight people LGBT people can be proud of
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| Ben Cohen, world class rugby player and anti-bullying activist |
Since June is gay pride month, the folks at Buzzfeed made a list of a few straight people that have done things for the LBGT community that we can all feel good about.
How do you like the list? Who would you add?
1. Ben Cohen, rubgy player/activist
2. Lisa Lampanelli, comedian
3. Hudson Taylor, wrestler and coach
4. & 5. Theodore Olson and David Boies, lawyers
6. Benjamin Todd Jealous, president of the NAACP
7. Zach Wahls, student
8. Josh Hutcherson, actor
9. Barack Obama, president
10. Dick Cheney, former vice president
Obama for America: “Mosaic”
LGBT Pride Reception at the White House
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT LGBT PRIDE MONTH RECEPTION
East Room
5:16 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much. Well, thank you very much.
Well, welcome to the White House, everybody. (Applause.) We are glad all of you could join us today. I want to thank the members of Congress and the members of my administration who are here, including our friends who are doing outstanding work every day — John Berry, Nancy Sutley, Fred Hochberg. (Applause.)
Now, each June since I took office, we have gathered to pay tribute to the generations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans who devoted their lives to our most basic of ideals –- equality not just for some, but for all. Together we’ve marked major milestones like the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, when a group of brave citizens held their ground against brutal discrimination. Together, we’ve honored courageous pioneers who, decades ago, came out and spoke out; who challenged unjust laws and destructive prejudices. Together, we’ve stood resolute; unwavering in our commitment to advance this movement and to build a more perfect union.
Now, I’ve said before that I would never counsel patience; that it wasn’t right to tell you to be patient any more than it was right for others to tell women to be patient a century ago, or African Americans to be patient a half century ago. After decades of inaction and indifference, you have every reason and right to push, loudly and forcefully, for equality. (Applause.)
But three years ago, I also promised you this: I said that even if it took more time than we would like, we would see progress, we would see success, we would see real and lasting change. And together, that’s what we’re witnessing.
For every person who lost a loved one at the hand of hate, we ended a decade of delay and finally made the Matthew Shepard Act the land of the law. (Applause.) For every person with HIV who was treated like an outcast, we lifted the HIV entry ban. (Applause.) And because of that important step, next month, for the first time in more than two decades, the International AIDS conference will be held right here in the United States. (Applause.)
For every American diagnosed with HIV who couldn’t get access to treatment, we put forward a National HIV/AIDS strategy — because who you are should never affect whether you get life-extending care. Marjorie Hill, the head of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, is here. (Applause.) GMHC has saved so many lives, and this year they are celebrating their 30th anniversary. So I want to give them and all these organizations who work to prevent and treat HIV a big round of applause. Give it up for Marjorie and everybody else. (Applause.)
For every partner or spouse denied the chance to comfort a loved one in the hospital, to be by their side at their greatest hour of need, we said, enough. Hospitals that accept Medicare or Medicaid -– and that is most of them -– now have to treat LGBT patients just like any other patient. For every American denied insurance just for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, we passed health insurance reform, which will ban that kind of discrimination. (Applause.)
We’ve expanded benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees, prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity for workers in the federal government. (Applause.) We’ve supported efforts in Congress to end the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. (Applause.) And as we wait for that law to be cast aside, we’ve stopped defending its constitutionality in the courts. (Applause.)
We’ve put forward a strategy to promote and protect the rights of LGBT communities all over the world, because, as Secretary Clinton said back in December, gay rights are human rights. (Applause.)
And, of course, last year we finally put an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell” — (applause) — so that nobody would ever have to ever again hide who they love in order to serve the country they love. And I know we’ve got some military members who are here today. (Applause.) I’m happy to see you with your partners here. We thank you for your service. We thank your families for their service, and we share your joy at being able to come with your spouses or partners here to the White House with your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)
Now, we know we’ve got more to do. Americans may feel more comfortable bringing their partners to the office barbecue — (laughter) — but we’re still waiting for a fully inclusive employment non-discrimination act. (Applause.) Congress needs to pass that legislation, so that no American is ever fired simply for being gay or transgender.
Americans may be able serve openly in the military, but many are still growing up alone and afraid; picked on, pushed around for being different. And that’s why my administration has worked to raise awareness about bullying. And I know — I just had a chance to see Lee Hirsch, the director of BULLY, who is here. And we thank him for his work on this issue. (Applause.)
I want to acknowledge all the young leaders here today who are making such a big difference in their classrooms and in their communities. And Americans may be still evolving when it comes to marriage equality — (laughter and applause) — but as I’ve indicated personally, Michelle and I have made up our minds on this issue. (Applause.)
So we still have a long way to go, but we will get there. We’ll get there because of all of you. We’ll get there because of all of the ordinary Americans who every day show extraordinary courage. We’ll get there because of every man and woman and activist and ally who is moving us forward by the force of their moral arguments, but more importantly, by the force of their example.
And as long as I have the privilege of being your President, I promise you, you won’t just have a friend in the White House, you will have a fellow advocate — (applause) — for an America where no matter what you look like or where you come from or who you love, you can dream big dreams and dream as openly as you want.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.)
Anti-gay website reporter interrupts President Obama during press conference
Today, during President Obama’s speech on immigration, a reporter rudely interrupted the president.
The “reporter” was Neil Munro from the anti-gay Daily Caller, the teabagger site founded by Tucker Carlson.
Obama properly smacked him down, but let’s hope Press Secretary Jay Carney is booting Munro from the White House press corps right now.
For those who may not know, it is customary for the President of the United States to finish comments before taking questions.
I think this was a planned “moment” to get attention for Tucker Carlson’s little website. Whatever, it is rude to interrupt the President while speaking. Especially when you are the press. The press is meant to report the news, not make it.
UPDATE: The “reporter” says he had no intention of interrupting the President – he thought he was done. “I timed the question believing the president was closing his remarks, because naturally I have no intention of interrupting the President of the United States.” He was about 8 minutes early…
However, Brianna Keilar of CNN says “I was two people over from Neil Munro. No one thought the president was wrapping up. I give that statement a great big Cow Pie Award.”
Maryland: President Obama urges support of marriage equality
At a campaign fundraiser, last night in Baltimore, President Obama urged Maryland voters to uphold the marriage equality law passed there earlier this year, the Washington Blade reports:
“We’re moving forward to a country where we treat everybody fairly and everybody equally, with dignity and respect,” he said during a campaign fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore. “And here in Maryland, thanks to the leadership of committed citizens and Gov. O’Malley, you have a chance to reaffirm that principle in the voting booth in November. It’s the right thing to do.”
Obama’s comments come less than a month after the Maryland Marriage Alliance submitted 113,000 signatures – more than double the 55,736 signatures they needed to collect by the end of the month to put the same-sex marriage law on the ballot. An unofficial count posted to the Maryland State Board of Elections’ website on Tuesday shows that officials have validated 109,317 of the 113,000 signatures.
A poll released shortly after Obama’s endorsement of marriage equality in late May showed that his words had an impact, Dominion of New York reported:
A poll released yesterday shows that Maryland’s support for gay marriage has increased 12 percent since Obama’s endorsement, with most of the shift coming from African-American voters who have flipped their stance on the issue. Fifty-five percent of Maryland blacks now support gay marriage and would vote against such an amendment and 36 percent oppose it, according to the poll. It’s likely Obama’s endorsement affected them. Before it, 56 percent of blacks opposed gay marriage and 39 percent supported it.
Via Towleroad