Why Barack Obama is not My President.

Recently at a rally, President Obama was asked the question, "Do you think homosexuality is a choice?". He then proceed to respond saying the following "I don't think it's a choice. I think people are born with a certain make-up. We're all children of God. We don't make determinations about who we love. That's why I think discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is wrong."

It's completely outrageous that someone supposedly so intelligent would give such an answer. Firstly, homosexuality has been proven to be determined by genes and the genetic basis for it has been isolated across a number of scientific fields, from neuroscience, to genomics, to biology. Homosexulaity exists in over 500 different species of animals and some of the genes that cause it have already been discovered. Saying "I don't think it's a choice" is a disingenous cop out.

Secondly and probably most importantly, it shouldn't matter even if homosexuality was a choice. There are plenty of things people choose to do on a daily basis that aren't cause for ridicule and persecution. People choose their neighborhood, their religion, their job, and aren't affected because another group doesn't like their choice. It shouldn't be any different in terms of sexuality.

Thirdly, the fact that he would even entertain the question should be a call to the entire Queer community to end all support for his presidency. To me, asking the question "Is homosexualtiy a choice?" is tanamount to asking the question "Are minorities as smart as caucasians?". These extremely offensive and troubling questions both smack of a type of ignorance that any so called "educated" person would not even bother answering them because the premise of each is so ludicrous. The fact that President Obama tried to answer the question in its literal meaning shows exactly how completely ignorant, oblivious, and naive he is regarding issues affecting Queer people. What he should have said is "It's been proven that it is not a choice." What he should have said is, "It shouldn't matter if it is a choice or not." What he should have said is "Every American should have the right to love." But he didn't. He gave a vague answer articultating that he "believes" Queer people are the way they are because they have a certain "make up" and left nothing certain in the minds of his audience about the authenticity of LGBT identities.

Barack Obama's administration has defended the Defense of Marriage Act, failed at gaining support for DADT, and largely put the rest of LGBT issues on the backburner, only giving lip service to the Queer community when it's politically expedient. Some will argue that he signed the Matthew Shephard hate crimes bill into law, and that he's extended benefits to same-sex federal employees, and hired the most LGBT people in his administration ever, but these accomplishments are menial in comparison to what could have been done with the previous democratic 59/60ish seat democratic majority in the senate. The hate crimes bill did not take any real courage on the President's part and could have been passed by congress in any year of any democratic presidency. Extending benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees was pretty much an easy lift as well and doesn't really mean anything for the vast majority of sexual minorities not working in government. In addition, hiring the most LGBT workers to his administration doesn't mean anything if substantive pro LGBT legislation doesn't follow. George W. Bush had an extremely multicultural cabinet and administration, yet most of his policies were disastrous to non-white communities across the board.

In the end, Barack Obama's presidency is a lost presidency, not just in terms of Queer rights, but across the board. Too much compromising and cowtowing to the Republican party in the beginning of his administration has put him in a position where the Congress has shifted hard right. He wasn't forceful or articulate in terms of affirming his leadership and creating a vision for the country and now he is left with a diminished majority in the senate that will most likely be subjected to even more obstructionism by the newly energized Republicans.

As a woman, a minority, and a gender variant, I know what it's like to have someone challenge your being. I support the rights and humanity of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals wholeheartedly and will not support any politician who doesn't have the courage to assuredly affirm their right to exist.