Sorry, Donald Trump is President of the United States

Sorry, Donald Trump is President of the United States. As much as you may be with “her,” she is not the future of the Democratic Party. Barack’s job is done, he is not Superman and won’t be swopping in to save the day. Party partisan politics has not united us, it has divided us.

It has been exactly one year and two months since the polls opened and millions of Americans cast their vote for the individual who would succeed President Obama. Much like the final episode of The Voice, millions of Americans voted and the results were not exactly what you expected.

Since election day, the country has ignored a lesson we learn early in life—that in a competition there is going to be a winner and loser and if your side doesn’t win you don’t give up, you maintain focus for the next competition. Instead, we have been divided by partisan ideals and beliefs and would could have been.

Thus, we must focus on the future and not dwell on the past.  We cannot change what has already happened, but we sure can change things so that future is better than the past.  The upcoming midterm elections are our way to do just that because they are critically important and spending an excessive amount of time and energy figuring out how to possibly impeach President Trump, or waiting to hear what former President Obama has to say about current events, or if Secretary Clinton will possibly run again are fruitless efforts.

Instead, the focus should be on the seats that are up for grabs in Congress that will determine the future of our universal health care system, economic development, student loans, immigration reform, and much more. These are issues that will have long term effects on our country and extend well past partisan bickering and hard feelings. We live in a country where the government is for the people and by the people, which means we have the power to change things and can get our government back on track and focusing on things that we hold to be important.

In order to make our government work for us, we can do some very simple things.  First, we can make sure that we register to vote. If you are already registered to vote, make sure your friends and family are also registered to vote. Second, we need to stop relying on the two major parties to tell us who we should vote for and how we should think. This era of partisan politics is doing more harm than good and by allowing the parties to have control over who we vote for and why we vote for them only takes the power out of our hands and puts it in theirs.

Technology makes it very easy for us to instantaneously find out any information we would like.  The same way that you find out about what your favorite celebrity is up to or when the latest designer product is going to be available, you can easily find out information about the various public offices, who is running for them, and what they stand for. You wouldn’t buy a car without first doing some research about it, so we shouldn’t elect our leaders without having done our due diligence.

Third, we need to be open to have meaningful conversations about the issues that are important to us and who would be the best person(s) to ensure that these issues are handled/resolved in the right way. Having political discussions does not have to lead to a knock down drag out argument. Instead think about it from this prospective, on a daily basis we may have conversations about our favorite sports teams or what happens on our favorite television show and everyone may not have the same opinion as you. Does that stop you from having a conversation about the topic with them? Probably not. The same can be said for political discussions, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Sometimes you may sway someone to your side, other times you will not, but you still have conversations with them. Simply, this is the only way we are going to solve problems in this country is by being respectful and learning from one another to develop a solution we all agree upon.

Fourth, we need to take time out of our schedules to actually fight for the causes we believe in.  I’m not saying you need to devote every last minute you have free to the cause, but helping out once a week or every other weekend can go a long way. As the saying goes, “close mouths don’t get feed,” the same goes for causes we care about.  If no one bothers to take the time to fight for them, they won’t be solved or addressed.

Finally, and most importantly, we have to make sure that we actually show up to vote, encourage, and bring others to vote with us. This is the only way that we can ensure that our voice is actually heard.  I know. I know. You have been told that your vote (voice) doesn’t matter, but it does.  A poll may tell you that candidate X is winning by a wide margin or that your city, town, or state almost always goes red or blue. Or that the popular vote may say one thing and the Electoral College may appear to do another. These are simply just devices to discourage you from going out to vote.

The truth of the matter is that polls can be wrong (which is why they have margins of error) and what happened in the past is not always an indicator of what can happen in the future. The Electoral College is a mechanism that has been in place since the founding of the country and even if we may not like it, only four times in its history has the Electoral College voted contrary to that of the popular vote. Plus, it was put into place as a means to protect larger states from being more powerful than smaller states—ensuring a protection of minority rights (even if we don’t agree with them at times).

Therefore, you will not really actually know if your vote was needed until the results are already in. By that time the decision has been made for you. Wouldn’t you rather have your voice heard and counted than be heard and not counted? 

Maybe if we implement these action items the results of this election won’t feel rigged like this year’s final tribal council of Survivor: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers—where Chrissy Hofbeck clearly had the more impressive game play resume, compared to the winner (of circumstance) Bryan Driebergen.  If so, American maybe able to finally get the government back to doing work for the people and not in the interest of political parties and career politicians.

Obama: Leader of Change and Progress

Originally posted at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/12/10/obama-leader-of-change-and-progress/

In the wee morning hours of November 7th, I like many Americans had my heavy sleep deprived eyes glued to the TV as President Obama addressed his supporters and the nation. Make no mistake about it; this was a moment for history. The first African American president in the history of the United States had been reelected to a second term, cementing his rightful place in history and showing the world that his initial election was not a fluke.

Let’s face it, President Obama was facing tremendous pressure in his reelection campaign. Would he end up going down in history as the first African-American president who was only able to serve one term? Would he still have the same support he had in 2008? How would his handling of the economy and stance on social issues sit with voter when they went to cast their ballots?

Therefore, President Obama’s decision to come out in support of same sex marriage so close to reelection was even more important. This decision showed us that President Obama was a leader who talked-the-talked and walked-the-walk. More importantly, his advocacy has shown Americans that equality is an issue that has been ignored for too long and now is the time to start making change.

His reelection coincided with a number of major victories for LGBT equality across the country. For the first time, all of the ballot measures dealing with marriage equality came out in favor of marriage equality advocates and allowed them to place a check mark in the victory column. Social conservatives were handed a defeat as they tried to remove an Iowa Supreme Court judge who had voted to legalize gay marriage in 2009 (despite the fact that they had previously succeeded in removing three judges in 2010). Additionally, 118 out of 180 gay candidates endorsed by the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund won their respective races—including Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin who becomes the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate.

In many ways the LGBT community and advocates owe part of these victories to President Obama and his administration. Now I know some are saying that is absolutely absurd and are ready to write negative comments about how misguided I am. But I ask you give me a second to make my point.

I am in no way trying to demean the efforts by millions of Americans who have fought for years to obtain equality for the LGBT community. The successes to date are directly a result of their blood, sweat, tears, hard work, and determination. However, we have to look no further than the Civil Rights Movement to see how the support of an administration can mean the world to the quest for equality.

The election of Barack Obama as president in 2008 not only marked an era of change but a new era for progressives and their goals. President Obama with his mantra of change ushered in a new way of thinking and a more progressive government needed for modern times. President Obama was not about to let the old way of thinking get in the way of creating a greater America for all. As a result, we have witnessed an administration that has done more to extended equality to the LGBT community than any before it.

While some may counter and say that President Obama has not done enough, we cannot discount all that has been done for the LGBT community. I personally would have liked to see an end to work place discrimination with the passage of sexual orientation and gender identity inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act. We have far too many LGBT workers either suffering from high unemployment or are a decision away of losing their jobs simply for being who they are. But we all must acknowledge that all of the issues affecting the LGBT community cannot be solved in four short years.

The president’s support of LGBT issues and his evolution on marriage equality are a tremendous boost to progressives everywhere. Regardless if LGBT equality may be the “sexy” issue, leaning too far left on these issues could have ended up being a political liability. Even in the face of a reelection campaign where social issues may not have been the biggest hot button issue, President Obama’s decisions on these issues could have cost him some critical votes. Yet, he chose to stand on the side of equality. He did not waver. He did not back down.

That is simply what we ask of a leader—to stand up for those in need and ensure that they are treated fairly and equally with the rest of society—especially the President of the United States. President Obama has done just that. He should be commended for that. He could have buckled under the pressure that he has done much for the LGBT community but did not do nearly enough in other areas like immigration.

When the leader of the free world throws his support behind something, people take notice. Knowing that the president makes equality a priority helps to elevate reservations that some may have when it comes to progressive measures. I am sure that some voters who were on the fence about LGBT equality were swayed with the fact that the President of the United States was able to evolve on equality issues, so why shouldn’t they?

Simply, we need to be thanking President Obama for his unwavering leadership when it comes to LGBT equality. He has allowed equality to be the topic of conversation for a number of people who otherwise would not because his presidency has galvanized people politically. His leadership is ushering us forward, not back. Full LGBT equality is closer because President Obama has had the courage to make it so.

Why Black LGBT Americans should support President Obama

Originally posted at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/10/10/why-black-lgbt-americans-should-support-president-obama/

This past month marked the very first time I truly felt like a card carrying member of the Democratic Party.  I know this may come as a surprise.  After all, I am an African American man who just earned his doctorate and is at the beginning of what is sure to be a long successful career.  I am a beneficiary of the things that the Democratic Party fights for.

However, I am a gay African American man.  In the black community, I am seen, but rarely spoken of because of the unwritten Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy when it comes to LGBT individuals. In the larger LGBT community, issues that affect me and other black LGBT individuals and family often do not find their way into mainstream conversations.  More importantly, LGBT issues have never really been top agenda items for Democrats on the national level.

That all changed last month in Charlotte, North Carolina, the state where a ban of gay marriage passed not that long ago.  For the first time Democrats had made sure to include marriage equality in their party platform and have numerous speakers talk about extending rights to members of the LGBT community.  This wasn’t an isolated incident.

LGBT inclusion in the platform and prime time speeches comes on the heels of a number ofmeasures to improve life for LGBT Americans by the Obama administration.  The embracing of the LGBT community is something that should not be forgotten by the black LGBT community this November.  Especially since, Black LGBT individuals and families suffer disproportionately from policies that make access to economic opportunity, education and health care challenging.  And the fact that black LGBT youth face unfair criminalized in the juvenile justice system.

Having a supportive administration can go a long way to reverse the trends that are currently plaguing the Black LGBT community.  For example, under the leadership of President Obama economic barriers have been broken by allowing members of the LGBT community to serve openly with the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.  Additionally, the administration has made obtaining affordable housing attainable via a new HUD rule that prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.  These are just two areas that greatly affect black LGBT individuals and families that are improving because of the leadership of President Obama.

For these reasons, we need to stand with President Obama and give him the opportunity to keep improving the lives of the LGBT community for four more years and beyond.  More importantly, we should be reaching out to everyone we know, especially those in the Black community who may feel they don’t need to vote or are considering not voting because of President Obama’s evolution on marriage.

Improving the lives of LGBT individuals and families is the right thing to do.  Equality is not meant to be extended to select members of society, it is meant to be extended to all members of society.  President Obama, his administration, and the Democratic Party understand this. They have worked together to help remove some of the barriers that prevent Black LGBT individuals from being productive members of society and be able to achieve the American dream.

And guess what the world has not ended!  Shocking, isn’t it?!

Michelle Obama said it best in her speech at the convention, “Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it…and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love.”

Improving the lives of LGBT individuals has been neglected for too long.  We have a supportive administration that wants to change this. So now is the time to rally everyone you know and get out the vote for President Obama.  Each vote for President Obama is a vote to ensure that the American Dream is no longer denied to the LGBT community.