http://michiganmessenger.disqus.com/enFri, 29 Aug 2008 13:13:49 -0000http://www.michiganmessenger.com/3287/gay-community-opens-up-to-obama#comment-1914448He was merely throwing a bone to the Gay/Lesbian community with this one and I wasn't biting. In my opinion, he hasn't been outspoken enough, for fear that he'll lose conservative voters (who will most likely not support him anyway.) <br><br>While I will still vote for Obama come November for a million and one reasons, I'm still not impressed with Obama's stance and voting history on gay marriage. While he has claimed to support the Uniting American families Act in concept, he has not signed on to support the bill. Living lives free of discrimination should mean that I can legally marry my same sex foreign born partner and be afforded the same exact rights under federal law that are afforded to heterosexual couples. He has not signed on to ban the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and I'm wary that he would challenge it, if elected.<br><br>While I think that issues related to the environment, the war in Iraq, health care reform and the state of the economy are more important to the entire nation (and world at large) I find it personally difficult to praise Obama to be the dream-come-true candidate for gays and lesbians. His voting record and his actions don't support that kind of blind praise and adoration on this issue.Erin in MinneapolisFri, 29 Aug 2008 13:13:49 -0000