My Letter from President Obama

On 28 January 2009 I wrote a letter to the then-new President Barack Obama asking him why he was a bigot. 


Today I am happy to say that I finally got an answer. I received a mass e-mail from his political campaign that said the following:


David --

Today, I was asked a direct question and gave a direct answer:

I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry...

I've always believed that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. I was reluctant to use the term marriage because of the very powerful traditions it evokes. And I thought civil union laws that conferred legal rights upon gay and lesbian couples were a solution.


But over the course of several years I've talked to friends and family about this. I've thought about members of my staff in long-term, committed, same-sex relationships who are raising kids together. Through our efforts to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, I've gotten to know some of the gay and lesbian troops who are serving our country with honor and distinction.

What I've come to realize is that for loving, same-sex couples, the denial of marriage equality means that, in their eyes and the eyes of their children, they are still considered less than full citizens.

Even at my own dinner table, when I look at Sasha and Malia, who have friends whose parents are same-sex couples, I know it wouldn't dawn on them that their friends' parents should be treated differently.

So I decided it was time to affirm my personal belief that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.


A little over three years later I got the answer to my letter that I frankly did not think I would ever receive. 


I have to say thank you President Obama for being courageous enough to stand up for all American citizens. Thank-you sir, thank-you. 

Obama and Expectations: One Year Later

(high expectations) = BIG disappointment

Years back when I was a professional historian, I would track down people and read letters and reports to them that they had written decades prior. Consistently their reactions were mixed--happy with some aspects and ashamed, even laughing, at other parts in embarrassment. In most instances words don't hold up over the long haul.

I just read the post I wrote one year to the day about President Obama and expectations. I am happy to say I did not find anything to be ashamed of; the facts hold up. If we expect too much from a person (or anything else) we are setting ourselves up to be disappointed.

Read my post on Obama from 20 January 2009 and tell me if I was on the mark.

Three Cheers for Obama and the NIH

(knowledge) = POWER

Signs point to Obama keeping his promises to restore science to our national dialogue. Today the NIH approved human embryonic stem cells for experiments funded by the government. Three cheers for a man who uses logic to guide policy and keeps his promises!

Read more here from the Washington Post

My Letter to Obama: Why Sir Are You a Bigot?

I just skimmed our new president's revised positions for sexual minority clients. And after reading it, I have made a decision to write our president and ask him how he, a man of letters and a scholar of the law, can knowingly support the denial of marriage to same sex couples.

I know the negative consequences prejudice has on people, and I can't sit by without challenging his clearly prejudicial position with regard to Americans who are not heterosexual.

Here is my letter:

Dear President Obama,

First, congratulations on becoming the new president of the United States. I saw a photograph of you at your desk your first day at work, and even though you were making major decisions on a variety of issues, your desktop was totally clear. I hope that reflects the mind behind it, as we need someone with a clear vision in the office.

Which leads me to the reason I am writing this letter. I want to better understand your position on same-sex marriage. I have seen stories reporting your prejudicial view on same-sex marriage before, and your website confirms that such is the case;

President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples.

Why do those of us who were born sexually different deserve separate but equal treatment under the law? How can you, a man who has dealt with prejudice his entire life, support anything less that full rights for all adults who are citizens of the United States? Mr. Obama, why sir are you a bigot when it comes to sexuality?

I respectfully wait your reply and wish you the best in the days to come.

David Ezell

As soon as I get a reply, I will post it here...

Happy Wednesday one and all.

Obama and Expectations

(high expectations) = BIG disappointment

I just skimmed the web with the phrase "Obama memorabilia" and was amazed at all the items I saw. Not since FDR have people been so pumped to own a piece of a man and have a stake in his vision.

Congratulations to our new president on this special day! I, like so many of us, look forward to a new positive force in the Oval Office.

I see so much excitement, so much hope in people in a way I do not think I ever have before. And that concerns me a little. I am not trying to be negative and I hope I don't sound that way. But I am concerned that people's expectations--which are very high--are so stellar that they will be impossible to achieve no matter how much good he does in the days, weeks and years to follow.

Many of us are tired. Many of us feel disenfranchised. Many of us are hungry for a new vision. I understand that. But all of us need to be realistic about what one man can do and how quickly he can do it.

Keep your expectations in check over those upcoming days, weeks, months. If expectations are too high, that means you have a long way to fall. As I mentioned in my post "Lose Your Big Stomach in 2 Days!?," what took a while to get in will take a while to get out. And quick fixes come with strings...

Congrats President Obama on this happy day!

Obama and Sexual Minorities

As you may have heard, Bishop Gene Robinson's invocation was omitted from both HBO and NPR's broadcast of the pre-inagural events yesterday. According to sources at HBO (as reported on afterelton.com), the decision to skip Robinson came from the Obama team.

Assuming this is not a case of pass the buck, here is another indication that the words and actions of the Obama group don't match.

Frankly, I could hardly care less about either Robinson's comments nor those of the bigoted Rick Warren, who was chosen to speak on innaguration day. I believe in the separation of church and state and think mixing the two has gotten us in a lot of the mess from which we all are suffering. That said, Robinson's selection was seen as a concession to queers after the Warren insult. But the bait and switch of asking him, and then silencing him, is problematic.

I voted for Obama, as I know that sexual minorities will suffer far worse at the hands of the GOP. That said, I have never had any illusions about the Democrats who seemingly lack any sort of central directive, especially when it come to the rights of women and men with alternative sexual desire.

Does choosing Warren or omitting Robinson have any long term impact? No.

If that is true, what's the big deal? What it tells, which is that Obama and company's word (LGBT folk are mistreated, we will change that) when compared to their actions (they are disposeable when it suits us) don't match.

Which one, words or actions, reflects the Obama administration's position? I guess we will have to wait and see for ourselves.