How Far Will Obama Go On Gay Rights? That's Up To Us.

From the New York Times:

WASHINGTON — President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians — is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change.

Many wonder where the Obama Administration will take gay rights. The immediate concern seems to be Don't Ask Don't Tell, which Obama says he plans to get rid of, yet many were dismayed when a gay Arabic translator was fired because Obama and the Congress failed to move on the policy as of yet. A HuffPost blogger lamented about that move, "Obama To Fire His First Gay Arabic Linguist."

Personally, I think that events will force Obama's hands. Change, real fundamental change, really doesn't come from the top. It comes from the bottom that forces the top to respond to stay in power. FDR came into power a "balanced budget" conservative and left following the greatest economic reorganizing in American history. LBJ stubbornly fought tons of civil rights legislation, including even anti-lynching laws, but the civil rights movement pushed him to sign the most radical civil rights reforms yet.

I think we should stop looking just to Obama for change. We need to look around at all the people who worked for him, who volunteered man hours, who voted for him -- and the millions of people who didn't support him but still want positive, progressive change -- and ask them, "What are we going to do to change this country, to push Obama to stand up for gay rights and other progressive advances?"

Only then will we see change. That's the way the American system works -- and I wouldn't have it any other way.