June 6, 2008

My Questions for Barack Obama’s Conference Call

I received a reminder for the Obama “national LGBT conference call — this time with a link to a page where one can submit questions. (Never mind that I got the message barely 90 minutes before the call!)

While I really don’t expect any of my questions to be answered, I quickly drafted a list of questions, and submitted them (knowing that I probably forgot just as many, or more — but there just wasn’t time):

1. How does Senator Obama reconcile his opposition to federal marriage equality for same-sex couples with his oft-repeated citation of his own parents’ marriage, which was not recognized in every state when Senator Obama was born?

2. Does Senator Obama consider “leaving it to the states” acceptable for same-sex couples, when “separate but equal” was not acceptable for interracial couples?

3. Does Senator Obama consider same-sex marriages less valid than interracial marriages? If so, is this because Senator Obama believes homosexuality is a choice, or for some other reason?

4. How does Senator Obama, a constitutional lawyer, reconcile his opposition to marriage equality with Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution (a.k.a. the Full Faith and Credit Clause)?

5. Consider the following statement: “Giving them a set of basic rights would allow them to experience their relationship and live their lives in a way that doesn’t cause discrimination. I think it is the right balance to strike in this society.” Does Senator Obama mean to imply that LGBT Americans are the cause of their own discrimination? By “set of basic rights,” does Senator Obama mean to reassure opponents to LGBT equality that he, too, does not support LGBT equality?

6. If, as he has often said, Senator Obama bases his opposition to marriage equality on his religious beliefs, how will Senator Obama convince us that his religious beliefs will not affect his performance as President of all Americans? How does Senator Obama justify this obvious breakdown of the wall of separation between church and state?

7. How does Senator Obama explain his claim that his faith prevents him from supporting marriage equality, when his own denomination, the United Church of Christ, fully supports marriage equality?

8. Does Senator Obama understand the differences among marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships? Does Senator Obama understand that civil unions and domestic partnerships do not confer the same rights as marriage? Does Senator Obama understand that the absence of the word “marriage” can, and does, automatically invalidate same-sex couples’ claims to, e.g., healthcare services across state lines?

9. Senator Obama has stated that he intends to overturn the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If he achieves this, how does Senator Obama intend to deal with the fallout of same-sex couples marrying in one state filing suit against another that refuses to recognize their legal marriages?

10. Will Senator Obama make a statement denouncing the proposed amendment to overturn the California Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage before the November election?

11. Is Sam Nunn on Senator Obama’s short list of choices for vice president?

12. As president, Senator Obama will likely be in the position of appointing two or more Supreme Court justices. Will Senator Obama give his word that his appointees must have demonstrated a consistent record of commitment to LGBT equality?

13. How does Senator Obama intend to convince gay and lesbian Americans of his commitment to us given the Donnie McClurkin fiasco, and Senator Obama’s ties to such vocal anti-gay forces as Rev. James Meeks, et al.?

14. Will Senator Obama issue a formal (and public) apology for dismissing the LGBT community’s outrage at Donnie McClurkin’s appearance in South Carolina?