President Barack Obama may have made a slow start on gay rights issues, but by the end of his first term his record was such that a news magazine dubbed him the nation’s “first gay President.” Now activists want more.
Fresh from historic Supreme Court arguments over same-sex unions, advocates yesterday made it clear they want Obama to use his executive powers to fight discrimination at businesses, schools, and military bases.
The Supreme Court is to rule in June on big issues: the constitutional right to gay marriage and the right of gay married couples to federal benefits. Now gay rights groups are pushing for additional measures for cementing equality.
First on their wish list is an order from Obama barring contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Activists believe Obama could also name a gay member to his Cabinet.