Will Obama Keep Promises to Gay Voters?

Obama in Hot Seat Over Partner Benefits
In one of the first tests of Obama's commitment to LGBT equal rights, he is being forced to decide whether same-sex federal employees are entitled to domestic partnership benefts. In two cases federal appeals court judges in California have ruled that the partners of gay employees should receive insurance benefits, while the Office of Personnel Management has told insurers not to provide the benefits, citing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which Obama has opposed. Now his administration will be forced to take a position on DOMA.

The anti-gay right wing will jump on this issue and use the current economic crises to rally opposition to spending tax payers' money to provide insurance for the partners of federal gay employees. It will be a tough issue--one of many--to test Obama's commitment to LGBT equal rights.

The military's anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is also under attack in several court cases, and Obama may have to make a decision on what to do about DADT very soon as well.

Hopefully Obama will not repeat the mistakes of Bill Clinton. Obama SHOULD stick to his "progressive values" and keep his promises to the gay community.