By Peter J. Smith
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - President Barack Obama reassured homosexual advocates gathered at the White House yesterday that he was not dragging his heels on implementing their agenda, but merely patiently biding his time in order to ensure success in the long run.
Obama hosted hundreds of homosexual activists at the White House on Monday in the East Room, in order to celebrate LGBT Pride Month as well as the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots that are regarded as the inception of the homosexual rights movement.
The President specifically recognized several special guests, including New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson and Frank Kameny, whom the President paid special attention to, hailing him a "civil rights pioneer."
Kameny is credited with successfully lobbying the American Psychiatric Association into declassifying homosexuality as a mental disorder, and the octogenarian has recently devoted himself to promoting hard-core pornography and the acceptance of bestiality as part of what he calls "Americanism in action."
Obama stated that Kameny had been fired as an astronomer for the federal government for his homosexuality, and asserted that his public protest in 1965 was "both an act of conscience but also an act of extraordinary courage." The President then added, "And so we are proud of you, Frank, and we are grateful to you for your leadership."
The celebration has been widely perceived as an attempt to mollify the anger of homosexual groups that have accused Obama of failing to fulfill campaign promises to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy, which prohibits homosexuals from serving in the armed forces.
The President acknowledged that many of the homosexualist leaders in the room were unhappy with his administration's current pace of progress, but urged them instead to suspend their present discontent for promise of the coming social transformation.
"I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that," Obama said. "It's not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago."
"But I say this: We have made progress," the president continued. "And we will make more."We have made progress and we will make more. And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps."
"We've been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."
The President then recommitted himself to pledges to overturn DOMA, the military ban on homosexuals serving in the military (DADT), passing the employment non-discrimination act (ENDA), new federal hate crimes legislation, and rescinding a travel ban to the United States for HIV-infected persons, which Obama called "discriminatory."
The President also stated that sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS, which continues to ravage and spread in the homosexual community through the practice of multiple sex partners, "continues to be a public health threat in many communities," including the District of Columbia.
"That's why this past Saturday, on National HIV Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested," Obama stated.
However, Obama made clear that the ultimate victory for the homosexual movement would not come merely by legislative fiat from Washington, but through persistent persuasion on all levels.
"We are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country. That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress - step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind," asserted Obama.
"And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a President who fights with you and for you."
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