President Obama's campaign website lists 41 achievements on behalf of gay voters--a White House record--making him the hero of the community. But for some that's not enough as he is about to find out during a star-studded Miami fundraiser Tuesday featuring singer Marc Anthony.
As donors gather at the Jackie Gleason Theater three blocks from the oceanfront to fete the president at a Latinos for Obama event, vocal members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community plan to protest for an executive order barring workplace discrimination, the last major gay initiative awaiting action by the president.
Representatives of GetEQUAL and Students Working for Equal Rights told Secrets that they want Obama to take executive action to institute the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that is languishing in Congress. They said the act would protect employees of federal contractors from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and that Obama was not taking the issue seriously.
The administration scoffed at the do-nothing charge, noting that they have worked overtime to protect gay rights and end discrimination.
GetEqual's Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez told Secrets, "We have absolutely given credit where credit is due." But, he added, "When President Obama can do more in order to make life better for Americans, we will continue to press him for more. Unfortunately, some campaign staffers see their job as standing in the way of progress rather than facilitating it."
