Forward, Not Backward

Our president has made historic progress toward equality. He repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” so that no American ever again has to lie about who they are in order to serve the country we love. Republicans want to write discrimination into our Constitution. But the Wisconsin I know believes that with each passing year and each generation, our country must become more equal, not less. Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, Tommy Thompson—they think they’re the only ones who speak for Wisconsin.

But come November, the Wisconsin I know—the America I love—will speak out loud and clear, and keep us moving forward: forward with a strong middle class; forward on a path to prosperity; forward with President Obama! - Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Sept. 6, 2012

We nominated our President. We nominated our Vice President. We adopted our party platform. And we re-energized for a battle not just for the White House, but for an ideological battle where as President Clinton said, "We think 'we're all in this together' is a better philosophy than 'you're on your own.'"

For LGBT voters, this is an election between forward and backward. President Obama has taken us forward. Forward with an LGBT-inclusive Hate Crimes Law. Forward with the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' Forward with hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples. Forward with the end of the HIV Travel Ban. Forward with the Affordable Care Act, ending pre-existing condition discrimination against trans people and people living with HIV/AIDS. Forward in so many ways - with so many administrative changes that have made big impacts for the entire LGBT community.

When re-elected, President Obama will continue on the track toward full equality. He will continue bringing us forward. Forward with workplace and housing non-discrimination protections for the LGBT community. Forward with strong anti-bullying statutes to protect LGBT youth. Forward with a repeal of DOMA and forward with marriage equality.

The other side, the Romney/Ryan side, is moving further to the right. They believe in taking equality backwards. Repealing the affordable care act takes the LGBT community backwards. Continued support for the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act" takes us backwards. And the opportunity to remove the hundreds of pro-equality administrative changes throughout the administration, would certainly take us backwards.

The truth is, we don't know where Mitt Romney stands. As Congressman Barney Frank noted, "there were a lot of Romneys. There was the Romney who was going to be better on gay rights than Ted Kennedy; now there's the Romney who checks with Rick Santorum on that issue." Romney has been silent when asked if he would rescind LGBT hospital visitation rights. He has been vague on his stance on many LGBT issues. The truth is, we know he would be bad, but we have no idea how bad.

And it's true. President Obama did not fix every single problem that exists for the LGBT community, or any community, in the last three and a half years. Could he have moved faster on some issues? Yes. Could he have prioritized LGBT equality higher? Certainly. Could he have been a little more forceful in certain cases? Certainly. But there is not one shred of truth in accusations that he has not been good enough on LGBT equality. In actual fact, President Obama has been the best president for LGBT equality in our nation's history.

If we are to become "more equal, not less," then we need four more years of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.