by Billy Pollina
Are you there Mr. President? I need to know because I’m not hearing from you. When you asked us to stand up and fight for change we did. My partner and I and millions like us took time out of our lives to work hard to get you in the White House. We believed you when you said that we should have Hope. We believed you when you promised the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. We believed you when you told us that by doing our part you would do yours.
President Barack Obama
My partner Jason and I both quit working for months so we could concentrate on getting out the vote for you. We gave up a lot so that we could do our small part to bring about Change and bring Hope to life. So I need to know. Are you still there? We saw a lot of you while you were campaigning. You were all over the news, all over the country. We heard a lot of promises from you. You spoke eloquently about changing the way things are done and cutting through red tape and working across the party aisle to enact laws that would build a better America for all of us.
But as a Gay man I’m not hearing from you anymore. My TV still works, I still read papers, I check online constantly, but I’m not hearing from you. Are you still there? Did you hear about more firings of qualified, dedicated LGBT Americans in our Military? Have you heard that we still don’t have equal rights in the country that is supposed to be the beacon of freedom for all people around the world? Are you aware that the repeal of DOMA hasn’t been addressed since your campaign promise? Do you know that states across the country are standing up for civil rights and passing legislation and court rulings that clearly say marriage equality is the moral thing to do? Did you know young boys are dying because of the fear of discrimination for simply being who they really are and as God made them?
I need to know these things because I still believe in Change, I still hold Hope. I’m a Gay American and I really need to know if you’re still there. Hoist a flag. Fire off some fireworks. Send a messenger. Put a lantern in a lighthouse. Say something. Let us know you’re still there sir.
We need the man we worked so hard for to stand up and speak up once more and we need him now. We need to know that you too still believe in hope and bringing about change and that you’re not afraid to speak to your LGBT brothers and sisters and tell us you will keep your promise to build a better America. We want to know that you still care about young LGBT boys and girls who need to hear from their President that they too will be equally protected under the law like every other American. We need to know that you are a different kind of President, like the one you promised us during your campaign. We need to know you hear us. We need our President Obama. Are you there sir?
Very truly yours,
Billy Pollina and Jason Larimer
Los Angeles, CA
That was so well written, I too am still waiting to hear from a president who truly believes in equality.
Yes, the monolith is slow to move BECAUSE ignorance abounds. Frankly, I don’t *have* to put up with either the slowness or the ignorance.
How effin’ hard is it for the man to say, “I know what I said I’d do and… Read More I’m working on it”? UNLESS, of course, HE ISN’T. In which case, how hard is it to say, “I know what I said I’d do and I hope to address that at such and such a time”?
I am a Black, female, unmarried, child-free, lesbian, lower class artist. I inhabit just about every identity that is devalued in this culture. It is my experience inhabiting all of these identities CONCURRENTLY that has shaped my perception of what laughingly passes for government in this country. It is my experience inhabiting all of these identities CONCURRENTLY that makes me groan with “premature impatience” to receive ALL OF MY RIGHTS YESTERDAY, DAMN IT, AND I WON’T STOP!
Sorry, somehow I double clicked on the submit button. Please delete the first submission and keep the 2nd one (and this one), if possible. Thanks.