Symbolic but Meaningless Policy: A Democratic Tradition

So I’m fully aware that The Match has been a bit of a one-issue blog as of late (or, rather, since the beginning). But some of this stuff just begs for blogging.

According to the Associated Press, Obama plans on signing an executive order to finally provide “benefits” for the same-sex partners of government workers. I’m not thrilled. To anyone who might hail this as evidence of Obama’s status as a “great advocate” for gay people in America, I call shenanigans. You should remember: this is in response only to the outrage of the gay community for the bigoted motion to dismiss his Justice Department filed in the Defense of Marriage Act case and his continued refusal to act on a repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. (You can read about it on this blog here and here.

Some of you might be wondering why I put the word “benefits” in quotation marks. I did that because…oh, wait for it, that’s right: “[Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's] promises left out financial benefits such as pensions. Obama’s move could make that shift.” I beg your pardon? It could make that change? As in, what, it’s a possibility?

So, let me get this straight. Same-sex partners working for the government will get “benefits”, just nothing that will help them during the economic crisis? What’s the reasoning? Just so long as, what, it doesn’t cost the government any money? Or is the idea that it’s not supposed be anything substantive, just symbolic. Yeah, I guess I should get down and thank Obama and the DNC profusely now that they’ve deigned to expand gay rights the smallest margin possible — just enough to assuage our wrath.

This sort of symbolic policy is only a step in the right direction — in and of itself, it means very little. Obama can talk about how much he loves gay rights all he wants but until he starts doing something that will substantively demonstrate his commitment to equality under the law I’m going to remain skeptical.

And if the Democratic Party keeps up these shenanigans, I honestly think that the wealthy and (allegedly) important gay donors should ditch the Democratic Party for an election cycle and donate to the Green Party. Let the Democrats see where they are without us.