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1. 

   5 steps Obama can take NOW to reverse the damage done by the DOMA brief
   
   s Governor Dean has said, the Obama adminstration made a serious mistake in allowing a clearly homophobic brief to be filed by the Justice Department in a federal case challenging the Defense of Marriage Act. The fact that the administration defended the act is less of a problem than the language used in the brief.
   Already the administration is feeling repurcussions from this insensitive and hypocritical act. Key gay democrats have cancelled their attendance at a June 25th DNC fundraiser. There may be more repurcussions, not just from gay democrats but from others committed to equality.
   Obama is concerned that taking significant steps now to appease the gay community, such as pushing for a repeal of DOMA, could hurt his chances to get health care reform, climate change, and immigration legislation passed, and his re-election chances in 2012, not to mention Congressional elections in 2010.
   However, here are 5 lower risk actions, which still require some courage and boldness, that Obama can take right now:
   1. An executive order establishing full equal benefits for all LGBT federal employees, full non-dsicrimination in hiring and personnel decisions, etc.
   2. An executive order repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell. There is no solid evidence that this will cause any harm, and lots of evidence that it will improve military readiness, effectiveness, and cohesion. The world has changed dramatically since 1992, it's time to acknowledge it. This should include immediate reversal of discharges since Inauguration Day, and a re-opening of prior discharge cases for those interested in rejoining the armed forces.
   3. A chance in policy by the Secertary of Health and Human Services to remove HIV/AIDS as a factor in immigration and travel. There is no medical evidence to support this, and a bill repealing the legal provision has already been passed by both houses and signed by Bush last Fall. All that remains is for the Secretary to announce a new policy.
   4. A commitment to support the inclusion of immigration equality for same sex partners in comprehensive immigration reform.
   5. A house-cleaning in the Justice Dept. Not only the author of the odious brief, but other Bush holdovers who are waiting to unleash similar mischief need to be removed from their positions now.
   Whether it's 10 or 1000, let's get rid of them before they cause more damage to our legal system and our lives.

   Suggested by Barry Saiff on 06/16/2009 @ 05:49PM PT

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