Ellipsis

Dear Barack Obama,

First and foremost, I want to apologize for my extended absence. I’m not one who likes to make excuses, but I will explain why I haven’t been writing, and why I won’t be daily writing/blogging about marriage equality for the foreseeable future.

My views have certainly not changed. I still believe in the message that I’ve espoused in the previous 49 letters. Since the beginning of May, I’ve been consumed by the Gulf oil spill.  I am originally from South Louisiana. I happen to live in Chattanooga now, after moving to TN in 2004. Lafitte, a small shrimping village off the Intracoastal Waterway and Bayou Barataria is still home to me. It was where I caught my first fish, had my first kiss, lost my grandfather, and fell in love for the first time. I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere else, and I’ve always said that one day, I will go back there to live.

Since the oil spill, several news reports I have seen have come straight out of Lafitte. Many fishermen there, people I know even, are being hit hard by this disaster. It’s incredibly disheartening to say the least. Marshes are not beaches. They cannot be cleaned up. Louisiana has lost a considerable amount of wetlands from water diversion and storms, and marshes are the only real buffer for storm surge. The oil is currently killing off the plants holding the marsh together. So, the marsh will start disappearing even more rapidly than before.  When I think about what this means for everyone living along the coast, and even in Lafitte, which is not protected by a levee system, I get overwhelmed.

So, I’m shifting gears. I’ve had too many dejavu moments from Katrina and Rita lately. Mostly feeling helpless, and wanting to get it my car and drive home. My car is a piece of shit though. I am hoping to go back soon. Before things have changed forever. It just isn’t in the cards right now.  In the mean time, I have to focus my energy on what I can do from where I am. I have a few friends starting projects that I hope to help them with. I have a few ideas of my own.

This is not my final letter for marriage equality. I’m not finished. This is an ellipsis… I’ll write again when I am able to wrap my heart and mind around this.

Supporter of Marriage Equality and the Gulf Coast,

Briann Lambert

Forty Ninth Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Today, I read about an ROTC student from UNC who came out to her commander after struggling with the decision. As a result, Sara Isaacson will have to pay back her scholarship to the Army, set at $80,000 currently. Sara told Campus Politics,

“Integrity is one of the seven Army values and is something that they train us to live by every day, every second, whether someone’s watching or not. … Without realizing it, the policy really asks people to lie, to lie about who they are, to tell small lies about what they did or didn’t do. It’s something that I wasn’t willing to do because if I don’t have my values to fall back on, I have nothing.”

Sara, and other GLBT soldiers are being forced to lie to those around them.  Please support a moratorium on dismissals until the repeal is implemented. The livelihood and education of many in the military depend on this repeal.

In Support of a DADT Moratorium,

Briann Lambert

Forty Eighth Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

When looking for some sort of inspiration to write this letter, I ran across the epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich.  You’re probably familiar with him. Sergeant Matlovich was a Vietnam War veteran, race relations instructor, and recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.  He became well known for fighting to stay in the Air Force after coming out of the closet.  His tombstone is a tribute to all gay veterans. It does not include his name, but says A Gay Vietnam Veteran. It also reads:

When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.  ~Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich, 1988

It seems to me that men and women possessing this kind of courage are exactly what the military needs. I hope you stick to your word.

In Support of Our Troops,

Briann Lambert

Forty Seventh Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Today, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about a timeline for the DADT repeal, and if your administration was open to a repeal included in the defense budget, with late implementation after the Department of Defense study is completed. I’m not sure why you would oppose a repeal in the defense budget, so long as it was implemented later.  I was disappointed with Gibbs wishy washy response. He wasn’t sure, he’d have to get an update, he needs to talk to those on the Hill, etc. This on top of other ambiguous responses from you and your administration make me question your commitment to a repeal.

Try to remember the men and women willing to risk their life for their country, on top of having to remain in the closet. They deserve this repeal. The over 12,500 who have lost their jobs since the policy was enacted deserve some sort of justice as well. Don’t waver on this issue.

In Support of Equality in the Military,

Briann Lambert

Forty Sixth Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Right now, the DC Court of Appeals is hearing a case filed by outside groups who oppose the recently won marriage equality in the District.  Equality organizations are testifying against their effort to put civil rights up for vote through a ballot initiative.

Tom Williamson of Covington & Burling LLP, counsel for the Campaign for All D.C. Families, said:

“We are confident that after hearing from both sides, the Court of Appeals will uphold Judge Macaluso’s ruling recognizing the Council’s right to broadly protect human rights for all District residents by prohibiting ballot initiatives that cause discrimination.”

This is one of my biggest problems with your administration, Mr. President.  As a constitutional scholar, you must know already that putting the civil rights of one citizen on a ballot to be voted on by another is wrong.  History has shown the atrocities that can happen when you allow the majority to oppress the minority. Support federal legislation for marriage equality.

In Support of GLBT marriage,

Briann Lambert

Forty Fifth Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Today, I read an interview given by Rep. Patrick Murphy to The Advocate, a gay news site, in response to the letter Secretary Gates sent to Ike Skelton.  As you know, Rep. Murphy is the chief sponsor of the House repeal bill, The Military Readiness Enhancement Act. The bill currently has 192 cosponsors.  He is also a former paratrooper who was awarded a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. In the interview, Murphy is quoted saying,

“But the fact is, there have been 13,500 American soldiers who were willing to take a bullet for our country to keep us safe, and they were ripped out of their units and then thrown out of our military just because they happened to be gay. And we need to stand up for national security and the American taxpayers that see that we’re wasting $1.3 billion of their tax money to enforce this policy, and change this once and for all.”

Rep. Murphy also said that despite the setback of the letter, he is committed to getting this done this year, and feels he is on the right side of history. I hope that his conviction will give you the courage to continue on the path to a repeal.

In Support of a DADT Repeal,

Briann Lambert

Forty Fourth Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Politicians are now reacting to the leaked letter from Secretary Gates to House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton, urging that a legislative repeal of DADT, “would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and perspectives do not matter.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged you to place a moratorium on dismissals due to the policy, until a review is completed, and Congress has acted.

I understand the desire to make the repeal lasting, and these things take time. If the language to repeal doesn’t appear in the defense budget, or passing the budget is held up due to added language to repeal DADT, the least that should be done is a moratorium on DADT related dismissals. If your administration is committed to repeal, as you have stated, then there is no reason to continue further dismissals.

In Support of Equality in the Military,

Briann Lambert

Forty Third Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Late Thursday night, the Georgia State Senate unanimously passed legislation which greatly extends anti-bullying provisions in schools.  Republican representative, Mike Jacobs, was able to amend senate bill 250 to include the language. The legislation does not provide enumerated categories, but provides GLBT students the means to seek an end to bullying by school administrators. Support for anti-bullying legislation grew in the wake of a 5th grader, Jaheem Herrara, committing suicide. Jaheem was bullied for not being “masculine” enough.

The passing of this legislation is a victory in Georgia. I hope that you show support for such legislation on a federal level. Parents of GLBT students need a way to seek help in situations like Jaheem’s.

In Support of GLBT rights,

Briann Lambert

Forty Second Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Last night, in your home state of Hawaii, a civil unions measure passed in the House. It will now be going to Republican Governor Linda Lingle.  Although it remains to be seen whether it is actually signed into law, it is another small victory in the fight for marriage equality.   The bill was written so that civil unions would be available to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples to avoid claims of discrimination. If similar legislation were implemented on a federal level, same sex couples wouldn’t have to go through the heartache of a drawn out process involving House votes and ballot initiatives.

You have spoken out about the necessity of a DADT repeal. You need to speak out about the necessity of marriage equality now.

In Support of GLBT marriage,

Briann Lambert

Forty First Letter

Dear Barack Obama,

Today I watched the Youtube video of Illinois State Representative Deb Mell announce her engagement on the house floor.  She will be marrying her girlfriend of 6 years in the fall of 2011. In her moving speech she talked about what marriage meant to her, and how bittersweet it will be because she cannot get married in her home state.  It is pretty incredible that a representative of a hundred thousand people cannot get married in the area she represents. I can’t imagine what that must feel like for her.

My hope that one day, the love between Deb and her girlfriend Christin will be recognized in their state and across the country. Please join the fight for marriage equality.

In Support of GLBT marriage,

Briann Lambert