Tuesday, November 10, 2009
This caught me off guard. The American Medical Association proved to be ahead of President Obama and the U.S. Congress by agreeing to join efforts to repeal the viciously homophobic, Clinton-era military policy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’
In a surprise move, the Chicago-based AMA also voted to declare that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities for gay couples and their children.
The nation’s largest doctors’ group adopted both gay-rights policies at its interim policy meeting Tuesday in Houston.
The AMA says the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy creates an ethical dilemma for gay and lesbian service members, as well as the doctors who treat them.
The other measure declares that marriage bans leave gays vulnerable to being excluded from health care benefits, including health insurance and family and medical leave rights. The new AMA policy stops short of opposing the bans.
7 Comments
+ at 4:02 pm
Maybe this will shame Obama and the do nothing Democratic Congress into acting to repeal DADT and DOMA? After all, this is what Obama pledged he was committed to during the campaign and is the reason why I supported him.
+ at 4:17 pm
David – I think the Congress is beyond shame. Now, I do think Obama still has a conscious but it’s only been a year, so there’s still a chance he will do what’s right for the gay community.
+ at 5:55 pm
Now, if only they would stop opposing the right to die.
+ at 6:19 pm
The number of groups and organizations who want “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repealed is growing larger each day and the rationalization to delay makes it clear now that there’s a concerted right wing, homophobic agenda coming from the Congress, the Pentagon, and the administration.
This is precisely the sort of organization that a middle of the road Democrat like Obama will pay attention to.
Good for the AMA.
+ at 9:08 pm
This, from the AMA? The doctor’s lobbyist group? I am stunned, shocked, and taken aback. Common sense and human rights are two characteristics I don’t usually associate with the AMA.
+ at 9:24 pm
Welcome to the 21st century. I wonder what Canadians think of our bumbling country?
+ at 7:09 am
It’s about 9 months too late to shame President Obama moving ahead with the repeal effort. Now, since he can’t create the jobs Americans are begging for, he’s jumped knee deep in Afghanistan and become the war president. Like this is going to earn him another 4 years in office.