Politics

LGBT activists to protest Obama’s Miami fundraiser

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President Barack Obama might have garnered the support of additional donors when he came out in support of gay marriage, but for some in the gay community, his lip service is not enough.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) activists and their allies plan to show their discontent with the president’s inaction on workplace discrimination against LGBT Americans by protesting Obama’s “star-studded” Miami fundraiser Tuesday evening.

“Since the transition process began following Election Day in 2008, LGBT advocates have been calling on President Obama to follow in the footsteps of past presidents by using executive action to stem the very real problem of discrimination in the workplace targeting LGBT Americans,” the organizers, GetEQUAL Florida and Students Working for Equal Rights (S.W.E.R.), explained in their press announcement.

“Past presidents have used Executive Orders to ban discrimination among military contractors and federal contractors, leading the way for Congress to then tackle employment discrimination at the federal level,” the statement continued.

According to the organizers, there are no federal prohibitions on sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.

The White House has announced that the president does not intend to sign such an order “at this time.”

“For me — as a gay, undocumented young person — the president’s announcement about administrative relief for DREAMers is fantastic…but getting a work permit is just the first step for me,” said Felipe Matos, field director for GetEQUAL in a statement.

“Once I get a work permit, I need assurance that I won’t be harassed or fired based on my sexual orientation — and President Obama has a decision to make today about whether he will let me fully live the American dream. I hope President Obama is moved today to put his pen to paper and to sign this Executive Order today.”

According to South Florida Gay News, Marc Anthony will be providing the entertainment for the evening’s fundraiser. Cost for entry into the event is a donation of at least $40,000 to President Obama’s “Victory Fund.”

Florida is considered a swing state in this November’s presidential election.

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