by Karen Ocamb

The announcement that President Obama would speak at the Human Rights Campaign gala Oct. 10 came as a complete surprise. The dinner had focused on honoring Judy and Dennis Shepard on the eve of the passage of the federal hate crimes law named for their murdered son, Matthew.

Speculation and expectations soared—surely the president would deliver on one of his campaign promises. If not, longtime politico David Mixner declared to towleroad.com, the result would be a “disaster.”

“We have never had a stronger ally in the White House. Never,” HRC President Joe Solmonese told the audience of about 3,000 in introducing the President.

Obama strode onstage, still the rock star. But even through the TV lens of C-SPAN, the tension was palpable. He got off to a good start with a joke about being the opening act for Lady Gaga.

Then, as Obama segued into his soaring preacher-like rhetoric, there were echoes of campaigns past.

“There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones—good and decent people—who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that’s painful and it’s heartbreaking,” he said.

The philosophical frame sounded similar to his April 2008 campaign comments about working-class voters in Pennsylvania: “And it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

Obama put the LGBT struggle into the larger historical “movement for fairness and equality”—those “who’ve been denied the rights and responsibilities of citizenship—for all who’ve been told that the full blessings and opportunities of this country were closed to them. It’s the story of progress sought by those with little influence or power; by men and women who brought about change through quiet, personal acts of compassion—and defiance—wherever and whenever they could.”

Progress. Quiet, personal acts.

“And I’m here with a simple message: I’m here with you in that fight. For even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot—and we will not—put aside issues of basic equality,” Obama said. “Now, I’ve said this before, I’ll repeat it again—it’s not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans petitioning for equal rights half a century ago. But I will say this: We have made progress and we will make more.”

Progress towards a future without discrimination and “a more perfect union—a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I am committed to these goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.”

Progress, goals—but no timeline for actually achieving that “basic equality.” Obama’s most definitive statement was: “I will end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ That’s my commitment to you.” Bill Clinton was Commander-in-Chief when he signed DADT after repeatedly promising to lift the ban against gays serving openly in the military.

Though the instant analysis included tears over Obama’s elegant rhetoric, many expressed disappointment and outrage at the lack of concrete actions.

“An opportunity was missed tonight. SLDN was disappointed the president did not lay out a timeline and specifics for repeal” of DADT, Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said in a statement.

“You heard our president give a beautiful speech, he delivered it well. But he did not answer the question—when?” Cleve Jones, one of the conveners and organizers of the NEM told the rally at the Capitol the next day.

Jones, along with Mixner, new activists Kip Williams and Robin McGehee from Meet in the Middle Fresno, the LAPD’s Stacey Simmons, the Courage Campaign’s Rick Jacobs, Torie Osborn and Mike Bonin (who brought his boss and NEM speaker, L.A. City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl) were among the L.A. area activists who organized and strongly advocated for the march that many questioned.

But tens of thousands from across America came and heard inspirational songs, poetry and speeches advocating equality.

Julian Bond, the NAACP chair who has been an extraordinary advocate for LGBT rights for years, keynoted.

“Are gay rights civil rights?” Bond asked rhetorically. “My answer is, of course they are. Rights for gays and lesbians aren’t special rights in any way. It isn’t special to be free from discrimination—that is a universal entitlement of citizenship. That many had to struggle to gain these rights makes them precious. It does not make them special. When others gain their rights, my rights are not diminished in any way. My rights are not diluted when my neighbor enjoys protection from discrimination. He or she becomes my ally in defending the rights we all share. We know that good things come, and they don’t come to those who wait, they come to those who agitate.

“Let us be clear to America, we are looking at a system of gay apartheid. One set of laws for LGBT citizens and another set of laws for the rest of America,” Mixner said. “We elected you Mr. President, not to be led by Congress but to lead Congress.”

Mixner was also among those who called attention to the anti-gay ballot measures in Maine and Washington state this Nov. 3. It is simply not right, Mixner said, “to allow Americans to vote on our rights, to choose whether we can be free human beings.”

“Asking is over; we will tell. In the face of injustice, patience is not a plan. In the face of discrimination, silence is not a strategy. We will tell,” said saluting Lt. Dan Choi, an Arab linguist discharged under DADT.

“Look me in the eye and tell me I am less of a person than you are,” said Christine Quinn, speaker of the New York City Council.

Judy Shepard, who still feels the pain of her son Matthew’s murder 11 years ago Oct. 12, received a rousing reception. “The work is being done by you,” she said. “The president can never do this alone. He has to have Congress behind him. It’s up to you to vote for the proper people to do that.”

Jones made that point, too, saying that the Courage Campaign’s Camp Courage is going national and along with Equality for America, will build “action teams in all 435 congressional districts. And we are going to say to our president, our Congress, and the leaders of our own organizations—no more compromise, no more delays, we are one country, one Constitution.”

Jones also pressed personal responsibility. “If you believe that you are equal, then it is time to act like it. A free and equal people do not tolerate prioritization of their rights. They do not accept compromises; they do not accept delays. When we see leaders and those who represent us saying you must wait again—we say no!” Jones then admonished the audience: “You must go home and make that real.”

The most pressing “real” events happening now are campaigns to preserve marriage in Maine and domestic partnerships in Washington state—which are on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Vote for Equality has phone banks for Maine every Sunday through Nov. 1 and some phone banks for Washington starting on Sat., Oct. 31. Check out voteforequality.org or e-mail voteforequality@lagaycenter.org.

Equality California is also phone banking. For Maine—Tuesdays through Fridays, 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the EQCA Silver Lake Office, 2801 Hyperion Ave., L.A. Phone banking for Washington is Tuesdays through Fridays, 5:30-9 p.m. at the same location.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 15, EQCA announced the $15 million re-launch of the 501(c)3 Let California Ring campaign to build support for marriage over the next three years.