The Obama Administration's Gamble With Gay Rights

President Obama signed a memorandum on Wednesday that extends benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, sending mixed messages to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights activists.

The move comes just days after his administration's Justice Department issued a brief in favor of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, the federal law that gives each state the right to refuse recognition of same-sex marriage licenses issued by other states. Just last month, the State Department, under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced that they will begin offering gay diplomats the same benefits as their straight counterparts. Contradictory moves by departments within the administration may be the result of a lack of clear direction from the president himself.

The fresh presidential memorandum announced Wednesday may help settle the milky waters. The White House is expected to make an announcement of exactly what benefits the memorandum will grant. But to some LGBT rights activists, who feel increasingly deluded by President Obama, the relationship between gays and the administration has already been blurred.

"Extending benefits to partners of gay federal employees is terrific, but at this point he is under enormous pressure from the gay civil rights community for having promised the moon and done nothing so far," said Richard Socarides, an adviser to the Clinton administration on gay issues.

President Obama wooed LGBT voters during his campaign with promises of an administrative focus on equality for all citizens, calling for the repeal of discriminatory laws such as DOMA and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Many believed these changes would come during Pres. Obama's first one hundred days in office, but Mr. Obama's stance on gay issues has been indecisive at best.

President Obama has stated that he supports equal rights, but opposes gay marriage the a federal level. DOMA remains in action, reinforced by the Department of Justice brief, and don't ask, don't tell has become a waning priority for the Oval Office. To the contrary, diplomats and federal employees now enjoy the same benefits as their heterosexual peers. A bubbling impatience grows among LGBT activists.

Some heavy Democratic donors have already begun distancing themselves from the administration, boycotting a DNC fundraiser next Thursday, June 25th. However, others, like Democratic National Convention treasurer Andrew Tobias aren't so quick to throw the president under the rainbow.

"If this debacle of a brief represented the president's views, I'd boycott too. I personally totally believe in the president," Tobias stated in an email.

A seismic backlash from LGBT supporters may be exactly what President Obama needs to focus his attention on equal rights. The issue is his most delicate balancing act to date–the byproduct of promising change to everyone, including those on opposite sides of an issue. Eventually, a position must be stated. What remains is to be seen is which side of the rainbow his national policy will fall.

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