Whitehouse.gov is a very helpful site for those interested in what’s going on in the Executive branch.  The “most transparent administration” in history is now online (though I’d still like to see an official Birth Certificate... but I digress).  Since President Obama took over the White House, the site has now been revamped to include his Presidential Agenda.  While some hoped President Obama would begin his presidency as a centrist (I have no idea where that fantasy came from), his agenda (see here) reads like a leftist wish list.  Our new President wants to do everything from “Zero-to-Five” education (that’s right, the government not only wants to indoctrinate your children, they want to start the moment they are born), to “improv[ing] the energy efficiency of... American homes.” (whatever will we do for ourselves?)  However, the area that has my interest piqued is his Civil Rights Agenda. 

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

                                                                          -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

While this statement alone could be fodder for several blogs, it is not my intention to parse everything the President does and/or says.  I do, however, think his LGBT agenda is an issue of great concern for those of us committed to biblical truth.  We need to be aware of what’s ahead.  We must be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  With that in mind, here’s the President’s Civil Rights Agenda (note:  this is the second half under the heading, “Support for the LGBT Community.”

1. •Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law. (This is one of the most dangerous threats the church faces in America today.  The trajectory of Hate Crimes legislation throughout the world is no secret.  We must be prepared to face fines, penalties, even jail for preaching Leviticus 18, Romans 1, 1 Cor. 6, or any other passage that condemns homosexuality)
   

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3. •Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (Note that the Presidents considers it discrimination if a company fails to offer benefits to same-sex partners.)
   

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5. •Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights. (This is homosexual marriage!)
   

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7. •Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage: President Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006 which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples. (Look here for President Obama’s track record on this issue)
   

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9. •Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals. (“patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve”?  What about the code of conduct?  What about physical fitness tests?  Isn’t that ‘discrimination’ against out-of-shape people?)
   

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11. •Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not. (This is especially grievous to me as an adoptive father.  Say goodbye to principled, Christian adoption agencies.  This is also ironic to me as a home educator.  We have foregone less expensive --often free-- State adoptions in favor of the more expensive private route simply because the State discriminates against home educators!  I have written about it here)
    

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13. •Promote AIDS Prevention: In the first year of his presidency, President Obama will develop and begin to implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. The strategy will be designed to reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. The President will support common sense approaches including age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception, combating infection within our prison population through education and contraception, and distributing contraceptives through our public health system. The President also supports lifting the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. President Obama has also been willing to confront the stigma -- too often tied to homophobia -- that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. (Note the statement on “age-appropriate sex education.”  Remember, President Obama believes this includes kindergarten-aged children.  Ask our friends in California and Massachusetts what that looks like.)
    

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15. •Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS: In the United States, the percentage of women diagnosed with AIDS has quadrupled over the last 20 years. Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. President Obama introduced the Microbicide Development Act, which will accelerate the development of products that empower women in the battle against AIDS. Microbicides are a class of products currently under development that women apply topically to prevent transmission of HIV and other infections. (Promoting a product that is “currently under development...”?  That’s empowering women!)
    

These issues are not new.  This is part of the socialist, neo-Marxist agenda I warned about before (see here, here, and here).  It is both surprising and disappointing, though, that the President did not wait a single day to start the onslaught.  I am pleased that the neo-Marxists in America do not slaughter the opposition when they come into power (as is the case elsewhere).  However, the aforementioned “Civil Rights Agenda” leaves me wondering what price those of us who believe in (and are committed to standing for) biblical truth regarding marriage, family, and sodomy will have to pay before it is all over. 

Nevertheless, let us remember Peter’s words, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” (1 Peter 3:13-14)

VB