Obama Applauded
Along with the many other cheer squads across the globe, Australian gay rights groups have warmly welcomed Barack Obama’s victory as US President-elect.
The Australian Coalition for Equality (ACE) -艙applauded Obama for referring to gay Americans in his acceptance speech.
In his speech Obama said America had spoken for a future of change and more united nation.
-艙Young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled …we are, and always will be, the United States of America, he said.
ACE Spokesman, Rodney Croome said Obama had shown a -艙willingness to embrace the broader gay community, Australian PM Kevin Rudd has been unable to do.
He said although the two have a similar same-sex policy agenda, Obama has set a -艙new standard in acknowledging that the broader gay community has a -艙valued place in society.
“Kevin Rudd has never explicitly included us in his vision of Australia’s future in the way Barack Obama has included LGBT people in his vision of a new America”, Mr Croome said.
Croome said the outcome of Proposition 8, which will effectively ban same-sex marriage in California was -艙disappointing but not surprising given the hateful and well resourced campaign run by opponents of marriage equality.
