President’s 2010 Family Day Proclamation Omits Mention of Same-Sex Parents

Small holiday that it is, Family Day 2010 slipped by yesterday without much notice. President Obama nevertheless issued a proclamation about it as he did last year. This year’s proclamation, however, omits last year’s mention of different family structures, including children being raised by same-sex couples.

Compare (in part):

2009 [my emphasis]:

Our family provides one of the strongest influences on our lives. American families from every walk of life have taught us time and again that children raised in loving, caring homes have the ability to reject negative behaviors and reach their highest potential. Whether children are raised by two parents, a single parent, grandparents, a same-sex couple, or a guardian, families encourage us to do our best and enable us to accomplish great things. Today, our children are confronting issues of drug and alcohol use with astonishing regularity. On Family Day, we honor the dedication of parents, commend the achievements of their children, and celebrate the contributions our Nation’s families have made to combat substance abuse among young people.

2010:

Parents across America balance demanding responsibilities at work with family needs, including valuable time spent with their children. America’s youth encounter difficult choices in their daily lives, and we must be there for them as they strive to succeed in school and resist pressures to use dangerous substances that can affect their health and limit their potential. Concerned and active parents and guardians play a critical role in keeping our children drug-free, and they can demonstrate by example how to lead a healthy and drug-free life. I encourage all Americans to visit www.TheAntiDrug.com for information and resources to talk with children and warn them against the perils of drug use.

Do we cut him some slack, knowing that his writer might have just been trying to avoid using the exact same phrasing as last year in order to keep the proclamation fresh? Earlier this year, Obama did make mention of lesbian moms and gay dads in his Mother’s Day and Father’s Day proclamations, respectively. And he remains the only president other than Bill Clinton to issue proclamations for LGBT Pride Month.

But at a time when he is under fire from the LGBT community for not acting more forcefully to halt military discharges under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) and for not generally being the “fierce advocate” he promised to be, you’d think he’d be doing all he could to show our community he hasn’t forgotten us. Leaving out a mention where he had one last year doesn’t seem like a good move.

Maybe Obama will make up for the Family Day lapse by being the first president to issue a proclamation in honor of LGBT History Month, which starts in three days. (And for those who argue, “One proclamation per year per interest group,” note that he’s already issued proclamations this year for Women’s History Month, Women’s Health Week, and Women’s Equality Day, as well as African American History Month and African American Music Appreciation Month. We could get both LGBT Pride Month and LGBT History Month without looking greedy.)

No, a proclamation doesn’t do as much as an executive order or calling on Congress to pass LGBT-rights legislation. But a fierce advocate shouldn’t overlook an opportunity to remind people that LGBT families are a part of the fabric of our society.