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Obama's allies say the small-bore changes are the best activists can hope despite Democrats controlling the White House, the Senate and the House. "The reason why these policy changes are important is because we do not have ironclad LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) majorities in either house of Congress," said Fred Sainz, a vice president at the Human Rights Campaign, Washington's largest gay rights organization. "People wrongly assume that having Democratic majorities in Congress means that your legislative goals will be met. That's not the case," Sainz said. Gay constituents are hardly the only member of the Democratic bloc to come up disappointed with this White House. Environmental groups groan as a comprehensive climate bill has languished on the Hill. Organized labor saw its signature legislation, which would make it easier for workers to form unions, go nowhere without the White House's backing. And women's groups were in open revolt during the debate over the health care overhaul because of anti-abortion provisions. It's small consolation for gay rights activists. "The people in the White House have to realize that issues of equality are not controversial," Hudson said. A Gallup poll last month found 70 percent of American favor allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. That same poll, however, included a reminder: 53 percent opposed legalizing gay marriage.
[Associated
Press;
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