Boston LGBT group to protest Obama's visit

Join the Impact - MA (JTIMA), a Boston-based LGBT rights organization, is organizing a protest to take place during President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to the city.

"The protest will focus upon two issues which President Obama has sole authority over, namely signing a stop-loss order to immediately halt the discharge of openly gay members of the military due to the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy," Paul Sousa, co-chair of JTIMA, said in a statement. The other issue that will be addressed by the protest is the president's support of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

The president is scheduled to attend a fundraiser at the Westin Copley Hotel on Friday, Oct. 23. The protest will be held outside of the hotel from 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

The challenge of Obama's policies and procedures comes after the president's recent appearance at a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) dinner in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the National Equality March. In his keynote speech before a crowd consisting largely of LGBT Americans and their allies, Obama said, "Many of you don't believe progress has come fast enough...[however,] my commitment to you is unwavering."

"It may be taking longer than you like," said the president, "but do not doubt the direction we are headed and will reach." Obama went on to indicate that his administration would work to end discrimination against LGBT Americans.

Many activists would rather see action than promises, however, and their sentiments are shared by much of Boston's LGBT community. JTIMA expects more than one hundred people to attend Friday's protest.

"We'll be sending a strong message to President Obama that his self-proclaimed title of 'fierce advocate' for the LGBT community actually requires advocating on our issues," Sousa said. "And our community will not let up until he finally follows through on his promises."
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