The spin is that this is the first ever federal legislation that actually recognizes rather than attacks gay people. That's the position of Hildebrand and Birch and Democratic party official (and head of the 6 million members of HRC), Joe Solmonese. The president didn't quite get the message, alas. There's nothing on the White House blog, and no release yet of the president's remarks. In front of a largely military audience (the Dems went out on a limb for this piece of symbolism by attaching it to a defense bill), the president couldn't say the word "gay":
“After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we’ve passed inclusive hate-crimes legislation that protects people based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are. I promised Judy Shepard when she saw me in the Oval Office that this day would come.”
The gay establishment will have its own reception with Obama later today. Their agenda for the gays is pretty much the Democratic party's: Separate, quiet and just as much a victim special interest group as all the others. Better than the GOP's ("You're all going to hell, pervs."). But no equality yet; and no candor. We really do have a president for the Human Rights Campaign, don't we?
He's for gay rights, but not yet and shhhh!