As you may or may not know, there's been this federal law on the books for the past two decades which banned HIV victims from international travel for some reason or another. It was written by homophobes back when human adults actually thought the disease was brought about by an ancient desert god who wanted to smite sinners because of who they chose to have sex with; it was passed due to the politics of fear and hate; and it had absolutely no basis in either science or reason.

Oddly enough, it just got repealed…

President Obama called the 22-year ban on travel and immigration by HIV-positive individuals a decision "rooted in fear rather than fact" and announced the end of the rule-making process lifting the ban.

The president signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 at the White House Friday and also spoke of the new rules, which have been under development more more than a year. "We are finishing the job," the president said…

The Senate finally voted to overturn the ban as part of approving legislation reauthorizing funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in 2008, and President Bush signed it into law on July 30 of that year. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and then-Sen. Gordon H. Smith (R-Ore.) led the process in the Senate.

Way to go, America! You got one right. I know that even a stopped clock is non-bigoted twice a day, but I don't want to dismiss this thing. This is a really good thing, and we probably all deserve milkshakes today.

But let's be clear here. The repealing of this nonsensical law was a bipartisan effort. But it's Obama's signature at the bottom of the document, and he'll probably get an undue amount of the credit/blame for this. Credit/blame that he doesn't really deserve. Right alongside the undue credit/blame he's gonna get for the gay-friendly hate crime legislation that just passed.

But, you know what Barack Obama can do for real for supporters of no-brainer civil rights, like, this afternoon? He can suspend Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the military with, essentially, a phone call. He can leverage some of his popularity in Maine and Washington to tip the scales in favor of the gay marriage referendums by issuing a simple statement. He can mention that he stands behind Arlen Specter in support of repealing the Orwellianly-titled Defense of Marriage Act.

Or not. He could also not do any of that.

I wonder which option he'll choose. I can't wait to find out!

Oh… My… Gay!!!

It's already happening! First it becomes illegal to beat up and murder gay people for being gay. Soon, we won't be able to dismiss the from the military for being gay. And now they're trying to come into our schools and teach our children that it's not okay to hate gay people for being gay? This is just too much!

Wake up, people! We're under attack from this dangerous anti-anti-hate group!

(via Slog)

The president, it would seem, isn't particularly keen on taking seriously and criticisms of his (lack of) record of fulfilling campaign promises to help gay soldiers…

[T]he White House views this opposition as really part of the "internet left fringe"…

And for a sign of how seriously the White House does or doesn't take this opposition, one adviser told me today those bloggers need to take off their pajamas, get dressed and realize that governing a closely divided country is complicated and difficult.

Oh, George W. Bush just makes me so angry! I hate it when his administration says condescending things like that! Grrrrr… George W. Bush! Grrrrrr… I can't wait until we finally get rid of him and elect a decent president who realizes that people who think U.S. soldiers deserve better than to be fired for their sexual orientation aren't part of some crazy ultra-liberal group. Oh, George W. Bush, why are you still our president!

Oh, wait a minute. I forgot what year it was.

Nevermind. I take that all back. I think we should give the president the benefit of the doubt on this one. I'm sure his aides didn't mean "internet left fringe" or "take off their pajamas" in a condescending way.

And, I'm sure he'll pass some kind of anti-discrimination legislation for homosexuals eventually. I mean, it's not like it's January 19, 2017, right?

'Twas a big weekend for DC-area rainbow flag-makers, as thousands joined the National Equality March on the Capitol and a distinguished Nobel Prize winner addressed the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner. So, President Obama, once and for all: what is the deal with Don't Ask Don't Tell?

"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country," Obama said. "We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage … especially when we are fighting two wars."

Yes! Great! Gotta end Don't Ask Don't Tell. Let's get this done, finally!

Cleve Jones, a pioneer activist and creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, said Obama delivered a brilliant speech, but added "it lacked the answer to our most pressing question, which is when."

Aww, really? Really, President Obama? Again with the "don't ask [me when I will end Don't Ask Don't Tell, because I] don't tell" routine? What is the holdup here?

"There's still laws to change and there's still hearts to open," Obama said.

Oh, well, good point. It's probably better to hold off on ending Don't Ask Don't Tell until somebody fixes that stuff.

There's an impatient crowd of gay folks on President Obama's desk-plate, and it seems he's finally figured out a way to deal with them — one of them, at least…

Obama announced the nomination of David Huebner, a leader of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), to be ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Huebner's day job is more lucrative. A Yale Law grad, Huebner heads the China practice and the international disputes practice at the law firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, and is currently based in Shanghai.

Yes, but Shanghai is just a leetle too close to D.C. for Barack Obama's taste, so, New Zealand and Samoa it is. Have fun out there, Mr. Huebner! Come on back to the States when you're legally allowed to marry a man who's legally allowed to be a gay Army officer.

What's on your calendar for 2094?

So, President Obama has a lot of stuff to do. We get it. Being President is hard. I heard it doesn't even pay overtime. But, as far as to-do lists go, isn't "Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell" basically "Unload the Dishwasher," while "Finish Two Wars" is "Clean the Garage Using Only Your Tongue" and "Fix the Economy" is like "Pick Up Dry-Cleaning from Inside a Volcano?"

After the jump, Jon Stewart talks about Don't Ask, Don't Tell with Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

See also: Colbert's Best Don't Ask, Don't Tell Moments.

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