Everyone now knows that President Obama and his team have a nicely thought-out timetable for dealing with LGBT issues. At least we hope they do. The community has been told to be patient in its struggle for freedom and wait until it is 'the right time.' After all, we saw what happened in 1993 when Clinton attempted to deal with 'gays in the military' so early in his administration. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel was at the center of that contentious battle then and it is likely this has colored his views on when and how to proceed on this critical issue of human rights now.

This all sounds reasonable and thoughtful doesn't it? Unfortunately, it isn't.

First and foremost, the struggle for freedom and equality should never be put on hold. Dr. King didn't put off facing the dogs and fire hoses of Birmingham so that President Kennedy could deal with Berlin. Over 1,000 rights, privileges, benefits and protections granted to all other American citizens are currently denied to the LGBT community. With the increasing passage of oppressive constitutional amendments and laws, we are steadily seeing a system of apartheid being established here in America with one set of laws for straights and another set for LGBT American citizens.

Second, who in their right mind thinks they can control the irresistible drive for human freedom? That struggle is not some 'political issue' that can contained by elected officials in office. The issues of marriage, 'don't ask, don't tell', immigration and full equality have never been able to be directed either by elected officials nor LGBT leaders as much as they would like to be able to do so. There is always some outrage, some brave individual who will not accept second class citizenship, some lawsuit or some circumstance that upsets the apple cart. Freedom will not wait for political convenience nor until a nation becomes 'more comfortable' with the concept.

Third, the lesson from 1993 is not to put off the struggle for freedom until it is politically convenient but to be prepared to do battle for justice. Instead of not dealing with the issue or just simply wishing it away we should approach it with knowledge, a strategy and a commitment to do what is right. The mistake in 1993 was not that the issue was too soon but that the leadership was too weak and the vision too small.

Fourth, right now there are court cases that could force President Obama to deal with our struggle outside his own timeline. Married couples in Massachusetts are demanding their right to federal benefits. Employees of the State Department are demanding that Secretary Clinton change the policies concerning LGBT spouses benefits. There are brave soldiers not willing to wait and filing lawsuits. There are communities (especially among the young) unwilling to accept nothing less than marriage.

Fifth, even if some of our national leaders are too timid to insist on freedom now, even if they want to wait until the economy and wars are settled, even if they want us to be patient and wait our turn that is just simply not going to happen. There are too many gifts in the LGBT community to be suppressed to fit a political agenda. There are too many people wanting freedom now. There are too many courageous people willing to make the individual sacrifice to know the blessings of full equality. And we won't be stopped.

Don't bemoan our lack of patience. Don't even think of asking us to put our freedom on hold. Even if some leaders want your approval more than they want our freedom, get some backbone and get ready to join our struggle. Because here we come. Ready or not.