Two steps forward, three steps back

So much hope was in the air when the current President was elected in 2008. Not only hope--but promise for change. Has there been any substantive change from this President who pledged to be a fierce advocate for the LGBT community?

Yesterday the Senate shot down attempts to repeal DADT. Senate Republicans blocked an effort to allow gays to serve openly in the military leaving the hope to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on the shelf. That is one of many steps back. 
The repeal of DOMA has not even come a fraction of the distance that DADT traveled. And with the Republicans taking the majority rule in January, it seems more likely that there would actually be a snowball in hell before DADT or DOMA would be repealed in America.
So, it looks like we had two baby steps forward (at least the hope of that) but in reality we as a country are heading three steps back with regards to inclusion and equality.

Where is the fierce advocate? Not only for LGBT issues, but for middle class concerns (as in tax cuts for the middle class without tax cuts for the richest 1% of Americans), for the unemployed of America? Honestly, what kind of politicians "hold hostage" extending unemployment benefits unless the President granted tax cuts for the richest citizens. Then again, what kind of fierce advocate would capitulate to hostage takers?