Obama touts LGBT achievements at White House reception
By Chris Johnson on June 15, 2012
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/15/obama-touts-lgbt-achievements-at-white-house-pride-reception/President Obama pledged at this year's White House Pride reception that he'll continue to be an advocate for the LGBT community for as long as he's in the White House, calling on attendees to dream big and "as openly as you want."
"And as long as I have the privilege of being your president, I promise you, you won't just have a friend in the White House, you will have a fellow advocate — for an America where no matter what you look like or where you come from or who you love, you can dream big dreams and dream as openly as you want," Obama said.
The reception comes near the conclusion of Obama's first term — and he wasn't shy about touting his pro-LGBT achievements over the past three-a-half years, including repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and dropping defense of the Defense of Marriage Act in court. Repealing the military's gay ban got the most applause from the audience; the runner up was dropping defense of DOMA in court.
One other significant action by Obama was also included in his remarks: his recent endorsement of marriage equality.
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Obama Celebrates Milestones at White House Pride Reception
The president acknowledged that advocates pushed "loudly and forcefully" to bring the watershed moments celebrated during a Pride reception at the White House.
BY Julie Bolcer
June 15 2012 9:23 PM ET
http://www.advocate.com/politics/2012/06/15/obama-celebrates-milestones-white-house-pride-reception-1WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama hosted his third LGBT Pride Month Reception at the White House on Friday, marking the occasion with a speech that received the loudest applause for its mentions of "don't ask, don't tell" repeal and his administration's decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act.
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The invitation-only crowd, which included a sizable contingent of servicemembers in uniform for the first time, erupted into applause when the president said that "last year we finally put an end to 'don't ask, don't tell' so that nobody would ever have to ever again hide who they love in order to serve the country they love."
"I'm happy to see you with your partners here," said Obama to the servicemembers. "We thank you for your service. We thank your families for their service, and we share your joy at being able to come with your spouses or partners here to the White House with your Commander-in-Chief."
