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Blog Posts Related to the LGBT Community

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June is Pride Month, National Homeownership Month: USDA Brings Homeownership Assistance to Rural LGBT Communities

June is also National Homeownership Month, and the theme is “Own Your Future. Own Your Home.” With concurrent Pride and Homeownership Month observances, it’s a great time to raise awareness among LGBT communities about USDA home mortgage and home repair programs that can help rural residents own their future.
June 16, 2014 at 4:56 PM ET by Ashlee Davis

Watch Live: Harvey Milk Stamp Unveiling Ceremony

May 21, 2014 at 2:07 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Enhancing Health Care Protections for LGBT Individuals

HHS has in place a matrix of powerful protections to ensure that LGBT individuals have equal access to health care and freedom from discrimination.
April 17, 2014 at 11:33 AM ET by Matthew Heinz and Juliet K. Choi

Dr. Deborah Birx Sworn In as New U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator

April 4, 2014 at 4:51 PM ET by U.S. State Department Press Office

Dr. Biden Meets with LGBT Americans Benefiting from the Affordable Care Act

Dr. Jill Biden meets with LGBT individuals at the White House to hear about their experiences with health care coverage and how they are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act.
March 26, 2014 at 6:27 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

What They’re Saying: Douglas M. Brooks as the New Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy

After President Obama announced that Douglas M. Brooks would lead the Office of National AIDS Policy, HIV/AIDS organizations from around the country announced their support.
March 25, 2014 at 6:20 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Standing Up for LGBT Rights Around the World

Vice President Biden reiterates that the rights of LGBT people are an inseparable part of America’s promotion of human rights around the world.
March 25, 2014 at 10:08 AM ET by Jeff Prescott

Reflecting on India: Challenges and Opportunities for the LGBT Community

After reflecting on my recent trip to India, I’m reminded that in many countries around the world, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community continue to face political, social, and cultural hurdles that prevent them from achieving full equality.
March 24, 2014 at 4:23 PM ET by Fred P. Hochberg

Making Health Care Coverage More Accessible and Equitable for Same-Sex Couples

Starting next year, if an insurance company offers coverage to opposite-sex spouses, it cannot choose to deny that coverage to same-sex spouses.
March 14, 2014 at 1:58 PM ET by Matthew Heinz

Ensuring a “Time to Thrive” for LGBTQ Youth

February 19, 2014 at 10:08 AM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Thank You, Edie Windsor

President Barack Obama meets with Edie Windsor during a drop by in the Oval Office.
February 14, 2014 at 10:11 AM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Equality in Privileges, Protections and Rights

The Attorney General announced that he is issuing a new policy memorandum that will “formally instruct all Justice Department employees to give lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition, to the greatest extent possible under the law.”
February 10, 2014 at 6:23 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Sharpening Our Focus to Meet National Goals on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

As we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) 2014, we are reminded that African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV/AIDS in the United States.
February 7, 2014 at 2:40 PM ET by Timothy Harrison

How Obamacare Helps the LGBT Community

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have taken significant steps to advance equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
December 17, 2013 at 1:00 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan, Matthew Heinz

Treasury Notice Advances Federal Tax Equality for Same-Sex Married Couples

The Supreme Court’s decision in U.S. v. Windsor last June, invalidating a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, has given rise to crucial protections to same-sex married couples nationwide. In August, Treasury and IRS helped to clarify the federal tax implications of Windsor by determining that all legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes​. Today, Treasury and IRS made significant progress in further promoting tax equality by issuing a new, related notice.
December 16, 2013 at 3:46 PM ET by Betsy Bourassa

United in Hope with Bienestar

On Saturday, November 30th, Herb K. Schultzs represented the Obama Administration before 500 clients, staff, Board, community members, public officials and clergy at Bienestar's annual "Unidos in Esperanza" (United in Hope) event in Los Angeles, California.
December 12, 2013 at 11:09 AM ET by Herb K. Schultz

Sharing Responsibility, Strengthening Results

An AIDS-free generation is within our reach, but it must be a shared responsibility. No one nation or entity can do it alone.
December 2, 2013 at 4:07 PM ET by Dr. Grant Colfax and Gayle Smith

Recognizing World AIDS Day 2013

In recognition of World AIDS Day 2013, the Department of Justice reaffirms its commitment to eradicating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS across our country. This year’s observance offers us the chance to both reflect on the work we have done in the past year to protect the rights of people with HIV/AIDS and – due to the sad truth of continuing discrimination – the significant work to be done in the year ahead.
December 2, 2013 at 3:17 PM ET by Jocelyn Samuels

On World AIDS Day, Tracking Our Progress

On World AIDS Day 2013, the White House Office of National AIDS Policy releases a report outlining the first recommendations and action steps from the HIV Care Continuum Initiative detailing how federal efforts will be integrated to improve outcomes along the care continuum
December 2, 2013 at 11:59 AM ET by Grant Colfax, MD

Marking Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today, November 20th, communities across the country and around the world will mark Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to violence and injustice because of their gender identity or gender expression.
November 20, 2013 at 12:26 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Liberty, Opportunity and Equality for All: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act Vote

Right now, in 29 states, lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGBT) Americans lack sufficient protections against employment discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This week, the Senate passed a bill—the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)—that would close this gap in our nation’s civil rights laws.
November 8, 2013 at 12:32 PM ET by Jocelyn Samuels

What is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act? (ENDA)

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, would provide strong federal protections against discrimination, making it explicitly illegal to fire someone because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).
November 6, 2013 at 7:26 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

President Obama Speaks Out in Support of ENDA

In an op-ed published in the Huffington Post, the President speaks directly to the American people to ensure everyone understands what’s at stake and why it’s so important that Congress move forward on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA.
November 4, 2013 at 12:00 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Commemorating the Fourth Anniversary of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crime Prevention Act

Four years after the passage of the Shepard-Byrd Act, and more than a decade after the brutal murders of the men for whom it was named, prosecuting hate crimes remains a top priority for the President, the Attorney General and the Civil Rights Division.
October 28, 2013 at 4:15 PM ET by Jocelyn Samuels

U.S. on Protecting and Promoting LGBT Rights in Europe

Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Uzra Zeya argues that protecting and promoting the human rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is a foreign policy priority for the U.S. government.
October 25, 2013 at 9:54 AM ET by Uzra Zeya

Obamacare and LGBT Health

Throughout the Administration, we operate on the fundamental belief that every American deserves equal opportunity, equal protection, and equal rights under the law. That’s why the Affordable Care Act is so important for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.
September 17, 2013 at 1:14 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen Sebelius

Russian Civil Society Leaders Inspire

Despite a packed G-20 schedule filled with meetings on economic issues and the situation in Syria, President Obama also took the time while in St. Petersburg to meet with representatives of Russia’s civil society.
September 11, 2013 at 10:50 AM ET by Ambassador Michael McFaul

Watch Live on Thursday: The impact of “Obamacare” on the LGBT community

Despite the tremendous progress we’ve made in achieving equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, many LGBT individuals still face limited access to health care and insurance, and are less likely to get the preventive care they need to stay healthy.
September 10, 2013 at 9:32 AM ET by Gautam Raghavan and Matthew Heinz

Treasury Tax Ruling Recognizing All Legal Same-Sex Marriages Garners Widespread Support

Last week marked a critical milestone for legally married same-sex couples nationwide. In a ruling that implemented the Supreme Court’s June decision invalidating a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, Treasury and the IRS announced that all legal same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes.
September 4, 2013 at 5:56 PM ET by Betsy Bourassa

Bayard Rustin: An American Hero No Longer Forgotten

August 27, 2013 at 5:43 PM ET by Secretary Tom Perez