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Blog Posts Related to the LGBT Community

Learn more about President Obama's work and the LGBT community.

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Dignity For All: Reactions from LGBT and Human Rights Organizations

President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton direct all federal agencies engage abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.
December 9, 2011 at 2:30 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights: Reflections on Secretary Clinton’s Remarks

Daniel Baer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, shares his thoughts on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic speech in Geneva, Switzerland.
December 8, 2011 at 6:36 PM ET by Daniel Baer

HUD Addresses Unique Challenges For Aging LGBT Community

At a day-long conference, leaders from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights address issues faced by aging LGBT Americans.
December 8, 2011 at 3:09 PM ET by Shantae Goodloe

Meeting with Lady Gaga on Inclusion and Equality for Our Young People

Valerie Jarrett meets with Lady Gaga to discuss working together to make sure that no child is bullied, regardless of his or her race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other factor.
December 6, 2011 at 7:48 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Progress and Persistence in Pursuit of Workplace Equality

At the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis speaks about the progress this Administration has made for LGBT individuals in the workplace and the challenges that remain.
November 21, 2011 at 6:55 PM ET by Secretary Hilda Solis

A Place to Call Home: HUD’s Work to Advance Equality for Transgender Americans

Shaun Donovan, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, speaks before the National Center for Transgender Equality Awards Ceremony and reflects on the Administration's progress on important issues in the transgender community.
November 16, 2011 at 4:20 PM ET by Shaun Donovan

Dr. Jill Biden Addresses the 2011 PFLAG National Convention

Dr. Jill Biden addresses the Opening Ceremony of the 2011 National Convention of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). This year's convention highlighted the Obama-Biden administration's commitment to ensuring that every student has a safe school.
November 4, 2011 at 5:47 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

Preventing Bullying and Empowering Our Communities

Hector Vargas, Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, speaks about the importance of preventing bullying to empower our communities.
November 3, 2011 at 12:23 PM ET by Hector Vargas

Why We Need the American Jobs Act

On the American Jobs Act Bus Tour, the President met leaders of community organizations and local non-profits that provide critical services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
October 25, 2011 at 12:21 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

October 20th is Spirit Day

October 20th is a day when people all over the world wear purple to show support for LGBT people and speak out against the bullying of LGBT teens
October 20, 2011 at 11:26 AM ET by Matt Compton

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry Talks about the American Jobs Act at the GLBT Center of Colorado

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry tours the GLBT Center of Colorado in Denver and speaks with members of the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community about the Obama Administration’s support for the community and the steps he is taking as OPM Director to institutionalize equality.
October 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM ET by Gautam Raghavan

We Are All In This Together

Doug Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, delivers the keynote address at the inaugural OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Nevada. Less than a month after the full and final repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the summit was one of the first opportunities for gay and lesbian service members – and their partners and families – to openly gather to share their stories and reflect on the importance of military service.
October 17, 2011 at 4:51 PM ET by Doug Wilson

HUD Addresses LGBT Housing Discrimination

Many same sex, transgender and gender non-conforming persons have reported discriminatory treatment based on sexual orientation when trying to access housing. Read more to see what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has done to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons have equal access to housing and HUD programs.
October 13, 2011 at 11:01 AM ET by Kenneth J. Carroll

President Obama Headlines HRC Dinner

Raul Alvillar comments on President Obama's speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s 15th Annual Dinner at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
October 4, 2011 at 2:47 PM ET by Raul Alvillar

President Obama at the Human Rights Campaign's 15th Annual National Dinner

President Obama addressed the 15th Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner. In his speech, the President stressed his commitment to the cause of equality over the past two and a half years, and his continuing support moving forward.
October 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM ET by Kasie Coccaro

Addressing the HIV Epidemic among Gay and Bisexual Men

We are commemorating the fourth annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an observance founded by the National Association of People with AIDS to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among gay and bisexual men.
September 27, 2011 at 9:00 AM ET by Kevin Fenton

We Must Stand Up for the Rights of Gays and Lesbians Everywhere

Samantha Power, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, reflects on President Obama's call for the rights of LGBT people in his address at the U.N. General Assembly.
September 22, 2011 at 6:02 PM ET by Samantha Power

The Era of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Is Officially Over

Today, we remember that when we all come together to make this country a better place, change is not just possible. Change is inevitable
September 20, 2011 at 6:38 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Patient Centered Care: Equal Health Care Rights for All Americans

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announces guidance for enforcing new rules that give all patients, including those with same-sex partners, the right to choose who can visit them in the hospital.
September 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Helping Young People in Times of Crisis

David McFarlan, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project, explains how The Trevor Project is providing suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people.
September 2, 2011 at 5:35 PM ET by David McFarlan

Watch Department of the Interior's Message for Teens: It Gets Better

Employees from across the DOI sharetheir experiences growing up as LGBT youth and coping with bullying, and emphasize the ways life has dramatically improved over time
September 2, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET by Colleen Curtis

Making Schools Safer and Creating a More Hopeful Future for LGBT Youth

Eliza Byard, Executive Director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, discusses the importance of making schools safer and more affirming for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
September 1, 2011 at 11:02 AM ET by Eliza Byard

A Better Understanding of Employee Benefits for an Increasingly Diverse American Workforce

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announces another great step in better understanding the benefits available to an increasingly diverse American workforce, with a new statistics report on domestic partner benefits from this year's National Compensation Survey.
July 26, 2011 at 6:13 PM ET by Hilda L. Solis

The End of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, thanks the 14,000 men and women who have been discharged under DADT for their sacrifice and dedication to our freedom.
July 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM ET by Valerie Jarrett

Getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Done

President Obama signs a certification ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for good on September 20, 2011.
July 22, 2011 at 5:49 PM ET by Katelyn Sabochik

President Obama Supports the Respect for Marriage Act

President Obama expresses his support for the Respect for Marriage Act, which will be introduced in the Senate on July 20.
July 19, 2011 at 6:43 PM ET by Colleen Curtis

The Departments of Justice and Education Resolve Gender-Based Harassment Case

The Departments of Justice and Education announce an important settlement with a California school district, resolving an investigation under federal civil rights law into the harassment of a gay middle school student.
July 1, 2011 at 6:52 PM ET by Brian Bond

LGBT Pride Month at The White House

President Obama speaks to LGBT grassroots and community leaders, youth champions, and advocates from around the country at an event to observe LGBT Pride Month.
June 29, 2011 at 8:48 PM ET by Brian Bond

LGBT Housing Discrimination in 2011: A Time for Pride and Action

LGBT families continue to face discrimination when it comes to finding housing, but HUD and the Obama Administration have taken groundbreaking steps to address this problem.
June 28, 2011 at 6:03 PM ET by John Trasvina

Marking Progress for LGBT Americans in Foreign Affairs

In honor of LGBT Pride Month, Susan Rice speaks at an GLIFAA commemoration with over 80 employees of the Department of State and NGO’s who work on LGBT issues in attendance.
June 24, 2011 at 7:22 PM ET by Curtis Ried