***HEADS UP*** President Obama Speaks at LGBT Pride Month Reception (6:00 PM ET)

[jefferson_dem]

President Obama Speaks at LGBT Pride Month Reception

LIVE VIDEO FEED ---> http://www.whitehouse.gov/live

Obama's steady progress on gay equality
By Jonathan Capehart

In a few hours President and Mrs. Obama will throw open the White House doors to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans to celebrate pride month. It's a time to reflect on where the community is and how much farther it needs to go to achieve full equality. There are the marquis fights over ending the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military or the battle to secure same-sex marriage rights. The former is on its way to completion. The latter is a long-term effort that is riding a growing wave fueled by changed hearts and changing demographics.

Obama has been and continues to be criticized by many in the gay and lesbian community for not doing enough. And there is certainly more he could do. But that ignores so much that he has done so far. Today’s Post looks at what Obama has done to change how gay men and lesbians and their families are viewed by the federal government.

Among the changes: Gay partners of federal workers will now receive long-term health insurance, access to day care and other benefits. Federal Housing Authority loans can no longer consider the sexual orientation of applicants. The Census Bureau plans to report the number of people who report being in a same-sex relationship. Hospitals must allow gays to visit their ill partners. And federal child-care subsidies can be used by the children of same-sex domestic partners.

The things the president has put in place might not be earth shattering enough to capture the media’s imagination or the public’s attention, but they have a profound impact on real lives. And they bring equality that much closer.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/06/obamas_steady_progress_on_gay.html

[jefferson_dem]

1. Not sure how long POTUS will speak for.

Of course, his remarks could be delayed so he can deal with McCrystal's scumbaggy insubordination.

[O is 44]

2. Ha, I love how you put that! Perfect description n/t

[jenmito]

3. K&R.

[xchrom]

4. unrec - despite window dressing he is NOT a friend to our community.

glad to see some lgbtiq people get to see the inside of the American Peoples House.

[jefferson_dem]

5. Progress is never swift enough.

On that we agree. Still, I'm pleased to see we are making ... some ... slowly but *surely* regardless of what the serial malcontents say.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

6. i seriously doubt you are the one who gets to decide if he is a friend of your community or not

I have no problem it being your opinion, but I have a slight problem with you stating it as being an overall fact held by the whole community

[impik]

7. Oh well, in 2012 you'll have a better friend

[xchrom]

8. I'm not afraid of 'friends'.

That's the shit bush used to say to silence his critics.

[Unvanguard]

9. I wish he would make concrete promises for moving forward

instead of just praising himself for his accomplishments.

[jefferson_dem]

10. Video and text of remarks here...

in case you missed it -

http://www.towleroad.com/2010/06/watch-live-white-house-lgbt-pride-reception.html

[VMI Dem]

11. Tell me he didn't mix up his "between a man and woman" speech and his "fierce advocate" speech.