Letter I Received from Barack Obama about LGBT Rights!

White House
Washington


January 17, 2012


Dear Friend:

Thank you for writing. We must stand united to protect liberty and justice for all our citizens, and I appreciate your perspective on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights.

My Administration has taken a number of steps to address issues affecting the LGBT community. On December 22, 2010, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. This repeal strengthens our national security while upholding the very ideals our service members fight to defend. With the repeal’s swift and efficient implementation, thousands of Americans in uniform are no longer forced to bear the added burden of secrecy and isolation in order to serve our country.

Our values are also protected by the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which I was honored to sign into law. This law adds Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation to existing civil rights protections.

In addition to these important developments, I signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give all patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose who can visit them and make medical decisions. I also extended benefits to same-sex partners of Federal employees in the Foreign Service and Executive Branch. To help take on discrimination in all its forms, we are working to ensure core Federal housing programs are open to all. Additionally, we ended the ban on entry to the United States for people living with HIV/AIDS and issued the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

While we have made great strides, much work remains in the quest for equality for LGBT individuals. I have consistently called for the legislative repeal of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and my Administration will no longer defend the constitutionality of Section 3 of DOMA—which I believe violates the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment—in court. I have also urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and I support an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Adoption rights must be secured for LGBT families, and we need to ensure our children are free to learn in supportive environments in school. For information about my commitment to preventing bullying and harassment, along with resources for those facing bullying, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/ItGetsbetter and www.StopBullying.gov.

Thank you, again, for writing. To learn more about my Administration’s efforts to create a more open and tolerant society, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.gov/LGBT.


Sincerely,

Barack Obama