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
Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Rick Perry Response - I'm NOT a Christian and am NOT Anti Gay
Here's my response to the Rick Perry Strong Video, the most DISLIKED video on Youtube!
I'm not ashamed NOT to be a Christian, but you don't need to be in Bed every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when Republicans can say that children not praying in schools is Worse than not giving people, like Gay people rights. Religious Extremism is Dangerous! It always has been, it always will be, and it takes a non- Christian to understand that. Non- Christians are just as good of people as Christians are if not Better!
I'm Justin and I approve this message.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Rick Perry's Anti Gay, Obama Bombshell TV Ad! Now officially the most Disliked youtube video EVER!
Curretnly 3,222,763 - 10,896 likes, 444,821 DISLIKES!!! Click here to be the next to Dislike! Let's get this fool Out of the race together!
The Good ol' Boy himself has done it again - WHOOPS! Texas Governor and former presidential candidate (not officially but very soon) Rick Perry has released a video that is getting a lot of attention, mostly negative! He said in his video:
"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian, but you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school. As President, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage. Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again."
Well little Ricky, if this won't win you the presidency I don't know what will. One thing is for sure though, attacking the gay culture has not been a winning strategy as of late. Good luck ol' Rick!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Obama Supports Gay Marriage and Equal Rights for the LGBT Community!
Guess who else supports gay marriage? Obama does!! Read his letter about his support to the LGBT community:
Letter from President Obama to the LGBT community, Feb 28, 2008:
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DONE!), and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.
The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science. While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use common sense. We should have age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing contraceptives. We also need a president who’s willing to confront the stigma – too often tied to homophobia – that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and will continue to speak out as president. That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones – and that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign – from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.
Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.
Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.
Article Source: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
Letter from President Obama to the LGBT community, Feb 28, 2008:
Equality is a moral imperative. That’s why throughout my career, I have fought to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans. In Illinois, I co-sponsored a fully inclusive bill that prohibited discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, extending protection to the workplace, housing, and places of public accommodation. In the U.S. Senate, I have co-sponsored bills that would equalize tax treatment for same-sex couples and provide benefits to domestic partners of federal employees. And as president, I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples — whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. Unlike Senator Clinton, I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – a position I have held since before arriving in the U.S. Senate. While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. I have also called for us to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DONE!), and I have worked to improve the Uniting American Families Act so we can afford same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as married couples in our immigration system.
The next president must also address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. When it comes to prevention, we do not have to choose between values and science. While abstinence education should be part of any strategy, we also need to use common sense. We should have age-appropriate sex education that includes information about contraception. We should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And we should lift the federal ban on needle exchange, which could dramatically reduce rates of infection among drug users. In addition, local governments can protect public health by distributing contraceptives. We also need a president who’s willing to confront the stigma – too often tied to homophobia – that continues to surround HIV/AIDS. I confronted this stigma directly in a speech to evangelicals at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, and will continue to speak out as president. That is where I stand on the major issues of the day. But having the right positions on the issues is only half the battle. The other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as friendly ones – and that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I brought this message of inclusiveness to all of America in my keynote address at the 2004 Democratic convention. I talked about the need to fight homophobia when I announced my candidacy for President, and I have been talking about LGBT equality to a number of groups during this campaign – from local LGBT activists to rural farmers to parishioners at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Dr. Martin Luther King once preached.
Just as important, I have been listening to what all Americans have to say. I will never compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all LGBT Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work we must do to move forward together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is necessary.
Americans are yearning for leadership that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, we need leadership that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. Join with me, and I will provide that leadership. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.
Article Source: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/alexokrent/gGggJS
Read More Here
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK PLEASE, DGMA NEEDS MORE SUPPORT! THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
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