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Obama Stand Does Gay Americans No Favors

Find Your State

Know the laws in your state that protect LGBT people and people living with HIV.
September 3, 2010

by Leslie Gabel-Brett, Lambda Legal Director of Education and Public Affairs

9/3/2010

"President Barack Obama has a problem with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community: He keeps making steady progress on some very important matters, and we keep complaining that he has let us down. Our glass is half empty and his, it seems, is half full.

"Why are we so disappointed? This president has repeatedly and unequivocally stated his belief in equality for LGBT Americans -- sometimes in soaring language. His Presidential Proclamation in honor of LGBT pride month in June stated: 'As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles.' He has raised our hopes high.

"And yet the military's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy continues and Congress has not yet voted on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act. This means the federal government still discriminates against LGBT members in the military and fails to prohibit private employers from following its terrible example."

Read more at bloomberg.com

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