The Obama administration — ever eager to advance its 2011 theme of “winning the future” — has now extended the three-word slogan to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality with an official White House web page: “Winning the Future: President Obama and the LGBT Community.”
Brian Bond, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, described the page in an email as the “first ever LGBT specific constituency webpage” and wrote, “Please take a look at our Winning the Future for LGBT Americans factsheet (http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/rss_viewer/factsheet_lgbt.pdf) and sign up for our e-mail updates (http://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/sign-updates-issues-impacting-lgbt-community) that will keep you up to speed with what is going on in the Administration. We encourage you to spread the word about this site to your friends, families, and the communities you work with.”
In addition to the fact sheet and email sign-up page, the LGBT home page contains links to the administration’s “It Gets Better” videos; White House blog posts relating to LGBT issues; LGBT-related news releases from the administration; and links to resources, including StopBullying.gov, AIDS.gov and the Defense Department’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal page.
The two-page, “The Obama Administration’s Commitment to Winning the Future for the LGBT Community” fact sheet contains many bullet points of accomplishments — similar to but more expansive than Tuesday’s 2011 LGBT Pride Month proclamation from Obama — and three bullet points about future progress. The “progress” points all relate, at least in part, to relationship recognition — a topic absent from Tuesday’s proclamation.
Supporting LGBT Progress
President Obama has called for the Congressional repeal of the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act” and has announced that in his view, Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional
President Obama also continues to support legislation that would directly impact the LGBT community, including an inclusive ENDA and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act
President Obama believes that all students should be safe and healthy and learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment; that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation; and that Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country
Read the full fact sheet below the jump.
* * *
The Obama Administration’s Commitment to Winning the Future for the LGBT Community
The Obama Administration has taken decisive actions and made historic strides to advance Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality and strengthen LGBT families and communities, and continues to do so. Some of these accomplishments include:
Preventing bullying and hate crimes against LGBT Americans
President Obama signs the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law — the first federal civil rights legislation to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”
President Obama, Vice President Biden and other Administration officials record “It Gets Better” videos to address the issue of bullying and suicide among LGBT teens
The President and First Lady Michelle Obama host the White House Conference on Bullying Prevention
The Department of Education issues guidance to support educators in combating bullying in schools by clarifying when student bullying may violate federal education anti-discrimination laws
Supporting LGBT families
Following a directive from the President, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires all hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to allow visitation rights and medical decision making rights to LGBT patients
HHS creates the National Resource Center for LGBT Elders
The Department of Labor clarifies that the Family Medical Leave Act ensures that LGBT federal employees can care for sick family members
The State Department clarifies that transgender applicants can obtain, under certain conditions, passports that accurately reflect their gender
The Justice Department clarifies that persons with HIV and persons with AIDS are covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and that it would be illegal to exclude them from occupational training and state licensing
The Justice Department issues a memo stating that federal prosecutors should enforce criminal provisions in the Violence Against Women Act in cases involving gay and lesbian relationships
HHS’s Administration for Children and Families issues a memorandum to ensure that LGBT and questioning youth in foster care are protected and supported
The US Interagency Council on Homelessness releases “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness,” the nation’s first comprehensive strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, including LGBT homeless youth
The Obama Administration works to ensure that the Census provides a fair and accurate count of all Americans, including LGBT couples
Ensuring equal access to housing for LGBT families
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announces the first ever national study of discrimination in housing against LGBT persons
HUD proposes new regulations to ensure that housing programs are open to all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity
HUD requires grant applicants to comply with state and local anti-discrimination laws
Supporting LGBT health
President Obama releases the first-ever National HIV/AIDS Strategy
President Obama urges Americans to get tested for HIV
President Obama signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act
HHS issues recommendations to improve the health and well-being of LGBT communities
Despite challenging budgetary times, the President’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget not only maintains, but increases domestic HIV/AIDS funding
Supporting job creation among LGBT-owned businesses
The Department of Commerce signs a Memorandum of Understanding with National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce to support federal contracting and exporting
Setting precedents in hiring and benefits for LGBT Americans
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announces that gender identity is a prohibited basis of discrimination in federal employment
President Obama expands federal benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees
OPM allows same-sex domestic partners to apply for long-term care insurance
President Obama sends the first U.S. Executive branch official to testify in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) before Congress
President Obama continues to appoint LGBT Americans to positions at every level throughout his Administration
Repealing the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Law
President Obama signs the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which will allow gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans to serve openly and with integrity
Providing global leadership on LGBT issues
The U.S. lifts the discriminatory entry ban for individuals with HIV
President Obama and his administration play active roles in protecting LGBT populations in Uganda, Honduras, Malawi and other countries
The U.S. leads an effort at the United Nations resulting in 85 countries supporting a resolution to end violence and human rights violations related to sexual orientation and gender identity
The White House announces major three-year investment in combating global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria Honoring LGBT history
President Obama honors the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall riots
President Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King
Supporting LGBT Progress
President Obama has called for the Congressional repeal of the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act” and has announced that in his view, Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional
President Obama also continues to support legislation that would directly impact the LGBT community, including an inclusive ENDA and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act
President Obama believes that all students should be safe and healthy and learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment; that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation; and that Americans with partners from other countries should not be faced with a painful choice between staying with their partner or staying in their country
Harvard University has drawn criticism from conservatives after announcing that Tufts professor Kareem Khubchandani -- who performs and occasionally lectures in drag as "LaWhore Vagistan" -- will serve as a visiting associate professor in its Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality department.
The visiting professorship was established through an endowment from members of the Harvard Gender & Sexuality Caucus, the university's LGBTQ alumni group. It was created to bring in scholars focused on issues related to sexual minorities and sexuality.
Khubchandani is scheduled to teach two courses during the 2025-2026 academic year: "Queer Ethnography," in the fall semester, and "RuPaulitics: Drag, Race, and Desire" in the spring semester, focusing on the cultural influence of the show RuPaul's Drag Race.
Christina Aguilera has partnered with Grindr as part of the promotion for her upcoming headlining set at San Francisco’s Portola Music Festival on September 20. According to a September 15 announcement from the LGBTQ app, Aguilera -- dubbed Grindr's new “wingwoman” -- will lend her voice as a notification alert, letting users know they’ve got a message from a potential match.
From September 15 to 22, Grindr will swap its iconic “bloop” notification for the opening notes of Aguilera’s 1999 No. 1 hit “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You),” promoting her Portola performance in the process.
Gun rights groups are blasting the Trump administration after CNN reported that senior Justice Department officials have been discussing the possibility of restricting transgender U.S. citizens from owning firearms, following the recent mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis. Although officials described the talks as "preliminary," critics warn that even floating such a proposal scapegoats transgender people and threatens their constitutional rights.
The internal talks appeared to draw on a theory promoted by conservative influencers and media outlets: that transgender people are mentally ill, and that transition-related hormones negatively affect mental health, making them more prone to violence.
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
