Winning the Future, LGBT-Style
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.
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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
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