[applause]
President Obama:
Well, welcome to the
White House, everybody.
[applause]
We are glad all of you
could join us today.
I want to thank the members of
Congress and the members of my
administration who are here
including our friends who are
doing outstanding work
every day, John Barry --
[applause]
-- Nancy Sutley, Fred Hochberg.
[applause]
Now, each June
since I took office,
we have gathered to pay tribute
to the generations of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and
transgender Americans --
[applause]
-- who devoted their lives
to our most basic ideas.
Equality not just for
some, but for all.
Together, we marked major
milestones like the 40th
anniversary of the
Stonewall Riots,
when a group of brave citizens
held their ground against
brutal discrimination.
Together we have honored
courageous pioneers who decades
ago came out and spoke out.
Who challenged unjust laws
and destructive prejudices.
Together we have stood resolute,
unwavering in our commitment to
advance this movement and to
build a more perfect union.
Now, I have said before that I
would never counsel patience,
that it wasn't right to tell you
to be patient any more than it
was right for others to tell
women to be patient a century
ago or African Americans to
be patient a half century ago.
After decades of inaction,
and indifference,
you have every reason and right
to push loudly and forcefully
for equality.
[applause]
But three years ago I
also promised you this.
I said that even if it took
more time than we would like,
we would see progress.
We would see success.
We would see real
and lasting change.
And together that is
what we are witnessing.
For every person who lost a
loved one at the hand of hate,
we ended a decade of delay and
finally made the Matthew Shepard
Act the land of the law.
[applause]
For every person with HIV who
was treated like an outcast,
we lift the HIV entry ban.
[applause]
And by the way, because of
that important step next month,
for the first time in more than
two decades the International
Aids Conference will be held
right here in the United States.
[applause]
For every American diagnosed
with HIV who couldn't get access
to treatment, we put forward
a national HIV/AIDS strategy
because who you are should never
effect whether you get life
extending care.
Marjorie Hill, the head of Gay
Men's Health Crisis is here.
GMHC has saved so many lives and
this year they are celebrating
their 30th anniversary.
So I want to give them and
all of these organizations who
worked to prevent and treat
HIV a big round of applause.
Give it up for Marjorie
and everybody else.
[applause]
For every partner or spouse
denied the chance to comfort a
loved one in the hospital, to be
by their side at their greatest
hour of need, we said enough.
Hospitals that accept Medicare
or Medicaid and that is most of
them now have to treat
LGBT patients just like any
other patient.
For every American
denied insurance,
just for being lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or transgender,
we passed health insurance
reform which will ban that kind
of discrimination.
[applause]
We have expanded benefits
for same sex partners federal
employees, prohibited
discrimination on the basis of
gender identity for workers
in the federal government.
We have supported efforts in
Congress to end the so-called
Defense of Marriage Act.
[applause]
And as we wait for that
law to be cast aside,
we have stopped defending it's
constitutionality in the courts.
[applause]
We put forth a strategy to
promote and protect the rights
of LGBT communities
all over the world.
Because as Secretary Clinton
said back in December,
gay rights are human rights.
[applause]
And, of course, last year
we finally put an end to
Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
[applause]
So that nobody --
[applause]
So that nobody would ever have
to ever again hide who they love
in order to serve the
country that they love.
And I know we have got, we have
got some military members who
are here today.
I am happy to see you
with your partners here.
We thank you for your service.
We thank your families
for their service.
And we share your joy at being
able to come with your spouses
or partners here to the
White House with your
Commander-in-Chief.
[applause]
Now, we know we
have got more to do.
Americans may feel more
comfortable bringing their
partners to the office barbeque.
But we are still waiting for
a fully inclusive Employment
Non-Discrimination Act.
[applause]
Congress needs to
pass that legislation,
so that no American is ever
fired simply for being gay
or transgender.
Americans may be able to
serve openly in the military,
but many are still growing up
alone and afraid, picked on,
pushed around for
being different.
And that is why my
administration has worked to
raise awareness about bullying.
And I know I just had a
chance to see Lee Hirsch,
the Director of Bully who is
here and we thank him for his
work on this issue.
[applause]
I want to acknowledge all of the
young leaders here today who are
making such a big difference
in their classrooms and in
their communities.
And Americans may be still
evolving when it comes to
marriage equality, but --
[laughter]
[applause]
-- but as I have indicated,
personally Michelle and I have
made up our minds on this issue.
And we believe that
same-sex couples should be
treated equally.
[applause]
So we still have
a long way to go.
But we will get there.
We will get there
because of all of you.
We'll get there because of all
of the ordinary Americans who
every day show
extraordinary courage.
And we'll get there because of
every man and woman and activist
and ally who is moving us
forward by the force of their
moral arguments.
But more importantly by
the force of their example.
And as long as I have the
privilege of being your
President, I promise you, you
won't just have a friend in the
White House, you will have a
fellow advocate for an America
where no matter what you look
like or where you come from,
or who you love, you
can dream big dreams.
And dream as openly as you want.
Thank you.
God bless you.
God bless America.
[applause]
