Obama Touts List Of 40 Gay Rights Achievements
- By
- On Top Magazine Staff
- | April 21, 2012
President Barack Obama is touting a list of 40 gay rights accomplishments from the past 3 years.
The president on Friday tweeted, “What three years of progress for the LGBT community looks like,” along with a link to the rainbow-colored list.
Release of the list comes as the president faces increasing criticism for his decision not to sign an executive order which would ban federal contractors from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
June 17, 2009: “Ordered the federal government to extend key benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.”
June 29, 2009: “Hosted the first-ever White House LGBT Pride reception.”
August 12, 2009: “Awarded the highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk.”
October 28, 2009: “Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law.”
October 21, 2009: “Created a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders.”
January 1, 2010: “Banned discrimination in federal workplaces based on gender identity.”
January 4, 2010: “Lifted the ban that prohibited people with HIV/AIDS from entering the United States.”
March 23, 2010: “Enacted the Affordable Care Act, reforming health care in America by lowering costs, expanding choice, and improving health care quality.”
April 15, 2010: “Ensured hospital visitation and medical decision-making rights for gay and lesbian patients.”
June 22, 2010: “Released America's first comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness, which includes homeless LGBT youth.”
June 22, 2010: “Clarified the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure family leave for LGBT employees.”
June 9, 2010: “Allowed transgender Americans to receive true gender passports without surgery.”
October 1, 2010: “Awarded a grant to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center to work with LGBT foster youth.”
October 21, 2010: “Recorded 'It Gets Better' video to support LGBT youth experiencing bullying.”
December 21, 2010: “Led a United Nations measure to restore 'sexual orientation' to the definition of human rights.”
December 22, 2010: “Signed the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'”
March 10, 2011: “Hosted first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in America's schools.”
February 23, 2011: “Declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and announced the administration will no longer defend it in court.”
March 31, 2011: “Completed an Institute of Medicine study on LGBT health, the first of its kind.”
May 27, 2011: “Issued guidance to foster safer working environments for transgender federal employees.”
July 19, 2011: “Endorsed the Respect for Marriage Act, a legislative effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”
September 15, 2011: “Ended the Social Security Administration's gender 'no-match' letters.”
August 19, 2011: “Supported lesbian widow Edith Windsor in her suit against DOMA.”
August 18, 2011: “Clarified the meaning of 'family' to include LGBT relationships, helping to protect bi-national families threatened by deportation.”
September 20, 2011: “Implemented the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'”
September 30, 2011: “Permitted military chaplains to officiate same-sex marriages where legal.”
October 1, 2011: “Addressed the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner for the second time.”
October 20, 2011: “Awarded Citizen's Medal to Janice Langbehn, lesbian mother whose story paved the way for hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples.”
October 13, 2011: “Allison Nathan become second openly gay appointee to be confirmed to the federal bench under President Obama's administration.”
October 31, 2011: “Included specific data on health needs of lesbian and bisexual women in the Health Resources and Services Administration's 'Women's Health USA 2011' federal report.”
November 1, 2011: “In his presidential proclamation of National Adoption Month, President Obama called for equal treatment for same-sex adoptive parents.”
December 6, 2011: “Created first-ever U.S. government strategy dedicated to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad.”
December 1, 2011: “On World AIDS Day, recommitted the U.S. to creating an AIDS-free generation.”
January 8, 2012: “Announced HUD's new rule protecting against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”
February 2, 2012: “Announced White House LGBT Conference Series to address issues affecting LGBT Americans, including health, housing and safety.”
February 7, 2012: “Promoted equal access to quality health care by enabling searches for health plans with same-sex partner benefits on Healthcare.gov.”
February 13, 2012: “Proposed a 2013 federal budget for an economy built to last, including providing security for the LGBT community.”
March 16, 2012: “Came out against North Carolina's Amendment 1, which would prohibit same-sex marriage in the state.”
March 15, 2012: “Michael Fitzgerald, fourth openly gay nominee under President Obama, is confirmed to the federal bench in California.”
March 2012: “Ensured transgender veterans receive respectful care according to their true gender through the Veterans Health Administration.”