Updated — now with video!
Early this evening, just after 6:00 PM, President Barack Obama spoke to a crowded group of LGBTQ activists, journalists, and other invited guests at the White House’s annual Pride Reception. Below is the audio and video from the event.
Obama toted out openly-gay Director of Office of Personnel Management, John Berry, introduced a few more luminaries, like Chely Wright, apologized for Tammy Baldwin and Jared Polis having had to leave for a vote (said they were “openly-gay” and “openly-terrific,” to laughter,) then went right into his speech. Here are a few quotes:
“Change never comes from, or at least, never begins, in Washington… It begins when these impositions of conscience start opening hearts that had been closed.”
“Some of you may remember that I pledged [one year ago] that even at a time that we faced enormous challenges on the economy and in our foreign policy that we would not put aside matters of basic equality. And we haven’t.”
“We can already point to extraordinary progress that we’ve made on behalf of Americans who are gay, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender.”
“Because I believe that committed gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this county, I have called for Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. We are pushing hard to pass an inclusive Employee Non-Discrimination bill. No one in America should be fired because they’re gay. Finally, we’re going to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” That is a promise that I made as a candidate, it’s one that I reiterated as president, it’s one that this administration is going to keep.”
“I’m going to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you.”
Apologies to Firefox users who may have issues with this player.
http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/pMbbiciB82&pid=6QAUDGhByRcrrAcjVCmMkANP897KzujL
Towleroad has a video of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s remarks at her LGBT Reception.