The White House has just sent out a new LGBT update, via Gautam Raghavan, the White House’s head of the Office of Public Engagement. Much of it is news you may already know, but it’s good to see the administration actively engaging LGBT voters. (Now, about that marriage thing…)
Here’s the full text of the update:
Good Afternoon – and Happy New Year!
I’m pleased to share with you that we are kicking off 2012 with two important developments that impact the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: first, a revision to the FBI’s definition of rape to lead to a more comprehensive reporting of rape nationwide, including male victims, and second, a major grant by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for high-impact HIV prevention.
Also, on Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services released a summary update outlining specific actions that the agency has taken to address the health and well-being of LGBT Americans since the start of the Obama Administration.
These developments illustrate the Obama Administration’s ongoing commitment to safety, equality, and well-being for all Americans, including the LGBT community.
Best regards,
Gautam Raghavan
Office of Public Engagement
The White HouseP.S. – January 22nd is the deadline to apply for the Summer 2012 White House Internship Program. Know any young leaders or veterans interested in public service? Please encourage them to apply here.
DOJ Announces Revisions to the FBI’s Definition of Rape
Last Friday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced revisions to the Uniform Crime Report’s definition of rape. The revised definition includes rapes committed against men, and encompasses a broader range of sexual acts understood to be rape. This revised definition will be used to collect data from local law enforcement about these crimes. This data is published in the Uniform Crime Report and is the nation’s main source of information about crime trends.
In announcing the changes, Vice President Biden said:
“Rape is a devastating crime and we can’t solve it unless we know the full extent of it. This long-awaited change to the definition of rape is a victory for women and men across the country whose suffering has gone unaccounted for over 80 years.â€
Read DOJ’s press release and listen to the FBI’s podcast. And also check out a blog post on these changes by Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women.
CDC Awards $339 Million for High-Impact HIV Prevention
Also last week, the CDC announced that it has begun awarding almost $339 million to state and local health departments across the United States to fund HIV prevention activities this year. The awards are a component of CDC’s new approach to HIV prevention, designed to better align resources to reflect the geographic burden of the HIV epidemic and achieve a higher level of impact with every federal HIV prevention dollar spent.
Since taking office, President Obama has directed his Administration to take many positive steps to combat HIV/AIDS, including releasing the first ever comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy, reauthorizing the Ryan White CARE Act, and lifting the HIV entry ban. Last month, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, President Obama announced additional new commitments to the fight against HIV/AIDS, including an additional $50 million in funding for the Ryan White program and state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs.
Read more about CDC’s new awards and see this fact sheet about the Obama Administration’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS.
HHS Releases Update on LGBT Health
Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a summary update – “Better Health and Well-Being: Making Improvements for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Americans†– as a follow-up to the LGBT listening sessions HHS recently held across the country.
The document summarizes specific actions that HHS has taken through 2011, at the direction of President Obama and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, to promote equal treatment of LGBT Americans, provide enhanced resources for LGBT health issues, and develop better information regarding LGBT health needs. The update also summarizes how the Affordable Care Act is improving access to health coverage for LGBT Americans.
What You May Have Missed
Jan 9: Super Duper Space Toolbox
Jan 6: The Employment Situation in December
Jan 5: President Obama Outlines a New Global Military Strategy
Jan 4: America’s Consumer Watchdog
Jan 3: 2011 Year in Photos
Dec 30: Intern Picks: Must-See White House Videos of 2011Get Updates
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