He's just been inaugurated, so the transition to new US President Barack Obama is complete – and includes a lengthy statement on supporting the LGBT community, newly posted on the White House website. New US President Barack Obama The Obama administration aims to serve America's LGBT citizens by expanding hate crimes statutes, fight workplace discrimination, support full civil unions and federal rights for LGBT couples, and oppose a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The White House also aims to repeal the controversial 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' attitude to gays in the military, expand adoption rights, promote HIV prevention and confront stigma surrounding the AIDS epidemic. The webpage quotes a 2007 speech from Obama: "While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. "Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." President Obama's full Civil Rights statement on the White House website is linked below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 21st January 2009 - 10:23am