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The White House Blog: Civil Rights

  • Day by Day, Law by Law, Mind by Changing Mind

    Posted by Brian Bond on October 23, 2009 at 4:53 PM EDT

    "These ideals, when voiced by generations of citizens, are what made it possible for me to stand here today. These ideals are what made it possible for the people in this room to live freely and openly when for most of history that would have been inconceivable. That is the promise of America. That is the promise we are called to fulfill. And day by day, law by law, mind by changing mind, that is the promise we are fulfilling."
    – President Obama, HRC National Dinner, October 10, 2009

    I came to work in the White House because I thought I'd be able to change people's lives in real and tangible ways here.  I believed that President Barack Obama would not only be the type of leader who would bring about real change, but also that he would put in place a team of committed public servants across the federal government -- smart and gifted leaders, straight and gay, women and men, as diverse as America -- who would work tirelessly to improve the lives of all Americans, including the LGBT community.  And I haven’t been disappointed.

    I know many don’t think things are changing fast enough.  The President shares your urgency.  This month, speaking at the HRC National Dinner, he said "while progress may be taking longer than you’d like as a result of all that we face... do not doubt the direction we are heading and the destination we will reach." 

    While our long-term focus is on major legislative goals like repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA, passing an employment non-discrimination act, and providing domestic partner benefits for federal employees, we are also working daily to find ways  to make life a little better and a little fairer for LGBT Americans.

    We saw this very clearly this week:  HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan announced a series of proposals to ensure that HUD’s core housing programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; he also commissioned the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing.

    On the same day, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced a plan to establish the nation’s first ever national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and support for older LGBT Americans. 

    And just a few weeks ago, the Administration on Aging at HHS issued its first ever grant to an LGBT Aging Services Program through its Community Innovations for Aging in Place initiative to the LA Gay and Lesbian Community Center.

    Every day so many of us working in the Obama Administration ask:  How can we ensure that our time here makes the lives of LGBT Americans living across this country safer, fairer, and a little better?  We know how much work is ahead of us.  Some items will take longer than others.  But the shift since January is clear, and progress at every level will continue.

    Day by day, law by law, mind by changing mind.  That is the promise we are fulfilling.

    Brian Bond is Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

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  • The Navy Honors a Civil Rights Pioneer

    Posted by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on October 9, 2009 at 5:55 PM EDT

    Today in Jackson, Mississippi, I was privileged to honor a civil rights hero and the millions of Americans who have furthered the cause of liberty. As Secretary of the Navy, I am responsible for naming our ships. Today, I announced that the first ship I will name will be the USNS Medgar Evers.
    The ship that will carry Medgar Evers name around the world for a generation is a T-AKE, a critically important supply ship. They are traditionally named for famous American pioneers, explorers, and visionaries. They celebrate the dreams and bold action of the American spirit and they honor men and women who have changed our country and the world for the better - men and women like Alan Shepard, Sacagawea, Carl Brashear, and Amelia Earhart. The ships' namesakes represent the rich tapestry that is America. 
    (The future USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) is designed to provide replenishment services to U.S. Navy ships at sea, to include collation ships from other nations. U.S. Navy Illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay Chu/Released)

    (Charles Evers, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Jackson State University President Ronald Mason Jr. and Miss. Mayor Harvey Johnson at the Medgar Evers ship naming event on October 9, 2009.)



    Medgar Evers carried on that proud tradition as a pioneer and visionary of the civil rights movement. As a young man, he served in France during the Second World War. Upon returning to the United States, he took up the cause of freedom, rose to become the Field Secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi, and campaigned tirelessly to end segregation and ensure equal treatment for every American.
    No less so than the heroes who have fought and died for our country overseas, he gave his life to defend America and its principles when he was assassinated in his own driveway in June of 1963.
    It was an emotional ceremony today when I announced my choice, speaking at the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute on Citizenship and Democracy at Jackson State University. The Institute honors another civil rights leader from Mississippi. I was proud to be joined today by the widow of Medgar Evers, Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams, as well as by Congressman Bennie Thompson, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, former Mississippi Governor William Winter, and a score of other civil rights activists and Mississippians. Sharing the moment with them was a humbling experience for me. It reminded me of how far we have come, but also of how much others who went before us sacrificed on our behalf, just like the Sailors and Marines I’m proud to serve as Secretary.
    I believe today we honored the work of legends and in a small way reaffirmed the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that "one day the nation would rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - that all men are created equal."
    Ray Mabus is Secretary of the Navy

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  • A Reception for the New Justice

    Posted by Jesse Lee on August 12, 2009 at 11:51 AM EDT

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    In the East Room of the White House, the President and the First Lady hosted a reception to celebrate some history being made. Members of Justice Sotomayor's family and friends, leaders of the Hispanic community, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, judges from the federal Courts of Appeals, and others inspired by the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gathered for a reception, and to hear a few words from the President and America’s first Hispanic Justice.
    The President thanked all who worked hard to ensure that she was given a fair hearing, from Members of the Senate Judiciary and Senate Leadership, to Senator Bob Menendez Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, to Justice Sotomayor's family who helped mold her into the amazing figure she is today. Saying that the Senate "looked beyond the old divisions and they embraced excellence," he praised them for looking past old divisions and breaking down yet another historical barrier.
    The President once again recounted Justice Sotomayor’s "only in America story," coming from humble beginnings in the Bronx to a stellar career in the law, and her gratefulness for the opportunities her country afforded her along that journey:
    Because while this is Justice Sotomayor's achievement – the result of her ability and determination – this moment is not just about her. It's about every child who will grow up thinking to him or herself, if Sonia Sotomayor can make it, then maybe I can, too. (Applause.) It's about every mother or father who looks at the sacrifices Justice Sotomayor's mother made, and the successes she and her brother have had, and thinks, I may not have much in my own life, but if I work hard enough, maybe my kids can have more. It's about everyone in this nation facing challenges and struggles in their lives, who hear Justice Sotomayor's story and thinks to themselves, if she could overcome so much and go so far, then why can't I?
    Nearly 80 years ago, as the cornerstone was laid for the building that became our Supreme Court, Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes declared, "The Republic endures and this is the symbol of its faith."
    Justice Sotomayor's rise from humble beginnings to the height of achievement is yet another symbol of that faith – faith that the American Dream still endures; faith that "equal justice under the law" is not just an inscription in marble, but an animating ideal of our democracy; faith that in this great nation, all things are still possible for all people.
    This is a great day for America, and I know that all of us here are proud and honored to have been a part of it.
    He then introduced Justice Sotomayor, who echoes many of the same themes in her remarks:
    I am most grateful to this country. I stand here today knowing that my confirmation as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court would never have been possible without the opportunities presented to me by this nation. More than two centuries ago, in a Constitution that contains fewer than 5,000 words, our founders set forth their vision for this new land. Their self-proclaimed task was to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, and to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity. Over the years, the ideals at the heart of that document have endured, as subsequent generations have expanded those blessings, these rights and freedoms to more and more Americans.
    Our Constitution has survived domestic and international tumult, including a civil war, two world wars, and the catastrophe of September 11th. It draws together people of all races, faiths, and backgrounds from all across this country who carry its words and values in our heart. It is this nation's faith in a more perfect union that allows a Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx to stand here now. (Applause.)
    I am struck again today by the wonder of my own life, and the life we in America are so privileged to lead. In reflecting on my life experiences, I am thinking also today of the judicial oath of office that I first took almost two decades ago, and that I reiterated this past weekend – to judge without respect to what a person looks like, where they come from, or whether they are rich or poor, and to treat all persons as equal under the law. That is what our system of justice requires, and it is the foundation of the American people's faith in the rule of law, and it is why I am so passionate about the law.
    I am deeply humbled by the sacred responsibility of upholding our laws and safeguarding the rights and freedoms set forth in our Constitution. I ask not just my family and friends, but I ask all Americans, to wish me divine guidance and wisdom in administering my new office.
    I thank you all again for the love and support you have shown me. And I thank President Obama and the United States Senate for the tremendous honor and privilege they have granted me. Thank you. (Applause.)
     

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  • Justice Sonia Sotomayor

    Posted by Katherine Brandon on August 6, 2009 at 4:19 PM EDT

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    The Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor this afternoon, 68-31, making her the 111th Supreme Court Justice, only the third female Justice, and the first Hispanic Justice. Speaking shortly after the confirmation, the President said he was grateful for the Senate's confirmation, and gave special thanks to the Senate Judiciary Committee for their hard work. He then reflected on Judge Sotomayor's qualifications, and the historic nature of her confirmation:
    The members of our Supreme Court are granted life tenure and are charged with the vital and difficult task of applying principles set forth at our founding to the questions and controversies of our time. Over the past 10 weeks, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate have assessed Judge Sotomayor’s fitness for this work. They've scrutinized her record as a prosecutor, as a litigator, and as a judge. They've gauged her respect for the proper role of each branch of our government, her commitment to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand, and her determination to protect our core constitutional rights and freedoms.
    And with this historic vote, the Senate has affirmed that Judge Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation’s highest court.
    This is a role that the Senate has played for more than two centuries, helping to ensure that "equal justice under the law" is not merely a phrase inscribed above our courthouse door, but a description of what happens every single day inside the courtroom. It's a promise that, whether you’re a mighty corporation or an ordinary American, you will receive a full and fair hearing. And in the end, the outcome of your case will be determined by nothing more or less than the strength of your argument and the dictates of the law.
    These core American ideals – justice, equality, and opportunity – are the very ideals that have made Judge Sotomayor’s own uniquely American journey possible. They're ideals she's fought for throughout her career, and the ideals the Senate has upheld today in breaking yet another barrier and moving us yet another step closer to a more perfect union.
    Like so many other aspects of this nation, I'm filled with pride in this achievement and great confidence that Judge Sotomayor will make an outstanding Supreme Court justice. This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family, but I also think it's a wonderful day for America.
    You can read the President’s full statement here.
     

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  • NAACP: 100 Years, One Historic Night

    Posted by Michael Blake on July 17, 2009 at 6:08 PM EDT

    There are some moments in our lives where we have an "I was there" moment. A moment that despite your best attempts to explain how you felt, what you perceived that others were feeling, the words that were shared and the fanfare of the activity, you still can't convey how remarkable an experience it was that you just shared.
    I had that moment on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 as did so many others when President Barack Obama went to the 100th anniversary convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 
    The President speaks, audience pictured
    (President Barack Obama speaks at the NAACP 100th anniversary convention in New York City July 16, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson.)
    Everyone had a feeling of excitement beyond description. Many dignitaries were present. NAACP leaders from across the country embarked to New York - a city filled with historical civil rights moments, which oftentimes are forgotten about because they weren't occurring in the historic South. But, the first moment that captured my attention was watching the line of people form slowly throughout the afternoon as they waited patiently despite their palpable excitement. The look of pride and accomplishment amongst a people who many times didn't feel such positive feelings was evident.   Later, as the president met several leaders of NAACP, it was the genuine appreciation that humbled me and made me even more proud to work for him as he shook the hands of the staff despite the large number of them being present. There were a lot of people there whose names many times go unmentioned and unnoticed for work they do to fight for greater equality, never caring that their name is in lights. To have their work recognized by the President of the United States added a special dimension to the night that the media didn't capture, but it was equally important. I was fortunate to see it. I was there. 

    And then, there was the speech. 

    (President Barack Obama makes remarks at the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP in New York, Thursday, July 16, 2009. Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)
    NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, who received the Spingarn medal during the banquet - NAACP's highest recognition - simply but eloquently introduced President Obama by saying, "When he came to our convention in 2007, he was one of eight Democratic presidential primary candidates. When he came last year, he was the one - his party's nominee. Now I am honored to give the best introduction of all - please welcome the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama."
     
    The president gave an inspirational speech where his physical presence and empowering words provided a visual reality to so many African-Americans that despite the tests of time AND the adversities of life OUR hopes and dreams can be and ARE being fulfilled.
     
    The feeling in the room was electric. There were African-Americans who lived through the civil rights era and fought to have an equal voice at the table - including the right to vote - there to see an African-American President of the United States during the 100th anniversary of this pillar of the Civil Rights community who were led to many joyful tears, amens, shouts of celebration and reflective statements of how far we have come.
     
    There were older women who were saying "amen" and "tell it" as the president shared that there are no excuses to us achieving more. There was an African-American sailor near me who took photos of every moment of every person he could see. People who couldn't get into the room of 4,200 attendees watched and videotaped from TV screens throughout the Hilton Hotel who didn't complain about not getting in but rather rejoiced in just being in the building for such a historic moment. 
     
    His remarks embodied an understanding that we've made progress but we have more mountains to climb. They also reminded us that we have to dream higher and obtain more, which he so beautifully stated by saying, "our kids can't all aspire to be LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers -- doctors and teachers -- not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court Justice. I want them aspiring to be the President of the United States of America."
     
    So for more than 4,000 people at the New York Hilton hotel who were there supporting this hallmark organization, which for 100 years has had many "I was there" moments including the marching, protesting, sitting in and standing tall; from W.E.B. Dubois to Julian Bond, we all shared in this once in a lifetime moment - the first African-American president closing out the 100th anniversary convention of the oldest African-American civil rights group in the country. So for generations to come, I will tell my children, and they will tell their children I was there. 
    Michael Blake is the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement & Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

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  • President Obama and Willie Mays on Air Force One

    Posted by Jesse Lee on July 15, 2009 at 6:34 PM EDT

    The legendary Willie Mays joined President Obama for the flight out to St. Louis, where the President threw the first pitch at the MLB All-Star game. Have a look at their conversation about how Mays helped lay the groundwork for the President’s election.

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  • Celebrating LGBT Pride Month

    Posted by Katherine Brandon on June 30, 2009 at 10:28 AM EDT

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    The President and First Lady hosted the first-of-its-kind LGBT Pride Month reception at the White House yesterday. On the heels of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the reception brought together LGBT families, volunteers, community leaders, lawmakers and heads of LGBT organizations to celebrate the LGBT community.
    In his remarks, the President stressed that although we’ve made progress towards equality and fairness for all, there are still more challenges to face:
    Now this struggle, I don't need to tell you, is incredibly difficult, although I think it's important to consider the extraordinary progress that we have made.  There are unjust laws to overturn and unfair practices to stop.  And though we've made progress, there are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted.  And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.
    And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and leaders in the community.  And that's important, and I'm glad that so many LGBT families could join us today.  (Applause.)  For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts.  And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington.
    He continued to say that even though these struggles continue today, the administration has refused to put aside issues of basic equality, and continues to fight against discrimination in a variety of ways:
    And I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that.  It's not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half century ago. 
    But I say this:  We have made progress and we will make more.  And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps.  And by the time you receive -- (applause.)  We've been in office six months now.  I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.  (Applause.)   
    Now, while there is much more work to do, we can point to important changes we've already put in place since coming into office.  I've signed a memorandum requiring all agencies to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as current law allows.  And these are benefits that will make a real difference for federal employees and Foreign Service Officers, who are so often treated as if their families don't exist.  And I'd like to note that one of the key voices in helping us develop this policy is John Berry, our director of the Office of Personnel Management, who is here today.  And I want to thank John Berry.  (Applause.)
     I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act to help end discrimination -- (applause) -- to help end discrimination against same-sex couples in this country.  Now, I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides.  And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law.  I've made that clear.
    I'm also urging Congress to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, which will guarantee the full range of benefits, including health care, to LGBT couples and their children.  (Applause.)  My administration is also working hard to pass an employee non-discrimination bill and hate crimes bill, and we're making progress on both fronts.  (Applause.)  Judy and Dennis Shepard, as well as their son Logan, are here today.  I met with Judy in the Oval Office in May -- (applause) -- and I assured her and I assured all of you that we are going to pass an inclusive hate crimes bill into law, a bill named for their son Matthew.  (Applause.) 
    In addition, my administration is committed to rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status.  (Applause.)  The Office of Management and Budget just concluded a review of a proposal to repeal this entry ban, which is a first and very big step towards ending this policy.  And we all know that HIV/AIDS continues to be a public health threat in many communities, including right here in the District of Columbia.  And that's why this past Saturday, on National HIV Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested.  (Applause.)
    And finally, I want to say a word about "don't ask, don't tell."  As I said before -- I'll say it again -- I believe "don't ask, don't tell" doesn't contribute to our national security.  (Applause.)  In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security.  (Applause.) 
    The President concluded by honoring the Stonewall protests, which occurred 40 years ago this week. A group of citizens, two of which were in attendance at the White House, stood up to defy an unjust policy at the Stonewall Inn, and this small protest inspired others to stand up against discrimination, helping to spark the gay rights movement.  The President closed saying that we "must continue to do our part to make progress -- step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind," because even seemingly small gains can add up to monumental change for our families and our communities.

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  • The Anniversary of Stonewall

    Posted by Brian Bond on June 29, 2009 at 11:56 AM EDT

    Ed. Note: Watch this event streamed live at 4:25 at WhiteHouse.gov/live.

    Brian BondAs a gay kid growing up in rural Missouri – I never thought I would end up helping to organize an LGBT Pride event in the White House.   Then again, I never thought I would ever realize my dream to work in the White House.  But thanks to the historic election of Barack Obama, today I am honored to be working here. 

    To me, today’s event is more than just a reception honoring LGBT Pride month.  It is an opportunity for the Administration to provide the world with a snap shot  of the real heroes across the country that do the day-to-day work fighting for equality. People like State Representative Patricia Todd in Alabama to Sheriff Lupe Valdez in Dallas, and many other local LGBT elected officials that will be here today.  And it’s people – ordinary families – that by simply living their lives openly are changing hearts and minds.  It is also an opportunity to welcome the people upon whom shoulders we stand, people like Frank Kameny, as well as Phil Wilson, Bishop Robinson and Ambassador Hormel, who I know personally, and those who stood up to bigotry at Stonewall.  I really wish people like Bayard Rustin could be standing here with us today.  He would be up for the fight ahead of us and proud of the place we now stand.
    People may not know this, but there hasn’t been a significant event since the President took office that hasn’t included the LGBT community -- discussions on the economy and the recovery, or health care -- but this event is special to me and to many of the people that haven’t been here for many years.
    We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will work together to pass Hate Crimes and ENDA and to end DADT and DOMA, but today is an opportunity to celebrate who we are and affirm who we are as Americans.  But the truth is that in this White House we do this every day.  With over 60 out appointees working in this Administration already, we are free to be ourselves.  But not everyone is in this country is able to do the same, and we are here to help change that. 
    I am here because I know the President and this Administration believe that too and are committed to fighting for equality – yes it will take time, and yes we should be pushing and yes you should too.  We are all in this together and I am equally proud of both my President and my community.
    I will take a little time out today to celebrate the diversity and depth of our community with my President.  And we will get back to work.  Everyone in this building is very clear -- from the President on down -- are committed to equality.  So for a young, ok for a now aging and balding gay guy from rural Missouri, this is my way to celebrate Pride month and our community’s importance in the American fabric.
    Brian Bond (bio) is Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement

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  • “Wrongs that We Intend to Right Today”

    Posted by Jesse Lee on June 17, 2009 at 7:26 PM EDT

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    This evening the President signed a memorandum expanding federal benefits for the same-sex partners of Foreign Service and executive branch government employees. In his remarks before signing the memorandum, he said that this was a first step: "We've got more work to do to ensure that government treats all its citizens equally; to fight injustice and intolerance in all its forms; and to bring about that more perfect union.  I'm committed to these efforts, and I pledge to work tirelessly on behalf of these issues in the months and years to come." 
    The official statement released along with the memorandum itself told the sort of story that moved him to sign it, and also announced his support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009:
    STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM ON FEDERAL BENEFITS AND NON-DISCRIMINATION, AND SUPPORT OF THE LIEBERMAN-BALDWIN BENEFITS LEGISLATION
    In 2007, Michael Guest, the first openly gay Ambassador confirmed by the United States Senate, resigned from the Foreign Service. He loved his career, but he had to leave it in the end -- because he believed that the country he served was failing to implement the principles of equality it espoused abroad. His partner was ineligible for training provided to Ambassadorial spouses; he bore the costs of his partner's transportation to his placements abroad; and his partner did not receive the overseas benefits and allowances given to spouses of Ambassadors.
    It is too late to prevent Ambassador Guest from having to make the choice he made, but today I am proud to issue a Presidential Memorandum that will go a long way toward achieving equality for many of the hard-working, dedicated, and patriotic LGBT Americans serving in our Federal Government -- Americans like Ambassador Guest. In consultation with Secretary Clinton, who in her role as Secretary of State oversees our foreign service employees, and Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry, who oversees human resource management for our civil service employees, my Administration has identified a number of areas in which greater equality can be achieved under existing law by extending to the same-sex partners of Federal employees many of the same benefits already available to the spouses of heterosexual Federal employees. I am therefore requesting the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to extend the benefits they have identified to the same-sex partners of Federal employees where doing so can be achieved consistent with Federal law. I am also requesting the heads of all other executive departments and agencies to conduct a review of the benefits they administer to determine which may legally be extended to same-sex partners.
    But this Presidential Memorandum is just a start. Unfortunately, my Administration is not authorized by existing Federal law to provide same-sex couples with the full range of benefits enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. That's why I stand by my long-standing commitment to work with Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. It's discriminatory, it interferes with States' rights, and it's time we overturned it.
    I am also proud to announce my support for an important piece of legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress last month -- the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009. This legislation will extend to the same-sex partners of Federal employees the same benefits already enjoyed by the opposite-sex spouses of Federal employees. The legislation has a number of co-sponsors in both Houses of Congress, but among those many sponsors, I want to recognize one in particular -- Representative Tammy Baldwin, who has been a real leader on this issue, and more broadly on the LGBT struggle for equality. Representative Baldwin, I look forward to working with you to achieve the important objectives set out in this bill as it moves through the legislative process. I also look forward to working with the bill's Senate champions, Senators Lieberman and Collins; I know that they will approach this process with the same spirit of cooperation in pursuit of our shared goals that they bring to all of their work in the Senate.
    Extending equal benefits to the same-sex partners of Federal employees is the right thing to do. It is also sound economic policy. Many top employers in the private sector already offer benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees; those companies recognize that offering partner benefits helps them compete for and retain the brightest and most talented employees. The Federal Government is at a disadvantage on that score right now, and change is long overdue.
    As Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled. Through measures like the Presidential Memorandum I am issuing today and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, we will advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded and continue to perfect our Union.
    The President signs the memorandum(President Barack Obama signs an executive order granting Federal employees with same sex partners more benefits in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Official White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson)

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  • Streaming at Noon: Health Care Stakeholder Discussion on Health Disparities and Health Reform

    Posted by Jesse Lee on June 9, 2009 at 11:10 AM EDT

    Watch the live-stream. [UPDATE: This event has now concluded.]
    In discussing health reform, it is always difficult to conceive of what the statistics really mean when every individual represented has their own story of heart-wrenching decisions, cascading consequences, and tragedy compounded by frustration. Nowhere is that more true than when it comes to the disparities in health care that minorities and low-income Americans see, as the new report from HHS makes clear:
    Reduced Access to Care
    Access to quality care is vital to overall health and wellness, and health insurance plays a key role. In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities and low-income populations experience serious disparities in rates of insurance and access to health care.
    Health Insurance
    More than one in three Hispanics and American Indians – and just under one in five African Americans – are uninsured. In comparison, only about one in eight whites lacks health insurance.
    Four in 10 low-income Americans do not have health insurance, and half of the nearly 46 million uninsured people in the United States are poor. About one-third of the uninsured have a chronic disease, and they are six times less likely to receive care for a health problem than the insured.  In contrast, 94% of upper-income Americans have health insurance.
    Lack of a Primary Care Provider and Usual Source of Care
    A primary care provider and a facility where a person receives regular care substantially improve health outcomes. However, Hispanics are only half as likely to have a usual source of care as whites. What's more, half of Hispanics and more than a quarter of African Americans do not have a regular doctor, compared with only one fifth of whites.
    Low-income Americans are three times less likely to have a usual source of care compared to those with higher incomes – and almost half of low-income Hispanics lack a usual source of care.
    Read the full report, watch the live-stream, or read the live-blog from Rebecca Adelman of HHS below once this event starts.
    1:40: The meeting just concluded with loud applause. Secretary Sebelius thanked the stakeholders for their remarks today, and their work every day on these issues. She said as we work to enact health care reform legislation this year, she is very committed to also working within HHS to address these alarming health care disparities.
    1:34: Nancy Zirkin from the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is affirming the importance of improving data collection in underserved communities. We must learn the causes of health problems in minority communities to learn to what extent genetics or the environment are factors.
    1:27: As the meeting begins to wind down, Rea Panares, Director of Minority Health Initiatives at Families USA, says that this conversation about health care reform is a new opportunity to close the gap in health care access and quality for minorities.
    1:25: Barbara Kornblau with the Special Olympics is asking the stakeholders and Administration officials gathered to keep Americans with disabilities part of the conversation around health disparities, as disabilities can confront members of any ethnic or racial group.
    1:15: Obesity is one of the major topics of discussion today. According to the new HHS report, seven out of ten African-Americans aged 18-64 are obese or overweight. This statistic points to another problem, which is that many ethnic and racial minorities. do not have a primary care physician who could educate them of the importance of prevention and the dangers of obesity. More than a quarter of African-Americans and half of Hispanics do not have a regular doctor, according to the report.
    1:05: Stacey Bohlen, Executive Director of the National Indian Health Board, just spoke passionately about health care conditions in Indian Country. "The disease we suffer from is anonymity," she said. The health care system, despite help from the Indian Health Service and private programs in tribal areas, is starving. She is urging the Administration to focus on obtaining more data about the health of Native Americans, and she also highlights that most of the diseases plaguing tribal communities such as diabetes, alcoholism, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS are preventable.
    12:55: Secretary Sebelius cites the new HHS report on health care disparities in the United States, singling out a few dramatic statistics. 48 percent of African-American adults have chronic diseases, and the rate of HIV/AIDS infection among African-Americans is seven times that of White men and women. She notes that minorities are more likely to be uninsured and are less likely to have access to quality care when they need it. We are here today, she says, because we all agree the system is broken, and we have to all work together to do something about it.
    12:45: Office of Public Engagement Director Tina Tchen opens by encouraging the stakeholders to stay involved in the health reform effort after this meeting concludes. We are at a critical juncture, she says, and your continued involvement will help push is over the top.
    12:40: Nancy-Ann DeParle, OPE Director Tina Tchen and HHS Secretary Sebelius just opened the Health Disparities Stakeholder Discussion on the fourth floor of the Old Executive Office Building. Gathered here with them are 26 representatives of racial, ethnic, and other minority groups to discuss persisting disparities in our health care system. Nancy-Ann DeParle says in her opening remarks that the issue of health care disparities is both a health issue and a civil rights issue that we must resolve. Who you are, where you are from, and how much money you have should not determine your ability to access quality health care, she says.

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