Yesterday, for the sixth time since taking office, President Obama joined national, state, and local community leaders, business leaders, grassroots activists, elected officials, and others for an event celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month at the White House.

With the First Lady by his side, the President spoke about the tremendous progress we have made during the course of his Administration -- from repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to implementing the Affordable Care Act with important protections for LGBT people -- and restated his commitment to taking executive action on behalf of LGBT workers:

The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing to do and because many say it helps to retain and attract the best talent. And I agree. So if Congress won’t act, I will. I have directed my staff to prepare an executive order for my signature that prohibits discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

"... I’ve asked my staff to prepare a second executive order so that federal employees -- who are already protected on the basis of sexual orientation -- will now formally be protected from discrimination based on gender identity as well."

--President Obama, 6/30/2014

Jim Darby and Patrick Bova introduce President Barack Obama, with First Lady Michelle Obama, during the LGBT Pride Month reception in the East Room of the White House, June 30, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

In closing his remarks, the President called on the LGBT community and its allies to continue to work towards dignity, equality, and justice for all communities:

Dr. King said an “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And that means that we’ve got to be able to set up a community that extends beyond our own particular narrow interests; we’ve got to make sure that we’re reaching out to others who need our help as well.

And that means fighting for poor kids. And it means fighting for workers to get a decent wage. It means showing compassion for the undocumented worker who is contributing to our society and just wants a chance to come out of the shadows. It means fighting for equal pay for equal work. It means standing up for sexual -- standing up against sexual violence wherever it occurs. It means trying to eliminate any vestige of racial or religious discrimination and anti-Semitism wherever it happens.

Read the President’s full remarks, watch video, and learn more about the Obama Administration’s efforts to advance equality for the LGBT community.

Gautam Raghavan is an Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Dr. Jill Biden meets with members of the LGBT community who have benefited from the Affordable Care Act in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 26, 2014.

An important deadline is coming up for all Americans, including the LGBT community: March 31 is the end of the open enrollment period for individuals to sign up for health care in the state and federal Marketplaces. If you miss the deadline, you may not be able to get health insurance again until next year.

The Affordable Care Act has the potential to improve the health and well-being of the LGBT community for generations to come. (Here’s how.) Many LGBT individuals across the country have signed up for coverage — and they’re already seeing the benefits.

Earlier today, Dr. Jill Biden met with the following LGBT individuals at the White House to hear about their experiences with health care coverage and how they are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act:

• Simone Allender (Philadelphia, PA)
• Neil Beresford (Decatur, GA)
• Shannon Green (Fredericksburg, VA)
• Regina Gray (Denver, CO)
• Brad Holland (Tucson, AZ)
• Eddie Martinez (Los Angeles, CA)
• La’Tasha Mayes (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Michael Lappin and John West (Atlanta, GA)
• Dan Waszak (Detroit, MI)

Dr. Biden heard from a gay man who lost his job in 2010, the same year he was diagnosed with HIV. Because of his pre-existing conditions, he went four years without health insurance — until he signed up for a plan through the federal Marketplace. At the meeting, he told Dr. Biden that the Affordable Care Act saved his life.

She also heard from a same-sex married couple from Atlanta, Georgia, who, as small business owners, previously had private health care plans. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, they now have a plan with lower co-pays, lower deductibles, and lower out-of-pocket costs — and they’re saving more than $5,000 a year.

And she heard from a 21-year-old lesbian student from Virginia who switched from an expensive school-sponsored plan to one she bought on the Marketplace that is saving her hundreds of dollars each month.

Dr. Jill Biden talks with members of the LGBT community who have benefited from the Affordable Care Act in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, March 26, 2014.

Stories like these highlight why the Affordable Care Act will make such a difference for LGBT people: because pre-existing conditions are not a barrier to coverage, because LGBT individuals can’t be denied coverage or charged a higher rate because of who they are, and because it is affordable.

To learn more, visit HealthCare.gov, or call the 24/7 call center, available in over 150 languages, at 1-800-318-2596 by March 31.

Gautam Raghavan is an Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

In case you missed it:

• Twenty Reasons to Get Covered
• How Obamacare Helps the LGBT Community

In this explainer video, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney highlights the importance of ENDA – not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s good for business and the economy.

Watch on YouTube

In case you missed it, read President Obama’s Op-Ed in support of ENDA.

And to learn more about the business case for ENDA, check out these resources:

• Business Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (Center for American Progress)

• The Business Impact of LGBT-Supportive Workplace Policies (The Williams Institute)

• Opinion Poll: Small Businesses Support Workplace Nondiscrimination Policies (Small Business Majority)

Every year since taking office, President Obama has invited members and allies of the LGBT community to celebrate Pride Month at the White House. Tomorrow, the President will host this event for the fifth time, to bring together national leaders, elected officials, faith leaders, members of the military and veterans community, and local advocates and organizers to reflect upon the progress we’ve made and recommit to the work that lies ahead.

This year, the White House invited nine Americans from across the country to attend the White House LGBT Pride Month Reception on Thursday, June 13.  All of them are members or allies of the LGBT community who wrote letters to the President to express their thanks and to share their hopes, ambitions, and concerns for the future. 

Check out a video of White House staff inviting the letter writers to the White House Pride reception, and then watch the President’s remarks live at the reception on Thursday, June 13, starting around 5:00 PM EDT.

Gautam Raghavan is an Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement

Last night, President Obama delivered remarks before over 200 members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community at a White House celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. The audience included national, state, and local community leaders; elected officials; leaders of philanthropic, youth, and arts organizations; and members of the President’s Administration, including Sri Srinivasan, who was recently confirmed unanimously by the Senate to become the first South Asian American federal appeals court judge.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration in the East Room of the White House, May 28, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

In his remarks, the President highlighted the contributions of generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who, in his words, “helped build this country, and helped to defend this country, and to make America what it is today.”  He said:

We value these voices because from the very beginning, ours has been a nation of immigrants; a nation challenged and shaped and pushed ever forward by diverse perspectives and fresh thinking.  And in order to keep our edge and stay ahead in the global race, we need to figure out a way to fix our broken immigration system -- to welcome that infusion of newness, while still maintaining the enduring strength of our laws.  And the service and the leadership of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have proved that point time and again. 

Watch video of the President’s remarks or read the transcript.

Following the President’s remarks, a diverse group of artists, authors, and musicians spoke or performed, showcasing the many contributions of AAPIs to the rich artistic traditions of America.  Performers included Karsh Kale, Paula Fuga, John Cruz, Amy Tan, Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company, and Jessica Sanchez. 

View video footage of the following performances:

• Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company performs “Dariush”
• Paula Fuga and John Cruz perform “Island Style” and “Lilikoi”
• Amy Tan reads from her essay, “Heritage”

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Guests at the event represented tremendous diversity and talent within the LGBT community. They included students and community organizers, advocates and artists, and veterans – all committed to the pursuit of equality, justice, and dignity for LGBT people. 

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden speak at a reception with emerging young leaders of the LGBT community at the Naval Observatory Residence in Washington, D.C., September 19, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

In welcoming guests to the Residence, Dr. Biden took a moment to acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and thanked all our brave young men and women in uniform – and their families – for their service. In his remarks, the Vice President spoke to his own commitment to civil rights, and paid tribute to the many advocates and heroes who have helped pave the way towards a more perfect union.

While at the Residence, guests also had the opportunity to view several panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which were provided by The NAMES Project Foundation. Earlier this year, a section of the Quilt was put on display in the East Wing of the White House and Dr. Biden also viewed several panels of the Quilt at the National Building Museum.

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director of Public Engagement

President Barack Obama signs the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 during a ceremony at the Interior Department in Washington, D.C., Dec. 22, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

 For we are not a nation that says, “don’t ask, don’t tell.” We are a nation that says, “Out of many, we are one.”  We are a nation that welcomes the service of every patriot.  We are a nation that believes that all men and women are created equal. Those are the ideals that generations have fought for.  Those are the ideals that we uphold today.  And now, it is my honor to sign this bill into law.

 -- President Barack Obama, December 22, 2010.

One year ago, President Obama signed into law the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act, bringing to an end a discriminatory policy that forced patriotic Americans to serve under a cloud of anxiety and isolation and stood in stark contrast to our shared values of unity and equality.

One year later, gay and lesbian service members can serve the country they love without hiding who they love – and both our military and country are stronger for it. 

To commemorate the one year anniversary of President Obama signing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal Act, we asked a few former service members to reflect on the long journey toward repeal and what it was like to watch President Obama sign the Repeal Act into law:

Zoe Dunning

Until her retirement in 2007, Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning was one of the only openly gay service members in the country, having successfully fought an attempted discharge in 1993.  For many of those years, she served on the board of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network as an advocate for the repeal of DADT. 

Watch Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning's story here.

Eric Alva

Retired Staff Sergeant Eric Alva joined the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 19 years old.  He served honorably for 13 years until 2003, when he became the first American soldier wounded in Iraq.  SSgt Alva was subsequently medically retired, and for his heroism, received a Purple Heart.

Watch Retired Staff Sergeant Eric Alva's story here.

Grethe Cammermeyer

Retired Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer, RN, PhD, is a Vietnam Veteran and Bronze Star recipient who spent much of her life advocating against the original ban on gays in the military and later against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  Her autobiography, “Serving in Silence,” was recognized by the National Education Association and later made into an Emmy Award winning movie starring Glenn Close and produced by Barbra Streisand.  Today, Col. Cammermeyer also serves on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS).

Watch retired Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer's story here.

Jonathan Hopkins

Former Army Captain Jonathan Hopkins graduated at the top of his West Point class and was deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning three Bronze Stars, including one for valor.  Fourteen months after being outed, he was honorably discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in August 2010.

Former Army Captain Jonathan Hopkins' story here.

Sue Fulton

Former Army Captain Sue Fulton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1980 – the first class to include women.  Today, she is the Executive Director of Knights Out – an organization of West Point LGBT alumni, staff, and faculty – and she also serves as a Member of the West Point Board of Visitors.

Watch former Army Captain Sue Fulton's story here.

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

She began her remarks with an inspiring story:

I recently read an open letter written from a PFLAG father to America’s youth.  He wrote, “My wife and I have two sons. We think that they are the best kids in the whole world. They’re very different, with very diverse personalities, talents, and interests. One of the other things that makes them different is that one is straight and one is gay. But the important thing is this: we love them equally.”

At its core – it’s such a simple message – “we love our sons” – both of them. But that acceptance and support can make all the difference.

And as you all know well – acceptance by those you love is the greatest acceptance of all. 

Dr. Jill Biden speaks at the 2011 PFLAG National Convention, Alexandria, VA, Nov. 4, 2011. (Photo courtesy of PFLAG National)

As an educator and parent, Dr. Biden knows firsthand the importance of family support in providing a safe school and community, and understands the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people face:

We all know that self-confidence can be a challenge for youth and adolescents – even under the best of circumstances.  These are the years when all kids are trying to figure out who they are and who they hope to be.  For children who are struggling with understanding their sexual orientation or gender identity, the teen years can be particularly challenging.   And, of course, kids are not always kind to each other during these times, especially when one of them is different.

Along with the President, Vice President, and First Lady, Dr. Biden has been a part of a team that has made safety and security for LGBT people a priority:

I’m proud of the progress the Obama-Biden Administration has made in the last two years for the LGBT community – including the signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The White House also held a Conference on Bullying Prevention, and the Department of Education has held summits on this issue as well, and issued guidance to help combat bullying in schools and support Gay Straight Alliances.

This progress is important, but there is still more to do.  At this critical time for education in our country, we need to ensure that our schools are producing the next generation of American leaders and heroes.  We must insure that our classrooms are safer for all students to learn, grow, and thrive.

In closing her remarks, Dr. Biden asked the parents, families, and friends in the room to continue their good work to change hearts and minds:

I want to say to each of you here today: thank you for raising your voice and working together to open minds, shift attitudes and support all of our sons and daughters, students and neighbors.

Some of you come from places where yours is the only voice of support and acceptance – but when you speak, people listen.  And we need you to keep speaking out, to keep shining a light on this important issue.

Read Dr. Biden’s full remarks as prepared and watch “It Gets Better” messages from the President, Vice President, and other members of the Administration

Gautam Raghavan is an Associate Director of Public Engagement.