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Obama at Pride Reception: You've Made Our Union 'More Perfect'
Obama at Pride Reception: You've Made Our Union 'More Perfect'
President Obama celebrated gains in LGBT rights and urged further activism at the White House Pride Month reception.
At his eighth White House reception celebrating Pride Month, President Obama today thanked the LGBT activists who "have helped to make our union just a little more perfect."
He touted the arrival of marriage equality, the demise of "don't ask, don't tell," and the enactment of LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes law during his administration, but reminded attendees not to be complacent -- that there is work to be done to end employment discrimination, HIV, violence against transgender people, and persecution of LGBT people around the world. He also encouraged them to work to help other groups of people, such as children living in poverty or women overseas who are denied education.
He quoted gay African-American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, saying "We need in every community a group of angelic troublemakers," and urged attendees to be just that. Watch his full remarks below.
