Video: Obama, Clinton vow to defend gay rights, adding ‘it’s not who we are as Americans’

June 23, 2010

Posted by Elise Labott on cnn.com:

"President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to end violence and discrimination against gays and lesbians at home and abroad Tuesday, as the Obama administration moves to extend further benefits to gays working in the federal government.

"'It's not right, it's not who we are as Americans, and we're going to put a stop to it," Obama told a raucous White House reception honoring Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. 

"President Obama also expressed his support for the repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), stating: 'Committed gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.'  See video:

"Earlier, Clinton received several standing ovations from a standing-room only crowd of several hundred during her address at an event co-hosted by the State Department's Office of Civil Rights and GLIFAA, the organization for Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies.

"'We are moving together in the right direction,' said Clinton. 'We reaffirm our commitment to protect the rights of all human beings.'

"The White House event invited politicians and government officials as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender American from across the country, including young people 'who have stood up for equality,' said White House spokesman Shin Inouye.

... "The Obama administration is expected to announce Wednesday that gay workers will be able to take medical leave to care for the sick or newborn children of their same-sex partners as part of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which generally allows those working for companies with 50 or more employees to take 12 unpaid weeks off to care for newborns or children with serious health issues."

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