Obama Administration Debuts LGBT Webpage

Enumerating past accomplishments from the substantive to the symbolic, the Obama administration has launched an LGBT-specific page on the White House website to coincide with the first day of LGBT Pride Month.

Dedicated to issues affecting LGBT Americans — by all accounts an increasingly key donor constituency for Obama's 2012 reelection campaign — the webpage features a laundry list of administration accomplishments: signing "don't ask, don't tell" repeal into law, declaring Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, as well as inviting LGBT families to the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House and awarding the Medal of Freedom to LGBT trailblazers Billie Jean King and the late Harvey Milk.

"Since taking office, the President has demonstrated that his vision for a brighter future includes greater equality for LGBT Americans," the website reads. "The President and his Administration are dedicated to eliminating barriers to equality, fighting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and engaging LGBT communities across the country."

Though titled "Winning the Future[:] President Obama and the LGBT Community," the website does not break news regarding some of the more pressing calls for equality made by gay Americans — particularly the call for the president's endorsement of equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Though the administration supports congressional repeal of DOMA, President Obama has said he is "evolving" on and "wrestling" with the issue. 

Asked in the Tuesday White House press briefing why the president has not announced public support for marriage equality, White House press secretary Jay Carney replied,  "The president has said in the past what his position is. It hasn’t changed. And if it changes, I’m sure he’ll let you all know."

The site includes "It Gets Better" videos made by President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and administration officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.    

View the site here. The president's proclamation for Gay Pride Month, issued Tuesday, can be read here.