President Obama referenced the LGBT community’s struggle in his inaugural address tonight, mentioning both his dedication to equality in America and, specifically, to making sure LGBT service members receive fair treatment.
In his speech, the President remarked that it America’s duty to fulfill the promise that “if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead—no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love.”
In an address that covered gun violence, climate control, voting rights and women in combat, Obama promised to “ensure equal treatment for all service members, and equal benefits for their families – gay and straight.”
The President also urged the House to give the thumbs up to the version of the Violence Against Women Act that the Senate approved today, one that includes provisions for LGBT victims as well.
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Our cause was clearly on the minds of the First Family and congressional Democrats tonight: Tracey Hepner, co-founder of the Military Partners and Families Coalition, sat with First Lady Michelle Obama, while Kelly Costello and her wife, Fabiola Morales, were invited as guests of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the lead sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act.
Hepner , who works for the Department of Homeland Security, is married to the Armed Force’s first openly gay general, Army Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith.
Costello and Morales, who is Peruvian, are a binational same-sex couple and when Morales’ student visa expires next year, she will have to leave the U.S., even though Costello is pregnant.
Freddie27
Are you literally so incompetent a journalist that having referenced the State of the Union in the title, you then call it the “inaugural address” in the first line. Been there, done that a few weeks ago, did you miss it? Seriously, how does such a glaring error pass even the most basic editorial look?
AlexM
Inaugural adress? lol
queertypie
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a major political leader’s term of office.
The State of the Union is the address presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress, typically delivered annually. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows presidents to outline their legislative agenda.
Aren’t you embarassed?
brent
I think it’s great that he metioned gays, but why did he have to lump us in with the polar bear freaks who believe in man made weather. I also don’t think gun control is in the best interest of gays, since we know from the Matthew Sheppard case and others like him that the police cannot be counted on to save us. It would have been nice if he went after the ACLU, since they are the ones fighting to allow the insane to walk among us.
John Doe
I’ve almost given up on Queerty.
The number of mistakes in these “news” stories is essentially weekly at this point. Some mistakes are trivial and humorous…. while sometimes the errors are very misleading.
Queerty, PLEASE be a bit slower in pressing “publish”. Much better to be accurate by proofing and taking your time vs. publishing quickly and posting articles filled with mistakes that are rather obvious to some readers.
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As it relates to Obama’s speech, I think that it would have been great if Obama would have scolded the Republicans for continuing to pushing the DOMA lawsuits through. With SCOTUS right there in front of him during his speech…. it would have been good to really emphasize the need for equal treatment under the law vs. continued discrimination.
Rock Star
I guess you need writers and editors who can more accurately describe news events without looking like middle school reporters without any guidance. Even in elementary school I knew the difference between the inaugural address and the state of the union address. Gee Wizz.
This certainly distracts the reader of the importance of this issue and impugns the journalistic integral effort of the subject at hand. It’s not like you don’t have a way of checking your facts before you speak out.
Nobody’s perfect but this is a big mistake and it shows me that the writer has no basic understanding of how our government works even at its most basic level. Gay people are among the smartest folks in the world, but it is an insult to the homosexual community to have this kind of “reporting” actually make it online.
Have a gay day.
BJ McFrisky
Terrific—we’re now in the same category as battered women. Thanks, gay community, for furthering our position as perpetual victims.
Joetx
So he mentioned us in a couple of blurbs. Whoopie.
Plus, in the part about military spouses, he failed to mention that DOMA prevents the government from making the benefits truly equal.
@ brent & bj mcfrisky – F off.