Category Archives: White House

White House Pride reception set for June 13

The White House

The White House is holding a Pride reception on June 13 (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The White House is hosting its annual reception celebrating June as the month of Pride this year on June 13, marking the first such celebration in President Obama’s second-term.

One person invited to attend to the event received an invitation on Thursday. A White House official confirmed the event is taking place June 13.

The Obama administration has held a Pride reception at the White House for each of the previous four years President Obama has been in office. Attendees are typically made up of leaders from the LGBT community, including lawmakers, activists and celebrities. The occasion on June 13 marks the fifth such celebration at the White House.

Last year, the Pride celebration took place shortly after Obama came out in support for marriage equality, which he referenced in his remarks to attendees.

“And Americans may be still evolving when it comes to marriage equality — but as I’ve indicated personally, Michelle and I have made up our minds on this issue,” Obama said.

 

White House mum on gay donors, Exxon Mobil

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest had no comment on Friday when asked about gay donors expressing discontent with the Democratic Party or Exxon Mobil’s rejection of non-discrimination protections for LGBT workers.

Under questioning from the Washington Blade, Earnest said he doesn’t “want to react to” threats from gay Democratic donors who say they’ll no longer give funds in the wake of gay couples being excluded from immigration reform and the White House withholding an LGBT workplace discrimination executive order.

Instead, with respect to immigration reform, Earnest reiterated that the bill pending before the Senate doesn’t have everything Obama wants, including a provision for bi-national same-sex couples. The spokesperson suggested that provision may come up as a floor amendment to the immigration bill.

“And the priority that you’ve identified there is one of the things that the President is not getting — at least at this point, doesn’t look like he’ll get in this compromise,” Earnest said. “I do think that there is an amendment process on the Senate floor where this could be considered, so I don’t want to predict the outcome at this point. But what I can tell you is that this is something that — this is a compromise piece of legislation that’s moving forward.”

On the executive order for LGBT workplace non-discrimination protections, Earnest said he had no updates.

“I don’t have any updates for you in terms of any timing or any possible executive order, or whether anything is being drafted or anything else you might ask along those lines,” Earnest said.

Earlier this week, Jonathan Lewis, a progressive Miami, Fla., based philanthropist, told the Blade he would withhold donations to Democrats “until we see our friends’ actions and deeds align with their rhetoric.” In a subsequent article by Reuters, Juan Ahonen-Jover, another Florida-based philanthropist, said he’s not giving until “the Democratic Party starts acting like Democrats and show some spine.”

Earnest still had no comment about the directive when asked about the decision of shareholders at Exxon Mobil on Wednesday to reject a resolution that would have expanded its equal employment opportunity policy to include non-discrimination protections for LGBT workers.

“Look, I don’t have any update for you on the executive order front,” Earnest said.

In a leaked email obtained by the Blade, Democratic National Committee Chair Andrew Tobias said the rejection of the policy at Exxon Mobil may be the “hook” that puts the executive order “across the finish line.”

A transcript of the exchange follows:

Washington Blade: Thanks, Josh. This week, some prominent, gay Democratic Party donors publicly expressed discontent with the White House over not issuing that executive order against LGBT workplace discrimination and with Senate Democrats over the exclusion of gay couples from immigration reform. One donor, Jonathan Lewis, said he’s withholding donations to the Democratic Party “until we see our friends’ actions and deeds align with the rhetoric.” Are these threats from gay Democratic Party donors significant?

Josh Earnest: Well, I haven’t seen the threats, so I don’t want to react to them. But I’ll tell you that what we have said about the immigration compromise that’s moving through the Senate is that it broadly reflects the priorities that the President laid out, but the President is not getting every single thing that he wanted.

And the priority that you’ve identified there is one of the things that the President is not getting — at least at this point, doesn’t look like he’ll get in this compromise. I do think that there is an amendment process on the Senate floor where this could be considered, so I don’t want to predict the outcome at this point. But what I can tell you is that this is something that — this is a compromise piece of legislation that’s moving forward.

In terms of the executive order, I don’t have any updates for you in terms of any timing or any possible executive order, or whether anything is being drafted or anything else you might ask along those lines.

Blade: But I do want to put a fine point on that, because in an attempt to allay some of these concerns, DNC Treasurer, Andrew Tobias, said in an email to donors that was leaked to me that Exxon Mobil’s decision on Wednesday to reject a nondiscrimination policy towards LGBT workers may be a hook to push that executive order across the finish line. Does that company’s rejection of a nondiscrimination protection on Wednesday prompt any reconsideration at the White House about that directive?

Earnest: No, look, I don’t have any update for you on the executive order front.

Watch the video here:

LGBT-inclusive education reform bill introduced in Senate

Senate HELP Committee Chair Tom Harkin has pledged to move ENDA this year (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Senate HELP Committee Chair Tom Harkin has pledged to advance ENDA this year. (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The lead Democrat on education issues in the U.S. Senate introduced on Tuesday an education reform bill that includes provisions aimed at prohibiting bullying and discrimination of LGBT students.

For the first time, Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced the LGBT-inclusive legislation to reauthorize the Elementary & Secondary Education Act with language along the lines of  the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe School Schools Improvement Act.

In a statement to the Washington Blade, Harkin touted the inclusion of the LGBT bills in his 1,150-page long bill known as the  Strengthening America’s Schools Act of 2013

“Because every child deserves a safe and healthy place to learn, we have included the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act in this year’s reauthorization of ESEA,” Harkin said. “These provisions will help to ensure that all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and afforded equal opportunities to succeed in the classroom.”

Modeled after Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the SNDA-like provision in the bill establishes LGBT students as a protected class and prohibits schools from discriminating against any student based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. The discrimination includes allowing bullying against them.

The bill also contains provisions similar to SSIA that advocates for a positive school climate and requires reporting on incidents of bullying, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Plans are already underway to advance the bill out of committee. In a statement, Harkin announced he’ll start the markup of the bill, which is co-sponsored by every Democratic member of the committee, starting Tuesday.

The LGBT provisions are a small portion of the bill. The reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, which intends to restructure “No Child Left Behind,” aims to support teachers and principals to help provide high-quality instruction and focus federal attention on supporting states in turning around low-performing schools.

Given that every Democrat on the panel is a co-sponsor of the education reform bill, the measure should have sufficient support for a successful committee vote. It remains to be seen whether any Republicans will vote in favor of the measure.

On the same day that Harkin introduced the education reform bill, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced the standalone version of the Student Non-Discrimination Act.

“No child should dread going to school because they don’t feel safe,” Franken said. “Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability and national origin. My proposal extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who shouldn’t ever feel afraid of going to school.”

Franken’s legislation has 30 co-sponsors, including lesbian Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), although the co-sponsors are Democrats.

In the House, SNDA has already been introduced. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), a gay lawmaker who’s sponsoring the bill, commended Harkin for including the LGBT measure as part of his education reform bill.

“SNDA’s inclusion in this important bill is reflective of how important protecting all students is and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Education & Workforce Committee to move forward on our bipartisan bill in the House,” Polis said.

SSIA has also already been introduced in the House and Senate. In the House, the bill is sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) while in the Senate, the chief sponsor is Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

Last year, Harkin introduced a version of ESEA reauthorization that lacked either SNDA or SSIA. During committee markup, advocates pressured Franken and Casey to introduce their legislation as amendments during the committee markup. They ultimately withdrew their amendments in committee while promising to offer the bills as amendments on the Senate floor. However, the full Senate never considered ESEA reauthorization.

LGBT advocates praised Harkin for introducing the LGBT-inclusive education reform bill and said they’d work to make sure the measure is signed into law.

Ian Thompson, legislative representative of the American Civil Liberties Union, said his organization is “very pleased” Harkin included in ESEA reauthorization a piece of LGBT legislation the ACLU has long sought.

“The fact that there is still no federal law – in the year 2013 – that explicitly protects LGBT students from discrimination and harassment in our nation’s public schools is unacceptable,” Thompson said. “We look forward to working with Chairman Harkin and Sen. Franken, SNDA’s longtime Senate champion, to advance this much-needed and long-overdue civil rights measure through the HELP Committee.”

Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, called the introduction of the LGBT-inclusive bill “a significant moment for our nation’s education system.”

“We are thrilled that the Senate is moving to address the long overdue issue of school bullying and harassment” Byard said. “This bill includes critical components to ensure safer learning environments. We will continue to work with the Senate as the process moves forward to make sure that key provisions remain intact so that every student can reach their fullest potential.”

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, also expressed support for working with Congress on issues of bullying and harassment as the legislation goes forward.

“As the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is being considered, we look forward to working with Congress to ensure that all students are safe and healthy and can learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment,” Inouye said.

DNC treasurer says ‘process’ underway for ENDA directive

Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andrew Tobias says a 'process' under over an ENDA executive order (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andrew Tobias (Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The treasurer of the Democratic National Committee is telling LGBT donors that “a process” is underway that would lead to President Obama signing an executive order banning LGBT workplace discrimination among federal contractors.

In an email dated May 30 from an off-the-record listserv leaked to the Washington Blade, Andy Tobias, who’s gay, said in response to questions about the directive that he’s spoken to officials within the administration and “everyone’s for it,” but the hold up is related to “process.”

“I have spoken to people in an attempt to understand better myself what the delay is — and to lobby for its getting done,” Tobias wrote. “Those people have left me satisfied that our frustration is heard, that the hold-up is not staffers who oppose our rights but a process that is broader than just this one very important and long delayed agenda item. To which I basically respond: can I share more of the specifics? (‘Please don’t') and can you please get a move on?! (‘we hear you brother; keep the faith’).”

Tobias, who’s gay, concludes by saying other LGBT agenda items were achieved under President Obama, including hate crimes protection legislation, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal and the completion of the president’s evolution on same-sex marriage. He added, “But they got done and this will get done too.“

The email is a follow-up to an email that Tobias wrote already published by the Washington Blade from the same listserv responding to criticism over first lady Michelle Obama’s speech during a DNC LGBT gala in New York. The second email is in response to a question from Freedom to Work’s Tico Almeida.

Tobias declined to comment on the emails, although multiple individuals on the listserv confirmed they came from his email address.

Other emails from Tobias leaked to the Blade reveal that he’s attempted to tamp down concerns among some on the listserv over the White House withholding the executive order. The second email is the one in which he talks most explicitly about a process potentially leading to the directive.

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, reiterated that an executive order is a “hypothetical” matter for the administration.

“As we’ve said before, the White House has no updates regarding a hypothetical Executive Order on LGBT non-discrimination for federal contractors,” Inouye said.

Still, this assertion of a process is consistent with indications from the White House that some kind of study is underway — or possibly completed — on LGBT discrimination protections.

In April, Inouye alluded to an examination in a previously unpublished response to the Blade over a little-noticed year-old quote from the Center for American Progress’ Winnie Stachelberg about a study on the issue from the Council of Economic Advisers. Inouye said, “We continue to study the issue.”

That year-old quote came after a high-level White House meeting in which Senior Adviser to the President Valerie Jarrett told LGBT advocates the administration wouldn’t at the time issue an executive order for LGBT workplace protections. A source familiar with the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said White House officials didn’t say CEA would conduct a study, but noted there are multiple options for how to study the issue and gave CEA as an example.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney didn’t deny the existence of the study last week when questioned about it during a news briefing, saying, “I don’t have any updated status on that for you.” The White House didn’t respond to further requests from the Blade to elaborate.

Internal work within the Obama administration on the executive order reportedly was done more than a year ago. Sources told the Blade last year that the Labor and Justice departments indicated they could implement the order if Obama signed it.

But if a study is underway within the White House, it’s being kept under tight wraps.

The Human Rights Campaign, Freedom to Work, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Williams Institute said they’re unaware of such a study. Center for American Progress didn’t respond to requests for comment about it.

Groups that did respond said LGBT advocates — particularly Stachelberg and then-HRC president Joe Solmonese — strongly pushed back on the idea of a White House study a year ago, saying additional information was unnecessary amid other reports that have already been published.

For example, LGBT groups led by the Movement Advancement Project, HRC and CAP last week unveiled a 131-page report, titled “A Broken Bargain: Discrimination, Fewer Benefits and More Taxes for LGBT Workers” detailing the harms of the absence of any federal LGBT workplace discrimination protections. Among the findings were 67 percent of small business owners support federal workplace non-discrimination protections and 63 percent of Americans believe religious beliefs aren’t an acceptable reason to fire LGBT workers.

Meanwhile, advocates, particularly at Freedom to Work, say the executive order is a campaign promise from President Obama based on a response to the Houston GLBT Political Caucus in 2008 indicating that he supports a non-discrimination policy for all federal contractors based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

It’s possible the administration is awaiting the rulings from the Supreme Court in the Prop 8 and DOMA cases before the end of this month to evaluate what further action to take.

Tico Almeida, president of Freedom of Work, said he’s hopeful that the administration is in the middle of a process that will lead to Obama signing the order sometime in June in accordance with Pride, but would “bet on a signature at some point later this year.”

“I have never lost faith that President Obama is a man of his word who will fulfill his written campaign promise and sign the executive order,” Almeida said. “He will build on his unmatched record as the best president ever for advancing LGBT equality. I’m keeping faith in President Obama.”

The full email from Tobias follows:

Hey, Tico.  I can only give you an unsatisfactory answer.  But here it is.

I have spoken to people in an attempt to understand better myself what the delay is — and to lobby for its getting done.  Those people have left me satisfied that our frustration is heard, that the hold-up is not staffers who oppose our rights but a process that is broader than just this one very important and long delayed agenda item.

To which I basically respond: can I share more of the specifics? (“Please don’t”) and can you please get a move on?! (“we hear you brother; keep the faith”).

If this just serves to make you more angry, then of course I should have ignored your question.  But it’s a completely fair question and I’d rather be damned for trying to provide at least a little context, unsatisfactory though it surely is, than for failing to respond.

If we all keep pushing, not least with this Exxon action to focus around, we’ll get there — later than we should have but a great deal sooner than we would have if we hadn’t helped reelect the President.

Hate crimes was done too slowly — we deserved it 20 years ago. DADT and evolution on marriage and all the rest. But they got done and this will get done too.

Push and support.  Both directly in our self interest.

Andy

White House objects to ‘conscience’ language in defense bill

The White House “strongly objects” to “conscience” language aimed to make it easier for service members to harass their gay colleagues that was inserted to the House version of major defense budget legislation — while exercising a veto threat over the bill as a whole.

In a Statement of Administration Policy on Monday, the White House Office of Management and Budget says the language would undermine a commander’s authority to maintain discipline in his unit.

“The administration strongly objects to section 530, which would require the Armed Forces to accommodate, except in cases of military necessity, ‘actions and speech’ reflecting the “conscience, moral principles, or religious beliefs of the member,” the statement says. “By limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment.”

The language was added last week to the House version of the fiscal year 2014 defense authorization bill as an amendment during the committee markup by Rep. John Fleming (R-La.)

Fleming’s measure puts the burden on the Pentagon to prove that the expression of religious beliefs would be an “actual harm” to good order and discipline in refusing to accommodate them. It’s seen as way for troops to harass their gay colleagues for religious reasons without fear of reprisal.

The language expands on existing “conscience” provision that were signed into law last year by President Obama, who at the time called them “unnecessary” and gave assurances the Pentagon would implement it in a way that was consistent with good order.

The White House enumerates other concerns over the defense legislation, such as the restrictions on the administration to align the armed forces in a way consistent with Obama’s military strategy.

The statement also objects to the way the defense authorization bill “assumes adoption of the House Budget Resolution framework,” saying Obama’s senior advisers would recommend a veto if the legislation were sent to this desk under this framework. No such veto threat is explicitly made for the conscience provision in the bill.

Ian Thompson, legislative representative for the American Civil Liberties Union, says the ACLU is “pleased” the administration has objections to the language and called on Congress to remove language as the legislative process goes further.

“We are pleased to see the administration’s very strong objections to this unnecessary, dangerous provision,” Thompson said. “Members of Congress should heed the warnings about this provision having a ‘significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment’ by removing it before the defense bill is sent to President Obama later this year.”

Fleming’s office didn’t immediately respond to the Washington Blade’s request to comment on the White House’s objections to the lawmaker’s amendment.

The House is expected to vote on its version of the defense authorization bill this week. Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee, where Democrats hold a majority, was set to consider its version of the legislation on Wednesday.

New calls for ENDA directive as White House reception approaches

Citizens Metal, Barack Obama, gay news, Washington Blade

President Obama is facing renewed calls for an ENDA executive order. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The absence of federal LGBT workplace non-discrimination protections continues to rile advocates as the White House prepares to welcome members of the LGBT community for a Pride reception.

LGBT advocates told the Washington Blade days before the event they had a singular desire for what they want President Obama to say to attendees — that he’ll sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers.

Fred Sainz, vice president of communications for the Human Rights Campaign, recalled Obama’s words during the 2008 presidential campaign as he called on him to announce he’ll sign the executive order.

“It’s been five long years since he made a promise to sign it and it’s long past time it gets done,” Sainz said. “This president has done virtually everything right on issues of LGBT equality. He’s been a steadfast ally. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see time go by without his signature on an EO that would protect millions of LGBT workers nationwide.”

The executive order is considered a campaign promise based on a “yes” response that then-candidate Obama gave on a questionnaire to the Houston GLBT Political Caucus indicating he supports a non-discrimination policy for all federal contractors based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Pride reception comes as the LGBT workplace non-discrimination issue has gained prominence — even in mainstream media. Last week, Ellen Sturtz, a lesbian activist affiliated with GetEQUAL, made headlines when she confronted first lady Michelle Obama at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in D.C. and heckled her about the executive order.

Given the media interest in the confrontation last week, it’s possible advocates would pursue the same strategy — this time at an event where the president is slated to appear and one geared specifically for the LGBT community.

Heather Cronk, managing director of GetEQUAL, said her organization is planning “an action” for this week when asked whether her organization is doing something for the Pride reception. She declined to elaborate.

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, offered few details via email when asked what Obama intends to say at the Pride reception.

“On Thursday, the President will deliver remarks at the LGBT Pride Month celebration at the White House,” Inouye said.

Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, took the liberty of crafting a speech for Obama.

“When I first campaigned for president, I promised – in writing – to take executive action preventing federal contractors like ExxonMobil from wasting taxpayer money by discriminating against LGBT Americans,” Almeida said he hoped Obama would say. “For five years you’ve waited for me to do what’s right – sometimes patiently and sometimes not. … I’m sorry we’ve moved too slowly on this promise, but the good news is I brought a pen with me today.”

As pressure mounts on Obama to sign the executive order, members of the LGBT community from across the country are slated to make an appearance at the Pride reception on Thursday.

In a statement on June 3, Daryl Justin Finizio, mayor of New London, Conn., announced on his Facebook page he was set to attend the reception along with his spouse, Todd Ledbetter.

“My partner and I are moved by this invitation and are very grateful to President Obama for doing so much to support equal rights for all Americans,” Finizio said. “We’re proud to attend and represent our progressive city and its broad and diverse community of people from different nationalities, religions and genders.”

Also slated to attend the reception is the first gay couple legally married in Michigan, according to MLive.com. Gene Barfield and his spouse, Tim LaCroix, were married in March in the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians reservation after being together 30 years. Their marriage isn’t recognized by the state itself, which has a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Barfield, who marched on the White House and returned his service medals from his time in the U.S. Navy in protest of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” reportedly said he was shocked to receive the invitation.

“We’re always going to be in shock about this,” Barfield said. “The fact that there is going to be an LGBT celebration at the White House, times change, times change.”

According to Los Angeles Times, also planning to attend the reception is Rev. R. Guy Erwin, who was recently elected the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s first openly gay bishop. Bishop-elect Erwin was elected last month to a six-year term in the church’s Southwest California Synod, which includes the greater Los Angeles area.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force said she wants the president to announce at the reception he’ll issue a directive to protect LGBT employees.

“We want to see him honor Pride month by ending the daily fear experienced by millions of Americans of losing their livelihoods because of who they are or who they love,” Carey said.

Obama calls for ENDA passage at White House reception

Barack Obama, White House, Democratic Party, gay news, Washington Blade, Pride reception, Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama at the White House Pride reception (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

President Obama energized attendees at the annual Pride reception held at the White House on Thursday by saying “we need to get” the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed.

Citing a letter he said he received from a PFLAG mom from Ohio named “Susan” expressing concern that LGBT people aren’t protected from harassment in the workplace, Obama said, “I share that concern,” and issued a call to pass ENDA — without mentioning the bill by name.

“There’s a bipartisan bill moving forward in the Senate that would ban discrimination against all LGBT Americans in the workplace, now and forever,” Obama said. “We need to get that passed. I want to sign that bill. We need to get it done now.”

Despite difficulties in passing ENDA — mostly notably the fact that Republicans are in control of the House — Obama told attendees in the East Room of the White House that he sees a path for passing the bill based on the successes the LGBT community has seen in recent years.

“And I think we can make that happen — because after the last four and a half years, you can’t tell me things can’t happen,” Obama said. “Look around. We’ve got gay and lesbian soldiers, and sailors, and airmen, and Marines who are here today. We’ve got married couples from places like New York and Washington State.”

The White House Pride reception took place amid renewed calls for Obama to sign an executive order that would bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers. Activists are calling the measure a campaign promise and say it’ll protect millions of workers from discrimination.

Last week, Ellen Sturtz, a lesbian activist affiliated with GetEQUAL, made headlines when she confronted first lady Michelle Obama about signing the executive order. Earlier on Thursday, eight activists from Ohio and Texas affiliated with GetEQUAL were arrested outside House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) office in D.C. after they called on him to move forward with ENDA. Receiving no commitments from him, they also called on Obama to issue the executive order.

Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, said “it’s fantastic” that Obama spoke out in favor of ENDA during the reception, but wants the president to take additional action behind the scenes.

“He should follow up his speech today by placing phone calls to lobby ENDA’s holdout Democratic senators like Florida’s Bill Nelson, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Mark Pryor of Arkansas,” Almeida said. “Between the president, Joe Biden, and the White House legislative team, I bet they could convince those Democrats to support ENDA.”

Despite the call to pass ENDA, LGBT advocates who have been calling for the executive order — and weren’t in attendance — said they still expect Obama to take administrative action to protect LGBT workers from discrimination.

Fred Sainz, vice president communications of the Human Rights Campaign, said he appreciates Obama’s support for legislation, but reminded him that issuing the executive order takes only the stroke of a pen.

“We’re elated to have the president’s support for ENDA,” Sainz said. “But we also want his support for an executive order. ENDA need not come before an EO. People’s jobs are on the line and there’s no time to waste.”

Almeida also renewed his call on President Obama to sign the executive order, saying previous responses from White House spokesperson Shin Inouye that the directive is “hypothetical” aren’t truthful.

“But no presidential speech or Champagne reception compares to the strong workplace protections that we will achieve once President Obama honors his five-year-old campaign promise to sign the federal contractor executive order,” Almeida said. “It’s time for President Obama to instruct his staffer Shin Inouye to stop pretending the executive order [is] ‘hypothetical.’ Shin is insulting gay and transgender victims of discrimination. It’s time for the president to sign.”

Inouye didn’t respond to a request for comment on Almeida’s assertions.

On Monday, the Washington Blade published an email from Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andrew Tobias asserting that the directive will happen. But Tobias wrote that “a process” is holding up the directive “that is broader than just this one very important and long delayed agenda item.”

Just hours before the reception, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney addressed the executive order in response to a question from NBC News’ Peter Alexander and maintained the administration prefers a legislative approach to the issue.

“I’ve answered this question a few times,” Carney said. “And we have said that we are supporting a legislative effort, the so-called ENDA legislation. And that’s the approach that we’ve taken. So I would not expect any executive order to be signed at the reception.”

‘We’ve made our world a little more full of love’

In addition to touting his support for ENDA, Obama ticked off various accomplishments over the past four-and-a-half-years with Vice President Joseph Biden at his side.

Among the noted achievements were “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act with explicit LGBT protections and the first national HIV/AIDS strategy. His mention of putting in place “new policies that treat transgender Americans with dignity and respect” elicited considerable shouts of approval from the audience.

Additionally, Obama commended the Senate for confirming — just hours earlier — Nitza Quinones Alejandro as the first openly gay federal Hispanic judge, saying she couldn’t attend because she’s getting ready to take her seat on the bench.

Obama also drew attention to his support for marriage equality — and speaking out in states where there have been efforts to legalize it — including the recent effort in Illinois where the session ended before the vote took place.

“I’ll continue to support marriage equality and states’ attempts to legalize it, including in my home state of Illinois,” Obama said. “We’re not giving up on that.”

Introducing Obama on stage were nine-year-old twins Zea and Luna, who began the reception by talking about a letter they wrote to Obama on LGBT issues. Upon entering the stage, Obama said, “I will not beat that act.”

Obama concluded his remarks by predicting that the efforts of those in the room would make for new achievements because “people who love this country can change it.”

“And I hope that when we gather here next year, and the year after that, we’ll be able to say, with pride and confidence, that together we’ve made our fellow citizens a little more free,” Obama said. “We’ve made this country a little more equal. We’ve made our world a little more full of love.”

LGBT attendees said they were pleased that the White House was holding the event, but are frustrated the issue of federal workplace non-discrimination protections hasn’t been addressed.

Those in attendance munched on hors d’oeuvres and stood around circular tables with refreshments while sipping Champagne from wine glasses. No crowd estimates were included in the pool report for the evening.

Lori Schreiber, a 54-year-old lesbian who serves as township commissioner in Abingdon, Pa., said she’s “very pleased” the White House held the Pride reception because “it acknowledges a group of people that are often not acknowledged.”

Still, she said an executive order to protect LGBT workers from discrimination would be helpful in her state of Pennsylvania, where there’s no law on the books prohibiting such discrimination.

“How it’s going in Pennsylvania is we’re going municipality by municipality, which isn’t working well,” Schreiber said. “It should just be across the country that everybody has the same rights in employment, housing, everything, and that doesn’t currently exist, so some of us are second-class citizens.”

Mike Manning, a 26-year-old bisexual actor known for being in MTV’s “Real World” in D.C., said he supports the president, but also said he “absolutely” wants him to issue the executive order and doesn’t understand why he hasn’t taken action.

“I’m surprised that hasn’t happened yet because it seems like a no-brainer, especially in a nation like the U.S.,” Manning said. “We’re such a power economy, we should have the best men and women doing the jobs…regardless of their sexual orientation or [gender] identity.”

Cathy Renna, 48, a lesbian communications specialist from Long Island, N.Y., said the Pride reception is “a symbol in and of itself” of the progress on LGBT issues in recent years, but noted she was frustrated by the lack of movement on workplace discrimination.

“I think I probably feel like the vast majority of other people in our community, who are wondering and sort of scratching their head — because I think the challenge is this is somebody who’s with us, so we’re just wondering why it’s not happening,” Renna said.

Among the LGBT notables who were in attendance at the event were Eric Fanning, under secretary of the Air Force; Daniel Baer, a State Department official recently nominated as U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and Rev. R. Guy Erwin, who was recently elected the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s first openly gay bishop.

Sally Ride to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Sally Ride, gay news, Washington Blade

Lesbian astronaut Sally Ride will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom (Photo public domain)

 

Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut to travel in space, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced on Monday. The award is the country’s highest civilian honor. After her death last July, it was disclosed in her obituaries that she had a partner of 27 years, Tammy O’Shaughnessy.

“We remember Sally Ride not just as a national hero, but as a role model to generations of young women,” President Obama said in a statement. “Sally inspired us to reach for the stars, and she advocated for a greater focus on the science, technology, engineering and math that would help us get there. Sally showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve, and I look forward to welcoming her family to the White House as we celebrate her life and legacy.”

According to the White House, Ride’s partner, mother, and sister were notified last week of the president’s decision to give the late astronaut the award. Additionally, the White House said more honorees will be named in the coming weeks and the awards will be presented at a White House ceremony later this year.

In related news, the White House is set to honor 10 openly LGBT Americans on Wednesday for their public service as part of its “Harvey Milk Champions of Change” event.

The event falls on Harvey Milk’s birthday and almost four years after when the gay rights pioneer was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“When President Obama posthumously awarded Harvey Milk the Medal of Freedom in 2009, he praised his leadership and courage in running for office,” said Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president. “Today, we honor Harvey Milk’s legacy in these ten outstanding public servants, who will surely inspire the next generation of public servants.”

A list of honorees follows. One of the awardees, Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin, was profiled in the Washington Blade during his unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2011.

* Simone Bell, Georgia State Representative, Atlanta, Ga.

* Angie Buhl O’Donnell, South Dakota State Senator, Sioux Falls, S.D

* Karen Clark, Minnesota State Representative, South Minneapolis, Minn

* Michael Gin, Mayor of Redondo Beach, Redondo Beach, Calif.

* Kim Coco Iwamoto, Hawaii State Civil Rights Commissioner, Honolulu, Hawaii,

* John Laird, Calif. Secretary of Natural Resources, Santa Cruz, Calif.

* Ricardo Lara, California State Senator, Long Beach, Calif.

* Kim Painter, Johnson Country Recorder, Iowa City, Iowa

* Chris Seelbach, Cincinnati City Council Member, Cincinnati, Ohio;

* Pat Steadman, Colorado State Senator, Denver, Colo.

The event will be livestreamed here starting Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Obama calls for ENDA passage at White House reception

Barack Obama, White House, Democratic Party, gay news, Washington Blade, Pride reception, Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama at the White House Pride reception (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

President Obama energized attendees at the annual Pride reception held at the White House on Thursday by saying “we need to get” the Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed.

Citing a letter he said he received from a PFLAG mom from Ohio named “Susan” expressing concern that LGBT people aren’t protected from harassment in the workplace, Obama said, “I share that concern,” and issued a call to pass ENDA — without mentioning the bill by name.

“There’s a bipartisan bill moving forward in the Senate that would ban discrimination against all LGBT Americans in the workplace, now and forever,” Obama said. “We need to get that passed. I want to sign that bill. We need to get it done now.”

Despite difficulties in passing ENDA — mostly notably the fact that Republicans are in control of the House — Obama told attendees in the East Room of the White House that he sees a path for passing the bill based on the successes the LGBT community has seen in recent years.

“And I think we can make that happen — because after the last four and a half years, you can’t tell me things can’t happen,” Obama said. “Look around. We’ve got gay and lesbian soldiers, and sailors, and airmen, and Marines who are here today. We’ve got married couples from places like New York and Washington State.”

The White House Pride reception took place amid renewed calls for Obama to sign an executive order that would bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers. Activists are calling the measure a campaign promise and say it’ll protect millions of workers from discrimination.

Last week, Ellen Sturtz, a lesbian activist affiliated with GetEQUAL, made headlines when she confronted first lady Michelle Obama about signing the executive order. Earlier on Thursday, eight activists from Ohio and Texas affiliated with GetEQUAL were arrested outside House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) office in D.C. after they called on him to move forward with ENDA. Receiving no commitments from him, they also called on Obama to issue the executive order.

Tico Almeida, president of Freedom to Work, said “it’s fantastic” that Obama spoke out in favor of ENDA during the reception, but wants the president to take additional action behind the scenes.

“He should follow up his speech today by placing phone calls to lobby ENDA’s holdout Democratic senators like Florida’s Bill Nelson, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Mark Pryor of Arkansas,” Almeida said. “Between the president, Joe Biden, and the White House legislative team, I bet they could convince those Democrats to support ENDA.”

Despite the call to pass ENDA, LGBT advocates who have been calling for the executive order — and weren’t in attendance — said they still expect Obama to take administrative action to protect LGBT workers from discrimination.

Fred Sainz, vice president communications of the Human Rights Campaign, said he appreciates Obama’s support for legislation, but reminded him that issuing the executive order takes only the stroke of a pen.

“We’re elated to have the president’s support for ENDA,” Sainz said. “But we also want his support for an executive order. ENDA need not come before an EO. People’s jobs are on the line and there’s no time to waste.”

Almeida also renewed his call on President Obama to sign the executive order, saying previous responses from White House spokesperson Shin Inouye that the directive is “hypothetical” aren’t truthful.

“But no presidential speech or Champagne reception compares to the strong workplace protections that we will achieve once President Obama honors his five-year-old campaign promise to sign the federal contractor executive order,” Almeida said. “It’s time for President Obama to instruct his staffer Shin Inouye to stop pretending the executive order [is] ‘hypothetical.’ Shin is insulting gay and transgender victims of discrimination. It’s time for the president to sign.”

Inouye didn’t respond to a request for comment on Almeida’s assertions.

On Monday, the Washington Blade published an email from Democratic National Committee Treasurer Andrew Tobias asserting that the directive will happen. But Tobias wrote that “a process” is holding up the directive “that is broader than just this one very important and long delayed agenda item.”

Just hours before the reception, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney addressed the executive order in response to a question from NBC News’ Peter Alexander and maintained the administration prefers a legislative approach to the issue.

“I’ve answered this question a few times,” Carney said. “And we have said that we are supporting a legislative effort, the so-called ENDA legislation. And that’s the approach that we’ve taken. So I would not expect any executive order to be signed at the reception.”

‘We’ve made our world a little more full of love’

In addition to touting his support for ENDA, Obama ticked off various accomplishments over the past four-and-a-half-years with Vice President Joseph Biden at his side.

Among the noted achievements were “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal, reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act with explicit LGBT protections and the first national HIV/AIDS strategy. His mention of putting in place “new policies that treat transgender Americans with dignity and respect” elicited considerable shouts of approval from the audience.

Additionally, Obama commended the Senate for confirming — just hours earlier — Nitza Quinones Alejandro as the first openly gay federal Hispanic judge, saying she couldn’t attend because she’s getting ready to take her seat on the bench.

Obama also drew attention to his support for marriage equality — and speaking out in states where there have been efforts to legalize it — including the recent effort in Illinois where the session ended before the vote took place.

“I’ll continue to support marriage equality and states’ attempts to legalize it, including in my home state of Illinois,” Obama said. “We’re not giving up on that.”

Introducing Obama on stage were nine-year-old twins Zea and Luna, who began the reception by talking about a letter they wrote to Obama on LGBT issues. Upon entering the stage, Obama said, “I will not beat that act.”

Obama concluded his remarks by predicting that the efforts of those in the room would make for new achievements because “people who love this country can change it.”

“And I hope that when we gather here next year, and the year after that, we’ll be able to say, with pride and confidence, that together we’ve made our fellow citizens a little more free,” Obama said. “We’ve made this country a little more equal. We’ve made our world a little more full of love.”

LGBT attendees said they were pleased that the White House was holding the event, but are frustrated the issue of federal workplace non-discrimination protections hasn’t been addressed.

Those in attendance munched on hors d’oeuvres and stood around circular tables with refreshments while sipping Champagne from wine glasses. No crowd estimates were included in the pool report for the evening.

Lori Schreiber, a 54-year-old lesbian who serves as township commissioner in Abingdon, Pa., said she’s “very pleased” the White House held the Pride reception because “it acknowledges a group of people that are often not acknowledged.”

Still, she said an executive order to protect LGBT workers from discrimination would be helpful in her state of Pennsylvania, where there’s no law on the books prohibiting such discrimination.

“How it’s going in Pennsylvania is we’re going municipality by municipality, which isn’t working well,” Schreiber said. “It should just be across the country that everybody has the same rights in employment, housing, everything, and that doesn’t currently exist, so some of us are second-class citizens.”

Mike Manning, a 26-year-old bisexual actor known for being in MTV’s “Real World” in D.C., said he supports the president, but also said he “absolutely” wants him to issue the executive order and doesn’t understand why he hasn’t taken action.

“I’m surprised that hasn’t happened yet because it seems like a no-brainer, especially in a nation like the U.S.,” Manning said. “We’re such a power economy, we should have the best men and women doing the jobs…regardless of their sexual orientation or [gender] identity.”

Cathy Renna, 48, a lesbian communications specialist from Long Island, N.Y., said the Pride reception is “a symbol in and of itself” of the progress on LGBT issues in recent years, but noted she was frustrated by the lack of movement on workplace discrimination.

“I think I probably feel like the vast majority of other people in our community, who are wondering and sort of scratching their head — because I think the challenge is this is somebody who’s with us, so we’re just wondering why it’s not happening,” Renna said.

Among the LGBT notables who were in attendance at the event were Eric Fanning, under secretary of the Air Force; Daniel Baer, a State Department official recently nominated as U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and Rev. R. Guy Erwin, who was recently elected the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s first openly gay bishop.

Gay judicial nominee confirmed to Oregon federal court

Michael McShane, United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington Blade, gay news

The U.S. Senate confirmed Michael McShane to the federal bench by voice vote. (Photo courtesy of the United States Senate)

The Senate confirmed a gay Oregon judge to the federal bench on Monday after nearly an eight-month wait from when he was first nominated by President Obama.

By voice vote, U.S. senators confirmed the nomination of Michael McShane for a seat on the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon — making him the sixth openly gay person to serve on the federal bench.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who recommended the nomination, praised the Senate in a statement for sending McShane to the federal bench.

“Over the years Oregon has been blessed with a long line of distinguished judges,” Wyden said. “Judge McShane will be a tremendous asset to the court and he will certainly add to that tradition. He’s got a heart for people, a head for the law and a high-minded sense of justice.”

Previously, McShane served as a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Now that the Senate has confirmed him to the federal judiciary, McShane will serve as a replacement for U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan.

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, also commended the Senate for confirming McShane, whom Obama first named in September before renominating him at the start of the 113th Congress.

“The president welcomes the confirmation of Michael McShane,” Inouye said. “He will serve the American people well from the District of Oregon bench.

McShane’s confirmation makes him fifth openly gay nominee during the Obama administration to obtain confirmation by the Senate.

Other openly gay judicial nominations that are outstanding are Nitza Quinones Alejandro, who was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Todd Hughes, who was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; Elaine Kaplan, who was nominated to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; and William Thomas, who was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.