Today President Obama joined a crowd of about 250 people in the East Room of the White House for a first-of-its-kind event honoring and celebrating the accomplishments of LGBT Americans. Invited guests included families, volunteers, activists, community leaders and local officials, who were all on hand to celebrate Pride Month.

ABC news' article on the event is excerpted below:

"The President and First Lady entered to thunderous applause. President Obama told the group he is committed to equality for their community.

"This struggle continues today, for even as we face extraordinary challenges as a nation, we cannot and will not put aside issues of basic equality," he said, "We seek an America in which no one feels the pain of discrimination based on who you are or who you love."

Brian Bond, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and a gay American, wrote a post on the White House blog in anticipation of today’s event. We'll post the President's full remarks as soon as they become available.

UPDATE (by Cloe): Here are President Obama's full remarks.

“Today, on behalf of Democrats across our nation, the Democratic National Committee pays recognition to PRIDE month – a time to join together in celebrating the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans and their families make to our society. We also take this time to reaffirm our commitment to being a Party of inclusion and one that stands firm in promoting equality for every American.

"As Democrats and Americans, we believe we all are created equal and we have fought against discrimination based on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and attempts to divide us instead of unite us.

“The cause of ending discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans has taken a giant leap forward. With a Democrat in the White House who is committed to equality and justice, we have reached significant milestones. The Obama Administration is the first to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in its first 100 days and it has partnered with the international community at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world.

“The Administration is concentrating on a number of measures to ensure equality for all—such as supporting civil unions, Federal rights for LGBT couples, stronger hate crimes laws, ridding our military of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in a way that both ensures national security and strengthens our Armed forces, banning discrimination in the work place, fighting HIV/AIDS and ensuring adoption rights.

“We as a Party and as a people have come a long way, and we should be proud of what we have accomplished thus far in promoting equal rights for all Americans. But we still have much more to do. As we move ahead with a Democratic Congress and President committed to equality for all Americans, we look forward to a nation where discrimination of any kind is a thing of the past.”

"Today we join Democrats across America in celebrating PRIDE month and honoring the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans have made to our society.

"Our Party’s commitment to protecting the fundamental right of every American to live in dignity with equal rights and protections under the law has never been stronger. Since the American people entrusted Democrats to lead our nation last November, we have stood up and shown that ours is the Party that truly values all families. This year, instead of fighting back divisive, discriminatory and politically-motivated attacks in the Republican Congress and Republican state houses across the country, together we are making tremendous progress toward building a more fair and just America. Our new Democratic majority in Congress is leading the way toward enacting important hate crimes protections and passing ENDA, while new Democratic state legislatures are passing important family protections.

"But our work has barely begun. We must work together to protect and expand our Democratic majorities in Congress, elect more Democratic governors and state houses, and put a Democrat in the White House in 2008. If the accomplishments of the last six months show us anything, they show that our country and our communities are stronger under Democratic leadership. As leaders of the Democratic Party, we stand proudly with the LGBT community and commit ourselves to working together to build an America that is inclusive of all Americans, rejects the politics of fear and division, and renews our commitment to ending discrimination in all its forms."

"Because Democrats value all families, we are committed to the fundamental principle that every American has the right to live in dignity, with equal rights, responsibilities and protections under the law. No American should have to live in fear or be forced to hide their true identity to avoid horrific attacks or discrimination in areas like hiring, housing or health care. That's why Democrats have led the fight for hate crimes legislation at the federal and state levels, and why Democrats continue to fight for laws that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"Sadly, too many of our colleagues on the other side of the political aisle do not share our commitment to equality. This month, as millions of LGBT Americans prepare to march in PRIDE Parades across America, Republicans like Bill Frist are using issues like marriage as political wedges to distract people from their failed leadership and misplaced priorities. Because Americans have lost confidence in their ability to solve challenges like Iraq, immigration, health care, gas prices or homeland security, Republicans in Washington are ripping a page from the Karl Rove playbook by scapegoating LGBT families for partisan gain.

"This is morally wrong, and it hurts LGBT Americans. Democrats are committed to fighting this hateful, divisive amendment and to fighting similarly discriminatory ballot initiatives in states across the country. We strongly oppose any attempt to write discrimination into law - whether it be at the local or state levels or in the United States Constitution.

"During this month of LGBT PRIDE, we remember the courageous men and women who faced down discrimination at the Stonewall Inn in June of 1969 and ignited a movement that is changing the hearts and minds of the American people. They called on this nation to live up to its promise of equal opportunity, liberty and justice for all. As leaders of the Democratic Party, we stand proudly with the LGBT community and commit ourselves to building a hopeful and optimistic vision of America that is inclusive of all Americans, rejects the politics of fear and division, and renews our commitment to ending discrimination in all its forms."