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Democrats stand with the LGBT community in the fight to ensure that all Americans benefit from the civil rights that each of us deserves—because the fight for equality affects us all. Since President Obama took office, we have made tremendous progress: strengthening hate-crimes legislation named for Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. and aggressively supporting and initiating the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," among many others.

Stand up for Marriage Equality

President Obama is also the first American president to stand up in support of same-sex marriage. These milestones are significant and historic, but our work is far from complete.

Experience tells us that progress is incremental—just as President Obama said, “step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind.” We will continue to fight with the LGBT community as members, friends, family, and allies, with the hope that one day each of us will be seen as equal under the law.

Recent Updates

  • Only One Party Supports Equality

    This week, the Supreme Court heard two very important cases on marriage equality: Proposition 8 and DOMA. We don't know what the court will decide, but here's what we do know: There's only one party fighting to make sure every American has the right to marry the person they love.

    This week, the Supreme Court heard two very important cases on marriage equality: Proposition 8 and DOMA. We don't know what the court will decide, but here's what we do know: There's only one party fighting to make sure every American has the right to marry the person they love.

    Read More

  • VAWA signed into law

    Today, President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act into law. This law strengthens the criminal justice system’s response to crimes against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking.

    Read More

  • Big news for equality

    In a major step in the fight for LGBT equality, the White House urged the Supreme Court last week to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. If you're as proud as we are to have a president who is fighting for the right of all people to marry, get his back.

    Friend --

    This is huge. President Obama just took another step toward equality for all.

    On Friday, the Obama administration filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

    I couldn't be more proud to have a president who stands up for equality and is willing to fight for the right of all people to marry, no matter who they love.

    Do you have the President's back while he fights for equality? Show him you do by donating $5 or more today:

    https://my.democrats.org/Marriage-Equality

    Together, we can do this.

    Forward,

    Debbie

    Debbie Wasserman Schultz
    Chair
    Democratic National Committee

  • Inauguration

    Last week, we inaugurated a president. It's easy to see an inauguration as the culmination of a long-fought campaign, but as our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, reminded supporters in an email today, we still have a lot to do. From tackling climate to working for LGBT equality, the next four years will be busy.

    Read the chair's email below, then chip in what you can to make sure it's a productive term.

    Friend --

    Watching President Obama take the oath of office last Monday was an incredible reward for all of the time and energy that you and millions of other Democrats put in throughout the election. And when I looked out at the sea of supporters who braved the cold to watch the President's inauguration, I was reminded that in you we have the support we need to make incredible change over the next four years.

    Since I became Chair of the Democratic Party two years ago, my motto has been "no one will outwork us." And although we're still celebrating our incredible victories in 2012, it's time for us to get back to work.

    President Obama has outlined an ambitious plan for his second term, including tackling climate change, working for full equality for LGBT Americans, and making sure that all Americans, no matter where they come from or who their parents are, have an equal shot. And it's up to us to fight for Democrats and make sure that that agenda becomes law.

    Donate $5 or more now to make sure we have the resources to fulfill our duty to our country, ourselves, and the millions of Americans whose lives will change for the better:

    https://my.democrats.org/Back-to-Work

    Let's do this,

    Debbie

    Debbie Wasserman Schultz
    Chair
    Democratic National Committee

    Chip in

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Resources

LGBT Equality: Accomplishments of the Obama Administration

Obama: It Gets Better
Recent Action
Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The majority of the Armed Forces is comprised of Young Americans volunteering to defend this nation and its ideals. However, a sect of the population was forced to hide their sexual orientation in order to do so. President Obama lead the charge to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell allowing gay and lesbian members of the Armed Forces to serve openly for the first time in American history.
Strengthening enforcement of human rights laws
Democrats passed the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009, creating a special section in the Justice Department to enforce human rights laws, specifically addressing genocide and child soldier recruitment.
Strengthening protections against hate crimes
Democrats passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, giving law enforcement officials the power and tools to prosecute those who commit hate crimes.
Milestones
2011
October 1
End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Milestone