Columbus Gay Real Estate: White House LGBT Update: Speak Up!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

At the White House and across the Administration, senior leaders are speaking up about dignity, security, and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Last week, Dr. Jill Biden spoke to hundreds of parents, families, and friends at the 2011 PFLAG National Convention. Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered remarks on creating an “AIDS-free generation.” And next week, Secretary for Housing & Urban Development Shaun Donovan will address the National Center for Transgender Equality.

This week also provides an important opportunity to speak up for our veterans. This Friday, November 11th, we will commemorate Veterans Day and thank all of our veterans for their service and patriotism. In order to ensure that our nation’s veterans get the opportunities they have earned, this week the President announced two tax credits in the American Jobs Act to provide incentives for firms that hire veterans and a series of executive actions to provide new resources for veterans, and launched the Veterans Job Bank, a new search tool designed to help connect veterans with employers.
All the best,

Gautam Raghavan
Office of Public Engagement
The White House

Dr. Biden Delivers Remarks at 2011 PFLAG National Convention

Dr. Biden at PFLAG

Last Friday, Dr. Jill Biden delivered a passionate and powerful address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2011 National Convention of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). In her remarks, Dr. Biden spoke to the importance of family support in providing a safe school and community, and the challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people face:

We all know that self-confidence can be a challenge for youth and adolescents – even under the best of circumstances. These are the years when all kids are trying to figure out who they are and who they hope to be. For children who are struggling with understanding their sexual orientation or gender identity, the teen years can be particularly challenging. And, of course, kids are not always kind to each other during these times, especially when one of them is different.

In closing, Dr. Biden asked the parents, families, and friends in the room to continue their good work to reach hearts and minds:

I want to say to each of you here today: thank you for raising your voice and working together to open minds, shift attitudes and support all of our sons and daughters, students and neighbors.

Some of you come from places where yours is the only voice of support and acceptance – but when you speak, people listen. And we need you to keep speaking out, to keep shining a light on this important issue.

Read Dr. Biden’s full remarks as prepared.

HUD Secretary Donovan to Address National Center for Transgender Equality Awards Ceremony

Secretary Donovan celebrating Fair Housing Month with HUD employees, April 2009 (photo courtesy of HUD).

Next Tuesday, November 15, 2011, Secretary for Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan will address the National Center for Transgender Equality’s 8th Annual Awards Ceremony, and will be honored for HUD’s leadership in advancing the fair and equal treatment of transgender people in housing programs.

Read more about HUD’s efforts to address LGBT housing discrimination.

Reminder: HHS Listening Sessions

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is hosting a series of listening sessions around the country to discuss LGBT health issues. If you'd like to participate, please RSVP as indicated below:

· November 14, 2011
1:00 pm PST
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Seattle, WA
RSVP by November 9, 2011 to viveta.vandersanden@hhs.gov

· November 15, 2011
10:00 am MST
Mile High United Way, Denver, CO
RSVP by November 10, 2011 to Ezra.Watland@hhs.gov

· November 15, 2011
1:00 pm PST
Gus Solomon Courthouse, Portland, OR
RSVP by November 9, 2011 to viveta.vandersanden@hhs.gov

Tweet of the Week

This week, the Office of Public Engagement recognizes GLIDE as a “champion non-profit.” GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization. GLIDE has been welcoming and affirming the LGBT community for more than 35 years.

What You May Have Missed

President Barack Obama answers a question at his press conference at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Nov. 4, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Nov 8: Secretary Clinton Delivers Remarks on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Nov 7: Open for Questions: The White House Fellows Program