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Content about Barack Obama

May 21, 2013
Former US President Bill Clinton championing gay marriage in Illinois

Legislation has been passed by Senate but is stalled in House of Representatives

Former President Bill Clinton is using his still considerable political clout to try and get Illinois to become the 13th state in the US to make gay marriage legal.

Proposed marriage equality legislation, already passed by the State Senate, has been stalled for some time in the Illinois House of Representatives.

In a statement released Tuesday (21 May) Clinton urged members of the House to pass the bill before the legislature adjourns its spring session on 31 May.

May 21, 2013
Lesbian astronaut Sally Ride awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Sally Ride was the first American woman in space and the first known LGBT astronaut

The White House and NASA are to honor America's first woman in space and first know LGBT astronaut, Sally Ride, by awarding her a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

President Barack Obama announced on Monday Ride will be posthumously awarded America's highest civilian honor during a White House ceremony later this year.

May 20, 2013
Obama to male grads: 'Be the best husband to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner'

Morehouse College speech calls on grads to have empathy for all minority groups

During a commencement speech at the all-male Morehouse College on Sunday (19 May), President Barack Obama encouraged students - straight or gay - to be good spouses and parents.

'... That’s what I’m asking all of you to do: Keep setting an example for what it means to be a man. Be the best husband to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner. Be the best father you can be to your children. Because nothing is more important.'

May 20, 2013
Obama to male grads: 'Be the best husband to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner'

Morehouse College speech calls on grads to have empathy for all minority groups

During a commencement speech at the all-male Morehouse College on Sunday (19 May), President Barack Obama encouraged students - straight or gay - to be good spouses and parents.

'... That’s what I’m asking all of you to do: Keep setting an example for what it means to be a man. Be the best husband to your wife, or your boyfriend, or your partner. Be the best father you can be to your children. Because nothing is more important.'

May 17, 2013
Star Trek star Zachary Quinto says gay marriage is 'unstoppable wave' in the US

'I think we have a lot more work to do, but I think everybody's unified behind the cause'

At the Washington DC screening of Star Trek Into the Darkness this week, Zachary Quinto said that he believes marriage equality is an 'unstoppable wave' in the US at this point.

The openly Quinto, who plays Mr. Spock in the popular film series, says he has no desire to become a politicians but he did campaign for President Barack Obama's reelection and is an outspoken advocate for gay marriage.

May 12, 2013
GLAAD wishes all the great moms out there a wonderful Mother's Day

On this Mother's Day, GLAAD celebrates those special moms who have made an impact on the struggle for equality

Today (12 May) the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation honors the mothers whose love and support has been essential for the gay and lesbian community.

'On Mother's Day this year, GLAAD would like to lift up some of the exceptional mothers that we have been working with for the past year,' the organization writes on its site. 'They are women who have been dedicated to their family through many obstacles.'

May 10, 2013
'Big gay rainbow' NZ MP hesitates over dancing on Ellen Show

National MP Maurice Williamson doesn't want to be ridiculed at home for doing 'something weird or whacky' on the Ellen DeGeneres Show

The New Zealand MP is hesitating about following in the footsteps of Michelle and Barack Obama by dancing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Maurice Williamson was asked to appear on the popular American talkshow after his pro-gay-marriage speech, in which he said he saw a 'big gay rainbow' over his electorate that morning, went viral.

May 9, 2013
One year since Barack Obama changed gay rights history

Gay Star News takes a look at how gay rights has changed in the US since Obama became the first sitting president to back equal marriage

It’s one year since US President Barack Obama publically supported same-sex marriage.

Barack famously said: ‘It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.’

Obama's words have moved the gay rights movement forward, so we decided to take a look at the year's progress. 

May 9, 2013
One year since Barack Obama changed gay rights history

Gay Star News takes a look at how gay rights has changed in the US since Obama became the first sitting president to back equal marriage

It’s one year since US President Barack Obama publically supported same-sex marriage.

Barack famously said: ‘It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.’

Obama's words have moved the gay rights movement forward, so we decided to take a look at the year's progress. 

May 6, 2013
Obama: ‘The right thing to do’ is to include gay couples in immigration reform

President Barack Obama announced his support of new immigration laws that would allow American citizens to apply for visas for their same-sex partners

President Barack Obama said he supports a new immigration bill that includes same-sex couples.

The new legislation, introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, would allow US citizens to sponsor their foreign same-sex partners for a green card.

Speaking at a press conference in Costa Rica on Friday (3 April), Obama said: 'The LGBT community should be treated like everybody else. That's the essential core principle behind our founding documents. The idea that we're all created equal and we're equal before the law.

May 6, 2013
Obama: ‘The right thing to do’ is to include gay couples in immigration reform

President Barack Obama announced his support of new immigration laws that would allow American citizens to apply for visas for their same-sex partners

President Barack Obama said he supports a new immigration bill that includes same-sex couples.

The new legislation, introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, would allow US citizens to sponsor their foreign same-sex partners for a green card.

Speaking at a press conference in Costa Rica on Friday (3 April), Obama said: 'The LGBT community should be treated like everybody else. That's the essential core principle behind our founding documents. The idea that we're all created equal and we're equal before the law.

May 5, 2013
Saturday Night Live mocks Fox News for its coverage of out basketball player Jason Collins

Saturday Night Live  makes fun of Fox & Friend's coverage of the NBA's Jason Collins coming out

The US comedy show Saturday Night Live  opened its episode last night (4 May) with a well placed skit on how Fox & Friends dealt with NBA player Jason Collins coming out as gay.

May 4, 2013
First Lady Michelle Obama to fundraise for DNC LGBT leadership council

First Lady Michelle Obama will attend fundraising event for LGBT Democrats that will be hosted by Bravo's Andy Cohen

In late May, First Lady Michelle Obama will attend a New York City fundraiser for an arm of the Democratic Party committed to LGBT issues.

According to a report from the website Politico the 29 May affair will be hosted by Andy Cohen, the Vice President of Development for the television channel Bravo. Cohen is an out gay man.

April 30, 2013
President Obama tells NBA's gay player Jason Collins he 'couldn't be prouder' of him

'To see a role model like that who is unafraid, I think this is a great thing'

President Barack Obama said at the end of a White House press conference today that he 'couldn't be prouder' of NBA player Jason Collins for coming out publicly this week as a gay man.

'I had a chance to talk to him yesterday, he seems like a terrific young man,' Obama told reporters. 'I told him I couldn't be prouder.'

Collins, 34, became the first openly gay male athlete in one of the four major US team sports - basketball, football, baseball and hockey - to come out during his playing career.

April 30, 2013
President Obama tells NBA's gay player Jason Collins he 'couldn't be prouder' of him

'To see a role model like that who is unafraid, I think this is a great thing'

President Barack Obama said at the end of a White House press conference today that he 'couldn't be prouder' of NBA player Jason Collins for coming out publicly this week as a gay man.

'I had a chance to talk to him yesterday, he seems like a terrific young man,' Obama told reporters. 'I told him I couldn't be prouder.'

Collins, 34, became the first openly gay male athlete in one of the four major US team sports - basketball, football, baseball and hockey - to come out during his playing career.

April 29, 2013
From NBA to White House, Jason Collins praised for being first openly gay male in US pro sports

But some homophobic comments surface on Twitter

The public coming out of NBA player Jason Collins has been such big news Monday (29 April) that it got the attention of President Barack Obama and led the evening newscasts on the US broadcast networks.

Collins is the first male player in one of the four major US sports - basketball, football, baseball and hockey - to come out as gay while still an active player.

April 25, 2013
After languishing for decades, ENDA introduced once again in US Congress

Proposed act would ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

The proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has long languished in the US C0ngress, was introduced again on Thursday (25 April) by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

Among the co-sponsors optimistic of the bill's chances is Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley (pictured) who believes the timing may finally be right for passage.

April 25, 2013
After languishing for decades, ENDA introduced once again in US Congress

Proposed act would ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

The proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has long languished in the US C0ngress, was introduced again on Thursday (25 April) by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

Among the co-sponsors optimistic of the bill's chances is Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley (pictured) who believes the timing may finally be right for passage.

April 21, 2013
Eric Fanning is the new Under-secretary of the US Air Force

Eric Fanning finally confirmed as Undersecretary of the US Air Force

Eric Fanning is about to be the new Undersecretary of the US Air Force. The out gay man will hold the second highest civilian position in that armed forces branch.

April 21, 2013
Eric Fanning is the new Under-secretary of the US Air Force

Eric Fanning finally confirmed as Undersecretary of the US Air Force

Eric Fanning is about to be the new Undersecretary of the US Air Force. The out gay man will hold the second highest civilian position in that armed forces branch.

April 10, 2013
Leading liberal US evangelist Jim Wallis backs marriage equality

Sojourners founder and liberal Christian evangelist Jim Wallis has publicly backed marriage equality just five years after being opposed to the idea

Leading liberal Christian evangelical leader Jim Wallis has publicly backed same-sex marriage in an interview with the Huffington Post in a turn around from where he stood on the issue just five years ago.

Wallis, considered a spiritual adviser to US President Barack Obama told the Post that same-sex couples had to be included in marriage to help combat what he saw as the decline of the institution in America.

April 6, 2013
Ben Carson apologizes to John Hopkins University community

Dr Ben Carson emails an apology to John Hopkins University staff

Embattled neurosurgeon Ben Carson is walking back recent comments where he compared gay sexuality with pedophilia and bestiality.

According to the site Politico, Carson sent an email to the John Hopkins community where he repeated his stance on marriage but apologized for the language used.

March 31, 2013
Republican senator thinks a future GOP presidential nominee will be for gay marriage

Arizona Senator Jeff Flake looks into the future and sees a Republican presidential nominee who supports gay marriage

Senator Jeff Flake thinks there will come a day when Republicans will rally around a presidential nominee who supports gay marriage.

The Arizona politician made the prediction today (31 March) to reporter Chuck Todd on the news show Meet The Press.

'I think that's inevitable,' Flake said. 'There will be one, and that I think he'll receive Republican support, or she will.'

March 28, 2013
Obama speaks out on Supreme Court and DOMA

'It is very important for us to remember that we're a nation where everybody is supposed to be equal before the law'

A day after the US Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, President Barack Obama spoke out about why he believes the federal gay marriage ban is unfair.

'I think not only is it right and fair but also consistent with our Constitution to recognize same-sex couples,' Obama said Thursday (28 March) in an interview with the Spanish language network Telemundo.

March 28, 2013
Obama speaks out on Supreme Court and DOMA

'It is very important for us to remember that we're a nation where everybody is supposed to be equal before the law'

A day after the US Supreme Court heard arguments challenging the Defense of Marriage Act, President Barack Obama spoke out about why he believes the federal gay marriage ban is unfair.

'I think not only is it right and fair but also consistent with our Constitution to recognize same-sex couples,' Obama said Thursday (28 March) in an interview with the Spanish language network Telemundo.