NEW YORK — President Barack Obama reaffirmed his support of LGBT rights during Barnard College’s commencement address on Monday.
“No matter who you love or what God you love, you can still pursue your own happiness,” he told the nearly 600 graduates who gathered on Columbia University’s South Lawn after referencing the 1969 Stonewall riots. “I will be with you every step of the way.”
Obama joined Freedom to Marry President Evan Wolfson on stage less than a week after he announced his support for marriage equality during a White House interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts. Barnard also honored Care USA President Helene D. Gayle and chemistry professor Sally Chapman during the ceremony.
Retired New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye described Wolfson as a “hero for the charge of marriage equality” and a “champion for the cause of civil rights for all” before she presented Wolfson with Barnard’s Medal of Distinction.
“You have turned a once lonely march into a surging national movement,” she said to sustained applause. She further noted that the number of Americans who live in jurisdictions that allow nuptials for gays and lesbians more than doubled last June after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law. “The momentum in the direction of your dream Evan is positively undeniable. Today we hail your extraordinary influence and limitless commitment to every loving man and woman.”
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Hes got the ball rolling better keep it in motion
Now young people gotta get out there and Vote!
President Obama is awesome, president since Clinton
hes only doing it to secure more votes… guarentee if he gets reelected itll be illegal again REAL quick. obama is a HORRID president. george w bush was better.
you are kidding,Right?
Yay!
Indeed….not.
<3
Lindzi, you are a hot mess! What did Bush ever do for our rights?
I wonder y he would not sign an executive order banning LGBT work-place discrimination?
talia what did obama do for you’re rights? pretend like he cares before his upcoming election…
your*
LOVE IT!
All for the votes once he is elected he will change his mind just like last time
For every lgbt vote he earns from this, he loses at least one conservative vote. And you’re assuming ever gay person or supporter is now going to vote for him strictly because of this. You’re argument about “doing it for votes” doesn’t even make mathmatical sense. He could just show support for them because, oh I don’t know, he supports them??
Let me ask you this, what has ANY other President done for our rights MORE than Obama?
Be that as it may, Obama can’t do anything abt marriage w the stroke of a pen. I would appreciate his lobbying for anti-discrimination laws. Not everyone is or wants to get married. We are not protected from job loss. Ik b/c I speak from experience.
Conservative won’t vote for him regarless of what he says about this issue. Even in they are poor and with no health care and the best for them is this presidents policies, they still don’t vote for him.
@Joshua, speak for yourself, I want to marry my girlfriend one day! And yes, Common sense tells you he can’t solve this with the stroke of a pen. However, to have the FIRST President ever to openly support Gay rights is monumental. Sorry if this means nothing to you, but it does to the millions of us supporting equal rights for all. He actually could end up losing votes over this, and he still voiced his support.
“Amanda Simpson, a member of the board of directors of the National Center for Transgender Equality, has been appointed Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce by President Obama” is one thing he has done
The end of Don’t ask don’t tell for those who serve in the military is also due to Obama!
Even before he was elected he was the one who supported the LGBT community the most. Heck, not one republican accepted an invite to debate LGBT issues when they offered them the same chance as the Democrats had. I believe there was even one or two of the Democrats who were “to busy” to attend the televised event. I think those who do not support Obama should be ashamed of themselves after he has stuck his neck out for us.
I totally agree. LOL
@Lindizi stfu yu sound real dum…wtf bush do for us GOOD?? Name sum thing!
History books look kindly on presidents who stand up against bigotry, no matter the political timing. That’s his ‘win’ with this, in my opinion. It also provides a contrast between him and Romney (politically they are similar), which will help them both. The bad side is possible loss of African-American community support and fueled GOP rage. If people feel it’s meant to gain him votes, I am curious which demographic of voter they think would vote for the GOP if Obama hadn’t said this. I don’t think that group exists.
Seriously, people.. If you don’t vote for this man then you really need to rethink your lives really carefully.