President Barack Obama issued a video
statement to the 3,000 advocates assembled for the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force's 25th National Conference on LGBT
Equality taking place in Atlanta.
The five-day conference, titled
Creating
Change, is the largest annual gathering of activists,
organizers and leaders in the gay rights movement.
“Changes always come from ordinary
Americans who sit in or stand up or march to demand it,” Obama said
in his 90-second video message. “And the National Gay &
Lesbian Task Force has been a partner at the forefront of that
movement for forty years. Many of you have dedicated your lives to
securing for all Americans the sanctuary of words in our founding
creed: That all are created equal and all must enjoy the same rights
and the same protections.''
“Decades ago in the dark days when
most doctors declared being gay a mental disorder, you organized and
rallied to change their minds. One thousand suffered in the shadows
during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, you cast a bright light
on their pain.”
“And today you're helping lead the
way to a future where everyone is treated with dignity and respect,
no matter who they love or where they come from. Where everyone has
access to affordable health care. And where everyone who works hard
and plays by the rules has the chance to earn their citizenship.”
Obama added that he's confident of a
better future so long as “all of us keep marching together.”
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