President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at White House event marking LGBT Pride Month. See the White House video.
And the Obama administration is learning that the LGBT community is looking for the President to wed powerful words with even more potent federal actions when it comes to LGBT issues and concerns.
President Obama heard that message loud and clear in the days leading up to the June 29 event at the White House marking the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and recognizing LGBT Pride Month.
"I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that," Obama said. "But I say this: We have made progress and we will make more, and I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps."
Justin Nelson, president and co-founder of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), attended the reception, and he noted that the NGLCC would continue to encourage the administration to enact change.
"Rest assured that we will all keep the pressure on the president to complete the equality agenda for LGBT people, our businesses and our families," Nelson said.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Joe Solmonese also said its important to continue urging the president to turn his "support into the passage of actual laws."
"President Obama's remarks today were welcomed and appreciated and, as he stated, it is the actions to advance equality-not simply the words-that will be the true marker by which this White House will be judged," Solmonese said.
In his address to the group of families, volunteers, activists and community leaders in the East Room, Obama highlighted some of the changes his administration has instituted since coming into office, including signing a memorandum requiring all agencies to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families and the U.S. Census Bureau's decision to start counting married same-sex couples.
The president also ran down the list of the calls he has made to encourage members of Congress to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act, the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act and an inclusive hate crimes bill.
Wes Combs, president and co-founder of Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc., a leading national public relations and marketing firm specializing in developing strategies for businesses looking to reach the LGBT consumer market, said he is confident that more members of the LGBT business community will be asked to provide counsel to the government under the new administration.
"The Presidential Appointments Project-a consortium of national LGBT organizations, including the NGLCC-has a list of these roles business leaders can play, and I urge business leaders to contact them to see how they can get involved," Combs said.
Combs said he hopes that the current administration is "reaching out" to the NGLCC and other organizations dedicated to LGBT business causes to ask for recommendations on specific business leaders who would make good candidates for government service.
It's a message that the President is not only hearing, but taking to heart.
"We've been in office six months now," Obama said. "I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration."
NGLCC CEO and co-founder Chance Mitchell was also one of those invited by the White House to attend Monday's event. "While having this dialogue is an important step, there is still much work to be done to enact common sense solutions for LGBT Americans. We are calling on LGBT people and our allies to let the president and Congress know that we must act now on important legislation," said Mitchell.
