The Obama Administration's Actions on Behalf of LGBT Americans

Without a doubt, President Barack Obama has been this country's most GLBT-friendly President. His opponent, Willard Mitt Romney, would most definitely not be so friendly.

Before you make your choice in the November 6 election please take a look at this article by Dana Beyer and this timeline.

Following are just a few of the LGBT-affirmative things done during Obama's first administration:

• Hosted the first-ever LGBT Pride White House reception (2009) 
• Ordered the federal government to extend key benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees (2009) 
• Awarded the Medal of Freedom (the nation's highest civilian honor) to Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk (2009) 
• Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009) 
• Created a national resource center for LGBT elders (2009) 
• Banned discrimination based on gender identity in federal workplaces (2010) 
• Clarified the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure family leave for LGBT employees (2010) 
• Allowed transgendered Americans to receive passports in true gender without having had surgery (2010) 
• Awarded a grant to the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Community Services Center to work with LGBT foster youth (2010) 
• Recorded the "It Gets Better" video and hosted first-ever White House conference on prevention of bullying (2010) 
• Declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and announced the federal government would no longer enforce it (2010) 
• Signed repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (2011) 
• Completion of Institute of Medicine study on LBGT Health, the first of its kind (2011) 
• Issued guidelines to ensure safer working conditions for transgendered federal employees (2011) 
• Ended the Social Security Administration's "gender no-match" letters (2011) 
• Clarified the meaning of "family" to include LGBT relationships (2011) 
• Permitted military chaplains to perform same-sex marriages where legal (2011) 
• Called for equal treatment of same-sex adoptive parents (2011) 
• Announced HUD's new role protecting against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (2012) 
• Enables searches for same-sex partner benefits on www.healthcare.gov (2012) 
• Ensured transgender Americans receive respectful care in gender of identity at Veteran's Administration facilities (2012) 
• Announced support for same-sex marriage (2012) (This also legitimizes transgender marriages) 
• Pentagon celebrates LGBT Pride for first time (2012)