GAY RIGHTS

White House Honors Stonewall

Renews campaign promises on gay marriage, DADT.

President Obama hosted leaders of the gay and lesbian communities at the White House Monday—but it may have been too little too late. In an event to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Obama promised to renew his campaign promises, like his commitment to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, overturning Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and vowing to pass a federal hate-crime bill named for Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was killed in 1998. And though many have criticized Obama on gay rights policy so far, Monday he was largely met with support. Said Joe Solmonese of Human Rights Campaign, and a former Obama critic, “He reminded us to continue to hold him accountable. There certainly was the appropriate and inspiring acknowledgement that he made of what this community has been through.”