Topics from President Obama’s OUT cover story include:
On his administration’s key focus on LGBT equality:
“One of the reasons I got involved in politics was to help deliver on our promise that we’re all created equal, and that no one should be excluded from the American dream just because of who they are. That’s why, in the Senate, I supported repealing DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act]. It’s why, when I ran for president the first time, I publicly asked for the support of the LGBT community, and promised that we could bring about real change for LGBT Americans.”
“One of the reasons I got involved in politics was to help deliver on our promise that we’re all created equal, and that no one should be excluded from the American dream just because of who they are. That’s why, in the Senate, I supported repealing DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act]. It’s why, when I ran for president the first time, I publicly asked for the support of the LGBT community, and promised that we could bring about real change for LGBT Americans.”
On the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision:
“There had been a remarkable attitude shift—in
hearts and minds—across America. The ruling reflected that. It reflected
our values as a nation founded on the principle that we are all created
equal. And, by the way, it was decades of our
brothers and sisters fighting for recognition and equality—and too
frequently risking their lives or facing rejection from family, friends,
and co-workers—that got us to that moment. So I wasn’t surprised by the
Supreme Court’s decision, but, like millions
of Americans, I was proud and happy that it came down the way it
did—and I was honored to stand in the Rose Garden and reiterate for
every American that we are strongest, that we are most free, when all of
us are treated equally. I was proud to say that love
is love.”
On the controversy surrounding Kentucky clerk Kim Davis:
“I am a man of faith and believe deeply in
religious freedom, but at the end of the day, nobody is above the rule
of law—especially someone who voluntarily takes an oath to uphold that
law. That’s something we’ve got to respect.”
On the first influential gay person in his life:
“I’m not sure who the first openly gay person I met
was, but Dr. Lawrence Goldyn, one of my college professors, is a man
who stands out to me. I took his class freshman year at Occidental. I
was probably 18 years old—Lawrence was one of
the younger professors—and we became good friends. He went out of his
way to advice lesbian, gay, and transgender students at Occidental, and
keep in mind, this was 1978. That took a lot of courage, a lot of
confidence in who you are and what you stand for.
I got to recognize Lawrence last year at our Pride Month reception at
the White House, and thank him for influencing the way I think about so
many of these issues.”
On the generational difference in the attitudes towards homosexuality:
“To Malia and Sasha and their friends,
discrimination in any form against anyone doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t
dawn on them that friends who are gay or friends’ parents who are
same-sex couples should be treated differently than anyone
else. That’s powerful.”