Obama Hosts LGBT Pride Reception; Activists Aren't Yet Convinced

President Obama will be hosting a reception at the White House this afternoon, at 3:30, honoring LGBT pride month. But there's still a sentiment among gay-rights activists that he hasn't yet delivered what he promised on the campaign trail, and some in attendance (at least a couple leaders of gay rights groups will be there) are skeptical of his administration.

The administration's stance on the Defense of Marriage Act--which the Department of Justice recently defended--and a lack of progress on Don't Ask, Don't Tell lie at the heart of their frustrations.


Change has to come through Congress, and there's been some progress there with hate crimes legislation moving in the House and seeing a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week. But gay rights activists are looking for the White House to fast-track those policies through the legislative branch.

"There are a lot of sore points, and so it will be interesting to see what happens this afternoon, whether the president is going to have something significant to announce, or whther this is going to be a nice little reception, or what they hope is a nice little reception," Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart, an invited guest, said.

Cathcart said no one will be looking to give Obama a rough time, but that politically involved attendees are generally hoping to leave feeling good about the administration.

"I hope they don't waste this opportunity, because it's theirs to win or lose," Cathcart said.