On the heels of President Obama’s historic announcement supporting marriage for gay and lesbian couples, we’ve heard from a number of prominent political, civic and religious leaders who are now speaking out in favor of marriage equality. And much to the disappointment of our foes at NOM, support from the African-American community has increased exponentially since the president’s announcement.

Jonathan Bernstein of the Washington Post believes this increase in support from African Americans is directly attributable to President Obama. A Public Policy Polling survey of Maryland votersshowed a surge in African-American support for that state’s new marriage equality law over the past two months, jumping from 37 percent in March, to now 55 percent. (Overall, 57% of Maryland voters say they’re likely to vote for the new marriage law this fall.) And an ABC News/Washington Post poll puts support for marriage equality among African Americans nationwide at 59 percent – an all-time high. It’s no secret President Obama wields heavy influence in this country, and I’m incredibly grateful to him for taking a stand for the committed and loving gay and lesbian couples of this country who deserve the opportunity to get married.

Since President Obama’s announcement, we’ve heard from quite a few other prominent folks who now support marriage equality. This week, the Board of Directors of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization – voted to endorse marriage equality. We cannot overstate the significance of this landmark event. For too long, our opponents have sought to divide the African-American and LGBT communities. But the NAACP’s support speaks to not only the courage of its convictions but to the fact that our communities won’t be divided. And while NOM spends millions of dollars trying to pit minority communities against us, they’re fighting a losing battle. Diversity is a reality and a strength for all our communities and the struggles we face in our quest for equality are not mutually exclusive.

On Wednesday, Colin Powell – the Republican former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State – announced his support for gay and lesbian couples getting married, citing his LGBT friends and their committed relationships as a driving force behind his support. To me, this is further proof that as we continue to be out and open, and share our personal stories, we will see transformative results.

We still have a ways to go on the path to equality, but in this month alone, the progress made has brought us a whole lot closer.

I hope you have a great long weekend as we celebrate the beginning of summer and remember the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

President Viktor Yanukovych is the only person with the power to stop the law in its tracks, but he has stayed silent as anti-gay sentiment grows. If he doesn’t speak out now, an entire generation will be forced into the shadows.

Here’s our chance: Ukraine has been trying to forge a “special alliance” with the European Union for years and this week an EU delegation focused on human rights will visit the country to advance the process.  If we create a massive outcry in the next 3 days across Europe, President Yanukovych will be forced to finally speak out against the law or risk endangering his lucrative EU partnership.  

Will you add your name to the call – we don’t have much time:

www.allout.org/ukraine

We’ve seen this before. Just like in St. Petersburg Russia, the bill Ukrainian politicians are pushing forward makes it a crime to write or speak anything considered “homosexual propaganda”. Things are getting so bad in Ukraine that the law is actually the product of the Government’s own Committee on Freedom of Speech and Information.

Ukraine is serious about this new alliance with the EU community and can not afford to ignore calls from United Kingdom and its other neighbours. In fact, the President described an EU partnership as his #1 priority and his “legacy” for Ukraine. But shouldn’t Yanukovych be forced to speak out against laws that make gay and lesbian Ukranians second class citizens if he wants to reap the financial benefits of an EU alliance?

Officials from Ukraine are set to meet with the EU’s Justice, Freedom & Security branch this Friday about human rights conditions for all Ukrainians. Though it’s President Yanukovych’s top priority to get into the EU without a hitch, this law is moving silently under their radar and is set to pass.  Now is the moment to bring this issue to light.

Will you take one moment to call on President Yanukovych to speak out against this bill before his meeting on Friday?  Every single voice of opposition makes a real difference so please sign and share this with friends far and wide.

Yanukovych’s legacy is at stake – let’s make sure he knows it:

www.allout.org/ukraine

This has truly been a week filled with highs and lows of epic
proportions. My head is still spinning after everything that's
happened in the last few days, and while I'm incredibly disappointed
by the passage of the discriminatory Amendment 1

http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=vcm-RSPniPXUmfS_i2QTLA

in North Carolina, this is just a temporary setback in our movement
- a movement that has seen and is continuing to see tremendous
progress and growing support across the country. I'm proud of the work
we did with the Coalition to Protect All NC Families

http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=lSkYBbadfCWQrU6NDeZSAg

, and I believe that we can ultimately make things right. We've seen
over the last few months the incredible leadership and spirit of
community that run deep in North Carolina, and I commend our friends
in the Tar Heel State for such an incredible effort.

With such a disappointing loss this week also came a monumental win:
President Barack Obama

http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=Nm3qBOhf-4U3wT_5ehHbUQ

made history by boldly stating that gay and lesbian Americans should
be fully and equally part of the fabric of American society and that
our families deserve nothing less than the equal respect and
recognition that comes through marriage. His presidency has shown that
our nation can move beyond its shameful history of discrimination and
injustice. In him, millions of young Americans have seen that their
futures will not be limited by what makes them different.

Which is why it's so important that we do everything we can to reelect
President Obama to a second term. Moments after the president
announced his support for marriage equality, Gov. Mitt Romney, the
presumptive Republican presidential nominee, called a press conference
to tell the world he didn't even support civil unions

http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=EenxJz5h-vBV24iUwCt7Dw

, much less marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Romney has
petitioned Congress for a federal marriage amendment that would strip
marriage equality from couples in six states and the District of
Columbia and has aligned himself closely - both through
financial support

http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=fOAj8qRhMHxkiSU4kJ7mlA

and in his policies - with the rabidly anti-gay National
Organization for Marriage (NOM). He also opposes federal protections
for LGBT people in the workplace, now claiming that he feels an
employment non-discrimination act would place an "undue
burden" on employers.

Americans support equality, there's no question about it. And even
with setbacks like the passage of Amendment 1 in North Carolina, this
country is racing full speed ahead in the direction of equality.
Electing President Obama to a second term will help ensure that we
continue to move forward and not backward, as Mitt Romney would have
us do. Help us thank President Obama for his support of marriage
equality, and add your name to the long list of people who believe
that America should stand for equality and justice, not discrimination
and hate.
http://action.hrc.org/site/R?i=chJIhXHRY0EihOLMw7znIA

In anticipation of the White House LGBT conference on aging taking place Monday in Miami, FL, HRC released an issue brief laying out many of the problems that plague LGBT older adults – problems that are often not widely understood or appreciated in the elder care field.

For example, the lack of formal relationship recognition leaves many LGBT older couples struggling to make ends meet as they plan for their later years and end of life. Older couples can create decision making documents including wills, but in most states these wills can be contested by blood relatives. For older couples not out to their families or the community, the surviving partner often has little standing to protect his or her interest in property.

And even though the loss of a partner can be devastating, both emotionally and financially, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) denies surviving same-sex spouses these critical benefits. In addition, same-sex couples lack access to protections under Medicaid that prevent a healthy spouse from losing a family home and basic assets to survive on when his or her spouse enters nursing or other long-term care. While the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made clear that states can extend these protections to same-sex couples, the vast majority of them do not.

The Obama Administration has taken a number of steps forward to eradicate the discrimination that many LGBT seniors face, and HRC continues to advocate on behalf of older members of our community to ensure they’re receiving equitable care and resources. Because our “Golden Years” should be just that – golden.

In saying so, he reinforced what most Americans believe – LGBT people should be fully and equally part of the fabric of our society. Our families deserve nothing less than the equal respect and recognition that comes through marriage.

President Obama’s time in office has shown that our nation can move beyond its shameful history of discrimination and injustice.

I hope you’ll join me in sending President Obama a heartfelt thank-you note right now.

Thanks to President Obama’s leadership, millions of young Americans have seen that their futures will not be limited by what makes them different.

And now, in supporting marriage equality, he’s extended a message of hope to a generation of young LGBT Americans, helping them understand that they too can be who they are and flourish as part of the American community.

His words also remind gay and lesbian families everywhere that they are not alone or unheard as they struggle – like their neighbors – to afford healthcare and college for their kids, pay their taxes, and plan for retirement.

The burden of discrimination will one day be no more, in part thanks to the President’s leadership at this very moment.

Send a thank-you note to President Obama now.

President Obama has been a crucial ally to our cause. But it’s ordinary people like you, standing up for what’s right, who will continue to drive our movement forward. I thank you for your commitment, and I hope you’ll continue to work for the day when all are equal.