President Obama to speak at HRC dinner

This has just been posted on Karen Obamb’s new LGBT POV blog:  President Barack Obama will speak at the Human Rights Campaign dinner on Saturday night before the Oct. 11 National March for Equality.

Karen points us to an item in the NY Times The Caucus blog:  Mr. Obama’s appearance on Saturday at the annual dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, represents a significant show of support for gay rights at a time when many prominent gay and lesbian activists have been questioning the president’s commitment to their issues.

His appearance will mark only the second time a sitting president has spoken to the Human Rights Campaign. The first time was in 1997 when Bill Clinton spoke to the group. That was the first time a sitting president had ever addressed a gay rights organization.

A person with knowledge of Mr. Obama’s plans confirmed his appearance at the dinner. But this person spoke on the condition of anonymity because a formal announcement is expected later today.

It will be VERY interesting to hear what the president has to say in that speech.

Here is a statement from HRC President Joe Solmenese via Towelroad: “We are honored to share this night with President Obama, who has called upon our nation to embrace LGBT people as brothers and sisters. It is fitting that he will speak to our community on the night that we pay tribute to his friend and mentor Senator Edward Kennedy, who knew that as president, Barack Obama would take on the unfinished business of this nation — equal rights for the LGBT community, and for every person who believes in liberty and justice for all.”