VIDEO, TEXT, PHOTOS: President's Remarks at LGBT Pride Reception

President Obama delivered brief remarks tonight at the Obama Administration's third annual LGBT Pride Month celebration. The East Room cocktail reception hosted more than 200 attendees, including youth LGBT leaders, veterans and openly LGBT state and local elected officials.

Watch the event and read the transcript AFTER THE JUMP ...

"You’re fighting for the idea that everyone ought to be treated equally and everybody deserves to be able to live and love as they see fit," said the President. "I don’t have to tell the people in this room we've got a ways to go in the struggle, how many people are still denied their basic rights as Americans. ... Many of you have devoted your lives to the cause of equality."

The President listed his Administration's many incremental accomplishments on LGBT action items—such as beginning the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", announcing it would no longer defend the "Defense of Marriage Act" in court challenges, lifting the HIV travel ban, launching the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, granting hospital visitation rights, limited expansion of federal benefits, banning gender identity discrimination in federal employment and expanding federal leave policy.

President Obama acknowledged the frustration that many in the gay community feel about the pace of accomplishments."I know I can count on you to let me know," he said. "This is not a shy group."

Obama did not mention same-sex marriage, which he does not fully support and says that his position is "evolving". In recent weeks, the President has been under renewed pressure by LGBT activists to fully support marriage equality.

The Administration officials in attendance included John Berry, Director of the US Office of Personnel Management and Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Elected officials included Hawaii House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro and Berkeley (CA) City Council Member Darryl Moore.

Watch the event and read the transcript AFTER THE JUMP ...