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Former Top Obama Advisor Slams Lack of Action on Gay Rights

Steve Hildebrand was Barack Obama's deputy campaign chairman and his field organization was widely credited for early, crucial victories in Iowa and South Carolina. The openly gay campaign strategist breaks campaign post-silence and now admits he is "losing patience" with the White House's lack of progress on LGBT rights and says the President "needs to be more bold in his leadership", reports Politico.

"The problem is, Obama isn’t listening enough," Hildebrand said. "I love him, I love Michelle, I want him to succeed, but all of us need to put pressure on him and Congress to do the right things. The American people put confidence in the Democrats because they thought we could get things done, and if we fail, they’re not going to give it back."

"I gave up a lot to elect Democrats, and I expect them to give it up for me. I’m going to speak loudly. The Republicans don’t have power unless the moderates and the Blue Dogs give it to them—which is what they’re doing now," he said in the speech.

"I know where Barack Obama is on these issues and I don't question his sincerity or his honesty towards trying to solve them," he said. "I do question whether or not the Congress as it is constituted right now is going to have the capacity to ever deliver on some of the most critical issues facing our country right now."

Hildebrand says the lack of progress on gay rights has become one of his biggest disappointments. After 22 years of working for Democratic candidates, the strategist says "we haven’t come very far."

The former deputy campaign manager—who was involved in then-Sen. Obama’s decision whether to run for president—becomes the most prominent gay in the Administration's inner circle to criticize its progress (or lack thereof) on LGBT rights. Asked to address Hildebrand’s criticism that the President hasn’t been more forceful, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded (video): "Well, I'll e-mail Steve and tell him what which affiliate in Sioux Falls will be covering the [health-care] speech so he can listen to the president."

Adviser Losing Patience with Obama [Politico]

White House Reception Recognizes LGBT Pride and Stonewall 40th

Forty years after the Stonewall riots sparked the gay rights movement, President Barack Obama hosts an historic reception for LGBT activists and their families to honor LGBT Pride and the 40th Stonewall anniversary. The speech, carried live on CNN and other networks, marks the first time a sitting president has given a live televised speech on LGBT issues.

The President, who has been criticized by many LGBT rights advocates for inaction on his many campaign promises, says his Administration has made some progress on behalf of gay Americans and will do more. Full remarks AFTER THE JUMP:

"I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that," Mr. Obama said at a reception for LGBT Pride Month at the White House. "It's not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago."

"But I say this: We have made progress," the president continued. "And we will make more. And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps."

Obama spoke about the "movement" created some 40 years ago: "The riots at Stonewall gave way to protests, and protests gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a transformation that continues to this day. It continues when a partner fights for her right to sit at the hospital bedside of a woman she loves; it continues when a teenager is called a name for being different and says, 'So what if I am?'; it continues in your work and in your activism, in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest."

The list of attendees was forwarded by the White House Press Office to Rod 2.0. (Full list AFTER THE JUMP.) Invited guests included openly gay Administration officials such as Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry and Asst. Labor Secretary Mary Beth Maxwell. Leading LGBT advocates such as Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese, and Jarrett Barrios, the new president of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

There were a number of prominent black and Latino LGBTs that should be familiar to Rod 2.0 readers: Phil Wilson, Black AIDS Institute; HRC's Donna Payne; Andre Leon Talley; Connecticut State Rep. Jason Bartlett; Denise Simmons, Mayor of Cambridge, MA;  Cornelius Baker, National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition; San Diego City Commissioner Stampp Corbin; actor Wilson Cruz; Bishop Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge United Church of Christ;  Earl Fowlkes, International Federation of Black Prides; Lupe Valdez, Dallas County Sheriff; and black Chicago lesbian leaders Mary Morten and Vernita Gray, interviewed in my Advocate cover story on Obama and Hillary Clinton.

An historic occasion and we should be mindful of the progress being made and how much further we have to go. It was also a pleasure to hear Obama allude to the black Civil Rights Movement. The occasion would have been more meaningful if there were more substantive policy initiatives to announce. The guest list was pleasantly diverse ... but very Stonewall 1.5. Online LGBT activists are leading the fight for equality and none were represented. Very out of character with the Facebook, YouTube and BlackBerry-driven White House.

WHEN YOU JUMP, Obama's full remarks and the guest list.

Obama Campaign Marches in Boston, DC and Indianapolis Prides

Over the weekend at the Boston and Indianapolis Gay Pride Parades, staff, volunteers and supporters of the Barack Obama presidential campaign marched and participated in the events. On last week's conference call with LGBT media and bloggers, openly gay deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand said the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's campaign will have a "major presence" at some 60 pride events throughout the season.

Above Boston photo is from Flickr user ThinkandUnderstand. The Indianapolis photo below is from Flickr user CTPPIX.COM Note the papier mache Obama mask, which was very festive and hopefully not-too-heavy. More Indianapolis Pride photos are at Bilerico. The Washington photo below is from Flickr user Joekerstef.

Also on last week's conference call with LGBT media, it was announced that David Noble, former executive director of the National Stonewall Democrats and current director of public policy and government affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, has been appointed as director of the LGBT vote for the campaign.