Today at the White House LGBT Pride Month Reception, President Obama played host to hundreds of LGBT community leaders, activists, and advocates. The day was intended as a commemoration of the 40th Anniversay of the Stonewall riots, but served more as an affirmation from the president that he still stands on the side of equal rights for all Americans.

Standing with First Lady Michelle Obama, the president spoke at length about Stonewall, acknowledging it as an important moment in the history of the civil rights movement:

"The truth is when these folks protested at Stonewall 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you -- or, for that matter, I -- would be standing here today. So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country."

President Obama first recognized some openly gay Cabinet members and prominent leaders - Fred Hochberg, the new chair of the Import/Export Bank, DOE director John Easton, Bishop Gene Robinson, Ambassadors Jim Hormel and Michael Guest, and Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown. Then he said how much he and Michelle appreciated the support of the LGBT community, who "work so hard every day in the pursuit of equality on behalf of millions of [LGBT] people in this country who work hard and care about their communities."

The president said, "We know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts. And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington. That's the story of the movement for fairness and equality for all those in our history who've been denied the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; who've been told that the full blessings and opportunities of this country were closed to them. It's the story of progress sought by those who started off with little influence or power."

Frank Kameny, a gay civil rights pioneer who was fired from his job as an astronomer by the federal government simply for being gay, was present. President Obama honored Kameny, saying he "led a protest outside the White House in 1965, which was at the time both an act of conscience but also an act of extraordinary courage. And so we are proud of you, Frank, and we are grateful to you for your leadership."

The president then spoke about Stonewell and the AIDS epidemic, which he said "demonstrated before the world that different kinds of families can show the same compassion and support in a time of need -- that we all share the capacity to love."

Then Mr. Obama turned to current LGBT issues facing him as president.

First up was the memorandum he signed granting federal benefits to LGBT families. The president said, "these benefits will make a real difference for federal employees and Foreign Service Workers, who are so often treated as if their families don't exist." He thanked John Berry, his openly gay appointee to the Office of Personnel Management, for helping to to develop the policy.

Then President Obama turned to the contentious Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), saying he has called on Congress to repeal the law. "I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law," said Mr. Obama, "but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides. And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law. I've made that clear." Mr. Obama did not address the anger in the LGBT community over the Department of Justice's legal brieifing strongly defending the law.

The president said he has also urged Congress to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, which will guarantee the full range of benefits, including healthcare, to LGBT couples and their children. He said his administration is working on getting the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed, as well as the federal Hate Crimes Law, also know as the Matthew Shepard Act. He acknowledged the work of Shepard's family, particularly his mother Judy, to get a comprehensive hate crimes bill passed.

Mr. Obama said his administration was working to end the ban on the entry of HIV-positive foreigners into the United States. He said, "We all know that HIV/AIDS continues to be a public health threat in many communities, including right here in the District of Columbia. And that's why this past Saturday, on National HIV Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested."

Finally, the president said his administration is already working with the Pentagon and Congress to end the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "As I said before -- I'll say it again -- I believe "don't ask, don't tell" doesn't contribute to our national security." said Mr. Obama. "In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our national security." He said he has asked the secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal.

President Obama ended his speech by turning back to Stonewall and all the strides the gay rights movement has made over the past 40 years. "That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress -- step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you."