In The Life: The State of Equality (US)

This month's edition continues to focus on lgbt rights in America and President's Barrack Obama's involvement in the struggle and the legal issues.

In 2008, President Barack Obama secured the LGBT vote, promising full equality for the community. Two years later, many are critical of the pace of change.

This month on IN THE LIFE, we ask if the man in the White House is an advocate for gay rights, and service members talk to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

Politics of Progress (00:18:00)
President Obama's inauguration marked more than one historic first; our first Black President is also the first American President to publicly identify as an ally of the LGBT community.

In his two years in office, Obama has signed presidential memorandums expanding federal benefits to same-sex partners and extended federal protections to LGBT victims of hate crimes. But so far, his administration has not fulfilled the change he promised on key issues like The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA),

The Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' In response to growing frustration, some new LGBT rights groups are using aggressive tactics to push for full equality.

A Conversation With... Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), David Hall and Julianne Sohn (00:08:00)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is leading the charge in the Senate to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' She recently came to IN THE LIFE to hear from two service members discharged under the policy:

David Hall, a former officer cadet in the Air Force and Julianne Sohn, a former Marine officer who served in Iraq.