Transgender Individuals Recognized For First Time Ever In A State Of The Union Speech; Huffington Post, 1/20/15

Amanda Terkel and Nick Wing, Huffington Post; Transgender Individuals Recognized For First Time Ever In A State Of The Union Speech:

"President Barack Obama pushed for protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals Tuesday evening, making it the first time lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have ever been recognized directly in a State of the Union address.

"As Americans, we respect human dignity, even when we're threatened, which is why I've prohibited torture, and worked to make sure our use of new technology like drones is properly constrained," said Obama, adding, "That’s why we defend free speech, and advocate for political prisoners, and condemn the persecution of women, or religious minorities, or people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. We do these things not only because they're right, but because they make us safer.""