"I need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of DOMA, to pass an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill"

So I was half-watching the Phillies trounce the Cardinals 11-6 in the first playoff game when a link to the U-Stream of President Obama's keynote at the HRC National Dinner popped up on my twitter feed. So of course I followed it ... and got to watch him live (evidenced by this off-my-laptop snapshot) ...

"We don't believe in the kind of smallness that says it's okay for a stage full of political leaders -- one of whom could end up being the president of the United States -- being silent when an American soldier is booed. We don't believe in that."

"We don't believe in standing silent when that happens. We don't believe in them being silent since. You want to be commander in chief? You can start by standing up for the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States, even when it's not politically convenient. We don't believe in a small America. We believe in a big America -- a tolerant America, a just America, an equal America -- that values the service of every patriot."

More here ... including these key quotes:

"I need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of DOMA, to pass an inclusive employment non-discrimination bill, so that being gay is never again a fireable offensive in America."

I don't have to tell you, there are those who don't want to just stand in our way, but want to turn the clock back, who want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve their country openly. Who reject the progress we've made. Who ... want to enshrine discrimination in state laws and constitutions -- efforts that we've got to work hard to oppose, because that's not what America should be about. We're not about restricting rights and restricting opportunity."

Or watch the whole speech here.