hrc, you know how congress works. i'm counting on you to have my back. go out there and get them to pass this bill. [applause] let's put america back to work. now, ultimately, these debates we're having are about more than just politics. they're more about -- they're about more than the polls and the pundits, and who's up and who's down. this is a contest of values. that's what's at stake here. this is a fundamental debate about who we are as a nation. i don't believe -- we don't believe -- in a small america, where we let our roads crumble, we let our schools fall apart, where we stand by while teachers are laid off and science labs are shut down, and kids are dropping out. we believe in a big america, an america that invests in the future -- that invests in schools and highways and research and technology -- the things that have helped make our economy the envy of the world. we don't believe in a small america, where we meet our fiscal responsibilities by abdicating every other responsibility we have, and where we just divvy up the government as tax br

now with the repeal of don't ask, don't tell, hospital visitation rights for same sex couples, the hrc is happy with the president's work. >> it is fair to say that as a community, we have accomplished more in the last two years than we have in the previous 40. president barack obama has stood with us. ladies and gentlemen, this is our moment to stand with him. >> president obama addressed the crowd at tonight's event and told them he would push to end the defense of marriage act that legally defines marriage as between a man and a woman. >> gay service members can get married on base by military chaplains. the news edge is everywhere at 11:00. the pentagon issued new guidance today, saying chaplains can perform the ceremonies in any state that recognizes same sex unions. chaplains can opt out if it goes against their belief. >>> russian nationalists disrupted a gay rights demonstration in moscow today, causing tempers to flair. about 40 people were taken into custody. authorities are still trying to figure out who was part of the rally and who tried to stop it. allegedly threw tomatoe

human rights campaign follow on twitter, hrc.org and read up on the things we are doing or our blog, hrc back story.org. >> some people say this is so personal if you get caught up maybe in the big national push you might feel a sense of security and then the next day realize i wasn't ready to do this what do you say to people who say that is it really an appropriate forum. >> coming out is a personal thing. it is up to them we are by no means dragging people out of the closet if being in the closet where you you want to be and feel safe that is where you should be, but we thing the more we are visible the better we will be a day like today, national coming out day shows everybody, that we are here and everywhere and here to support you and hrc is to support all members of the community. >> let me ask a question i should have started with, still a stigma attached to this, still people losing jobs over this how far have we come? >> a really long way unfortunately you can still be fired from your job just for being gay in 35 states there is no federal protection -- sorry 29 states, 35 stat

jerry brown is saying, and political pundits stand behind president obama's dig during a speech at the hrcjoin us at 6:00. >>> finally, a lot of us feel blessed to have pets as loyal friends today they received a special blessing. >> thanks for the life and love you give me. may you live a long and healthy life. >> alan: the clergy at san francisco's grace cathedral blessed pets and their friends as part of the fees of st. francis of assisi, men -- many christian denominations consider st. francis to be the patron saint of animals and the environment. and you got your little dog blessed today. >> leigh: yes. >> alan: that's it for us at 5:00. captioned by closed captioning services inc. >>> this is "world news." and tonight, the 11th hour. amanda knox, choosing her every word carefully this evening, on the eve of that crucial ruling. she will speak in that italian courtroom tomorrow and tomorrow she will learn if she walks free.

those are category that the hrc also satisfies as far as certification. the ubde is underutilized disadvantaged business enterprise. i've just wonder -- i just wonder if that is falling under the lbe, because usually it does not. i am also wanting to say, too, with regards to prevailing wages, the truckers have had a serious problem with prevailing wages and that first of all, you have an owner or operator, and you have a driver. he may have to trucks. you have to hire a driver to drive the second truck, but what is always eliminated is the hourly rental rate for that piece of equipment. so the rental rate for the equipment and the actual our the rate for the operator is combined for us. now, you were talking about inflation and. that is one area that has sublet since 1988. that has been inflated. most of them know there is an hourly equipment rental rate like there is for every other piece of equipment on the job. your screen, scraper, a bulldozer, and then you have to pay the individual to operate. i am just hoping that h r c or someone overseas this pr

those are your fights, too, hrc. [applause] so i'm going to need your help. i need your help to fight for equality, to pass a repeal of doma, to pass an inclusive employment nondiscrimination bill so that being gay is never again a fireball of things in america. [applause] and i don't have to tell you, there are those who don't want to just and in a way but want to turn the clock back. you want to return to the days when gay people couldn't serve the country openly, reject the progress that we've made, who, as we speak, are looking to enshrine discrimination into state laws and constitution, efforts that we've got to work hard to oppose, because that's not what america should be about. we are not about restricting rights and restricting opportunity. what about opening up rights and opening up opportunity. [applause] and treating each other generously and with love and respect. [applause] and together, we also have to keep sending a message to every young person in this country who might feel alone or afraid because they are gay or transgender, who may be gett

. >> reporter: the hrc speech was an opportunity for the from list a number of accomplishments he made for what's consider to be a key con student -- constituency. he came full of a full endorsement of same-sex marriage. >> president obama says he supports senator dianne feinstein's bill to repeal the defense of marriage act. >> want to see that passed, but until we reach that day my administration is no longer defending the law in the court, and it's time for it to end once and for all. it should join "don't ask, don't tell" in the history books. >> they walked the president's speech yawn. they're among the 18,000 same-sex couples who were legally married in california before proposition 8 passed. >> we're legally married in the state of california. yet we are denied over 1,000 rights under federal law. >> they're also with marriage equality u.s.a. >> actually great the president said that law should be repealed, and -- we want him to take the leadership to make that promise a reality. >> they were hoping to hear the president has changed his support for civil unions to full support o

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and judy and her husband and the people of his family who worked with the hrc and senator kennedy, senatorama and the true colors. >> that was 12 years ago. why are we still having to talk about bullies and violence and prevention in 2011? >> because right now we're going through hard times. any time there's hard times, you have to have a scapegoat. and anybody who is different, everybody is afraid of. the thing is, kids bully each other. sometime you have to look at a kid bullying another kid and wonder who is bullying their kid to make him such a big bully. and the parents have to step in. if you really love your kid, you don't want him to be a bully and you don't want him to be bullied. listen, i'm a parent. it's really hard to be a parent. every day you think you're doing the wrong thing. but there's websites to go on. there's information to get. and you just keep trying and you never give up. never. one day it's this guy. next day it could be you. why would you stop? >> why don't we just stop? we checked. it's been 13 years since matthew shepherd died. when it comes to hate, cyndi put