the gay communities.

So, thank you. >> [APPLAUSE]

Well, it was,

it's one of the things that I'm proudest of,

because my whole political career has based on the idea

that we constantly want to include people and not exclude them.

How do we bring more and more people into opportunity and

success and feeling hopeful about their lives?

But I will say, we were driving over here today and I meant this,

I said it to my staff, I said as much as we done with laws and

ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell, etc., changing hearts and minds,

I don't think anybody's more influential than you on that.

I really mean that.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> That's true.

So the..

Your courage and,

you're just really likable and so- >> [APPLAUSE]

So, as soon you being willing to claim

who you were then suddenly empowers other people and

then suddenly it's your brother,

it's your uncle, it's your best friend,

it's your coworkers, and then attitudes shift.

And the laws followed, but it started with folks like you.

-I'm so proud of you. -Well, thank you, that's-

Yeah, it's true.

Really sweet, thank you.

It's true.

[APPLAUSE]

I'm not really gay.

But on TV, you play one, and

it was great.

I know, I just thought it would work, and-

[LAUGH]

I've had to stick with it,

cuz people responded well.

Sort of like the dancing thing.

Yeah, [LAUGH] exactly.

You just kinda keep on going.

Exactly.