DADT Repeal the Latest Thing Obama Has Done for Gays

The repeal of the military's 17-year "don't ask, don't tell" policy is the latest, and to gay rights advocates the greatest, action President Barack Obama has taken on their behalf.

But the historic signing ceremony caps two years of efforts on behalf of gay and lesbian rights, even as some administration officials worked at cross-purposes to defend anti-gay policies from past administrations.

Despite the Department of Justice's defense of a federal law that forbids states from recognizing legally sanctioned same-sex marriages and its previous championing of "don't ask, don't tell" -- a policy it opposed from the start -- Obama's legislative, policy and symbolic actions on LGBT issues are arguably the most substantial of any president before him.

Obama and his administration in his first two years in office:

Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the first federal civil rights law to protect gays and lesbians.
Instructed federal agencies to extend benefits where possible to same-sex partners of civilian federal employees.
Ordered the release of data on legally married gay couples from the 2010 census, conferring legitimacy on same-sex relationships.
Ended a ban on HIV-positive immigrants and foreign visitors.
Announced new regulations that recognize LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) families for federal housing programs and prohibit discrimination in getting federally insured mortgage loans.
Appointed more than 100 openly gay people in his administration, including the government's top personnel official and the head of the Council for Environmental Quality.
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to gay icons Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King.
Hosted a White House summit on bullying and recorded a video message to gay youths telling them that "It Gets Better."

On other matters, though, Obama has voiced support while apparently accomplishing little of substance.

He has said he wants to see Congress pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit employers from considering sexual orientation in hiring and firing decisions. So far, the legislation is stalled in the Senate.

Also on hold: repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman in the eyes of the federal government. Obama opposes DOMA, which bars legally sanctioned same-sex couples from reaping Social Security survivor payments, tax breaks and other benefits reserved for straight married couples, but repeal is likely to remain a political third rail in the Republican-leaning Congress for at least the next two years.

Follow Surge Desk on Twitter.