LGBT Staff Members at The White House: It Gets Better

by Brandon Miller

Ever wonder what it's like to work at The White House? Short of an episode of The West Wing or a clip from The American President, it might be hard to wrap your head around the diversity of people who run the place. But a group of people who do work at the President's house are speaking on camera this week, and they're telling LGBT youth that "It Gets Better."

“I couldn’t have imagined that I would be supported by my family, my friends, my community, and even the president of the United States,” says Kei Koizumi of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, Brian Bond, introduces several other gay and lesbian staffers. They each talk about their own struggles and triumphs. And they offer hope and encouragement, much like President Obama did in his own "It Gets Better" video a couple of months ago.

In fact, President Obama makes a cameo in this video as well. In October, it was announced that the President hired a record number of gay and lesbian officials. We are talking about agency, policy officials and commission members, to name just a few. His total number of LGBT appointments is reportedly around 150. And that is only thus far. Clinton, the previous record holder for the most gay staff, landed at 140 appointments.