President Barack Obama spoke of the continued prejudice against “our gay brother and sisters” at the NAACP’s Centennial Convention today.

But make no mistake. The pain of discrimination is still felt in America. By African-American women paid less bor doing the same work as colleagues of a different color and different gender. By Latinos made to feel unwelcome in their own country. By Muslim-Americans viewed with suspicion, simply because they kneel down to pray to their god. By our gay brothers and sisters still taunted, still attacked, still denied their rights.

(Big applause)

On the 45th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination cannot stand. Not an account of color, gender, how you worship, or you who love. Prejudice has no place in the United State of America. That’s what the NAACP stands for. That’s what the NAACP will continue to fight for… as long as it takes.

While generally supportive of gay rights, the NAACP refuses to take a position on gay marriage.

Late yesterday, Fort Worth mayor Mike Moncrief clarified an apology he gave at a city council meeting over the raid of the Rainbow Lounge last month, saying he was only sorry that someone got hurt.

Fort Worth’s mayor says an apology he issued at a City Council meeting wasn’t for law enforcement’s raid on a Texas gay bar, but for the fact that a man was seriously injured.

Mayor Mike Moncrief (MAHN’-creef) made an impromptu apology during Tuesday night’s meeting where officials and residents commented on last month’s raid on the Rainbow Lounge, which left one man hospitalized with a serious head injury.

Moncrief had told the crowd: “If you want an apology from your mayor: I am sorry about what happened in Fort Worth.”

Mean while the police issued more details about the raid.

According to police records, a cruiser video showed a man arrested for public intoxication two days before the controversial raid. In a police report, officers said they saw the man leave the lounge very intoxicated earlier in the evening and told him to get a ride.

That weekend, officers returned to the lounge with TABC officers for a bar check. A police radio recording revealed that an officer called for help after they went inside the Rainbow Lounge.

“I need help in here,” he could be heard saying. “I’m by the restroom.”

That call came when officers said a customer blew a kiss at the officer, and then struggled with police as they tried to arrest him. The customer told News 8 his arm was injured.

In police records, officers also said a woman’s hips touched an officer in a sexually explicit way. The reports also said Gibson tapped an officer’s genitals.

“[It] didn’t happen,” Gibson said. “It’s a big lie.”

Argh! One steps forward, two steps back. Do politicians ever apologize?

Howard Dean sits down with Freshman Senator Kirsten Gilliband of NY to talk healthcare, the Employment Free Choice Act, and at the 4:50 mark, same-sex marriage and DADT. Watch:

There was a lot of concern when Gillibrand filled the vacancy left by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that she would not be a strong ally for the LGBT community. I think we can safely put those fears to rest.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) serve up more of the same lies and half truth’s in the Family Research Council video below. Watch:

For the record, the bill does not curb free speech; it only applies to people who commit physical acts of violence against other people. This is just more fear-mongering.

It appears the hate crimes bill will be voted on in the Senate later today, but is encountering resistance from the usual suspects, the measure being called “highly explosive!”