[131]
Despite DOMA, Clinton was the first president to select openly gay persons for administrative positions,[132] and he is generally credited as being the first president to publicly champion gay rights.[133] During his presidency, Clinton issued two substantially controversial executive orders on behalf of gay rights, the first lifting the ban on security clearances for LGBT federal employees[134] and the second outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal civilian workforce.[135] Under Clinton's leadership, federal funding for HIV/AIDS research, prevention and treatment more than doubled.[136] Clinton also pushed for passing hate crimes laws for gays and for the private sector Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which, buoyed by his lobbying, failed to pass the Senate by a single vote in 1996.[137] Advocacy for these issues, paired with the politically unpopular nature of the gay rights movement at the time, led to enthusiastic support for Clinton's election and reelection by the Human Rights Campaign.[133] Clinton came out for gay marriage in July 2009[138] and urged the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA in 2013.[139] He was later honored by GLAAD for his prior pro-gay stances and his reversal on DOMA.