Crosstalk: January 14, 2016

Jim began this edition of Crosstalk with news that Al Jazeera America, a television news network that went on the air in 2013, has announced that it is shutting down at the end of April due to economic reasons. The Human Rights Campaign listed five highlights from President Obama's final State of the Union address last evening: --The White House guest list included members of the LGBT community. --The celebration of marriage equality victory. --Recommitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. --The president spoke directly to LGBT Americans claiming that a year from now when he no longer holds the presidency, he will be right there with the LGBT community as a citizen. --Focused on LGBTQ youth and families. Jim went on to note that there were pro-LGBT changes made to the White House website on the very day President Obama was inaugurated. He then moved on to take a look at the HRC's list of Obama administration policy advancements on behalf of LGBT Americans and in particular, their warning that in spite of all this progress, they feel their greatest battles are still ahead.