January 23, 2014 - 2:30 PM
WASHINGTON - Which recent president has used the word "gay" most often in a public speech, statement or proclamation?
The nation's largest gay rights group, the Human Rights Campaign, did some digging and found that President Barack Obama has used "gay" 272 times since taking office in 2009.
The campaign says that's more often than any of Obama's recent predecessors: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
A new report from the group says Obama has used the words "lesbian," ''gay," ''bisexual" or "transgender" a total of 421 times.
The advocacy organization credits the president's copious use of these four words with playing a large role in the political mainstreaming and acceptance of LGBT people and marriage equality in American society.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014