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Last night was the night of the boycotted, protested, but ultimately successful DNC Leadership Council LGBT Fundraiser.

The event pulled in more than a million dollars — $250,000 more than it made last year — while protesters stood outside chanting and carrying signs that read “Gay Uncle Toms” and “265 Discharged Since January 20, 2009.”

The Advocate reports:

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, was one of the detractors camped outside the event. “Tonight we’re here to send a strong message to the vice president and to the president that it’s time to end the silence on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” he said. “His presidential leadership and commitment is needed up on the Hill.”

When Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin arrived, she chatted with the spirited flock of about 25 and then pivoted to enter the Mandarin Oriental Hotel as cries of “Don’t go in, Tammy!” and “Shame on you!” followed her.

Vice President Joe Biden both acknowledged the protesters and validated their protest:

“I am not unaware of the controversies swirling around this dinner,” Biden said, “swirling around the speed — or lack thereof — that we’re moving on issues that are of great importance to you and, quite frankly, to me and to the President and to millions of Americans.

. . . “I don’t blame you for your impatience. I hope you don’t doubt the president’s commitment.”

. . . More importantly , I want thank you for being a critical – critical – voice for keeping the nation focused on the unfinished business of true equality for all of our people; and I know, and this administration knows, that we have so much more to do,” he said. “I promise you, I promise you, with your help we’ll get there in this administration.”

Biden drew repeated standing ovations as he pledged the repeal of DOMA and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, the passage of the Lieberman-Baldwin LGBT health benefits bill,a ban on workplace discrimination, adoption rights for all, and an end to the HIV travel ban.

The protesters weren’t the only ones yesterday to call the Obama administration out on its lack of real movement on LGBT issues. The AP wrote a piece called “PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama slow on pledge to gays:

In his first five months, he’s taken incremental steps that have little real effect and left some people feeling betrayed . . . [Movement on LGBT issues] remains far short of his campaign rhetoric . . . s president, Obama hasn’t taken any concrete steps urging Congress to rescind the Clinton-era policy that even some former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have described as flawed.

And the Washington Blade kept its promise to video tape the protesters and attendees. Watch the video.