President Barack Obama today issued a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, and Transgendered Pride Month.
Pride Month is observed by the LGBT communtiy in June commemorating the 1969 “Stonewall Riots” in New York City. President Clinton regularly recognized Gay Pride Month while President George W. Bush ignored it.
While LGBT activists have been disappointed that President Obama has been slow to move on the repeal of the military’ “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that has forced thousands of LGBT citizens out of military service, the proclamation is still a welcome change in course from that of the prior administration.
The President’s proclamation on the flip.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATIONForty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.
LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country’s response to the HIV pandemic.
Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration — in both the White House and the Federal agencies — openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.
The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.
My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.
These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
BARACK OBAMA
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Our president has done more than he relizes. Our God our personal savior died for our sin and yet we are dedicating a month to it,and to sin. I for one think its compelety wrong. If we loved our God we wouldnt be approving of it at all and Obama if you read this i want you to know i dont hate you or lesbians,gays,bisexuals,etc. but i do hate sin and i for one well never celebrate i pray that you will relize your mistake and correct it.
Thank you President Obama … but I’ll pass.
I don’t need your proclamations or your “hear ye, hear ye”s … I need you to keep your word and over turn and reverse your stand on DOMA. If you want to honour our community and remember Stonewall then do it by beginning to reverse your DOMA decision and what we want most of all … just like every American is entiled to … the self evident truth … that ALL men are created equal.
“It’s wrong to have millions of Americans living as SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS in this nation. And I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ELECTION so that together we can bring about real change for all LGBT Americans.
I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE ON MY COMMITMENT TO EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL LGBT AMERICANS. As your President, I WILL USE THE BULLY PULPIT to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws.
I support the complete repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does. Americans are YEARNING FOR LEADERSHIP that can empower us to reach for what we know is possible.
I believe that we can achieve the goal of full equality for the millions of LGBT people in this country. To do that, WE NEED LEADERSHIP that can appeal to the best parts of the human spirit. JOIN WITH ME, AND I WILL PROVIDE THAT LEADERSHIP. Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans, gay and straight alike.” — Barack Obama (February 2008)
OK President Obama, I held up my end of the bargain and voted for you on this one statement and promise … I’M WAITING.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” — Martin Luther King Jr.