Subscribe to Breaking NewsObama issues LGBT Pride statement
From the White House:
LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Forty 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
Thank you, President Obama. I hope you will actually do something to make your commitments a reality.
Please note: civil unions, not marriage. Maybe the country needs to remove the word marriage from all civil documents and replace it with a contract called “Civil Union.” Then, should the couple wish to have a religious (or non-religious) “marriage” ceremony, so be it, but it would carry NO legal status. That works for me and my partner of 30+ years.
Out of the void comes a small voice. Thank you for the crumbs from the table Sir. May I have another?
Wow, 100 days later and we get a letter. Thanks Obama. You really no what is important to us gays. Give me a break.
Blah, blah, blah! MORE words Obama! Now actually DO SOMETHING!
Thanks Obama! I support CIVIL UNIONS for you too! (Hypocrite!)
DOMA, damn it, DOMA! That’s what needs to go. I see that has been dropped from the President’s agenda.
Civil unions are a start, but not the punchline, and I certainly hope that our president recognizes that.
Mr President, Even Dick Cheney supports Gay Marriage. Now put your Office behind it and DO something constructive. SUPPORT Marriage. If Nevada can get “Partnership” passed, YOU should be able to get Marriage Passed.
Was THIS the “big announcement” that we’ve been told to expect where Obama would wow us with his action specific gay rights agenda?
Well HRC and GLAAD may cream themselves over his latest pretty, but sparse, words but I’m not even slightly impressed.
This is just more of the same old shit with a “2009″ tacked on to the end of it.
Please notice that he said “civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples”. The federal rights are the rights that we’re lacking even in states where gay marriage has been legalized. I don’t like that he had dropped overturning DOMA from his rhetoric as much as anyone else. However, I welcome this gesture of recognition pride month and expanded rights for the GLBT community. It’s unprecedented for any president to do this.
It is amazing that the US cannot gets its act together on this. It is a sad sad thing. Plus we keep on hearing that the US is the best coutry in the world…guess what, not on this. I lived in DC for 10 years and had to left the US because it is so backward when it comes to LGBT rights. The hypocrisy of it all is amazing. The Democrats in congress and Obama need to do what is right and stop paying so much attention on politics. Then they will be respected. And on DADTDP last I check the US military serve with the brits and Canadian…so guess what…you already have openly gays in the military. Finally if the US would look beyond its border it would see that countries dont fall apart from giving equal rights to its LGBT citizens… Only when the US will do the right thing at home will it have the moral ground to talk about other countries human rights in my book…
“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.”
Although the Stonewall riots helped, they were by no means the genesis of the movement. MCC was founded a year before Stonewall. And let’s not forget groups like the Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis, etc. from back in the 50s.
A little history lesson is in order, it seems.
nice and pretty and all…but what’s missing from this statement is the “when.”
Less rhetoric and more action!