White House issues
President Obama's Pride Proclamation
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009
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
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