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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment