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.
Comments
God I love that man.
Totaly gross and disgusting! Sick in every respect! No wonder this country is going to HELL so quickly!
Don't get me wrong I am all for people having pride in themselves and I applaud those that have stood up for themselves despite the objections of the majority. But why is it that so many groups and causes get a awareness/pride month but pregnancy and infant loss gets one day for awareness a year and nobody knows about it unless they have gone through a loss.
Rant over. Congradulations folks.
wow, so let's just say - "Let's be proud that we are perverts and sinners in sexual bondage! Let's be proud and I'll endorse it as president that our morals mean nothing!"
this is disgusting, our country will crumble under this ignorant immoral leadership.
DENVER GAY Parenting? You don't get to have kids being gay! what a sad and terrible thought to raise up other generations being sexual perverts. nature says no to "gay" having kids, look at the hardware!
to hunter: Apparently you're not in charge of who gets to have children. I have three of them, and we're doing fine, thanks.
Exactly what are you afraid will happen to our country as a result?
To ethan: I would appreciate it if you would refrain from calling my readers foul names, and in turn we will do the same for you. Thank you.
I am guessing that you believe we are all sinners. And somehow I think if I were living in "sexual bondage" (to what?) I would be aware of that.
I am proud of the many brave and honest Gay and Lesbian Americans.
Yay for Obama, I've been kinda dissappointed with his stance on DADT but this is a move to show he hasn't bailed entirely on LGBT issues. It is support in a pretty bold way. To the haters here, just save it. No one is telling you how to live your life, let us live ours. We have kids, we have jobs, we pay taxes, we shop and some go to your churches. It always has been and always will be so just relax. Stop thinking you are so right and let others be, you'll sleep better at night.
Liz, my sister very recently lost a baby in her 5th month of pregnancy after 10 years of trying. I get the loss, it is deep and I appreciate the comment. I truly think we are terrified of death in the US and dont' like to acknowledge it. I would't count on a "month" anytime soon. Though we would be better for it, if we had a better way to grieve and know our mortality.
May the only True and Living God, open the eyes of ur understanding! Disect the 1st chapter in the Book of Romans and u will see were OUR GOD STANDS ON THIS ISSUE. SIN IS SIN NO MATTER HOW U CHOOSE TO LOOK AT IT! GOD'S ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE VS WORLDLY VIEW WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL! WE LOVE U, BUT WE PRAY 4 THIS PERVERTED, UNNATURAL ACT & BEHAVIOR--NO U ARE NOT BORN THIS WAY!! IN THE BEGINNING HE MADE MALE AND FEMALE..PERIOD!
PRESIDENT OBAMA, LOOK TO THE BIBLE FOR EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO GODLINESS AND LIFE! NOT OUR WHARPTED & PERVERTED WORLD VIEW!
to Jeanette:
1. That would be your God, not mine.
2. God took a position on Gay parenting? Where?
3. What on earth makes you think that you have the right to impose your peculiar ideas of "sin" on anyone else?
4. Look around you. You live in the United States of America, a secular democratic founded, among other things, on the idea that all people have the right to choose and practice their own religion. Our ancestors died for that right, and those of us who love America and what it stands for continue to fight for it.
5. Actually, President Obama does look to the Bible. He's a Christian, didn't you know that? He just (a) interprets it very differently from you. (b) understands that it has no place in the governance of our nation.
How come nobody asked us what we think about this? I bet if you took a vote, it wouldn't have happenned. I am sad about the continued assault on morals - why do we have to celebrate pride in any kind of sexuality?
Well this is a nice thing to see our President do. I hope the day will come when we don't need a separate day or month or whatever. I hope the day will come when all are accepted and welcome regardless. In the meantime, be proud, and fight the good fight.
Deep breath everyone...Don't believe in abortion? Don't have one. You think being gay is morally wrong? Ten per cent of us are born that way. No one chooses to join an oppressed miniority..really, no one does. Live your life as you see fit, judge not lest you be judged. Peace out
To: Rene, Let "US" made make men in "OUR" IMAGE, referring to the "ONE" and only Triune Godhead (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!) The God of the Bible says, there is only One way to the Father--thru His One and Only Son (Jesus Christ)-who died for us so we may have life & have it abundantly. Unfortunately, a lot of people use the word Christian loosely. I prefer being a follower of J.C. One who yields 2 the counsel of God & not choose to pick out a few sciptures & attempt to make a doctrine out of it! In regards to judging? Jesus practiced righteous indignation (turned the tables over in God's house & said u will not make His house a den of thieves. We as followers of Christ have a responsibility to warn others when they fall short of God's precepts! However, God would not have His children argue. Note, I said (His children-not His creation). Therefore, I respectfully will have to agree 2 disagree & pray in all ur getting u get understanding! God Bless!
God's word is truth and it is not based on whether we believe it or not! If you study the bible, God's instructions for living, it is clear how we should live. The problem arises when people want to justify living contrary to the word of God. This is a sad day for America and the real Church needs to repent for this nation.
Welcome to everyone and your comments are also very welcome. To Jeannette: You have the right to believe all of that, and I respect and defend that right. You do not, and should not, have the right to impose those beliefs on the rest of us or on the country. It's wrong and un-American.
An example that may help you understand. I assume that you believe that all Jews are going to Hell, and violating God's holy word. You have the right to believe that. You don't have the right to make Jews comply with it. Jews get to exist in America, and to practice Judaism. As an American, you should defend that right. It's doesn't mean you have to be Jewish.
In the same way, you don't have to be Gay, but you should respect Gay people and our rights, just as I respect and defend yours. Isn't America great?
Same to Donna. This is America, get used to it. I respect your right to believe all that and base your life on it, not to expect me to believe it or the country to base its governance on it.
btw, to all you Bible fans: Lesbianism is not prohibited. Divorce is. Fact.
To DONNA:
THX FOR UR SUMMATION! DIDDO AND AMEN!!!!!
don't believe in murder? Don't kill...
don't believe in abortion? Don't have one...
One-in-the-same statement
Don't believe in having sex with animals? Then don't commit beastiality.
One-in-the-same statement
Sorry...
My first comment was meant as follows...
Don't believe in having sex with animals? Then don't commit beastiality.
Don't believe in Homosexuality? Then don't be homosexually active.
One-in-the-same statement
Dawn: If you think hard, I think you will be able to see some important distinctions between two adult human beings who love each other and want to make a family, and bestiality. If not, then you may need moral guidance.
I'll make a deal with you. I won't dictate your sexual morality, and I'd appreciate it if you don't try to dictate mine.
To all those that are negitive, what does it matter to you who somebody else chooses to love? In this day and age we have so much more to worry about without being hateful because another person chooses to love somebody of the same sex. Get over it and let others be happy as they are. Personally I am glad to live in a country where others can be free to love those that choose.
To Renee, thanks for the empathy and my condolences to your sister. We also lost a child in late pregnancy, 35 weeks. Which is why I am easily annoyed by the lack of recognition pregnancy and infant loss gets.
This is a waste of taxpayer money, a waste of our President's time. He's the one trying to push his beliefs onto a nation with this bullcrap.
One step closer to creating a modern day Sodom & Gomora. True Christians must continue to pray & intercede on the behalf of our nation
Who you choose to have sex with should not ever make you any of the following: celebrated, oppressed, special, entitled, hated, or demonized. As a Christian I know that all of us have sinned and fallen short of His glory. We live in a free society and each person over 18 in America has the right to have sex with any other person over 18. What is very troublesome to me is the way that our government pushes and pushes this "Gay,Lesbian,Transgender,Bisexual" agenda and tries to make who you choose to have sex with some sort of protected class. There is no reason to have a Gay Pride month just like there is no reason to have a Heterosexual Pride month or a Menage a Trois Pride month. Choosing to have sex with someone of your own gender does NOT make you special, so all gay people should just get over themselves and quit rubbing our noses in their all-consuming Gay-Dom. THAT is what makes heterosexual people mad, NOT the fact that you're gay.
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