In June of 1969, an historic uprising broke out as patrons of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, resisted police harassment as the bar was raided. The riots and protest which followed lasted several nights and has been credited as bringing birth to the LGBT civil rights movement.
More than forty years later the LGBT community continues to honour the significance of the events that occurred at the Stonewall Inn. As a tribute to those who stood up in opposition to inequality against the LGBT community, the month of June has been officially designated nationally and at the California state level as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
In the official proclamation released on June 1st, President Obama renewed his commitment to the LGBT community. He spoke of achievements towards completing many of his campaign promises including his work on repealing the controversial DADT policy. He also confirmed that there is still more work to be done.
“As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles," Obama wrote.
In California, the state senate also approved a resolution which declares June 2010 as LBGT Pride month. The resolution, SR -44 found support from both Democrats and Republicans in the state senate including recently outed Sen. Roy Ashburn R-Bakersfield.
Throughout the month of June, LGBT communities will commemorate those who have come before us and those who continue to fight for equality. Parades, marches and festivals will be held throughout the country. The Sacramento Pride Festival will be held Saturday, June 19, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Capitol Mall.
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My new non-fiction/inspirational book: INCITE—a true story of two men betrayed by their adopted children and tortured for a crime they did not commit, tell the gay saga from a prison perspective. The stage is set with disloyalty and devotion, despair and expectancy, cruelty and compassion, courage and uncertainty. This chronicle of transcendence reveals insight on diversity, judgment, forgiveness, acceptance and personal choice.
The URL for my blog can be requested at: xrayvision2005@gmail.com
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