President Obama Declares National Gay Pride Month

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JONJONAUG

Yes, really

President Obama said:
As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.

LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.

My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.

In other areas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a series of proposals to ensure core housing programs are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also announced the first ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders.

Much work remains to fulfill our Nation's promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal.

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. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
I'm really excited for two reasons.

1. Shows that homosexual rights are coming up in the nation.

2. Pending hilarious reaction from right wing.
 
Hell, everyone has a "month" these days. I think it's currently Asian Heritage Month or something. I've lost track. It's nice that gay/trans/bi are being recognized, I just think the month of recognition thing is starting to get silly. Here we go...

May is:
* South Asian Heritage Month – celebration of Indian/South Asian peoples and peoples of Indian/South Asian descent worldwide
* Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – celebration of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
* Jewish American Heritage Month – celebration of Judaism in the United States.
* Mental Health Awareness Month – raising awareness about mental illness in the United States.
* National Military Appreciation Month – in the United States to recognize and honor the US Armed Forces.[1]
* Skin Cancer Awareness Month
* May is traditionally devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholic traditions. May crowning occurs in some locales at the beginning of the month.
* In New Zealand, May is the New Zealand Music Month.
* Older Americans Month in the United States, established by John F. Kennedy in 1963.[2]
* National Moving Month in the United States – recognizing America's mobile roots and kicking off the busiest moving season of the year.[3]
* National Hamburger Month[4]
* Zombie Awareness Month[5]


At least June seems less crowded on that front. All I could find was "Caribbean American Month" :)
 
I think definitely a step in the right direction, not to mention puts Obama back on the good side with LGBT that were getting peeved at him. Sometimes I think the only way this country is going to manage to end ridiculous discrimination is for one of the government branches to step in and say "everybody cut that shit out" like the supreme court had to do for black equality 60 years ago.
 
It's already cluttered with gay pride bumper stickers surrounded by a Confederate flag sticker.

Plus there's that Coexist sticker by Calvin taking a piss.

Not to mention the peace sign next to a sticker that says Born to Kill.
 
C

Chazwozel

nah, just put another dozen ribbons on the back of your car instead

And remind everyone to support the troops everyday. I still don't know what that means. Our economy isn't in WWII output mode. I kinda think it's funny that people nowadays think they're doing something by doing nothing.
 
nah, just put another dozen ribbons on the back of your car instead

And remind everyone to support the troops everyday. I still don't know what that means. Our economy isn't in WWII output mode. I kinda think it's funny that people nowadays think they're doing something by doing nothing.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. I have a feeling the politicians know that if they try to do have the American public do rationing like back then, they'd get voted out, that no one would be willing to do that to actually support the troops in this war.
 
With the rumblings coming from the fight over DADT it would be great if Gay Pride month was the same as National Military Appreciation Month.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top