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On May 28th, President Barack Obama formally proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
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.
That this is being stated so boldly and clearly by an American president speaks volumes, both in a good way and some not so good. Homosexuality is not new, and it is very depressing that it has taken this long for an official statement attesting to the horrible trials and tribulations those that are LGBT to come out. That said, at least it’s being done now.
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.
This is another point that I think is missed by many, many people. I mean, it’s easy to think of homosexuals as “those people”, but it’s quite another when you find out that you know some personally, as we all do. I have friends, relatives, colleagues, and personal heroes that identify as LGBT. It still shocks me, though, when people I know and respect feel differently about a person upon finding out that their sexual orientation is not what they’d assumed it to be. “What do mean, he’s gay? Ewwwww!” It’s kind of funny, I guess, but I have a tendency to judge people for how they judge the LGBT. I suppose that’s a proclamation for another day, though.
Obama goes on to specifically address ways that his administration has focused on bringing this issue into the forefront, of facing it head on, of not hiding behind milquetoast policies like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (which, to be fair, was a fairly bold political move for the time and place).
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.
Obama reminds us that there is still a long way to go. People who have traveled the difficult terrain of this long, uphill climb need the support of all of us to achieve the notions of equality set forth by our forefathers.
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.
Obama closes by reminding the American people that “If one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles.”
Whatever your feelings about Barack Obama may be, this was a bold move both personally and politically.
What do you think?
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I just wanted to mention that the other day, one of my close friends who is gay revealed to me that he thought I was a lesbian when he first met me because I am down to earth and not “prissy”. Also that I don’t act like everything had to be handed to me and I am “real”. He also mentioned that he liked me and thinks I’m cute, and all the girls he liked before he realized he was gay always turned out to be lesbians.
So I guess there isn’t always a bad stigma to being gay.
YAY! It makes me happy that someone with the authority to fix the issues within the GLBT community is doing just that.
Here’s hoping that our President follows through on his statement with some concrete actions!
You guys know this was started by Clinton in 2000, right? How does continuing LGBT Pride Month constitute a bold move?
Barack Obama,what do I think? I think hes playing too much golf. I think he tries to fix elections by handing out Federal positions. I think Blago is about to give him some real headaches. I think Bill Ayers is a slimeball,and his buddy. I could go on,but its been a long day,I’m going to play some sudoku and watch The Office.
I’m glad that Obama is really standing up for something. I had been kind of hesitant about what to think about his presidency thus far, but I’m made more optimistic by the fact that he pushes LGBT rights.
This wasn’t his idea! He didn’t start it!
Of course equality wasn’t his idea. Does that mean he can’t pursue it? It’s not like he’s touting LGBT rights as his original idea.
Gay pride month,so very very important,and believe me I’m not homophobe. This country has some nasty looking wolves circling the cabin,and we think this is important. Wheres my rolaids,I’m going to work!
Whether pride month was started by Obama or not, I think it’s a bold move because he knows there are many people in this country who are bigoted, biased, and homophobic.
I think Obama is using the work of others before him to advance a cause he believes in: equality. After all, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t establish equal rights for African Americans on his own, he used the work of leaders before him to advance a cause he believed in: equality for all. (To be clear, I’m not trying to compare Obama and MLK as individuals. I’m trying to compare them as leaders for equality for groups of people who are oppressed or suffer discrimination in some way.)
I hope this leads to big strides toward true equality for the LGBT community.
He also knows that he made a big fat promise to give the LGBT community a helping hand and he hasn’t delivered on a single one of them. So I guess giving them a “month” will suffice for now, especially since he needs their vote in 2012.
Clinton gave them the month!
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