About Pride

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About Pride

A message from the President of The United States of America to the

LGBT community as a whole and to the world.

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 mobilised

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

See also the Stonewall Riots page of this site for a historical overview of the Stonewall Riots.