Obama declares June 2009 LGBT pride month

[tragicallyunhip]

WOW!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_...T-Pride-Month/

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

__________________________________________________ _________
For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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.

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

[Dionysos]

Translation: "Hey homos, I'm going to distract you with a meaningless declaration instead of doing anything about marriage. XOXO, Bams"

[tragicallyunhip]

Maybe, but at least it's something different.

[Funkenstein]

Damn. Now we have to share Juneteenth's significance with these guys/gals as well now.

PWNT.

[PJSOLDIER]

And at least he recognizes we exist in a positive way...

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by tragicallyunhip

Maybe, but at least it's something different.

It's really not. Hey look, I just made August national Audri month. What did it get you? Nothing. OK, maybe a plaque.

[PJSOLDIER]

Its the president acknoledging the gay community and pointing out that positive impact we have on society. What prez has done that before. It may not mean or do much but its better than a prez that is pushing legislation the restrict our rights as eqaul citizens.

[PJSOLDIER]

Originally Posted by Funkenstein

Damn. Now we have to share Juneteenth's significance with these guys/gals as well now.

PWNT.

Hey you already got your month! Hush!

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by PJSOLDIER

Its the president acknoledging the gay community and pointing out that positive impact we have on society. What prez has done that before. It may not mean or do much but its better than a prez that is pushing legislation the restrict our rights as eqaul citizens.

It's meaningless lip service, and frankly I'm surprised you're even remotely interested in this horseshit given that he's on record as saying he opposes gay marriage. I bet you'd go back to Ike Turner if he apologized, wouldn't you?

[Funkenstein]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

It's really not. Hey look, I just made August national Audri month. What did it get you? Nothing. OK, maybe a plaque.

Shhhh!!! You're giving the game away! Acknowledgement is not action, but at least it fosters "hope".

As far as selling hope, Obama is doing a bang up job. The thing that folks like Xian and David Austin are looking for are the cold, hard actions or implementation of processes that bring about change.

I'm not gonna front. I'm looking for a little change myself these days.

We're past the first 100 days, but he has a year (to me) before we start grabbing pitchforks, tar, and feathers.

[Dionysos]

Note to self: I can re-institute the colored drinking fountains if I make August national 'Black People are Kick Ass' month.

[PJSOLDIER]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

It's meaningless lip service, and frankly I'm surprised you're even remotely interested in this horseshit given that he's on record as saying he opposes gay marriage. I bet you'd go back to Ike Turner if he apologized, wouldn't you?

So is most the shit we hear from most politicians. His stance on gay marriage is the typical PC stance that he opposes marriage but supports civil union. Fact is out of our choices he was the prez the gay needed. Im sorry but Im glad to see Obama promoting the gay community in a positive as opposed to past president who pushed constitutional ammendment to restict our rights.

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by PJSOLDIER

So is most the shit we hear from most politicians. Im sorry that I am glad to see our president say something positive about our community. His stance on gay marriage is the typical PC stance that he opposes marriage but supports civil union. Fact is out of our choices he was the prez the gay needed. Im sorry but Im glad to see Obama promoting the gay community in a positive as opposed to past president who pushed constitutional ammendment to restict our rights.

My point is that the end result is the same, neither is doing(or did) anything substantive to help you. Dubya never got an amendment passed - and that was never a serious threat btw, Constitutional amendments are ridiculously hard to get done - and Obama's not helping with gay marriage, so it's a wash in terms of quantifiable actions. If you're OK with just getting empty gestures & meaningless proclamations, then good for you. I'm just surprised you're willing to settle for that.

[PJSOLDIER]

I know nothing tangable will come from it, I'm not an idiot. Im saying it the President of the United States of America giving the gays props. If you dont see why thats a good thing and something that hasnt happened before then you must be, oh yeah you're straight, nevermind...

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by PJSOLDIER

I know nothing tangable will come from it, I'm not an idiot. Im saying it the President of the United States of America giving the gays props. If you dont see why thats a good thing and something that hasnt happened before then you must be, oh yeah you're straight, nevermind...

I'm not saying it's bad, I'm just saying it's empty without action to back it up. Making proclamations that have no commitments behind them just makes him another politician pandering to a focus group.