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.

This has been quite the week for noteworthy news. I'm excited by the recent addition of my birth state - Maine - to the short list of marriage equality states last week. I'll be happy for the day when the thought of full marriage equality in all 50 states isn't newsworthy or exciting.

And while I know that many people that are near and dear to me identify with the Republican Party I have to imagine that even the strongest hold-outs have to be shaking their heads right now. What is up with the Republican Party? They spent the better part of last week criticizing attacking President Barack Obama for ordering spicy dijon mustard on his cheeseburger. I understand that you don't like the guy but can you come up with some solutions? Really you have to be desperate when you waste 3 days of airtime on a guy's condiment choice. Sad... very sad.

One of the great things about my new routine in New York is all the reading I can do while on the train. A favorite new author of mine is David Benioff. If you want a good read check out his latest book City of Thieves about an unlikely pair of guys who are sent on an impossible journey to find a dozen eggs in war torn Russia during the siege of Leningrad.

And an impossibly cute gay "YouTube Personalities" collaborative video to combat all the anti-gay bullying taking place online - well worth the 3 minutes of your time.

I received this from MoveOn and thought it was important enough to post. It's exactly from MoveOn's email.

The plan:
1. Makes a $634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers every single American.

2. Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000, your taxes won't go up one dime.

3. Invests more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green jobs that can never be outsourced.

4. Brings our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic priorities.

5. Reverses growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.

6. Closes multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies.

7. Increases grants to help families pay for college — the largest increase ever.

8. Halves the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as the economy begins to recover.

9. Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC — the agencies that police Wall Street.

10. Tells it straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.

And, it looks like Republicans are realizing they may not be able to block President Obama's budget. Finally things are looking up for this country.

On Tuesday President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress. It was an amazing speech that spoke frankly and honestly about the state of our great nation. In his speech, President Obama outlined this three major legislative goals. They are healthcare reform, education, and alternative "green' energy.

It was a great speech and I managed to only cry a few times. I think by his third year I'll be immune to tears when listening to him speak.

Anyways, the exorcism performing Louisiana Governor - Bobby Jindal - was selected to give the Republican response to President Obama's speech. It was terrible - makes me wish Sarah Palin was still around. Immediately everyone started making comparison's between Gov. Jindal and 30 Rock's Kenneth the Page.

Last night Kenneth the Page joined Jimmy Fallon on his new Late Night Show to give his response. Check it out below:

A few weeks ago Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave a surprising un-political answer when asked if the administration would repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Gibbs answered, "Yes".

The Obama administration now is signaling that the repeal of DADT won't be immediate and perhaps not even in this year. Obama is hoping to canvass more military and congressional leaders to get them comfortable on the issue before moving forward.

According to The Boston Globe: "They (Administration officials) said Obama, who pledged during the campaign to overturn the law, does not want to ask lawmakers to do so until the military has completed a comprehensive assessment of the impact that such a move would have on military discipline. Then, the president hopes to be able to make a case to members of both parties that overturning the 1993 law would be in the best interest of national security.

Obama is hoping to avoid the missteps of the Clinton administration when it tried to open the ranks to gays and lesbians, only to be confronted by fierce resistance from lawmakers and commanders. Early in his presidency, Bill Clinton signed an order allowing gays to serve but was forced to back off. A compromise made it illegal for gays to serve openly, but also restricted investigations into service members' sexual behavior."

Aubrey Sarvis - Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund - seemed comfortable with Obama's approach. She said, "The Clinton experience makes a lot of folks [in the administration] apprehensive."

There seems to be a growing campaign among DADT supporters to keep Obama from repealing the outdated policy despite military leaders such as Colin Powell publicly coming out in support of repealing it.

And since we are on the topic of the military's DADT policy, I thought you'd all enjoy these videos.

And, finally this gem. Which really begs the question if allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would really hurt troop morale. Methinks not.