[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2011)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 32853-32854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14174]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 7, 2011 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 32853]]


                Proclamation 8685 of May 31, 2011

                
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender Pride 
                Month, 2011

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and 
                Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our 
                fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our 
                friends and neighbors who continue the task of making 
                our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about 
                the struggle to realize the great American promise that 
                all people can live with dignity and fairness under the 
                law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous 
                individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for 
                LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the 
                pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual 
                orientation or gender identity.

                Since taking office, my Administration has made 
                significant progress towards achieving equality for 
                LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the 
                repeal of the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' 
                policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans 
                will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for 
                the first time in our Nation's history. Our national 
                security will be strengthened and the heroic 
                contributions these Americans make to our military, and 
                have made throughout our history, will be fully 
                recognized.

                My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate 
                discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal 
                housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right 
                to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made 
                clear through executive branch nondiscrimination 
                policies that discrimination on the basis of gender 
                identity in the Federal workplace will not be 
                tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint 
                highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive 
                branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize 
                that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration 
                stands with advocates of equality around the world in 
                leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting 
                LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT 
                organizations from full participation in the 
                international system. We led a global campaign to 
                ensure ``sexual orientation'' was included in the 
                United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution--
                the only United Nations resolution that specifically 
                mentions LGBT people--to send the unequivocal message 
                that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned 
                killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one 
                should be harmed because of who they are or who they 
                love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented 
                public commitments from countries around the world to 
                join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

                At home, we are working to address and eliminate 
                violence against LGBT individuals through our 
                enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard 
                and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are 
                also working to reduce the threat of bullying against 
                young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration 
                is actively engaged with educators and community 
                leaders across America to reduce violence and 
                discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that 
                bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing 
                up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House 
                Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior 
                Administration officials have also joined

[[Page 32854]]

                me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied 
                by recording ``It Gets Better'' video messages to 
                assure them they are not alone.

                This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the 
                emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a 
                profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have 
                made strides in combating this devastating disease, 
                more work remains to be done, and I am committed to 
                expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last 
                year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/
                AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy 
                focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to 
                decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, 
                improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and 
                reduce health disparities. My Administration also 
                increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan 
                White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to 
                invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, 
                government cannot take on this disease alone. This 
                landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT 
                community and allies to recommit to raising awareness 
                about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this 
                deadly pandemic.

                Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation 
                closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While 
                progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing 
                the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is 
                on our side, and that the American people will never 
                stop striving toward 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 2011 as Lesbian, 
                Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon 
                the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice 
                everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great 
                diversity of the American people.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2011-14174
Filed 6-6-11; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P