[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
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

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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 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.
BARACK OBAMA