Wednesday, June 03, 2009

The Culture Wars

I don't remember the last guy doing this ...
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

There is a lot of concern that the new administration has not moved sufficiently on things like the Defense of Marriage Act, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Dont Ask Don't Tell, and other things. This proclamation is, admittedly, nothing, but maybe things are leaning in the right direction.

19 Comments:

Anonymous twiddly said...

the last time a President tried to cozy up to the deviant community, it was a Clinton catastrophe

here's what Obama thinks of Bill from the new book by Richard Wolffe, Newsweek reporter:

""We had to figure out how to deal with a former president who was just lying, engaging in bald-faced lies," Obama told Wolffe.

When the author asked if Bill Clinton had gotten into his head, Obama replied, "Yes, but I got into his."

True enough, and, according to Wolffe, that consideration entered into Obama's thinking when it came to choosing a running made.

Obama instructed his aides to consider Hillary -- if and only if they thought she'd help the ticket win in November.

"But," Obama added, "I'm concerned about Bill Clinton being a loose cannon.""

June 03, 2009 2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."

Anyone with any discrimination will be revulsed by the activties usually referred to as "gay pride".

Oh, goody!

Now we get a month of this disgusting foolishness.

Big mistake on Obama's part.

Previously, he had shown a lot of promise.

June 03, 2009 2:54 PM  
Anonymous ha-ha said...

that's right!

oh goody!

June 03, 2009 3:40 PM  
Anonymous Derrick said...

CanĀ“t decide which personality to use, AnonBigot?

All that internal hate is finally catching up withh you.

June 03, 2009 3:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Derrick, show a little pride and shut up.

June 03, 2009 4:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that's right, Derrick!

show some pride

June 03, 2009 4:58 PM  
Anonymous Robert said...

Hurray for Obama! Eugepae!

June 04, 2009 7:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what are you doing this month to commemorate, robert?

give us some details

June 04, 2009 9:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Anonymous" - your use of the word "deviancy" to describe the GLBT community is correct...a minority group within a much larger group does, in fact, deviate from the "norm", much as left-handed people and blue-eyed people do.
It is much more difficult to describe your "deviancy" though, as you seem to represent a much larger group of willful malcontents and haters - fear-driven and ignorant indivicuals who deviate from the "norm"- as well.
Your views, as constantly and consistently expressed here, do NOT come close to representing the views of Americans, most of whom actually practice the teachings of their particular religious belief to "love others as you love yourself".
You are one sick dude!
Citizen

June 04, 2009 9:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Your views, as constantly and consistently expressed here, do NOT come close to representing the views of Americans,"

hey, citizen, could you give me a couple of examples of where my views aren't close to that of Americans?

June 04, 2009 10:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said (in referencing President Obama's Proclamation -"I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."): "Now we get a month of this disgusting foolishness."

"Disgusting foolishness"? It is astounding that anybody in his right mind could be opposed to turning back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

Your calling this
"disgusting foolishness" tells us much more about you than we care to know. You apparently haven't the slightest notion of what this country stands for and tries, in the face of sneering resistence by people like you, Anonymous, to achieve every day.

You have once again revealed your true character and paucity of humanity for all those who frequent this site to behold. You are, quite simply, beneath contempt.

One Who Loves America

June 04, 2009 10:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It is astounding that anybody in his right mind could be opposed to turning back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists."

No one in his right mind has suggested "turning back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists".

We have simply removed one type of sexual deviance from the list of things that are legitimate targets of discrimination.

Whether that reclassification is appropriate is a matter of opinion.

It's definitely not what this country stands for, however.

We believe in freedom of association.

June 04, 2009 10:49 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

I was thinking of going to Baltimore Pride. I here it's a lot of fun.

Or maybe I will become a bitter internet troll and haunt decent people. That would be a change of pace.

June 04, 2009 11:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ah, go play in a fountain

I "here" it's lotsa fun!

June 04, 2009 11:29 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

I translated:
Acerbus lemur interretis = bitter internet troll.

June 04, 2009 11:30 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

Do you remember my story about the fountain? Did I tell that hear? Or do you know more than you admit to knowing? Mmmmh.

June 04, 2009 11:33 AM  
Anonymous Robert said...

While we're correcting one another's grammar and typing, that's "lots of", not "lotsa". Those who live under glass bridges shouldn't throw stones.

June 04, 2009 11:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes, you did tell that "hear"

you tell lotsa things "hear"

June 04, 2009 2:00 PM  
Anonymous Robert said...

I talk a lot hier. It's nice to know that you remember so much of what I say.

June 04, 2009 4:23 PM  

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