Biden Issues First Proclamation Honoring Pride Month
President Joe Biden has issued the first official Pride proclamation of his presidency. Within this proclamation, he acknowledged the importance of recognizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month and its history.
He first acknowledged the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 and credited this event to sparking the queer liberation movement. He said that this was a call to action to uphold the nation’s promise of liberty and justice for all. The month of June is a time to reflect upon the trials and tribulations that the LGBTQ community has faced, and continues to face, as well as celebrating our triumphs. “This Pride Month, we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice,” he says.
The president then goes on to state some of the successes and the progress the LGBTQ community has achieved since Stonewall including marriage equality, workplace protection, and ending regressive laws. Biden proudly states: “Nearly 14 percent of my 1,500 agency appointees identify as LGBTQ+, and I am particularly honored by the service of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Cabinet, and Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate. ”
However, despite all of the successes that the LGBTQ community has seen, there are still many steps that need to be taken in order for there to be true equality and acceptance. Many states across the country deny protections for fundamental rights of many members of the community. As President Biden puts it: “Our nation continues to witness a tragic spike in violence against transgender women of color. LGBTQ+ individuals—especially youth who defy sex or gender norms—face bullying and harassment in educational settings and are at a disproportionate risk of self-harm and death by suicide. Some States have chosen to actively target transgender youth through discriminatory bills that defy our Nation’s values of inclusivity and freedom for all.”
The president has proclaimed that he is dedicated to defending the rights of every individual within the LGBTQ community. The Biden administration has already undone some of the policies implemented by the previous administration, but there is still much work to do. President Biden ends his Pride proclamation with this: “Now, therefore, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., 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 2021 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of Pride high.”
