Barbara Lee Recognizes LGBT Pride Month
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement in recognition of LGBT Pride Month which began this week:
“Let us honor the occasion of LGBT Pride Month, by acknowledging the tremendous efforts of so many LGBT individuals who have fought for equality, but also honoring the lives of those who we have lost because of targeted discrimination.
“Last Congress we witnessed a tremendous victory for equality and fairness when Congress voted to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ For too long the LGBT community was marginalized in our military forces and this failed policy unfairly denied fundamental civil liberties to highly qualified individuals who wished to serve our country.
“Although this was a remarkable step forward, we still have a long way to go to attain full equality for the LGBT members of our global community. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people continue to be targets of discrimination in our policies, our laws, and our society. That is why we must stay committed to ensuring that sexual orientation and gender-identity are no longer reasons to be victims of inequality.
“I firmly believe that discrimination is un-American and we, as a nation, must continue to fight for policies that bring us closer to fulfilling the principles we espouse. I encourage all Americans to reflect on the progress we have made and the steps we need to take to attain full equality for all.”
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LGBT Pride Month has been celebrated annually in June as the unofficial Pride month in honor of the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. Yesterday, President Obama released a proclamation establishing June of 2011 as LGBT Pride Month, a proclamation he has released every year since his inauguration.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee is a Vice-Chair and founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. She is proud to stand with a bipartisan caucus that is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.
Follow Barbara Lee on Twitter @RepBarbaraLee
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