Let’s Have Some Pride

It has been more than 40 years since the Stonewall Riots, the definitive rallying point for the modern gay rights movement. A few years after the riots, gay rights organizations were founded across the U.S. and the world, and in 1970, the first Gay Pride marches took place in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. On June 2, 2000, President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” with June being chosen to remember the Stonewall riots.

As I’m sure you know, Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, or Pride, is intended to recognize the impact of the LGBT community on the world, with cities all over the world hosting parades, events, memorials and festivals.
This June marks the second time that President Obama has publicly designated this as LGBT Pride month, and the first time since former President Clinton did so in 2000.

Last week, President Obama stated the advancements made for the LGBT community during his presidential tenure thus far, including eliminating the antiquated HIV entry ban into the U.S., as well as passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and renewing the Ryan White CARE Act.

More recently, we’ve seen the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the Senate Armed Services Committee, push forward the decision to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. While the bill effectively repealing DADT still needs to pass the Senate, it’s a great step forward to end an antiquated, discriminatory and frankly, financially irresponsible policy. For a refresher on the financial implications of DADT, check out former Out Front blogger Caitlin Russell’s great article.

So my fellow allies and LGBT friends, let’s look to these as more reasons to have Pride this month. As we recognize and celebrate the great strides the LGBT community has made, let us not forget the amount of work left to be done on the journey to equality. We can’t stop striving, through our words and our actions, for the LGBT community to be afforded the same rights and responsibilities given to our straight counterparts.

As we move into the balmy days of June, I’d like to suggest that you take a moment to read some of the great Out Front coverage of the past (here AND here), and be sure to tune in this month for more updates and thoughts on Pride 2010.

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Tags: Current Affairs · Pride