On Monday June 1, 2009, President Obama declared the month of June as National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. I don't want to sound ungrateful for the gesture, but I am.The LGBT community has been celebrating the month of June as National Gay Pride Month, to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, for years without needing the federal government to tell us that it's okay. What this gesture provides is very different from what we've been demanding, our equal rights, legal protections, and legal responsibilities guaranteed to us under the Fourteenth Amendment of The United States Constitution.
As part of The White House proclamation President Obama stated, "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". Within the same declaration the President said, ". . . I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing crime laws, supporting civil unions, . . ."
He used the words "full spectrum of equal rights". Well, we're waiting. And, in case the President might have forgotten there is no equality when the government creates a separate but equal state, such as when the U.S. had separate water fountains for African Americans. Yes, they were allowed to drink, but from a separate water fountain. That's not equal in the same way that's it's not equal to provide civil unions to gay couples but allow full civil marriage for straight couples. His ideals are flawed and contradictory by using the words equality and civil unions in the same sentence. He can't have it both ways, either we're equal or we're not, and right now we're not.
We want and demand action to change many federal and state policies regarding the unequal treatment of homosexuals. The short list includes, but is not limited to, reversing the military policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", reversing DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), and obtaining full marriage equality including Federal benefits such as Social Security. These are the changes that would make a difference in our daily lives, not some bogus federal proclamation declaring the month of June as national pride month. The LGBT community will continue to celebrate June as Gay Pride Month with or without the support of the U.S. government. What we can't do is take our Constitutionally guaranteed legal benefits when they are being kept from us. President Obama, put your money where your mouth is and fulfill the campaign promises you made to us.
Click here to read the full Presidential Proclamation - LGBT Pride Month.
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