Obama and LGBT

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


Sumber: Gay_Mty@gruposyahoo.com.ar

Hmmmmm....just wish that i was American.....

Obama jg dlm dilema loh,dia byk janji ama GLBT di sana yg blom ditepati.Dia jg gak bisa seenaknya lolosin semua UU Pro GLBT,krn kalo gitu,tahun dpn dia bakal kehilangan byk democrats (1/3 congress ama senator tahun dpn bakal ada pemilu buat mrk).

Aku harap setelah 2010 election lewat and kalo posisi mayoritas Democrat masih aman di dua house,dia bakal tepatin janji nya.

.... memang ada banyak faktor yg harus dipertimbangkan oleh Obama utk menepati semua janji-janjinya. Berharap semangat yg Obama bangkitkan akan menginspirasi calon-calon presiden lainnya, baik di Amerika ataupun negara lain, terlepas apakah mereka dengan jujur menggunakan isu LGBT hanya untuk kampanye memenangkan kursi mereka saja.

Apakah semua janji-janji tersebut terpenuhi apa tidak. Yang terpenting adalah bagaimana isu LGBT bisa menonjol dalam isu Diversity sehingga nggak cuma ras, etnik, yg menjadi sorotan. Dengan terus diangkatnya isu ini kepermukaan, setidaknya ada sebuah bola besar yang telah digulingkan dari sebuan negara adidaya yang berharap akan menjadikannya efek bola salju.

Yang menjadi pertanyaan saya justru, apakah kaum LGBT sendiri siap dengan adanya perubahan yang akan terjadi, ketika semua mata mencari serta memandang mereka untuk menemukan sosok manusiawi yang dapat dijadikan tetangga yang baik, penuh toleransi, dan saling menghargai. Apakah kita siap untuk itu; menjadi warga yg tidak euphoria dgn keterbukaan itu sendiri.

Beberapa kasus mengenai pelecehan seksual dikalangan vatikan, tindakan-tindakan kejahatan yg berkaitan dgn orientasi seks, juga tindakan kriminal yg pelakunya adalah kaum LGBT serta pelanggaran norma-norma massa yg bersifat umum (mis: french kiss, naked dan berbuat amoral di muka publik, pesta seks) akan tetap menjadi batu sandungan, bila para kaum LGBT sendiri tidak berusaha untuk tetap menjaga sikap toleransi dan menghargai setiap pendapat dan pandangan orang lain.. termasuk orang yg berpandangan negatif terhadap kaum LGBT.

Bravo buat Obama...!