The first TBLGQ Pride Month Proclamation was issued by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and in 2000 before he left office in January 2001. George W Bush NEVER issued one during his entire misguided White House tenure.
President Barack Obama has issued one every year since he took office in 2009, and here is the the text of the 2015 proclamation declaring June as Pride Month.
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LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2015
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
From the moment our Nation first came together to declare the
fundamental truth that all men are created equal, courageous and
dedicated patriots have fought to refine our founding promise and
broaden democracy’s reach. Over the course of more than two centuries of
striving and sacrifice, our country has expanded civil rights and
enshrined equal protections into our Constitution. Through struggle and
setback, we see a common trajectory toward a more free and just society.
But we are also reminded that we are not truly equal until every person
is afforded the same rights and opportunities — that when one of us
experiences discrimination,
it affects all of us — and that our journey is not complete until our
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) brothers and sisters are
treated like anyone else under the law.
Across our Nation, tremendous progress has been won by determined
individuals who stood up, spoke out, and shared their stories. Earlier
this year, because of my landmark Executive Order on LGBT workplace
discrimination, protections for Federal contractors went into effect,
guarding against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Federal Government is now leading by example, ensuring that our
employees and contractors are judged by the quality of their work, not
by who they love. And I will keep calling on the Congress to pass
legislation so that all Americans are covered by these protections, no
matter where they work.
In communities throughout the country, barriers that limit the
potential of LGBT Americans have been torn down, but too many
individuals continue to encounter discrimination and unfair treatment.
My Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy
for minors because the overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates
that it can cause substantial harm. We understand the unique challenges
faced by sexual and gender minorities — especially transgender and
gender non-conforming individuals — and are taking steps to address
them. And we recognize that families come in many shapes and sizes.
Whether biological, foster, or adoptive, family acceptance is an
important protective factor against suicide and harm for LGBTQ youth, and mental health experts have created resources to support family communication and involvement.
For countless young people, it is not enough to simply say it gets better; we must take action too. We continue to address bullying
and harassment in our classrooms, ensuring every student has a
nurturing environment in which to learn and grow. Across the Federal
Government, we are working every day to unlock the opportunities all
LGBT individuals deserve and the resources and care they need. Too many
LGBTQ youth face homelessness and too many older individuals struggle to
find welcoming and affordable housing; that is why my Administration is
striving to ensure they have equal access to safe and supportive
housing throughout life. We are updating our National HIV/AIDS
Strategy to better address the disproportionate burden HIV has on
communities of gay and bisexual men and transgender women. We continue
to extend family and spousal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.
And because we know LGBT rights are human rights, we are championing
protections and support for LGBT persons around the world.
All people deserve to live with dignity and respect, free from fear
and violence, and protected against discrimination, regardless of their
gender identity or sexual orientation. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgender Pride Month, we celebrate the proud legacy LGBT
individuals have woven into the fabric of our Nation, we honor those who
have fought to perfect our Union, and we continue our work to build a
society where every child grows up knowing that their country supports
them, is proud of them, and has a place for them exactly as they are.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, 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 2015 as Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of
the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to
celebrate the great diversity of the American people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day
of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
thirty-ninth.
It was Serena's 20th Grand Slam title, tying her with Steffi Graf, her third straight Grand Slam win since the 2014 US Open, her third French Open title and first since 2013.
As most people in the tennis world know, clay is not one of Serena's fave surfaces, and if you ant to knock her out of a tournament, you have to catch her early in the first week of a tourney before she gets on one of those rolls that ends with her waving to the crowd and holding up another championship trophy.
The first TBLGQ Pride Month Proclamation was issued by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and in 2000 before he left office in January 2001. George W Bush NEVER issued one during his entire misguided White House tenure.