My Administration is taking historic actions to finally deliver full equality for LGBTQ+ families. As President, I am committed to defending the rights of all LGBTQ+ individuals. Ending violence and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community demands our continued focus and diligence.
And we are still haunted by tragedies such as the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. Our Nation also continues to face tragic levels of violence against transgender people, especially transgender women of color. Some States have chosen to actively target transgender youth through discriminatory bills that defy our Nation’s values of inclusivity and freedom for all. LGBTQ+ individuals - especially youth who defy sex or gender norms - face bullying and harassment in educational settings and are at a disproportionate risk of self-harm and death by suicide. Our Nation continues to witness a tragic spike in violence against transgender women of color. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate.įor all of our progress, there are many States in which LGBTQ+ individuals still lack protections for fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other spaces. Nearly 14 percent of my 1,500 agency appointees identify as LGBTQ+, and I am particularly honored by the service of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Cabinet, and Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Members of the LGBTQ+ community now serve in nearly every level of public office - in city halls and State capitals, Governors’ mansions and the halls of the Congress, and throughout my Administration. Hate Crimes Prevention Act broadened the definition of hate crimes to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. Historic Supreme Court rulings in recent years have struck down regressive laws, affirmed the right to marriage equality, and secured workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in every State and Territory. The LGBTQ+ community in America has achieved remarkable progress since Stonewall. This Pride Month, we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice. Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity. Pride is a time to recall the trials the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community has endured and to rejoice in the triumphs of trailblazing individuals who have bravely fought - and continue to fight - for full equality. Queer British writer, Jake Hall, author of "The Art of Drag," will further explain each detail you need to know about the different Pride flags and the communities they represent - including the Bisexual Pride flag and Trans Pride flag, while the artist Rigel Gemini’ shares his reflection about what it means to be a non-binary mixed artist in the music industry.The uprising at the Stonewall Inn in June, 1969, sparked a liberation movement - a call to action that continues to inspire us to live up to our Nation’s promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. For example Red represents Life, Orange means Healing, and Pink represents Sex. You will learn how, created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker with a team of artists under the impulsion of Harvey Milk’s iconic speech, the original flag displayed 8 colors and for each, a specific meaning. Today, 43 years after the flag was first raised, we are partnering with Google Arts & Culture - along with 12 other cultural institutions - to make stories about this iconic rainbow flag available to anyone, anywhere in the world.Īs part of the “ Beyond the Rainbow'' hub, everyone can dive back into the history of the LGBTQIA+ movement through the colors of the iconic Pride flag whose design and many iterations led it to become a symbol that would represent the full spectrum of the LGBTQIA+ community and carry the memory of the fights for LGBTQIA+ rights and a better representation of all the LGBTQIA+ identities around the world, until today. The Gilbert Baker Foundation uncovered this priceless artifact in 2019 and donated it to the GLBT Historical Society of San Francisco to make it accessible to all. On June 4th 2021, a piece of LGBTQIA+ history that we thought was long lost resurfaced: the original rainbow pride flag that was first raised on Jin San Francisco’s United Nations Plaza.