President Barack Obama yesterday delivered his annual address at the White House LGBT Pride reception.
The president recounted progress made since he first took office in 2009, like the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” and the White House policy of refusing to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in federal court challenges because it believes it unconstitutional.
Yesterday's address also had a heavy emphasis on the president's HIV intiatives.
Gay Atlantans who were among the invited guests for the reception included Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan; Jen Christensen, president of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association; and her partner, Holly Crenshaw, who is director of communications for Emory University libraries. U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) also attended.
The Atlanta Pride Festival, by far the largest Pride festival in Georgia, may not take place until October, but there are plenty of other events around the state to mark June, which President Obama officially declared as LGBT Pride Month.
“As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community,” the president’s proclamation reads.
Today marks the start of LGBT Pride Month, and for the second consecutive year, President Obama has issued a proclamation acknowledging the contributions of LGBT Americans and the work remaining to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.