As Pride month kicks into full gear with celebrations around the country and world, President Joe Biden has released a proclamation declaring June to be LGBTQI+ Pride Month.
“During Pride Month, we celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) community,” the statement reads.
During his presidency, Biden signed into law the Respect for Marriage Act which protects same-sex and interracial marriages. He also ended the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military, and signed Executive Orders which strengthened civil rights protections in housing, employment, health care, education, and the justice system. Most recently, the administration ended the ban that prohibited gay and bisexual men from donating blood.
In his proclamation, Biden wrote of his administration’s efforts to implement a national strategy to end the HIV epidemic and combat “conversion therapy.”
Biden’s proclamation also addressed laws being passed throughout the nation that attack the basic rights of LGBTQI+ Americans. These laws have targeted this community from every angle, attacking rights in education, community, and the personal lives of citizens.
He continued to explain what his administration is doing to help solve these issues, which includes the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice launching a safety partnership to provide training, support and resources to communities to help report hate crimes and protect festivals, marches, community centers, businesses and health care providers.
Biden’s Department of Education and Department of Justice are also working to find if nationwide book bans are violating Federal civil rights laws when they target LGBTQI+ or BIPOC students.
“To the entire LGBTQI+ community – and especially transgender children – please know that your President and my entire Administration have your back,” the proclamation reads.
Though Biden’s Administration is working on these issues, there’s still a long way to go in states where lawmakers seemingly have a personal vendetta againts the LGBTQIA+ community. Despite this, around the country Pride celebrations, parades and events have monthly calendars brimming, and millions of Americans are showing out to celebrate love and diversity.
