WASHINGTON – LGBT History Month provides role models, teaches history, builds community and celebrates our community’s important national and international contributions.
As the nation honors LGBT heroes during each day of October for LGBT History Month former Speaker of the House, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi pledged her support of both the month-long event and the push for gay rights. In a statement she said, “LGBT History Month offers us an opportunity to honor the pioneers of the movement for LGBT rights and recognize the extraordinary contributions of LGBT Americans to our history and culture. And it is a time to rededicate ourselves to the bedrock values of our nation: civil rights for every American; equality under the law; respect and dignity for all.
“Today, we stand at a crossroads of progress for LGBT Americans. Just last month, the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy officially took its place in the dustbin of history. President Obama has made it the policy of his administration to no longer defend the so-called Defense of Marriage Act in court. In state legislatures and in our judicial systems, we are making progress on marriage equality.
“This progress comes on the heels of passage of a fully-inclusive hate crimes law, historic investments in HIV/AIDS care, treatment and research, and a nationwide campaign to let LGBT youth and all young people know that ‘it gets better.’ But, as a Congress and as a country, more must be done.
“We must continue the struggle to end discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity. We must keep fighting until all Americans have the right to marry and start families with those they love, and we must take action to end bullying in schools. During this LGBT History Month, we must remain firmly committed to the rights, equality and progress of LGBT Americans.”
Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum who created the month-long celebration praised Pelosi’s statement, “Equality Forum is gratified by Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s support for LGBT History Month 2011,” said Lazin, “This follows the launch of LGBT History Month 2010 by Secretary Arne Duncan at the U.S. Department of Education. Started in 2006, LGBT History Month in October makes our icons visible and our historic civil rights movement empowering.”
