Presidential Proclamation--Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law. Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans. Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation's history. Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital. We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions. Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system. We led a global campaign to ensure "sexual orientation" was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution -- the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people -- to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible. No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools. To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording "It Gets Better" video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community. Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research. However, government cannot take on this disease alone. This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality. While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

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 2011 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 thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

              BARACK OBAMA

On March 10,2003, Judge Opaciuch concluded in his decision that Octavia was part of a "clearly definable social group," which he identified as "women in Guatemalan society who resist male domination by living independently and self-sufficiently."

The judge went on to cite a number of failures by Guatemalan authorities to assist Octavia's several attempts to protect herself and her children. His decision said INS attorneys argued that recently adopted laws in Guatemala had provided more protection for women. But based on U.S. government reports, the judge wrote, "Violence against women remains a problem in Guatemala."

Instead of the hour or two that an immigration judge ordinarily takes to issue an oral decision, Judge Opaciuch delayed his opinion for months. This worried Mr. Greene and Ms. Zachman and the other members of the Shearman team in Washington: associates Gabriela Vallejo, currently on maternity leave, and Mark Tanney, who recently left Shearman to join the Washington firm Gilbert, Heintz & Randolph.

Given the political backdrop in domestic abuse claims for asylum, Mr. Greene said cases such as Octavia's are increasingly difficult to try. Mr. Ashcroft has assumed direct involvement in the matter of yet another abused woman from Guatemala, which Ms. Dinnerstein and others fear may establish extremely difficult legal barriers.

Justice Department spokesman Jorge Martinez denied widespread claims that Mr. Ashcroft aims to thwart asylum claims based on gender. He blamed such perceptions on inaccurate media reports, despite a number of petitions reported to be lodged with the attorney general's office supporting Ms. Dinnerstein and other activists, signed by hundreds of Congressional members and religious leaders.

Mr. Martinez said new rules that Mr. Ashcroft is considering would merely improve the efficiency of immigration courts.

"The issues in asylum law are difficult to interpret," said Mr. Martinez, "and will be dealt with when these [new regulations] come out [to] help the judges make easier decisions."

Meanwhile, said Mr. Greene, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center: "I'm a believer in immigrant rights. I believe immigrants are not the burden on society that certain parts of the political spectrum believe them to be."

He said further, "Immigrants are brave and hard-working people. As we went on [in the Octavia case], the details of her life kept us going."

With reference to the decision in the case, Mr. Greene added, "I thought [Judge Opaciuch] gave us a hard time on the stand. But in retrospect, given his really detailed, really thoughtful and supportive opinion, I think he was trying to lay a strong groundwork and satisfy himself that this was worth going out on a limb for."

Like Mr. Greene, Ms. Zachman said she became "very emotionally entrenched" in the case of Octavia.

"She is an inspiration," said Ms. Zachman of her client. An adverse ruling from the judge "really could have ravaged her life, and that of her two boys," she added.

"This was my first pro bono case. I had studied asylum law in school, and I'm very interested in gender issues and how that affects international law," said Ms. Zachman. "But until we got into this, I didn't think we'd have all these tough issues to deal with. I'm so glad we did it, though. It took a year and a half, but it's definitely rewarding."

Mr. Greene agreed. "I find corporate work rewarding and intellectually interesting," he said. "But taking on this project, even though it was a bit more than we signed on for, gave us social welfare satisfaction."

Ms. Dinnerstein would encourage other young lawyers to volunteer for such satisfaction.

"Asylum law has always provided creative opportunities for lawyers," she said. "Now in gender-related cases, you're seeing a lot of movement in the law. It's really cutting edge.

"This [Octavia] was a good case--a righteous case. I think the story here is that if you sit down and look at your case, you begin to realize that you can actually make it work."

With translation from Spanish by Fany Vargas, a Shearman secretary, Octavia offered her own assessment.

"I feel really grateful and happy about what [the lawyers] have done for me," said Octavia. "It's something I cannot explain. It's like a dream."

It is very important that you contact your congressional representatives and urge them to protect women refugees by preserving asylum for victims of gender-based persecution.