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Pelosi Honors San Francisco Pride 2005

June 23, 2005

Pelosi Honors San Francisco Pride 2005

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on this weekend's 35th annual San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Celebration:

"This weekend is the 35th annual San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration. We honor San Francisco's proud history of advocacy for equal rights and honor the contributions of the LGBT community.

"San Francisco is a beautifully diverse city. We say 'the beauty is in the mix,' and it is true. Our LGBT community enhances the moral fabric and character of our city. San Francisco is a city of respect, respect for the contributions of our LGBT community, and respect for the many communities that make our city great.

"On the national level, serious work remains to achieve equality for LGBT individuals and to protect the rights of all Americans.

"Just last week, President Bush renewed his unwise support for injecting discrimination into the Constitution through an amendment to ban same-sex marriage. This malicious amendment is counter to the noble ideals of our nation, counter to our dedication to making 'from many, one.' It is motivated by an animus toward lesbians and gays, and it is a partisan exercise to distract the American people from the Republicans' record of failure.

"But make no mistake: our commitment to fairness needs no renewal. It is constant, and it is strong, drawn from the very fabric of the American ideal. Together we will repel this intrusion into the lives of American families.

"I make it my personal responsibility in Congress to defeat these mean-spirited measures that target the rights of LGBT individuals and to fight for equality for all. I am proud to have co-sponsored legislation to protect LGBT individuals from workplace discrimination and hate-related crimes, to provide immigration benefits to same-sex couples, and to fully fund HIV/AIDS programs domestically and internationally.

"I am pleased to co-sponsor the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2005, the first federal hate crimes legislation to explicitly protect transgender individuals and to add gender identity to the federal hate crimes statute. As with past versions, the new hate crimes prevention legislation covers crimes motivated by discrimination based on sexual orientation and disability. Hate crimes have no place in America, and I will fight hard to pass this legislation.

"For more than three decades, the LGBT Pride movement has said 'no' to harassment and discrimination, and 'no' to politics that divide. The Pride movement affirms our commitment to justice and to the American dream. Let us stand up, stand out, and stand proud for equality and fairness for all, this weekend and every day."