Pelosi Statement on LGBT History Month

Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today honoring October as LGBT History Month:

“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.”

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