Happy Pride Month!

The first part of this Post is not my original content, and is being reposted from Kelly's blog.

We have come along way,

but still have a long way to go.

Thanks to all those who have paved the way,

Some even gave their lives...

Keep their fight alive...

We won't forget!!

It's June and that means it is PRIDE MONTH and it's Kelly's annual Pride Challenge. This year is a very important year as it is the 40th anniversary of the The Stonewall Riots and what is considered the beginning of the Gay Rights Movement in the US.

Over the last several years, the most posts of the Pride Challenge picture in a month were 107... and that was with the "All American Gayborhood" picture above... so I am making it my challenge photo again this year, as I think it is more important this year than ever (and I want to break a record if not double it this year).

With more states recognizing gay marriage and more on the way, I think this picture (and idea) is important to show that WE are Americans and WE need to be treated equal. WE need to show middle America that WE have already blended in with them and that WE are everywhere.

WE are people who love. WE are people who care. WE are people who pay taxes. WE are people who believe in God (or a Deity or not). WE fight for our country. WE die for our country. WE are white. We are black. We are Latino. We are all different. The main thing is, WE all love someone (or want to). WE want to share a life with someone special. Does it really matter if it is someone of the same sex, race or religion? It shouldn't.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...pass this around with the idea that we all need to love each other. Who cares what sex you are. Love is a great thing. We should all have the opportunity and good fortune to find someone who we care for as much as they care for us.

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

Kelly is going to keep this post at the top of his blog all month long. He wants as many people around the world to post the picture above and let him know about it.

If you post it, he will link that post here on his blog, no matter if it is a Facebook, MySpace or any other kind of post, let him know. If there is a link, he will update it on his blog, ramblingalong.com

(Note: Before exploring Kelly's blog, please be aware of possible adult content- NSFW. ~John)

Click the following link for the official proclamation.

And now a word from our President!

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release June 1, 2009

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride Month, we commemorate the events of June 1969 and commit to achieving equal justice under law for LGBT Americans.

LGBT Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society. There are many well-respected LGBT leaders in all professional fields, including the arts and business communities. LGBT Americans also mobilized the Nation to respond to the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic and have played a vital role in broadening this country's response to the HIV pandemic.

Due in no small part to the determination and dedication of the LGBT rights movement, more LGBT Americans are living their lives openly today than ever before. I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration. These individuals embody the best qualities we seek in public servants, and across my Administration -- in both the White House and the Federal agencies -- openly LGBT employees are doing their jobs with distinction and professionalism.

The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress, but there is more work to be done. LGBT youth should feel safe to learn without the fear of harassment, and LGBT families and seniors should be allowed to live their lives with dignity and respect.

My Administration has partnered with the LGBT community to advance a wide range of initiatives. At the international level, I have joined efforts at the United Nations to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Here at home, I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans. These measures include enhancing hate crimes laws, supporting civil unions and Federal rights for LGBT couples, outlawing discrimination in the workplace, ensuring adoption rights, and ending the existing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in a way that strengthens our Armed Forces and our national security. We must also commit ourselves to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic by both reducing the number of HIV infections and providing care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS across the United States.

These issues affect not only the LGBT community, but also our entire Nation. As long as the promise of equality for all remains unfulfilled, all Americans are affected. If we can work together to advance the principles upon which our Nation was founded, every American will benefit. During LGBT Pride Month, I call upon the LGBT community, the Congress, and the American people to work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

And on another note! The comments in this color are by me on June 3, 2009. ~John

June 2, 2009

The Baptist Press has issued it's hateful statement: "Evangelicals frustrated by Obama's 'Gay Pride' decree." I say get over it! ~John

President Clinton was the last president to issue such a proclamation, first doing so in 1999 and then in 2000 before he left office. President Obama's 572-word proclamation calls for ending the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy -- which was put in place under Clinton -- and also includes the phrase "transgender" for a first time. And your point is? ~John

President George W. Bush never issued a proclamation commemorating Gay Pride Month. Clinton's proclamations differed from Obama's in calling June "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month," leaving out "bisexual" and "transgender." That's because President Bush was a homophobic bigot, and your point is? ~John

I'm not going to waste any more of my time picking apart the entire Baptist Press article. It is worth checking out, just to know what we're up against and read their poor little "frustration." --John

One last thing! Personally, I do agree with The Windy City Times, who give a gay thumbs down on the Presidential Proclamation. I hope you have a chance to read their article and see what I mean. In a nutshell, the President has not done enough.

President Obama has disappointed the LGBT community. He could--if he wanted to, use his bully pulpit to get things done! Now is the time for President Obama to help make some changes at the federal level and give us all equal rights and protection under the law. ~John

What do you think? Do you even care?