Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Program

 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

 

In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.

 

 

 

Commerce Recognizes LGBT Pride Month

June 27, 2017
Commerce employees recognize LGBT Pride Month on June 19, 2017

 

On Monday, June 19, 2017, the Department of Commerce's Office of Civil Rights, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognized the 2017 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month – a month-long observance of the LGBT community and the community’s impact on our Nation’s history. The event was well attended with over 150 employees from the partnership agencies.

 

Keynote speaker Sarah McBride, the National Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, shared her story about coming out as transgender and the struggles and triumphs she experienced since. Her heartfelt speech opened minds and shed light on the journey towards LGBT equality. She said “Generations from now [...] a young gay kid, or a young trans kid will grow up and learn about the struggle for justice and equality in their textbooks and never have to know what this progress felt for those of us who are LGBTQ, because they will never know anything different. And that will be because of LGBTQ people everywhere who persevered, who marched, and fought. It’ll be because of our allies who stood up and spoke out. […] I want to thank each and every one of you for all the work you have done in your respective offices, divisions, departments, to make sure that you are upholding the duty of supporting and embracing every American citizen – protecting their rights, protecting their dignity, protecting their lives.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
U.S. Department of Commerce

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Page last updated June 17, 2014