Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
wished the gay community a happy Pride Month in a video released on
Tuesday.
“I am honored to join you to
celebrate the fundamental freedoms that all human beings deserve –
no matter who they are or whom they love. This month, and every
month, we proudly reaffirm our commitment to making sure that all
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,”
Clinton said in her video message.
Clinton's statement follows a
proclamation by President Barack Obama declaring June Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
In her statement, Clinton repeated an
overarching theme of tying human rights to gay rights. And kept mum
on Obama's recent endorsement of gay marriage.
“In the United States and around the
world, progress is being made. The tireless advocacy of generations
is bending the arc of history. Barriers are being torn down,
discriminatory laws repealed, and millions are now able to live more
freely and participate in the future of their communities and
countries.”
“But there is still much more to be
done. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender men and women continue
to be persecuted and attacked. They are arrested, beaten, terrorized,
and even executed.”
“United States Embassies and Missions
throughout the world are working to defend the rights of LGBT people
of all races, religions, and nationalities as part of our
comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign
policy.”
Clinton concluded with: “Wherever you
are celebrating this month, I wish you a happy Pride.” (The video
is embedded in the right panel of this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)