News: Pride Month Recognized By Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
In the two years since he assumed the highest office in the land, Donald Trump hasn’t shown himself to be a friend to the LGBTQ community. Aside from pushing for a transgender military ban, he did not acknowledge Pride Month last year, opting to celebrate National Homeownership Month instead.
This year, Trump once again did not acknowledge Pride Month, instead opting for National Ocean Month. But this same year, an unexpected Trump official expressed support for Pride Month: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo released the following statement on the State Department website:
“The United States joins people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Pride Month, and reaffirms its commitment to protecting and defending the human rights of all, including LGBTI persons.
In many parts of the world, LGBTI individuals and their supporters continue to face violence, arrest, harassment and intimidation for standing up for their human rights, participating in peaceful marches and rallies, expressing their views, and simply being who they are. LGBTI persons – like all persons – must be free to enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, without fear of reprisal. As Americans, we place a high value on these rights and freedoms, which all persons deserve to enjoy fully and equally.
The United States stands firmly with you as you exercise your human rights and fundamental freedoms. We wish you a safe and happy Pride Month.”
The declaration is a surprise as Pompeo has a long history of being anti-LGBT. He cosponsored the State Marriage Defense Act, which attempted to slow marriage equality, as well as the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act. Pompeo has also voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act when it was expanded to included same sex couples.
How do you guys feel about this unexpected recognition? Do you feel that this is a sincere reaching out? Or is it a cynical move on the part of the Trump administration? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
A leopard doesn’t change it’s spots. He has an underlying motive.
I cannot wait for this nightmare to be over.
Repblicans hate gays. Everyone knows that. Leave it to the bumbling White House to be unable to keep that simple fact straight. Can’t they do anything right?
What about the gay republicans. Who do they hate? Seems like the only haters are the supporters of the candidate that lost the election. Move on to good things in life. Gays are accepted by Trump…..or you would know it if he was against us, believe me!
Hate is different than disagree with. Funny how words are used and mixed and those that use them.
Exactly. Gay guys come in all races, ethnicities, political positions, etc. Frequently, guys here post “Republicans hate gays”. There are many gays who are Republican (and other political persuasions for that matter). It’s right up there with “Christians hate gays”. There are many gays who are Christian (and other faith’s for that matter).
Some gays just like to play victims and keep the hate alive.
It was good to see The Secretary of State’s statement on Pride. Any surprise it has not been picked up in large by the media?
yes many republicans are gay , many are my friend I don’t judge anyone and politically Ia m independent ,
HUNTER0500, you say it was good that the secretary made that statement on Pride, but you didn’t say anything about the other stuff he opposed , such as including domestic violence for same sex couples, , him opposing same sex marriage or equality ..
seriously just curious , whats your opinion on that ??
You got it right! Trump immediately announced there would be no ban on bathroom use to transgenders who want to use the one they feel comfortable with. But in today’s political climate the haters hate if you don’t agree with everything they say.
GTFOH.!! Verifiable actions speak louder than perfunctory words.
Probably a gay State Department staffer slipped this proclamation into the website, and Pompeo knows little or nothing about it…
Hate is different than disagree with. Funny how words are used and mixed and those that use them.
You can’t disagree with people’s existence.
Can you disagree with Jewish people? Or black people? No, you HATE them.
Same with LGBT people.
You’re being deliberately obtuse.
Exactly. Gay guys come in all races, ethnicities, political positions, etc. Frequently, guys here post “Republicans hate gays”. There are many gays who are Republican (and other political persuasions for that matter). It’s right up there with “Christians hate gays”. There are many gays who are Christian (and other faith’s for that matter).
Some gays just like to play victims and keep the hate alive.
It was good to see The Secretary of State’s statement on Pride. Any surprise it has not been picked up in large by the media?
I can care less about the pride month for Gay people in USA, by the way how WE (the Gay Community ) doing in Gay Rights around the world & as well with other issues?…
Gracias
The message was good. Give him the benefit of the message.
I can’t stand Trump but I am a gay Republican. Give Pompeo credit for a move in the right direction. Remember, Obama used to be anti-gay marriage.
my beef is ,, why the heck did they pick a pic of few decades old and 100lbs less of him.. .. he is not on applying in a gay dating app like A4A 🙂 ‘:)