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Washington: President Obama on June 1, 2009 named
June as "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride
Month" issuing a proclamation that goes even further
than those of former President Clinton in its
pro-homosexuality slant.
Clinton was the last president to issue such a
proclamation, first doing so in 1999 and then in 2000
before he left office. 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.
Clinton's proclamations never referenced transgenderism,
a category that includes crossdressers and people
undergoing sex change operations.
Another first: Obama's proclamation reiterates his
support for same-sex civil union laws. 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."
"The LGBT rights movement has achieved great progress,
but there is more work to be done," Obama's proclamation
reads. "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.
"The proclamation is posted on the White House website
but is difficult to find and as of Tuesday afternoon was
not listed under the website's category of proclamations
- a fact that some homosexual activists were
criticizing. Evangelicals voiced strong disagreement
with Obama's proclamation, much like they did in 1999
when Clinton issued his proclamation and Southern
Baptist Convention messengers responded by passing a
resolution rebuking Clinton for doing so.
"For a president who pledged to bring us together, Mr.
Obama persists in doing the exact opposite on all things
homosexual," Bob Stith, the Southern Baptist national
strategist for gender issues and representative of the
denomination's Task Force on Ministry to Homosexuals,
told Baptist Press. "This issue for most evangelical
Christians is not bias or prejudice. It is simply
maintaining the freedom to speak the truth about
Scripture. It is one thing to be loving and tolerant. It
is something else altogether to encourage pride in what
God clearly says is sin.
"The bottom line," Stith added, "is that if God defines
something as sin, we do no one any favors by attempting
to blur those lines. Nor will we be doing future
generations any favors by obliterating barriers God has
put up for our protection. On several occasions the
Bible uses the phrase 'every man did that which was
right in his own eyes.' In every case it turned out
badly.
"Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics
& Religious Liberty Commission, criticized Obama for
once again calling for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell," which prevents homosexuals from serving openly in
the military."This, according to people in the military,
would have catastrophic consequences for our nation in a
time of war," Land told BP.
"Some surveys of military personnel indicate that
perhaps as high as 10 percent of the all volunteer
forces will resign from the military if 'Don't Ask,
Don't Tell' is rescinded," he said, quoting a December
Military Times poll. "And it would hit heaviest in the
non-commissioned officer ranks -- the sergeants and the
chiefs and the people who make it go at the operational
level. It would seriously impact our military's ability
to do the job that we've asked them to do in keeping us
safe.
"The homosexual community traditionally has called June
"Gay Pride Month" to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Inn
riots, which took place in New York City and are viewed
as helping launch the modern "gay rights" movement. In
his proclamation Obama says he is proud to be the first
president to "appoint openly LGBT candidates to
Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an
administration." He also calls for passage of a hate
crimes bill and for "ensuring adoption rights" for
homosexuals. Noting the stark contrast between the
previous administration and the current administration,
Land said, "Elections have consequences." Underscoring
how far the "gay rights community" has come in less than
two decades, Land recalled how he and other religious
leaders met with former President George H.W. Bush and
complained about Bush becoming the first president to
invite representatives of homosexual organizations to
the White House. "We've come a long way," Land said,
emphasizing it has not been for the better."Those of us
who believe in the continuing truth of God's revealed
Word in Scripture," Land said, "would not consider the
distance traveled between the issue in our meeting with
President George H.W.
Bush and President Obama's proclamation as progress, but
a further sign of the moral and spiritual deterioration
of our culture."Said Stith: "God has not just issued a
laundry list of arbitrary rules for His creation. He has
made it clear that He desires for us to experience His
joy and peace. As the creator He also understands what
will make that possible -- and what will impede His plan
for us. Clearly the true loving thing to do is to hold
up God's standard and encourage all people to strive for
that. To declare pride in anything that God says is sin
is not love. It is no different than removing a sign
that says 'Road closed. Bridge out.’
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