Maurice's barbaric YAWP

相隔八年後，美國最高行政首長又再一次宣示對於保障同志人權的決心！

就在六月同志驕傲月的第一天，美國總統Barack Obama以正式文告，祝賀即將開展的同志驕傲月各項活動順利圓滿，同時向全美國人民宣示聯邦政府將一本初衷、持續貫徹對於同志人權保障的執政理念與各項政策的推展，並呼籲全國人民一起為消除社會上存在的歧視與偏見而共同努力。這是繼前總統Bill Clinton在第二屆任期任滿最後一年時，第一次以總統正式文告祝賀同志驕傲月活動之後，美國聯邦政府第二次由最高行政首長展現對同志人權的重視。以下是文告全文：

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

感動。

是我看完這篇文告第一也是唯一的感受。

Obama開宗明義以簡單兩句話說明同志驕傲月的來源與歷史意義。美國當代同志運動的濫觴是四十年前紐約石牆事件，Obama非常正確的點出石牆事件的歷史定位：這是一件警察執法機關濫權而侵害人民基本權利的違法事件，而石牆事件正是人民起而抵抗政府不法侵害其受憲法保障基本權利之重要時刻。在同志驕傲月，我們緬懷石牆事件的過往，也砥礪我們繼續踏著前人的腳步，朝向實現同性戀者在憲法平等權保障下所有基本權利均獲保障之目標而邁進。

Obama接著以同性戀者作為美國社會一份子的包容心態，說明同性戀者就是一般美國公民，同樣為著國家的繁榮、社會的進步、個人生活的安定而努力。Obama說，同性戀者對美國社會各個領域的發展都有傑出的貢獻，不僅獨善其身，而且在防治愛滋病觀念的推廣與政策的監督具有重要的地位。正因為每一個同性戀者在自己的工作崗位上兢兢業業，同時整個同志社群以及同志平權運動組織在同志平權運動上的努力，四十年後的今天，已經有越來越多同性戀者能夠自在地公開自己的性傾向而生活。他同時也說明在他上任之後，便唯才是用，不以優秀人才其同志身份而棄用，而事實也證明，同性戀者在工作崗位上均專業、認真地完成交付的任務。

Obama這段話的意義，在文告最後並同時作了呼應：同性戀者與一般異性戀者無異，同性戀者也是美國社會一份子、美國的公民，同性戀者一樣在各行各業有其傑出表現，也同樣為國家、社會而盡己力。同性戀者的權利保障不是一種特權、不是國家特別給與同性戀者額外的權利保障，同性戀者的權利保障，就是所有美國公民的權利保障，同性戀者權利保障的各項議題，都可能涉及你我每一個人的權利保障，只要憲法上平等權保障的理念一天無法落實在社會每一份子，不知道哪一天，我們每一個人就會面臨同樣的問題，影響社會每一份子的生活。因此，Obama重申，他的政府保障同志人權，正是實踐憲法平等權理念，這是為著美國全體社會與每一個公民的利益而努力。

當然，Obama也知道，目前美國同志人權保障還有一段非常艱鉅而長遠的路途要走，他簡單點出兩個重要卻不受重視的議題：青少年與老年同志的權利保障問題。除了加入聯合國對同性戀除罪化之政策宣示外，Obama接著提出聯邦政府未來在同志人權保障進程的方向與政策有：

1. 增修仇恨犯罪法(Hate Crime Law)以對性傾向為仇恨犯罪之一種類型；
2. 研擬法定準婚姻關係(civil unions)的立法可能性，以及提供同志伴侶聯邦政府所給與異性戀婚姻配偶的各項權利；
3. 禁止工作場所性傾向歧視(Employment Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA)以保障同志工作權；
4. 賦予同志收養子女的權利；
5. 廢止現行禁止同志從軍之三不政策(Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue)；
6. 減少愛滋病感染的危險源、控制愛滋病的蔓延以及提供愛滋病感染者適當的醫療照顧與服務。

比較重要的是，關於第二項有關同志伴侶權利保障，Obama必須尋求廢除DOMA始有機會立法建立法定準婚姻關係，以提供同志伴侶聯邦政府所給與的各項權利，這其中又以賦予同志外國籍伴侶取得居留權（即修改Uniting American Families Act之規定）為最重要的目標。

在文告的最後，Obama誠摯呼籲同志社群、國會以及全美國人民應共同努力，為實現人人平等之理念而邁進，消除社會每一個角落存在的所有不公平的歧視與偏見。

回頭看看臺北市長任內「自認」支持同志運動的馬總統，去年同志遊行或臺北同玩節都未曾有任何表示，在今年看到美國總統Obama這份文告之後，也可能說出「Yes, We can!」的話嗎？

 ----------------------------

2010.06.02補充：

相隔一年，Obama交出一點成績，DADT驚險地美國眾議院表決通過，Obama也順勢發表今年的同志驕傲月文告。全文如下：

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2010
Presidential Proclamation--Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month

As Americans, it is our birthright that all people are created equal and deserve the same rights, privileges, and opportunities. Since our earliest days of independence, our Nation has striven to fulfill that promise. An important chapter in our great, unfinished story is the movement for fairness and equality on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. This month, as we recognize the immeasurable contributions of LGBT Americans, we renew our commitment to the struggle for equal rights for LGBT Americans and to ending prejudice and injustice wherever it exists.

LGBT Americans have enriched and strengthened the fabric of our national life. From business leaders and professors to athletes and first responders, LGBT individuals have achieved success and prominence in every discipline. They are our mothers and fathers, our sons and daughters, and our friends and neighbors. Across my Administration, openly LGBT employees are serving at every level. Thanks to those who came before us the brave men and women who marched, stood up to injustice, and brought change through acts of compassion or defiance we have made enormous progress and continue to strive for a more perfect union.

My Administration has advanced our journey by signing into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which strengthens Federal protections against crimes based on gender identity or sexual orientation. We renewed the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides life saving medical services and support to Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and finally eliminated the HIV entry ban. I also signed a Presidential Memorandum directing hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funds to give LGBT patients the compassion and security they deserve in their time of need, including the ability to choose someone other than an immediate family member to visit them and make medical decisions.

In other areas, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a series of proposals to ensure core housing programs are open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also announced the first ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services has created a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders.

Much work remains to fulfill our Nation's promise of equal justice under law for LGBT Americans. That is why we must give committed gay couples the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple, and repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. We must protect the rights of LGBT families by securing their adoption rights, ending employment discrimination against LGBT Americans, and ensuring Federal employees receive equal benefits. We must create safer schools so all our children may learn in a supportive environment. I am also committed to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" so patriotic LGBT Americans can serve openly in our military, and I am working with the Congress and our military leadership to accomplish that goal.

As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA