June is Pride Month, and many Americans are celebrating in their own way. President Barack Obama celebrated the landmark Supreme Court decision handed out on Monday ensuring equal protection in the workplace for LGBTQ Americans. Donald Trump celebrated by rescinding Obama-era protections for trans people in healthcare discrimination.
Today reminds us that progress might be slow. It might take decades. But no matter what things might look like today, it’s always possible. Happy Pride month, everybody. pic.twitter.com/ey7p2TgEEf
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 16, 2020
During Obama’s time in office, LGBTQ equality was advanced through two historic actions. First, the president ended the harmful military policy enacted under President Clinton known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Second, under Barack Obama the Supreme Court, which included two of his own nominees, ruled that same-sex couples had the same right to marry their partners as all other Americans.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, rolled back numerous protections for LGBTQ citizens, including their right to serve in the military. For a president who promised to be this vulnerable community’s greatest ally, he’s turned into the foe of most LGBTQ activists’ nightmares.
Nothing, however, can fully stop the momentum that the gay pride movement has accomplished in recent years. The decision made today by the Supreme Court will affect Americans who could previously marry their partners, but be fired for doing so. With laws around workplace protections varying widely across states, the decision marks a tremendous gain that activists have been hoping for for many years. The White House may not be lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate the decision, but progress moves forward.
Twitter had a big reaction to Obama’s Pride Month tweet. Read some of their comments below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube