LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL
TRANSGENDER
PRIDE MONTH 2014
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
Photo courtesy of the
White House
“This month, as we mark 45 years since
the patrons of the Stonewall Inn defied
an unjust policy and awakened a nascent
movement, let us honor every brave
leader who stood up, sat in, and came
out, as well as the allies who supported
them along the way. Following their
example, let each of us speak for
tolerance, justice, and dignity—because
if hearts and minds continue to change
over time, laws will too.”
—President Barack Obama
Presidential Proclamation 2014
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)
Pride Month is celebrated in the month of June to
commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York
City.
The Stonewall riots were a
tipping point for the Gay
Liberation Movement in the
United States.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
The Department of
Defense (DoD) joins the
Nation in celebrating
LGBT Pride Month.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
“We recognize gay, lesbian and
bisexual service members and
LGBT civilians for their dedicated
service to our country; the heroic
contributions made by these
Americans strengthen our national
security. Whether officer, enlisted,
civilian employee, or family
member, their inclusion gives our
Department greater promise and
possibility.” —Clarence A. Johnson
Clarence A. Johnson
Director, Office of
Diversity Management
and Equal Opportunity
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
“Our nation has always benefited from the service
of gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and
coast guardsmen, and Marines. Now they can
serve openly, with full honor, integrity, and respect.
This makes our military and our nation stronger,
much stronger…We're very proud of everything the
gay and lesbian community have contributed and
continue to contribute. With their service, we are
moving closer to fulfilling the country's founding
vision, that all of us are created equal.”
—Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
The DoD is committed to promoting an
environment free from personal, social, or
institutional barriers that prevent its workforce
from rising to the highest level of responsibility
possible regardless of sexual orientation.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
On April 28, 2014, the Pentagon released an update
to the DoD Human Goals Charter, which for the
first time included language related to sexual
orientation in the section dealing with the military.
The Charter, originally signed in August 1969,
is the cornerstone document governing the Defense
Department's fair treatment of people, as well as its
diversity and equity programs. The 2014 charter
establishes ten goals.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
The Charter outlines the agency's human rights
principles, citing a desire to “create a culture of
inclusion” among service members and civilian
contractors.
Mention of sexual orientation is included in the
Charter's instructions on how to attain the stated
goals, as well as in its desire to be "a model of equal
opportunity" in civilian and military employment.
DoD Human Goals Charter Signing
Ceremony
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On April 28, 2014 Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff General Martin Dempsey, and several other senior civilian and military
leaders signed the updated DoD Human Goals Charter in a ceremony held in the
Pentagon.
DoD Human Goals Charter
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DoD Human Goals Charter
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The attainment of these goals requires that we strive:
1. To attract to the DoD people with ability, dedication,
and capacity for growth.
2. To provide opportunity for everyone, military and
civilian, to rise to as high a level of responsibility as
possible, dependent only on individual talent and
diligence.
3. To assure that equal opportunity programs are an
integral part of readiness.
DoD Human Goals Charter
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4. To make military service in the DoD a model of
equal opportunity for all regardless of race, color, sex,
religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.
5. To provide equity in civilian employment regardless
of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability,
age, sexual orientation, or genetic information,
without reprisal and to provide an environment that is
accessible to and usable by all.
DoD Human Goals Charter
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6. To hold those who do business with or receive
assistance from the Department to full compliance
with its equal opportunity policies.
7. T0 help each service member in leaving the service
to readjust to civilian life.
8. To create an inclusive environment that values
diversity and fosters mutual respect and cooperation
among all persons.
DoD Human Goals Charter
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9. To contribute to the improvement of our society,
including its disadvantaged members, by efficient
utilization of our human and physical resources while
maintaining full effectiveness in the performance of
our primary mission.
10. To foster a culture that treats all individuals as full
and equal partners on the National Defense team, and
encourages the fullest utilization of their skills
consistent with DoD policy.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
“I’m proud that the language of the Charter has been
updated to reflect the contributions of gay and
lesbian military personnel who now serve openly and
proudly across America’s armed forces. We will
continue striving to make military service a model of
equal opportunity for all regardless of race, color,
sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin.”
—Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
General Martin E. Dempsey
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of
Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff Army General Martin E.
Dempsey noted at the signing,
that 67 years ago in June, President
Harry S. Truman spoke about civil
rights and human freedom.
Particularly the necessity for the
federal government to remain a
friendly, vigilant defender of the
rights and equalities of all
Americans.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
“The DoD human goals charter we are resigning
today affirms that noble American conviction,”
Dempsey said. “The virtues we celebrate today are
the very fabric of our profession of arms. The quality,
dignity, and respect comprise the cloth of our
culture.”
And the opportunity of service, Dempsey added,
must reinforce what is best about America— a
nation that cannot afford attacks of prejudice or
discrimination. “We must always show the way,” the
chairman said.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
Diversity and inclusion are readiness imperatives;
we rely on our diverse backgrounds, perspectives,
and expertise to enable us to address the complex
challenges of the global security environment.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
Diversity is more than race, gender, and ethnicity—
among other things, it means diversity of thought,
ability, background, language, culture, and skill.
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Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
Pride Month
“The changing face of the nation demands that we
change. As the demographic make-up of the
American population continues to evolve, it is
imperative that the DoD focus its efforts on
emerging talent to ensure that we successfully
attract, recruit, develop, and retain a highly-skilled
total force capable of meeting current and future
mission requirements.”
—The Office of Diversity Management
and Equal Opportunity
Resources
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http://loc.gov/lgbt/about.html
http://diversity.defense.gov/
http://www.defense.gov/
Defense Equal Opportunity
Management Institute,
Patrick Air Force Base, Florida
June 2014
All photographs are public domain and are from various sources, as cited.
The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official DEOMI,
U.S. military services, or Department of Defense position, unless
designated by other authorized documents.
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