Trump at a rally | Photo: Flickr/Gage Skidmore
Donald Trump and almost his entire administration, for the second year in a row, is ignoring June as Pride Month for the LGBTI community.
Last year, he made no comment for or about Pride Month.
The only people in his administration who acknowledged it in 2017 were Ivanka Trump and former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
It’s much the same story this year.
On the White House’s list of proclamations, the administration acknowledged June for many things. Trump proclaimed June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, National Ocean Month, National Homeownership Month, and African-American Music Appreciation Month.
Once again, the only person in his administration to recognize Pride Month was current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
He released a brief statement about the community, despite his anti-LGBTI stances.
He wrote: ‘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.’
Continued erasure
It is a disappointing and frustrating stance, but not a surprising one.
Beyond Pride, Trump has ignored the community before. In his statement for World AIDS Day, he never once mentioned LGBTI people.
Trump campaigned as a president who would be a friend to the LGBTI community. Time and time again, however, he and Vice President Mike Pence have shown otherwise.
In May, Trump and Pence recognized National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.
Today, they recognized National Ocean Month and Great Outdoors Month.
And yet, they still refuse to recognize #Pride month for #LGBTQ Americans. Why are Trump and Pence so insistent on erasing us?
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) June 1, 2018
His administration has also taken numerous positions directly against the LGBTI community, from the trans military ban to threats to healthcare and beyond.
