Yesterday, June 1, marked the beginning of LGBTQI+ Pride Month, or just Pride Month, as it’s also known. An article on cnn.com began with, “June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBTQ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves.”

That’s what we all want, isn’t it? The freedom to just be our true, authentic selves, in a world of acceptance and inclusion?

That’s all any of us wants, to be accepted just as we are. Without fear.

Unfortunately, we know, such is not the case. In a proclamation from the White House dated May 31, honoring Pride Month, President Joe Biden said:

Today, the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans are under relentless attack.  Members of the LGBTQI+ community — especially people of color and trans people — continue to face discrimination and cruel, persistent efforts to undermine their human rights.  An onslaught of dangerous anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has been introduced and passed in States across the country, targeting transgender children and their parents and interfering with their access to health care.  These unconscionable attacks have left countless LGBTQI+ families in fear and pain.  All of this compounded has been especially difficult on LGBTQI+ youth, 45 percent of whom seriously considered attempting suicide in the last year — a devastating reality that our Nation must work urgently to address.  

This month, we remind the LGBTQI+ community that they are loved and cherished.  My Administration sees you for who you are — deserving of dignity, respect, and support.  As I said in my State of the Union Address — especially to our younger transgender Americans — I will always have your back as your President so that you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.  Today and every day, my Administration stands with every LGBTQI+ American in the ongoing struggle against intolerance, discrimination, and injustice.  We condemn the dangerous State laws and bills that target LGBTQI+ youth.  And we remain steadfast in our commitment to helping LGBTQI+ people in America and around the world live free from violence.  

I support the Biden Administration’s commitment, and I join it’s condemnation of all these efforts by state legislators to legalize discrimination. They are cruel and they are wrong.

It’s simple, folks. The LGBTQI+ community is comprised of people.

People.

Who are entitled to the same respect, dignity, acceptance and love as the rest of us.

That means you, United States Supreme Court and all the lower courts.

That means you, local, state and federal legislatures.

That means you, those who would ban trans athletes from participating in school sports.

And that sure as s#!t means you, my sanctimonious heterosexual Christian friend. Jesus would not reject any of these people, how about you?

It’s time to let those rainbow flags fly, LGBTQI + friends! All over the world, let the world see just how beautiful you are.

All month long, and all your life.