Statement by CWA President Morton Bahr on the Designation of June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

CWA President Morton Bahr issued this statement in conjunction with the designation of June 2000 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month by President William Jefferson Clinton:

The Communications Workers of America is proud to join with President Clinton in celebrating the contributions of Gay and Lesbian Americans, and in continuing to work toward a truly fair and inclusive society, one that will end the prejudice and discrimination that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender citizens face everyday.

In proclaiming June 2000 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, President Clinton has called on all Americans to help break down the walls of prejudice and "work to build a bridge to understanding and tolerance, until gays and lesbians are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans." The President also called on Congress to pass meaningful hate crimes legislation that will enable the Department of Justice to better prosecute hate crimes committed because of the victim's sexual orientation.

CWA has a longtime commitment to justice and equality, and has pledged to continue the fight for diversity, fairness and dignity for all - in our workplaces and throughout our communities - until a fair and just society is achieved. Our union, 630,000 strong, is a powerful force for right.

We welcome President Clinton's call and we are working to turn his words and hopes into action. We are carrying out this work with our brothers and sisters in Pride at Work, a nationwide organization that is building mutual support between the labor movement and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Only our combined efforts will build a better America, one in which the contributions and lives of all are valued and recognized.

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