Subject: RE: DWS statement on Intl Day against Homophobia?
From: "Helmstetter, TJ" <[email-masked]>
To: "Walsh, Tom" <[email-masked]>, "Miranda, Luis" <[email-masked]>, "Paustenbach, Mark" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Banfill, Ryan" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 17 May 2016 06:54:37 -0700

++

From: Walsh, Tom
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 9:54 AM
To: Helmstetter, TJ
Cc: Banfill, Ryan
Subject: Re: DWS statement on Intl Day against Homophobia?

Luis/Mark's call

On May 17, 2016, at 9:52 AM, Helmstetter, TJ <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
And here is pelosi’s statement

    May 17, 2016

Pelosi Statement on International Day Against Homophobia,

Transphobia and Biphobia

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today released this statement on the commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia:

“On International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we affirm the worth of LGBT people everywhere.  Every person should be free to live their own lives – no matter who they are, who they love, or where they live.  Civic leaders, citizens and people in every community must work together to create a world that embraces progress and rejects bigotry.

“President Obama’s historic leadership in advancing LGBT equality deserves praise.  We are particularly grateful for the recent actions by the Education Department and Department of Justice, and the Health and Human Services affirming the rights of transgender Americans.  By ensuring transgender students have access to facilities that correspond to their gender identities and protecting transgender patients from being denied health care; the United States is moving forward.

“House Democrats have fought to make America more American by passing a fully inclusive hate crimes law, ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and celebrating marriage equality for all.  Now, Congress must pass the Equality Act, and end the exclusion, violence and discrimination against LGBT Americans that undermine our democracy.  Together, we can support LGBT people around the world as they secure the basic human rights that every person should enjoy.”

# # #

From: Helmstetter, TJ
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 9:52 AM
To: Walsh, Tom; Banfill, Ryan
Subject: DWS statement on Intl Day against Homophobia?

Tom/Ryan – do we want to do a DWS statement on this? Here is the President’s statement to crib off of.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2016

Statement by the President on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

On May 17, Americans and people around the world mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia by reaffirming the dignity and inherent worth of all people, regardless of who they love or their gender identity.

Our nation is committed to the principle that all people should be treated fairly and with respect. Advancing this goal has long been a cornerstone of American diplomacy, and I am proud that my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBT individuals a specific focus of our engagement around the world. I am also proud of the great strides that our nation has made at home in recent years, including that we now have marriage equality as a result of last year’s landmark Supreme Court decision.

At the same time, there is much work to be done to combat homophobia and transphobia, both at home and abroad.‎ In too many places, LGBT individuals grow up forced to conceal or deny who they truly are for fear of persecution, discrimination, and violence. All nations and all communities can, and must, do better. Fortunately, human rights champions and good citizens around the world continue to strive towards this goal every day by lifting up the simple truth that LGBT rights are human rights. The United States honors their work and will continue to support them in their struggle for human dignity.

###

TJ Helmstetter
Deputy Director of Regional and Specialty Media
Democratic National Committee
202.863.8022 – desk
973.464.9224 – cell
[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>