First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosts the White House Pride Month Celebration
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello, everyone. Happy Pride! I am so grateful to be with all of you tonight
00:27to celebrate Pride. I grew up with two loving parents who told me that I could be anything
00:35and that they would love me. And I remember feeling so safe and secure in their unconditional
00:43love. I'm a social worker now, and I see every day how important it is for children to feel
00:55loved, accepted, and supported. It's everything. Unfortunately, as we know, not all children
01:04grow up this way. Too many LGBTQ children grow up in homes that don't accept them, or
01:13if they're accepted at home, they go to school each day and either have to hide a piece of
01:19who they are or are bullied because of it. LGBTQ students deserve to be safe at school,
01:30at home, and in their communities. Period. Period. They should never, ever have to endure
01:43violence or cruelty because of who they are. My parents know that. It's why my dad has
01:51built the most pro-equality administration in history. And all of you know the importance
02:04of this work, too. I am so grateful that there are people like you who are working to make
02:11sure our kids get the love and the support that they need and they deserve. In towns
02:17and cities across America, there are countless LGBTQ people who are able to find community,
02:25belonging, and refuge because of all of you. Thank you so much for your tireless efforts.
02:32It changes lives, truly. Please, please make a promise that you will never, ever give up.
02:47And remember why we celebrate Pride this month. Because 55 years ago, Marsha P. Johnson and
02:56Sylvia Rivera and other trans women of color stood up and said, enough is enough. And with
03:09a flash of courage, they began a movement that brought us here today, to this moment of hope.
03:15And so many LGBTQ people of color, so many of you have continued to lead their fearless fight
03:24against injustice here and around the world. And now, I would like to introduce the woman
03:36who taught me how to be myself, who loved me unconditionally, who has showed me in so many
03:44ways how I can make a difference, and who works every single day tirelessly to ensure that all
03:53people have the opportunities and freedoms that they deserve. Welcome to the stage, my mama,
04:00your first lady, Jill Biden. She's pretty amazing, isn't she? Actually, your dad and I are so proud
04:26of the Women's Center that you're building in Philadelphia. And the women that you're going to
04:33help have been through so much. They deserve a second chance and the support to restart their
04:39lives. I'm so grateful to be joined by so many members of Congress, along with Governor Polis
04:47and elected officials from all across the country. And we also have with us incredible
04:56leaders in Joe's administration, like Secretary Buttigieg and Chastin, wherever you are. And to
05:05the Gill Foundation, thank you for making this moment possible. Joe and I are so grateful for
05:14Tim and Scott's friendship and vision. And DJ Trice. Didn't he do a great job? Oh my gosh. DJ,
05:29you created the perfect, joyful soundtrack for this event. So yeah, give him another round of
05:37applause. He did an amazing job. And he's here with his mother. So I'm so happy to be here with
05:46my daughter as we celebrate your families, those families that you're born into, the ones you build
05:53and the ones you choose. Looking out at all of you, I see America. And it's an honor to welcome
06:06you to our home. But home isn't always a place. It doesn't always have an address or a parking spot.
06:14It isn't just four walls with just the right color couch inside. Sometimes home is the bonds we build
06:22through choice and chance, the communities that we create together. It's those people whose love
06:30you feel deep in the marrow of your bones, the ones who will always pick up the phone when days
06:40are long and times are hard, the ones who lift up our joys and breathe life into our hopes, the ones
06:50who don't ask us to be strong or brave, who don't need us to explain who we are because they already
06:59understand. I hope that all of you feel that freedom and love on the South Lawn today because your home
07:09is here too. But even as we celebrate, we know that this community is under attack. Many of you know
07:22that all too well and have come here from states that are passing laws targeting LGBTQ Americans.
07:31And it feels like we're just caught in this push and pull of progress. There are those who see our
07:40communities and our families and wish to tear them down, those who can't see that the world is so
07:48much bigger and beautiful than they know. But when our homes are threatened, when they strip away our
07:56rights and deny our basic humanity, we say, not on our watch. Pride is a celebration, but it's also a
08:13declaration that we will not be silenced, that we will show up for ourselves and for our country and for each
08:22other. Our victories testify to that strength. Nine years ago, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage
08:32across the country. And now, thanks to Joe, my husband, marriage equality will remain the law of the land. His
08:47administration also ended the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. He's standing firmly against conversion
08:59therapy. And almost 14 years ago, it's hard to believe it's been that long, Joe stood beside President Obama as he
09:11signed the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Then, as president, he made it possible for trans Americans to serve openly
09:25in America. Just this morning, Joe took another step to right those decades of injustice. Maybe you heard about it.
09:39Pardoning. It was so great. Pardoning many service members who were court-martialed for being, simply being
09:47themselves. Honoring those heroes. Honoring those heroes. I'm sure there's many of you in the crowd and the service of
10:01many LGBTQ troops, veterans, and their families who have given so much for our country. Joe will never stop fighting for
10:13this community. These are big victories. Ones that bloom across history. But our triumphs live in the small moments too.
10:28Moments that would have been unimaginable a decade ago. Walking down the street without fear. Coworkers who use your chosen
10:40name and pronouns. Kids with two moms and two dads on the playground. Celebrating pride together on the White House South
10:52lawn. Yes, outside those gates are those who want to send our country backwards. And tomorrow, we will face them with the
11:07courage and the strength that we always have. But today, we're here to find joy. To feel at home. To be free. To say loud and clear
11:53Thank you. So I'll continue. That you are beautiful. That you are loved. And to all the kids here, you can tell your parents that I said to
12:13make sure that you enjoy the best lawn in America. Eat some good food. Run through the grass. Do cartwheels. Have fun. And when you leave
12:25here to go back into a place that still needs so much change, just take all of that with you. Let it be a reminder that you don't face these
12:37battles alone. You are never alone. I love you. Your president loves you. Thank you and happy pride. Thank you.