1st June 2022
On June 1, U.S. Embassy Luxembourg raised the rainbow flag marking the beginning of Pride Month in the United States. Pride Month commemorates the ongoing pursuit of equal justice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex community and celebrates the accomplishments of LGBTQI+ individuals and organizations.
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Barrett said:
“We cannot and will not forget that across the world even today, LGBTQI+ persons face violence, stigma, lack of access to basic services, and, in approximately 70 countries, criminalization of their status or behavior.
We are raising the rainbow flag at the U.S. Embassy Luxembourg this June to demonstrate our continued support for the LGBTQI+ community and reaffirm our commitment to advancing human rights that must always be equal to all.”
The flag raising ceremony was attended by the Minister of Family and Integration and the Greater Region, Corinne Cahen, Ambassadors and Diplomatic Corps members, representatives of LGBTQI+ civil society organisations Rosa Luxembourg and CIGALE and members of Luxembourg LGBTQI+ community.
BACKGROUND
U.S. Embassy Luxembourg first flew the rainbow flag in June 2015 making the U.S. Embassy the first foreign mission to fly the flag in Luxembourg.
Pride Month is celebrated each year in the United States in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, which was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. President Bill Clinton officially declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 2000. President Barack Obama expanded the observance in 2011 to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
Today, celebrations are held during June to raise awareness on issues the LGBTQI+ community faces. Pride Month commemorates the ongoing pursuit of equal justice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex community and celebrates the accomplishments of LGBTQI+ individuals and organizations.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzSv44
For more information please contact the Public Affairs section at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg at +352 46 01 23 21/ 24 or at LuxembourgPublicAffairs@state.gov
