Washington, DC - July 30, 2009 - Stonewall Democrats applaud President Barack Obama for his selection of pro-equality heroes as recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medals of Freedom. The President announced today that he would be awarding the 2009 Medals of Freedom to sixteen "agents of change," including San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, tennis legend Billie Jean King, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, Reverend Joseph Lowery, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, all of whom have contributed to the ongoing movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality.
"Stonewall Democrats are thrilled by President Obama's decision to award Presidential Medals of Freedom - the highest civilian award a President can bestow - to such distinguished and inspiring icons of the pro-equality movement," said Stonewall Democrats Communications Director Jenna Lowenstein.
"In particular, we are encouraged by the President's decision to honor Harvey Milk, one of the first openly LGBT people to hold major elected office in the United States. Milk, a pro-equality Democrat, wasn't afraid to demand that his fellow Democrats stand with him in the fight for full equality. Stonewall Democrats is committed to electing more pro-equality Democrats like Harvey Milk who will bravely stand for change we can believe in and challenge members of their own political party to do the same."
With more than 120 local chapters, National Stonewall Democrats is the nation's only organization of LGBT and allied Democrats. Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and improve the Democratic Party on issues important to pro-equality Americans.
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