January 20, 2005
"From the day of our founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this Earth has rights, and dignity and matchless value because they bear the image of the maker of heaven and Earth." George W. Bush Inaugural Speech, January 20, 2005
Statement by Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
"President Bush focused much of his second inaugural address on spreading the 'the force of human freedom across the world.' He said that our nation has always 'proclaimed that every man and woman on this Earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value.'
"Here at home, over the past four years this administration and its allies have attacked the rights and dignity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. We have seen an intense and ugly rise in homophobia, the passage of constitutional amendments in 13 states seeking to prohibit lesbian and gay citizens from full and equal protection under the law, and an unprecedented rise in hate crimes against lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people. In his second term, we challenge the president to be true to his words and begin proclaiming -- instead of attacking -- the rights, dignity, and matchless value of gay Americans."
