PRIDE FACT 1
Presidential Proclamation No. 7203

On June 11, 1999, President Bill Clinton issued Proclamation No. 7203. It was the first time a U.S. president had officially recognized June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Excerpt: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate our diversity, and to remember throughout the year the gay and lesbian Americans whose many and varied contributions have enriched our national life.”

​

Source: 10 Facts About LGBTQ Pride Month (mentalfloss.com)

Online PDF of Proclamation No. 7203: CFR-2000-title3-vol1-proc7203.pdf (govinfo.gov)