Opening Speech for the Pride Day Panel 2023

Ambassador Gutmann’s opening speech for the 2023 Pride Day Panel

Today, we invited you all to join us in recognizing the contributions of the LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States, celebrating their legacy, and charting an inspiring course “towards a more perfect union” for the future. That is what Pride Month is all about: taking stock of the past to prepare us for a more inclusive, just and joyful future.

Speaking of being more inclusive, just, and joyful, this year President Biden hosted the largest Pride celebration in White House history with LGBTQ+ families from across the country.

And here at the embassy and in our five consulates, the last 12 months have been the Pride year.

Last summer we ran a series of Pride events to promote LGBTQIA+ rights. We have conducted several programs throughout the year highlighting what we are doing together in the United States and Germany to advance LGBTQIA+ community equality at home and abroad. They have been our partners in this and many other programs. For that and much more: thank you, thank you, thank you.

On his first day in office, President Biden signed a historic executive order mandating the federal government to protect LGBTQIA+ people from discrimination — in everything from healthcare, housing, education to employment, commerce and criminal justice.

Our country—and every country—is stronger when our leaders reflect our full diversity and when our rights and values ​​are embedded in the day-to-day work of our government. The road to a more perfect union begins in the White House, in our embassy, ​​and in all of our embassies around the world.

We’ve made real progress, but we can’t be satisfied. There is an urgency to this moment. There are those who want to undo the progress that so many have fought so hard for. In the United States, we see many very threatening attacks on our most fundamental values ​​and freedoms – from book bans to anti-LGBTQ+ laws to harassment of individuals.

In a third of the countries in the world, queer status or behavior is illegal. In some places, same-sex relationships are criminalized – even punishable by the death penalty – and people are often left with no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere. Even in countries of asylum, stigma and abuse are far too common.

Let’s be absolutely clear: queer rights are human rights!

All of our work to promote human rights has real impact. People look at us. Towards a more perfect union.

Because both Germany and the United States have played significant roles in the fight for queer rights, we feel a special and joyful obligation to celebrate Pride. We will be zealous in advocating for LGBTQI+ rights here at the US Embassy in Berlin as often as we can.

Let’s celebrate the transatlantic fight for queer rights. Germany has named its Pride celebrations after a street in New York City. Christopher Street was the scene of a despicable police raid and the courage to resist – and persevere – in that oppression. Stonewall was a milestone in the American civil rights movement and sparked a global movement.

Let’s also pay tribute to the pioneering work of Magnus Hirschfeld at the Institute for Sexual Science, which was founded here in Berlin in 1919. Magnus’ groundbreaking research was lost to the brutality of the Nazi regime, but the spark of his idea that queer people deserved rights and support could not be quenched.

These two moments in history – one American, one German – show why “moving towards a more perfect union” can never be taken for granted. Next Saturday we will – proudly – ride and march together with our partners from the Federal Foreign Office and other embassies. We march across Germany – in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rostock, Leipzig, Münster and Munich.

Let’s face it, defending hard-won rights in the face of persistent discrimination is hard work.

Tonight we couldn’t be prouder than to continue our tradition of Pride programs and welcome German Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman.

We know that history doesn’t just progress. Furthering the achievements of our countries requires continuous hard work, which I call “perpetual vigilance.”

In conclusion, let me say that we will proudly stand up for the human rights of all people everywhere. Let me offer a hearty toast: To a more LGBTQ-friendly and perfect world!

Great evening to celebrate #PrideMonth In the @usmessage with LGBTQIA+ friends. Let’s be absolutely clear: queer rights are human rights! pic.twitter.com/mpiovdARd7

— Ambassador Amy Gutmann (@USAmbGermany) July 19, 2023