15, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.Ī spokesperson for the Department of Corrections told WSLS 10 TV News that Ronald Edward Gay died while being treated at a hospital near the Deerfield Correctional Center, a state prison where he had been living as an inmate. 29, 2000)Ī man sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for the September 2000 shooting at a gay bar in Roanoke, Virginia, in which one man lost his life and six others were wounded, died of natural causes on Jan. embassies.īiden issued an executive order on Friday that required all federal agencies to evaluate the current state of diversity, equity and inclusion within their workforces and produce plans to address any issues.Ronald Edward Gay died while serving life sentences for attacking a Virginia gay bar. military and on flying rainbow Pride flags at U.S. He also reversed a Trump-era ban on transgender people openly serving in the U.S. He has ordered federal agencies to protect LGBTQ people under federal anti-discrimination laws. The new Orlando site will join other memorials, including the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco and New York City's Stonewall Inn, a national monument commemorating what is seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement following riots after police raided the gay bar in 1969.īiden has sought to reverse course from former President Donald Trump, who did not officially recognize Pride month. But civil rights activists said the massacre was also a hate crime targeting gay men and Latinos frequenting the club.
In Florida, authorities branded the 2016 shooting an act of extremism by a 29-year-old U.S. "We must protect the gains we've made," he said. states do not have specific protections for LGBTQ+ Americans and their families. diplomacy and foreign assistance include LGBTQ rights.Īfter signing the legislation, Biden noted that half of U.S. On Friday, he named Jessica Stern, head of the New York-based human rights group OutRight Action International, to be a special envoy at the U.S.
"Our presence this afternoon makes a very strong statement: Pride is back at the White House," Biden said, after being introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, and a young transgender man, Ashton Mota.
The Democratic president has also pressed for full rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including passage of the Equality Act in Congress, noting that protections are lacking in many U.S. A gunman stormed the popular venue, opening fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle and pistol in one of the most lethal modern mass shootings in the United States.īiden, in a shift from his Republican predecessor, has sought to emphasize equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, officially recognizing Pride Month with a June 1 proclamation and nominating LGBTQ officials to top U.S.