One of our nation’s greatest strengths is the rich diversity of its people. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans form an important part of this national tapestry and have contributed to every facet of our society. All too often, however, these citizens have been marginalized, discriminated against, and even attacked for who they are.

Fortunately, the Federal Government has taken steps to prevent this form of discrimination in our workplace. The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 bars discrimination in hiring and promotion based on any factor, such as sexual orientation, that is not related to job performance and experience. Furthermore, Executive Order 13087 specifically prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in the Federal workplace, and USDA has included sexual orientation in its nondiscrimination policy statement since 1993.

However, preventing discrimination is not enough; diversity should also be celebrated. USDA is known as “The People’s Department.” The services we provide touch the lives of every American, and we are proud that our employee population is a microcosm of American society. Thus, it is only fitting that we recognize, respect, and welcome all of our employees and customers within the USDA family, without regard to sexual orientation.

On June 13, 2002, the Department will hold a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month celebration at 10:00 a.m. in the Jefferson Auditorium of the South Building in Washington, DC. The keynote speaker at this event will be Candace Gingrich, sister of Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. I encourage all Headquarters employees to join me in attending this event, and I also encourage employees outside of the DC area to hold Gay and Lesbian Pride Month celebrations in your offices or work sites during the month of June.