Good morning everyone. On behalf of everyone who  has served on our Pride month planning committee  
Good morning everyone. On behalf of everyone who  has served on our Pride month planning committee  

this year, I'd like to welcome you all and say  happy Pride! We're here today not to just see  
this year, I'd like to welcome you all and say  happy Pride! We're here today not to just see  

a rainbow painted over our logo for a month and  then back to business as usual. We're working to  
a rainbow painted over our logo for a month and  then back to business as usual. We're working to  

build real, lasting change here for our co-workers  and for the American people we serve, and to make  
build real, lasting change here for our co-workers  and for the American people we serve, and to make  

it our new business as usual. I'm standing here  today because in 2009, what was then called the  
it our new business as usual. I'm standing here  today because in 2009, what was then called the  

GLBT Special Emphasis Program was created here at  USDA. That day I saw someone at USDA had my back.  
GLBT Special Emphasis Program was created here at  USDA. That day I saw someone at USDA had my back.  

Secretary Vilsack was willing to go to bat for me  and all the LGBTQI-plus employees and customers  
Secretary Vilsack was willing to go to bat for me  and all the LGBTQI-plus employees and customers  

and it was time I did the same  for myself. So I came out at work.  
and it was time I did the same  for myself. So I came out at work.  

My confidence and talents grew and I  knew I had to do the same for others.  
My confidence and talents grew and I  knew I had to do the same for others.  

I spent the last 13 years working to make USDA  a welcoming workplace. To Secretary Vilsack,  
I spent the last 13 years working to make USDA  a welcoming workplace. To Secretary Vilsack,  

we listened that day back in 2009 when you told  us your story and when you told us it gets better.  
we listened that day back in 2009 when you told  us your story and when you told us it gets better.  

Thank you. Without further ado, I'd like to  welcome Deputy Secretary Bronaugh. (applause)  
Thank you. Without further ado, I'd like to  welcome Deputy Secretary Bronaugh. (applause)  

Good morning everyone. What a beautiful day it is  today to come together and celebrate. It's moments  
Good morning everyone. What a beautiful day it is  today to come together and celebrate. It's moments  

like these that we show what it is to make our  country an inclusive, welcoming and a healthy one.  
like these that we show what it is to make our  country an inclusive, welcoming and a healthy one.  

To the LGBTQI- plus community, know that you are  welcomed. Know that your contributions to the  
To the LGBTQI- plus community, know that you are  welcomed. Know that your contributions to the  

workplace matter, your voice and your efforts  matter, and your continued commitment to truly  
workplace matter, your voice and your efforts  matter, and your continued commitment to truly  

advancing equality for all makes a difference not  just here at USDA, but all across the country and  
advancing equality for all makes a difference not  just here at USDA, but all across the country and  

for all the people that we serve. And so the  Secretary and I, we stand here today as allies.  
for all the people that we serve. And so the  Secretary and I, we stand here today as allies.  

You have our commitment that we will do everything  that we can to ensure that USDA is the best place  
You have our commitment that we will do everything  that we can to ensure that USDA is the best place  

to work for you and for your community. So  thank you so much for the opportunity to  
to work for you and for your community. So  thank you so much for the opportunity to  

gather here today, and it is my honor to now  turn it over to Secretary Vilsack. (applause)
gather here today, and it is my honor to now  turn it over to Secretary Vilsack. (applause)

When we look at this flag we need to  remember the folks who sacrificed.  
When we look at this flag we need to  remember the folks who sacrificed.  

We need to remember the folks who  gave everything to this effort  
We need to remember the folks who  gave everything to this effort  

and then we need to celebrate the  folks who are here - the community.
and then we need to celebrate the  folks who are here - the community.

The community of believers, the community  of people with great courage, great strength  
The community of believers, the community  of people with great courage, great strength  

who understand the significance and  importance of recognizing who they are.
who understand the significance and  importance of recognizing who they are.

We have a tremendous LGBTQI-plus community  here in the USDA and I'm incredibly proud of  
We have a tremendous LGBTQI-plus community  here in the USDA and I'm incredibly proud of  

it. I'm incredibly proud of every single one of  the individuals that makes up that community.  
it. I'm incredibly proud of every single one of  the individuals that makes up that community.  

And candidly, I want to be part of that  community. There's still work to be done.  
And candidly, I want to be part of that  community. There's still work to be done.  

There's a lot of work to be done. There are  still folks who just don't quite understand,  
There's a lot of work to be done. There are  still folks who just don't quite understand,  

don't fully appreciate, don't recognize the  significance of us coming together in community.
don't fully appreciate, don't recognize the  significance of us coming together in community.

So we have work to do. But today is a day of  celebration. Monica, thank you for what you  
So we have work to do. But today is a day of  celebration. Monica, thank you for what you  

do and what your team does at Civil Rights to  remind us every single day of the importance of  
do and what your team does at Civil Rights to  remind us every single day of the importance of  

incorporating all of this in what we do in the  programs we provide and the people we help.  
incorporating all of this in what we do in the  programs we provide and the people we help.  

Because if we can do this then we move one step  closer to that more perfect union. So let's raise  
Because if we can do this then we move one step  closer to that more perfect union. So let's raise  

the flag with tremendous pride and let's celebrate  this month and all that it stands for. (applause)
the flag with tremendous pride and let's celebrate  this month and all that it stands for. (applause)

I am honored today to give closing remarks for  this ceremony and the kickoff to the 20th annual  
I am honored today to give closing remarks for  this ceremony and the kickoff to the 20th annual  

LGBTQI-plus Pride month at USDA. First, thank you  Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Bronaugh  
LGBTQI-plus Pride month at USDA. First, thank you  Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Bronaugh  

for those powerful words and your leadership.  Thank you, Jeremy Wood . Your story serves as an  
for those powerful words and your leadership.  Thank you, Jeremy Wood . Your story serves as an  

inspiration for us all. Thank you OSEC, my staff  at OASCR, the Pride committee hosted by FPAC,  
inspiration for us all. Thank you OSEC, my staff  at OASCR, the Pride committee hosted by FPAC,  

NIFA, Equality USDA for putting together a  phenomenal series of events for this month.  
NIFA, Equality USDA for putting together a  phenomenal series of events for this month.  

We are advancing true equality for all by  fostering inclusivity and belonging with  
We are advancing true equality for all by  fostering inclusivity and belonging with  

stakeholders, developing civil rights policies  that protect the civil rights of all people  
stakeholders, developing civil rights policies  that protect the civil rights of all people  

and amplifying communication to give voice  to underrepresented employees and customers.  
and amplifying communication to give voice  to underrepresented employees and customers.  

So as we raise the Pride flag and look forward to  a month of pride, I encourage all of our employees  
So as we raise the Pride flag and look forward to  a month of pride, I encourage all of our employees  

to take part and take pride in the bounty of  the fruits of our labor. Thank you. (applause)
to take part and take pride in the bounty of  the fruits of our labor. Thank you. (applause)