The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) honors Gay Pride Month in June and its support of full equality under law for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people around the world!

According to NASW President James Kelly, “human rights are universal, regardless of sexual orientation.  Criminal penalties against individuals based on their sexual orientation violate basic human rights, demeans human dignity, and undermines efforts to limit the spread of HIV.”

NASW lends its support to court cases of national importance involving same sex couples.

Examples are:

• Legalizing same sex marriages in D.C.
• Legalizing same sex couples ability to legally adopt in N.C.
• Extension of hospital visitation rights to same-sex partners.  Hospitals are no longer able to deny hospital visitation on basis of race, color, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Changes in military protocol of opening an inquiry of a service member’s sexual orientation based on overheard statements or hear say.