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  • A little over a year ago in Geneva, I told the nations of the world that gay rights are

  • human rights and human rights are gay rights and that the United States would be a leader

  • in defending those rights. Now there were some countries that did not want to hear that.

  • But I believe America is at its best when we champion the freedom and dignity of every

  • human being. That's who we are. It's in our DNA. And as Secretary of State, I had the

  • privilege to represent that America.

  • I will never forget the young Tunisian who asked me after the revolution in his country

  • how America could teach his new democracy to protect the rights of its LGBT citizens.

  • He saw America as an example for the world, and as a beacon of hope.

  • That's what was in my mind as I engaged in some tough conversations with foreign leaders

  • who did not accept that human rights apply to everyone, gay and straight. When I directed

  • our diplomats around the world to combat repressive laws and reach out to the brave activists

  • fighting on the frontlines. And when I changed State Department policy to ensure that our

  • LGBT families are treated more fairly.

  • Traveling the world these past four years reaffirmed and deepened my pride in our country

  • and the ideals we stand for. It also inspired and challenged me to think anew about who

  • we are and the values we represent to the world. Now, having left public office, I want

  • to share some of what I've learned, and what I've come to believe.

  • For America to continue leading in the world, there is work we must do here at home. That

  • means investing in our people, our economy, our national security. It also means working

  • every day, as citizens, as communities, as a country, to live up to our highest ideals

  • and continue our long march to a more perfect union.

  • LGBT Americans are our colleagues, our teachers, our soldiers, our friends, our loved ones.

  • And they are full and equal citizens and they deserve the rights of citizenship. That includes

  • marriage. That's why I support marriage for lesbian and gay couples. I support it personally

  • and as a matter of policy and law, embedded in a broader effort to advance equality and

  • opportunity for LGBT Americans and all Americans.

  • Like so many others, my personal views have been shaped over time by people I have known

  • and loved. By my experience representing our nation on the world stage, my devotion to

  • law and human rights, and the guiding principles of my faith.

  • Marriage after all is a fundamental building block of our society, a great joy and yes,

  • a great responsibility. A few years ago, Bill and I celebrated as our own daughter married

  • the love of her life, and I wish every parent the same joy. To deny that opportunity to

  • any of our daughters and sons solely on the basis of who they are and who they love is

  • to deny them the chance to live up to their own God-given potential.

  • Throughout our history, as our nation has become even more dedicated to the protection

  • of liberty and justice for all, more open to the contributions of all our citizens,

  • it has also become stronger, more competitive, more ready for the future. It benefits every

  • American when we continue on that path.

  • I know that many in our country are still struggle to reconcile the teachings of their

  • religion, the pull of their conscience, and the personal experiences they have in their

  • families and communities. And people of good will and good faith will continue to view

  • this issue differently. So I hope that as we discuss and debate, whether it's around

  • a kitchen table or in the public square, we do so in a spirit of respect and understanding.

  • Conversations with our friends, our families, our congregations, our coworkers, are opportunities

  • to share our own reflections and to invite others to share theirs. They give us a chance

  • to find that common ground and a path forward.

  • For those of us who lived through the long years of the civil rights and women's rights

  • movements, the speed with which more and more people have come to embrace the dignity and

  • equality of LGBT Americans has been breathtaking and inspiring. We see it all around us every

  • day, in major cultural statements and in quiet family moments.

  • But the journey is far from over, and therefore we must keep working to make our country freer

  • and fairer, and to continue to inspire the faith the world puts in our leadership. In

  • doing so, we will keep moving closer and closer to that more perfect union promised to us

  • all. Thank you.

A little over a year ago in Geneva, I told the nations of the world that gay rights are

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