I am delighted to be here today to visit the Hatter offices and to meet all of you. In the United States, President Obama declared June to be Pride Month to highlight the contributions of LGBT Americans and underscore America’s tradition of advancing civil rights of minority groups. Here in Hungary I would like to do the same by dedicating this month’s Active Citizenship Award to Hatter Support Society- an organization that does so much for the Hungarian LGBT community.

I would like to start off by attempting to explain what I mean by Active Citizenship. The best way for me to do this is to go back about 2,500 years, to ancient Greece, and to the Athenian Oath. All new citizens of Athens would pledge this: “I will not leave my country diminished when I die, but greater and better, to the best of my ability and with the help of others.”

Thousands of years later, in the United States, President John F. Kennedy said something similar: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”

And two generations after President Kennedy spoke these famous words, a young man named Barack Obama graduated from the prestigious Harvard Law School - and became a community organizer, just like many of you.

Of course, active citizens can be found all over the world and come from many different backgrounds. And it is not the issue, it is the action of getting involved in your community about whatever it is you believe in, to try to make your community better.

And that is why I am here today.

In operation since 1995, Hatter is one of the oldest LGBT organizations in the country. It began with a hotline to address issues such as HIV/AIDS, suicide and bullying and to answer questions and provide counseling services. The hotline operates on an entirely volunteer run basis and volunteers go through a rigorous one-year training process in order to prepare for their hotline duties. I’m very happy to meet several of the newest volunteers here today.

Over the years, Hatter has expanded its services to provide legal aid for the LGBT community and advocate for LGBT rights at the local and national government levels.

Hatter Support Society lives up to its name and literally supports other LGBT organizations by sharing its offices and meeting space with smaller organizations in Budapest and fostering the establishment and growth of independent LGBT NGO communities outside of Budapest as well.

President Obama has directed all U.S. government agencies engaged overseas to look for partners and international organizations in the fight against discrimination. As Secretary Clinton has said very clearly, we are committed to our friends and allies in every region of the world who are fighting for equality and justice.

Here in Hungary, the U.S. Embassy will also support the LGBT community at the upcoming Eurogames and the Pride Cultural and Film Festival, to include bringing an expert speaker from the United States for the occasion and providing funding in support of the events. Going forward, we will continue to include LGBT organizations in our civil society trainings and outreach. This fall, we will also send a representative from the Hungarian LGBT community to an international exchange program in the United States focused on advocating for human and civil rights of the LGBT communities.

Thank you all for your efforts to be active citizens within your community and within Hungary. And with no further ado, I would like to award the Embassy’s Active Citizenship Award to Hatter Society.

Congratulations!

Source: U.S. Embassy Budapest

Photo: Ambassador Kounalakis presents an Active Citizenship Award to László Mocsonaki, one of the founders and a current board member of Háttér (Embassy photo by Attila Németh)