Sam Farr: “I rise for the 14th consecutive year in order to speak out on behalf of the LGBTQ youth community. It is unacceptable…”

“I rise for the 14th consecutive year in order to speak out on behalf of the LGBTQ youth community. It is unacceptable that, in 2016, young people are still experiencing discrimination across this country based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Kaleb Lennon, a young transgender student in my district, sees this day as a chance to combat the bullying, the slurs, and the put-downs that these children face on a daily basis. I am proud to lend my voice to Kaleb's cause. It is our duty to speak out against the bigotry and hatred facing this community. We must celebrate the diversity in this country and reject all forms of discrimination. Mr. Speaker, this is my last year to take the floor and support these young people. I ask that, next year, my colleagues stand where I am and lend their voices to the support of the LGBTQ community. Today, as youth across the country take a vow of silence to protest the silent response they see to bigotry, I ask one last time that you remember that, while you are silent, we here in Congress should not be. ____________________”