Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, throughout my tenure in Congress, I have been so proud to work and promote LGBT equality here at home and around the globe. When I was first elected as a Member of this distinguished body in 1989, our country was in a very different place than it is today in how we understood people who are LGBT and the rights and the respect due them. Although much progress still needs to be made, it is true that we are moving in the right direction. Let me give you some examples, Mr. Speaker: By voting to end the misguided Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy; By funding much-needed human rights programs abroad, implemented by a wonderful agency, USAID, such as its LGBT Global Development Partnership; By endorsing the principle of equality as it applies to marriage rights and responsibilities; By including LGBT individuals within nondiscrimination provisions and by ensuring that these and other services funded by this body are made available without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.…”