Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today in celebration of LGBT Pride Month because this year my friends in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community have more to celebrate than ever. America was founded on the principle that we are all created equal, but for decades the struggle for LGBT equality seemed like a distant dream. Just 45 years ago, in June of 1969, a series of police actions against the gay community sparked the stonewall riots, one of the most pivotal moments in the fight for LGBT equality. What began as a moment is now a movement, bringing LGBT Americans together with allies to fight for the rights they deserve but are too often denied. Back then, the movement moved slowly but surely, making inroads neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city. Now I am proud to say the equality movement is moving State by State, picking up steam across the country with no signs of slowing down. It seems like almost every other month a new State is reaffirming the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens to marry whom they love, regardless of gender. In fact, last November, my home State of Illinois became the 16th State to legalize same-sex marriage. I have to smile when I think that, just 2 months prior, I was officiating symbolic marriages at a festival in Chicago to draw awareness to the cause. What a difference a few months can make.…”