Political Quotes

“I rise today in recognition of the 54th anniversary of Pride Month. I would first like to take a moment to acknowledge how much progress has been made in the span of just a half century. The first Pride was born out of the Stonewall Uprising, which took place in 1969 after police conducted a violent raid at the Stonewall Inn, a New York City bar known as a place of refuge for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The raid and the ensuing riot in response nearly destroyed the Stonewall Inn and sparked a series of protests against the police's brutality that night. In the face of such violence and discrimination, a group of gay rights organizers responded by commemorating the first anniversary of the uprising with a march to celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Five decades later, we continue to strive toward equality and inclusion for this community in all aspects of life. While we have many victories to celebrate, such as the 2015 Supreme Court Obergefell decision guaranteeing marriage equality, we still have much to do. I am proud to represent a State that is known to be welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Last year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order to protect access to gender-affirming care, a huge win for transgender and nonbinary Marylanders. This year, Maryland is hosting over a dozen local Pride parades and celebrations, from Hagerstown to Salisbury and everywhere in between.…”