On the recordJune 22, 2022
Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I are here today for this Special Order hour to celebrate Pride Month. Pride is a time of celebration of our community and its diversity. It is a time to uplift LGBTQ+ people all across the country and honor our identities and how these individuals have shaped our lives. Pride is also a time of action. Fifty-three years ago, LGBTQ+ patrons fought back against discrimination and police harassment at New York's Stonewall Inn. Now, we need to harness that same strength and determination to fight back against State legislatures' attacks against our community, especially trans and nonbinary kids. For every person able to celebrate Pride Month, there are others who are struggling. There are countless people unable to come out because of discrimination, harassment, and threats of violence. In too many States, this discrimination is being led by elected officials. Here in Congress, the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus fights every day so that all people, regardless of sexual identification or gender identity, can live their lives openly and have every opportunity to be successful and to lead happy lives. I am proud to have introduced the Equality Act, along with every single member of the Democratic Caucus as cosponsors, to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are protected from discrimination in key areas of life.…





