On the recordJune 22, 2021
Madam Speaker, to Mr. Roy, I look forward to our debate tomorrow and I think a good resolution on a number of important issues before the committee. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Pride Month. I want to begin by saying that we are grateful to the members of the Congressional LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, who continue to be champions for full equality for our community. Each year, we gather as a community in June to celebrate the progress that our community has made, that is the LGBTQ-plus community, and also to reflect on the work ahead and how much remains to be done. It is an opportunity each year to really celebrate the progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the work that remains. This year is no different. In 2021, we come together on the floor of this House to celebrate Pride Month with some very great highs and some very deep lows. Our community was deeply impacted by COVID, both because preexisting conditions added to people's vulnerabilities, but also because segments of our population already face isolation, which was made even worse during the pandemic. Like all communities, we have been shocked at the efforts to undermine our democracy and restrict the right to vote, restrictions that we know will impact our community, particularly people of color, trans people, and those with disabilities. Of course, this year alone we witnessed a historic number of anti- transgender laws being introduced around the country, many of them passing.…





