117 SCON 35 IS: Supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility. U.S. Senate 2022-03-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III117th CONGRESS2d SessionS. CON. RES. 35IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMarch 31, 2022Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Casey, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Warren, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Booker, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Carper, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Heinrich, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONSupporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 to honor the achievements and contributions of the transgender community;Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is designed to be encompassing of a large community of individuals, including individuals who identify as nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse;Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the lives and achievements of transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse individuals around the world, and to recognize the bravery it takes to live openly and authentically;Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is also a time to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence that the transgender community still faces, which make it difficult and even unsafe or fatal for many transgender individuals to be visible;Whereas the transgender community has suffered oppression disproportionately in many ways, including—(1)discrimination in the workplace;(2)discrimination in educational institutions; and(3)subjection to violence;Whereas forms of transgender oppression are exacerbated for transgender individuals of color, individuals with limited resources, immigrants, individuals living with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, and transgender youth;Whereas a record number of anti-transgender State bills have been introduced in recent years;Whereas the transgender community has made it clear that transgender individuals will not be erased and deserve to be accorded all of the rights and opportunities made available to all;Whereas, before the creation of the United States, Indigenous two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse individuals existed across North America in many Native American communities;Whereas many Native American communities have specific terms in their own languages for the gender-variant members of their communities and the social and spiritual roles these individuals fulfill;Whereas, while many two-spirit and gender-variant traditions in Native American communities were lost or actively suppressed by the efforts of missionaries, government agents, boarding schools, and settlers, many of these traditions have seen a revival in recent decades;Whereas transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse individuals continue to bravely tell their stories and push for full equity under the law;Whereas the civil-rights struggle has been strengthened and inspired by the leadership of the transgender community;Whereas 23 States have at least 1 transgender elected official, and there are 12 transgender, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary elected officials in State legislatures, including—(1)Danica Roem; (2)Gerri Cannon;(3)Cesar Chavez; (4)Brianna Titone; (5)Lisa Bunker;(6)Joshua Query; (7)Sarah McBride; (8)Stephanie Byers; (9)Taylor Small;(10)Mauree Turner; (11)Stacie Laughton; and (12)Mike Simmons;Whereas voters in the State of Delaware elected Sarah McBride as the first openly transgender State senator in the United States;Whereas voters in the State of Oklahoma elected Mauree Turner as the first openly nonbinary State legislator in the United States;Whereas, in the State of Illinois, Mike Simmons became the first openly nonbinary or gender-nonconforming State senator in the United States;Whereas 4 States have a transgender jurist on the bench, including—(1)Judge Phyllis Frye of Texas;(2)Judge Victoria Kolakowski of California;(3)Commissioner Tracy Nadzieja of Arizona; and(4)Judge Jill Rose Quinn of Illinois;Whereas Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, was the first openly transgender Federal official confirmed by the United States Senate and is the highest ranking openly transgender Federal Government official in the history of the United States;Whereas Stella Keating became the first transgender teen to testify before the United States Senate;Whereas more transgender individuals are gracing the covers of magazines to raise awareness of their gender identity and the importance of living authentically;Whereas transgender individuals have created culture and history as artists, musicians, healers, workers, and organizers; andWhereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the transgender community around the world: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—(1)supports the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility;(2)encourages the people of the United States to observe International Transgender Day of Visibility with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities;(3)celebrates the accomplishments and leadership of transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse individuals; and(4)recognizes the bravery of the transgender community as it fights for equal dignity and respect.