118 SCON 32 IS: Supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility.
U.S. Senate
2024-03-22
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III
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 32
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 22, 2024
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Carper, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Markey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting 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 diverse individuals;
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the lives and achievements of transgender 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 employment and in the workplace;
(2)
discrimination in health care and housing;
(3)
discrimination in access to public services;
(4)
discrimination in educational institutions; and
(5)
violence;
Whereas forms of anti-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, including more than 700 bills in 2021, 2022, and 2023 combined, targeting areas such as—
(1)
education, including by prohibiting school staff from acknowledging or respecting transgender pupils, colleagues, and family members, and barring transgender students from accessing gender-appropriate programs and facilities;
(2)
health care, including both medically necessary transition-related medical care and general health care services;
(3)
public accommodations, such as safe access to public restrooms; and
(4)
identification documents, including by restricting the ability to realign or correct birth certificates and other forms of identification;
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 individuals existed across North America in many Native American communities, with specific terms in their own languages for these members of their communities and the social and spiritual roles they fulfilled, and while many were lost or actively suppressed by the efforts of missionaries, government agents, boarding schools, and settlers, two-spirit individuals have promoted increased public awareness in recent decades;
Whereas transgender individuals continue to 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 transgender individuals in the United States have made significant strides in elected office and political representation;
Whereas at least 31 States and the District of Columbia have at least 1 transgender elected official at the State or municipal level;
Whereas there are at least 18 transgender, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary elected officials in State legislatures, including—
(1)
Lorena Austin;
(2)
Gerri Cannon;
(3)
Brion Curran;
(4)
Emily Dievendorf;
(5)
Leigh Finke;
(6)
S.J. Howell;
(7)
Dominique Johnson;
(8)
Sarah McBride;
(9)
Samantha Montano;
(10)
Alissandra Murray;
(11)
DeShanna Neal;
(12)
Danica Roem;
(13)
James Roesener;
(14)
Abigail Salisbury;
(15)
Taylor Small;
(16)
Izzy Smith-Wade-El;
(17)
Brianna Titone; and
(18)
Mauree Turner;
Whereas voters in the State of Virginia elected Danica Roem to be the first openly transgender State legislator in the United States;
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 voters in the State of New Hampshire elected James Roesener as the first openly transgender man State legislator in the United States;
Whereas 6 States have at least 1 transgender or gender-non- conforming jurist on the bench;
Whereas Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D., was the first openly transgender Federal official confirmed by the Senate and is the highest ranking openly transgender Federal Government official in the history of the United States;
Whereas more transgender individuals are appearing in movies, on television, and in all forms of media, raising awareness of their experiences and the importance of living authentically;
Whereas transgender individuals have created culture and history as artists, musicians, organizers, and leaders; and
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the transgender community around the world: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
(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 individuals; and
(4)
recognizes the bravery of the transgender community as it fights for equal dignity and respect.