Supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of Visibility.

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 about 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 and facilities;

(4) discrimination in educational institutions; and

(5) disproportionate exposure to victimization and violence;

Whereas forms of anti-transgender oppression are exacerbated for transgender individuals of color, transgender individuals with limited resources, transgender immigrants, transgender individuals living with disabilities, transgender justice-involved individuals, and transgender youth;

Whereas a record number of anti-transgender bills have been introduced in recent years at all levels of government, targeting areas such as—

(1) education, including by prohibiting school staff from acknowledging or respecting transgender pupils, colleagues, and family members, barring transgender students from accessing gender-appropriate programs and facilities, and censoring curriculum that allows readers to explore and engage with differing perspectives;

(2) health care, including restrictions on both medically necessary transition-related medical care and routine health care services;

(3) public accommodations, such as safe access to public restrooms and facilities; and

(4) identification documents, including by restricting the ability to realign or correct birth certificates and other forms of identification;

Whereas President Trump has issued multiple Executive Orders that attempt to erase transgender people, including Executive Order 14168 (90 Fed. Reg. 8615), Executive Order 14183 (90 Fed. Reg. 8757), Executive Order 14187 (90 Fed. Reg. 8771), Executive Order 14190 (90 Fed. Reg. 8853), and Executive Order 14201 (90 Fed. Reg. 9279);

Whereas the transgender community and its allies have 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 36 States and the District of Columbia have at least 1 transgender elected official at the State or municipal level;

Whereas there are at least 23 openly transgender, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary elected officials in State legislatures;

Whereas voters in the State of Delaware elected Sarah McBride as the first openly transgender Member of the United States Congress;

Whereas voters in the State of Virginia elected Danica Roem as the first openly transgender State legislator 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-nonconforming jurist on the bench;

Whereas more transgender individuals are appearing in movies, on television, and in all forms of media, raising awareness about 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

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 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.