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119th CONGRESS
1st Session |
Expressing support for the designation of June 26 as “LGBTQI+ Equality Day”.
Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Luján, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Peters, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schiff, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Gallego) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
Expressing support for the designation of June 26 as “LGBTQI+ Equality Day”.
Whereas the United States recognizes that all people should be treated equally;
Whereas Members of the 119th Congress support the rights and freedoms of individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+);
Whereas, on June 26, 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that States could no longer criminalize the private consensual conduct in which same-sex couples engage;
Whereas, on June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Windsor that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional and the Federal Government could no longer restrict married same-sex couples from receiving Federal benefits and protections;
Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and States could no longer discriminate against same-sex couples when recognizing or licensing a marriage;
Whereas Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26 ended marriage discrimination and the criminalization of same-sex private intimate conduct under the law;
Whereas LGBTQI+ people and their allies have worked together for over 60 years to make progress toward achieving full equality for all people in the United States, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics;
Whereas LGBTQI+ people in the United States continue to face many barriers to the American dream that cannot be solved through courtroom litigation alone;
Whereas transgender people and LGBTQI+ people of color are disproportionately and uniquely burdened by such barriers, including violence, discrimination, poverty, and societal isolation;
Whereas, although victories at the Supreme Court have affirmed the dignity and equality of millions of same-sex couples, statutory reforms are needed to ensure LGBTQI+ people in the United States are free from discrimination and have equal access to the American dream; and
Whereas June 26 would be an appropriate date to designate as “LGBTQI+ Equality Day”: Now, therefore, be it
(1) supports equal rights and protections for all people, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics;
(2) supports the designation of “LGBTQI+ Equality Day”;
(3) encourages the celebration of “LGBTQI+ Equality Day” to commemorate the significance of Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26 in 2003, 2013, and 2015, and to continue educating all people about the forms of discrimination, harassment, and intolerance that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people continue to face; and
(4) acknowledges the need for further legislation to ensure people in the United States are free from all forms of discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics including in employment, housing, public accommodations, education, Federal funding, credit, and jury service.