[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1110]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CELEBRATING LGBT PRIDE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 15, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, just over 40 years ago, a 
police raid on a gay bar in Greenwich Village made history. The so-
called Stonewall riots, during which members of the gay community 
openly challenged institutionalized homophobia, marked the beginning of 
the modern Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, LGBT, rights 
movement and led to the formation of gay rights organizations across 
the United States and around the world. Each June, we commemorate this 
ongoing struggle for equality by celebrating LGBT Pride Month.
  It is indeed a historic time for our nation and the American people. 
What should have happened 17 years ago is now closer to being a reality 
than ever before. By passing the Murphy Amendment along with the 
Defense Authorization bill, the House of Representatives has pledged to 
fulfill its promise of upholding the values for which the United States 
stands by allowing gay and lesbian Americans to serve openly in the 
military. As I have said time and again, the discriminatory law known 
as ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' should be repealed once and for all. It 
threatens our national security and costs us millions of dollars each 
year to kick out dedicated and highly-skilled service members and to 
retrain new ones.
  As we celebrate this victory, we are reminded of the long battle that 
has brought us to this point. I would be terribly remiss if I did not 
acknowledge the hard work and sacrifices of the countless service 
members and veterans, many of whose lives have been negatively impacted 
by this bigoted policy, as well as those military and policy leaders, 
advocacy organizations, and everyday Americans who have taken a stand 
against discrimination.
  I am also pleased that President Obama and his administration have 
taken meaningful steps toward achieving LGBT equality. Most recently, 
President Obama extended a wider range of benefits to the same-sex 
partners of federal employees, including key protections such as long-
term care insurance, health insurance reimbursements, business travel 
accident insurance, and tax reimbursements for homeowner's insurance. 
In April, President Obama also mandated that all hospitals extend 
visitation rights to the partners of gay men and lesbians and that they 
respect patients' choices about who may make critical health care 
decisions for them.
  More than ever before, the fight for LGBT equality is full of hope 
and promise. But, our work is far from over. The sad reality is that 
gay and lesbian Americans are still essentially second-class citizens, 
with different rights depending on where they work and the state in 
which they live. This nation can only truly prosper when all of its 
citizens are guaranteed equal protection under the law. Laws that 
deprive LGBT Americans of these rights are unconstitutional, 
discriminatory, and unconscionable. It is my sincere hope that Congress 
and our nation as a whole will work together to pass the Employment 
Non-Discrimination Act, ENDA, repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, 
and lift the ban on men who have sex with men, MSM, donating blood.
  Madam Speaker, the LGBT community is part of our American family. 
They are our friends and neighbors and all contribute to this great 
nation. We must ensure that the pages of history only continue to turn 
forward on equality for all Americans, regardless of sexual 
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This LGBT Pride 
Month, I reaffirm my resolve to achieve equal rights for LGBT Americans 
and nothing less. It is the right thing to do.

                          ____________________