[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING LGBTQ LEADERS IN THE TWIN CITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KEITH ELLISON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2016

  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the transgender, 
queer, lesbian, bisexual, and gay members of my community as we begin 
celebrating Pride. Every year, Twin Cities Pride selects outstanding 
leaders to helm the celebration. The 2016 Grand Marshals are Roxanne 
Anderson and D Rojas, and the Lifetime Champions of Pride are Minnesota 
Representative Karen Clark and Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble.
   Both Grand Marshals have a long history of LGBTQ advocacy in the 
Twin Cities. Roxanne's dedication spans four organizations noted for 
their dedication to the most underserved segments of the community. 
Through providing healthcare access to trans individuals at the 
Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, leading trans and racial 
justice initiatives at OutFront Minnesota, organizing trans and queer 
musicians of color at RARE Productions, and employing and serving the 
queer community at Cafe SouthSide Roxanne is one of the hardest-working 
and most effective trans advocates anywhere in the country. D Rojas is 
the president of Dykes on Bikes Minneapolis, a lesbian motorcycle club 
noted for its inclusivity. The group hosts dozen of events throughout 
the Twin Cities annually, attracting hundreds of LGBTQ participants. In 
recent years, D has escorted Minneapolis Mayors Betsy Hodges and R.T. 
Rybak on her motorcycle at the Pride Parade.
   The 2016 Lifetime Champions of Pride are highly effective leaders in 
the Minnesota Legislature who have worked extensively on equality. When 
Representative Karen Clark was first elected to the Legislature in 
1980, there were only a few out elected officials nation-wide. 
Throughout her time in office, she has achieved countless successes for 
the LGBTQ community: including ``Sexual Orientation'' in the Minnesota 
Human Rights Act, expanding housing and healthcare for HIV positive 
individuals, and promoting social and economic justice. She is the 
longest-serving lesbian Legislator in the U.S. Senator Scott Dibble 
became involved in politics in the mid-1980s, inspired to fight for the 
civil rights of the LGBTQ community. Since his election to the Senate 
in 2002, Senator Dibble has helped pass the Runaway and Homeless Youth 
Act, the Safe and Supportive Schools Act, and numerous transportation 
and transit plans. Representative Clark and Senator Dibble were 
instrumental in gathering popular support to defeat the anti-marriage 
ballot amendment in 2012. Their tireless advocacy to engage Minnesotans 
culminated in the successful effort to legalize marriage equality 
statewide in 2013.
   Twin Cities Pride also recognizes the contributions of organizations 
that are creating a more equitable and inclusive world. The Community 
Champions of Pride are the Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition, 
TransForming Families, and Out & Sober Minnesota.
   Since marriage equality has become the law statewide and nationwide, 
some people hung up their coats and thought, ``We're done!'' As almost 
anyone in the community can tell you, that is absolutely not the case. 
LGBTQ individuals, and especially trans folks and people of color, face 
disproportionately high rates of homelessness, health issues, 
discrimination, and income insecurity. In order to achieve true LGBTQ 
equality, we need to continue focusing on the intersections of gender, 
sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, income, immigration status, and 
other identities that highlight the despicable disparities in our 
state. I am proud these honorees have continued to fight on behalf of 
communities routinely excluded from advocacy or glossed over in public 
policy. They each demonstrate that when we stay engaged, when we turn 
out--we win. In the era of bathroom bills and legalized discrimination, 
it's more important than ever to make our voices heard--in the ballot 
boxes, in the halls of Congress, and beyond.

                          ____________________