[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 29 (Thursday, February 14, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MAYOR GREG PETTIS

  (Mr. TAKANO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a friend 
and someone I looked up to, Mayor Greg Pettis, of Cathedral City, 
California.
  Motivated by his drive to fix the injustices that the LGBTQ community 
faced back in the late eighties, Greg took action and entered public 
life during a time when acceptance and understanding was not the norm. 
He inspired many, including me, by taking a courageous stance and 
living life as his true self, becoming Riverside County's first openly 
gay elected official. It was Greg's persistence that encouraged me to 
continue pursuing my passion to serve my community, regardless of the 
setbacks I faced as an openly gay person.
  Though he was initially motivated by his passion to improve the lives 
of LGBTQ people, his lifetime of service brought justice to all people. 
As mayor of Cathedral City, Greg helped improve transportation 
infrastructure in his region and recognized LGBTQ veterans in his city 
by erecting a monument in their honor. If his memorial service was any 
indication, Mayor Pettis' legacy will live on for years to come.

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