[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 12, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H2656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FREEDOM AND EQUALITY FOR ALL

  (Ms. HILL of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HILL of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 
Equality Act.
  As the first LGBTQ woman in Congress from the State of California and 
the second openly bisexual woman to serve in Congress overall, I could 
not be prouder to support this landmark legislation.
  Throughout my run, I got so many questions about why I chose to be 
honest about my sexuality. I am married to a man, I am from a purple, 
historically Republican, district, and everyone said it would be easier 
for me to hide who I am. But the reality is that representation 
matters, especially for the LGBTQ community, when so many of our basic 
rights are still at risk.
  Through my work on the issue of homelessness, I have seen how 
disproportionately our community is affected by discrimination still. 
The Equality Act will provide basic protections in terms of employment, 
housing, education, and more. Everyone should have a fair chance to 
earn a living and provide a home for their families without fear of 
harassment or discrimination.
  I could not be prouder to be part of a new generation of leaders who 
will be the ones to finally pass the Equality Act and fight for true 
freedom and equality for all.

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