[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5171-H5172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMEMORATING STONEWALL PIONEERS OF LGBTQ MOVEMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cuellar). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise, a proud American, 
and I am especially proud today because I rise to acknowledge that we 
have filed a resolution, H. Res. 464, that is styled the Original LGBTQ 
Pride Month Resolution of 2019.
  I am proud to be a sponsor of the Pride resolution, but I am not 
doing it alone. There are 78 Members of Congress who are original 
cosponsors of this resolution. ``Original'' meaning their names will be 
right there on the resolution when it is filed.
  I am so proud to be a sponsor of the Pride resolution, and I am proud 
to read just a couple of passages from this resolution and to address 
them rather briefly. It was my hope to have some 30 minutes to an hour 
of time to speak on the resolution, but circumstances in Congress will 
not permit such to take place.
  This resolution acknowledges the 50 years since the uprising at 
Stonewall, which will be commemorated on June 28 and will last for some 
6 days because that is the length of time that the Stonewall uprising, 
or as some would call it, the Stonewall riots or Stonewall rebellion, 
but 50 years since Stonewall.
  I would like to read the whereas as it relates to Stonewall. It 
reads: ``Whereas, those who took a stand for human rights and dignity 
at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969, were pioneers 
of the LGBTQ movement, including two transgender women of color, Sylvia 
Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, who were brave visible leaders in the 
uprising at Stonewall Inn.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is said that a great person will always rise to the 
occasion, but the truth is, it takes a greater person to make the 
occasion. These two trans persons were the greater people who made the 
occasion that we will commemorate on June 28 and the 6 days that ensue, 
two persons who took a stand among many.
  There were others, but there were two among the many who took a stand 
that literally has helped to shape the course of history. Sometimes, it 
really does take just a few to get the job done of starting a movement 
that can change society.
  Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding all the change that has manifested 
itself since the Stonewall uprising, there are still things that must 
be done. There is still great work to be done because being an LGBTQ 
person, that alone can get you fired. Coming to work and saying you 
have just married someone of the same sex as you can get you fired.
  LGBTQ persons do not have the same rights that we have, those of us 
who are allies of the community. They don't have the same rights. They 
have them, but they are not being identified and recognized. These 
rights don't come from people. They really are something we are born 
with. Human dignity is something that is accorded every person by 
birthright.
  Unfortunately, in our society, we still allow this level of 
discrimination against LGBTQ persons.
  I want to acknowledge that while there is still great work to be 
done, we still must commemorate and celebrate the great work that has 
been done. As a Member of Congress, I pledge to do all that I can to 
make sure that I pay a debt that I owe to the LGBTQ community.
  Finally, I would say this: A person who helped to organize the march 
on

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Washington was named Bayard Rustin. In 1963, he was one of the persons 
who made the occasion. He was Black. He was Quaker. He was also LGBTQ.
  I owe a debt, and I am here today to repay some portion of that debt 
with this resolution.

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