[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2998-H3002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, to Mr. Roy, I look forward to our 
debate tomorrow and I think a good resolution on a number of important 
issues before the committee.
  Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Pride Month.
  I want to begin by saying that we are grateful to the members of the 
Congressional LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, who continue to be champions 
for full equality for our community.
  Each year, we gather as a community in June to celebrate the progress 
that our community has made, that is the LGBTQ-plus community, and also 
to reflect on the work ahead and how much remains to be done. It is an 
opportunity each year to really celebrate the progress we have made and 
recommit ourselves to the work that remains. This year is no different.
  In 2021, we come together on the floor of this House to celebrate 
Pride Month with some very great highs and some very deep lows. Our 
community was deeply impacted by COVID, both because preexisting 
conditions added to people's vulnerabilities, but also because segments 
of our population already face isolation, which was made even worse 
during the pandemic.

  Like all communities, we have been shocked at the efforts to 
undermine our democracy and restrict the right to vote, restrictions 
that we know will impact our community, particularly people of color, 
trans people, and those with disabilities.
  Of course, this year alone we witnessed a historic number of anti-
transgender laws being introduced around the country, many of them 
passing. Opponents of equality have decided to zero in on the most 
vulnerable within our community, the community that is subject to the 
greatest amount of violence and the worst kind of discrimination, and 
we must stand up in force against this.
  But it wouldn't be Pride Month without a celebration, and we have 
much to celebrate this year.
  In the last 6 months, Congress passed the NO HATE Act, which 
strengthens hate crimes reporting; we passed the Pulse Night Club 
Memorial bill. Now the Senate has passed it, and it goes to the 
President's desk for his signature.
  In February, I proudly introduced H.R. 5, the Equality Act, with 224 
original cosponsors. It passed the House with bipartisan support. 
President Biden has challenged Congress to do everything in its power 
to get him the bill, get it to his desk for his signature.
  We are rolling up our sleeves to get the bill passed in the Senate. I 
am particularly proud that the House of Representatives did its part in 
passing this critical piece of legislation.
  No American should be forced to live in fear of legal discrimination 
simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and they 
certainly shouldn't have to worry about whether or not the person in 
the White House or the State legislature will undermine what few 
protections they do have.
  The Equality Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that gets to 
the core issue of equality by expanding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 
and other existing laws, to ensure that LGBTQ Americans can live their 
lives free from discrimination.
  Equality is a founding principle of this great country, and I hope 
that by the time I stand before you for Pride Month next year, we will 
have turned this bill from a hope into a reality.
  I am very proud to have the support of so many Members of Congress 
and so many colleagues. In fact, every single Democrat is an original 
cosponsor of the Equality Act, including, of course, you, Madam 
Speaker.
  So I am proud to be a part of a caucus that understands the 
fundamental importance of recognizing the dignity and value of every 
person, and Pride Month is about expressing that and affirming that to 
all LGBTQ-plus people all across this country and all across the world.
  Tonight, I am proud to have one of the co-chairs of the Equality 
Caucus, Mark Takano, Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, a 
member of the LGBTQ community, a very close friend, a deeply respected 
colleague, and a great champion for the equality of our community.
  I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) to share his 
views on the celebration of Pride.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank my true friend from the State of 
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), who chairs the LGBTQ-plus Equality 
Caucus, for his work.
  I want to say that Pride is always a very special time of year. It is 
a time of protest, a time of celebration, a time that we remember the 
struggles, honor the trailblazers, and appreciate the progress that we 
have made in the fight toward equality.
  Throughout our history, LGBTQ people have been denied their basic 
rights. To this day, LGBTQ Americans across the country still face 
discrimination in key areas of life, from housing to healthcare.
  While the Supreme Court has ruled to expand nondiscrimination 
protections in employment and made marriage equality the law of the 
land, in 29 states LGBTQ people aren't fully protected from 
discrimination.
  That is why we are working hard to get the Equality Act signed into 
law.
  Discrimination in this country has also been enshrined into policies 
at every level, including in the military.
  Despite this, thousands of brave LGBTQ Americans have still stepped 
up to serve our country in uniform. For decades, LGBTQ members of the 
U.S. military and veterans have faced discrimination stemming from 
official military policies, including Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the 
Trans Military Ban.
  Before Don't Ask, Don't Tell became an official military policy, 
servicemembers who were LGBTQ had to hide their identities, and those 
who were suspected of being LGBTQ were targeted by horrendous and 
traumatizing so-called witch hunts, which stripped them of their 
dignity and mistreated them based on a suspicion that had nothing to do 
with their service.

  It is estimated that approximately 114,000 servicemembers were 
discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation between World War 
II and 2011, while an estimated 870,000 LGBTQ veterans have been 
impacted by ``hostility, harassment, assaultive behavior, and law 
enforcement targeting'' by discriminatory military policies.
  Many LGBTQ veterans who were discharged on discriminatory grounds are

[[Page H2999]]

unable to access their VA benefits, and those still serving face 
inconsistent protections that make them vulnerable to harassment and 
put their careers at risk.
  But the true extent of the harm by discriminatory anti-LGBTQ policies 
in the military and at the VA is not known or well understood. To 
remedy the harm that has been done, we must reckon with the truth of 
what happened and understand the disparate effects of discriminatory 
military policies on LGBTQ people.
  That is why I have introduced the Commission to Study the 
Stigmatization, Criminalization, and Ongoing Exclusion and Inequity for 
LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act, otherwise known as the 
Commission on LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans Act.
  This legislation would launch a comprehensive study on the effects of 
discriminatory military policies on affected servicemembers, their 
families, and their units to help America learn the full extent of the 
harm caused by these policies and the status of protections for LGBTQ 
servicemembers today.
  There are currently 250,000 Active Duty LGBTQ servicemembers and more 
than 1.5 million LGBTQ veterans receiving healthcare from the VA. But 
there continues to be a pervasive lack of data collection on LGBTQ 
servicemembers and veteran populations and an absence of education for 
both members of the military and the general public about members of 
the LGBTQ community who serve in uniform. This legislation seeks to 
address that.
  It is essential for the American people to hear stories of LGBTQ 
servicemembers and veterans to understand the stigmatization they 
endured while serving our country and to know that, despite this, they 
are still immensely proud of their service.

                              {time}  2100

  This month, I have been sharing powerful stories of LGBTQ veterans on 
my social media. Every video testimonial reveals stories of bravery and 
profound love for country. It ends with veterans sharing the same 
message: LGBTQ people want and deserve to serve, just like everyone 
else.
  We have, of course, made a lot of progress as a country, but there is 
still a lot of work that needs to be done to make the military and VA 
more inclusive. It is my mission as co-chair of the Equality Caucus and 
chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to ensure that we 
honor the service of every American who has served, regardless of their 
identity.
  This past weekend, we saw action that steers us toward that goal. The 
Biden administration announced that the VA will begin the first steps 
to expand care to include gender confirmation surgery for transgender 
veterans. This is truly a first and incredibly significant step that 
the VA is taking, and I applaud the VA's decision. Veterans in need of 
gender confirmation surgery should not have to seek healthcare outside 
of the VA healthcare system or navigate complicated processes to get 
the care they need.
  This announcement will be life-changing for many, and it is the 
result of years of hard work and advocacy on behalf of trans veterans 
and allies.
  So in honor of Pride Month, we must keep up the momentum, honor all 
those who have served our country in uniform, and commit ourselves to 
creating a truly equal nation.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Takano for his powerful 
words.
  Now, Madam Speaker, I am honored to yield to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Green), who has been a longstanding member of the Equality Caucus 
and who has always encouraged the celebration of Pride. For the last 8 
years, he has led the resolution in the House marking June as LGBTQ 
Pride Month. I want to thank him again and his office for his efforts, 
and I thank him for being with us this evening.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise. And I rise 
tonight to continue to make my payments on a debt that I owe.
  I am the son of the segregated South. I know what invidious 
discrimination looks like. I know what it sounds like. I know what it 
tastes like. I know what it smells like. Because I have suffered 
invidious discrimination, I want no one else to suffer what I have 
suffered.
  I rise tonight to pay a debt because I didn't get here by myself, and 
the people who look like me, we didn't get here by ourselves. Along the 
way there were people of different stripes who made a difference, such 
that we could have the opportunities that we have today.
  So I am proud to say that I am an ally of the LGBTQIA caucus. I am 
proud to say that I am a member of the congressional LGBTQ-plus 
Equality Caucus. And I am proud to say that Mr. Cicilline is a person 
who I have great respect for, a person who is making a difference not 
only in the lives of people who are a member of the community, the 
LGBTQIA community, but also persons across the length and breadth of 
the globe, because when you help some directly, you help all 
indirectly.
  I thank Mr. Cicilline for this preeminent privilege to stand tonight 
and to be a part of making the world a better place for others. I 
desire, if I may, to continue.
  I want to make the world know that the caucus that I am a member of, 
the LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, has 170 members. The caucus was formed 
in the 111th Congress. Today, we have introduced the original LGBTQIA-
plus Pride Month resolution. This resolution encourages the celebration 
of the month of June as LGBTQIA-plus Pride Month. It tracks the 
accomplishments and the milestones and the fight for LGBTQIA-plus 
equality. It has 187 cosponsors, minus the 100. It has 87 original 
cosponsors.
  This resolution is endorsed by the National Center for Transgender 
Equality, PFLAG National, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and the 
Transgender Foundation of America.
  We introduced the first LGBT Pride Month resolution in 2013. This 
resolution had 25 cosponsors. We have introduced a Pride Month 
resolution in every Congress since 2013.
  In 2020, the LGBTQ Pride Month resolution had 62 cosponsors. This 
year, the resolution has 87 original cosponsors.
  Now I would like to just discuss some seminal moments in Pride 
history. June marks 52 years of Pride celebrations across the country. 
It was in June of 1970 that the first Pride march took place in New 
York City to commemorate Stonewall Inn, the site of an act of 
resistance in June of 1969.
  In 1977, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected public 
official in the U.S.

  In 1980, the Democratic Party became the first major American 
political party to endorse a gay rights platform.
  In 2000, Vermont became the first State to recognize civil unions 
between same-sex partners.
  In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled sodomy laws unconstitutional.
  In November of 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Justice Court ruled 
that preventing gays and lesbians from marrying violates the State 
constitution.
  In 2008, California voters passed proposition 8, a public referendum 
ending same-sex marriage in the State.
  In 2009, Congress passed the Matthew Shepard Act, expanding hate 
crime laws to include acts motivated by a victim's actual or perceived 
sexual orientation or gender identity.
  Between 2009 and 2011, Vermont, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, the 
District of Columbia, and New York legitimized same-sex marriage.
  In 2010, President Obama officially repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell, 
allowing gays, bisexuals, and lesbians to serve openly in the military.
  In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down California's proposition 8 and 
the Federal Defense of Marriage Act.
  On June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition 
against sex discrimination laid out in title 7 of the 1964 Civil Rights 
Act applied to LGBTQ Americans.
  Houston, Texas, has a history that we are proud of. We remember the 
uprising at Stonewall because it marked the beginning of a movement to 
outlaw discrimination and laws that prohibited LGBTQIA persons from 
having the same rights as other persons in this country. Nearly a 
decade after the resistance displayed in New York at Stonewall Inn, the 
gay rights movement for equality made its way to Houston, Texas.
  Houston's own Stonewall movement occurred in June of 1977, when 
thousands gathered around city hall in

[[Page H3000]]

downtown Houston to protest an infamous antigay activist who was 
performing in Houston, Texas. According to OutSmart magazine, more than 
4,000 protesters marched around the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where the 
event was held.
  The first Houston Pride parade took place in June of 1978, along 
Westheimer Road; and more than four decades later, it has become the 
fourth largest Pride parade in the country.

                              {time}  2110

  This resolution that we have presented to the House today is one that 
we will continue to present. We will continue to present it because it 
is not only the right thing to do, but it is the righteous thing to do.
  No person in this country should be treated in such a way as to be 
defined as mistreated simply because of who they are. We have a right 
to be ourselves, and we should never be put in a position such that it 
is perceived that being who you are is inappropriate in a country that 
extolls the virtues of liberty and justice for all, that extolls the 
virtue of all persons being equal and endowed by their creator with 
certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit 
of happiness.
  In this country, every person ought to be proud to celebrate Pride 
Month.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his very 
eloquent words.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Adams), a tireless advocate for women and historically Black colleges 
and universities, a member of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and an 
original cosponsor of the Equality Act.
  Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for 
his extraordinary work in this area. And I am a proud cosponsor of the 
Equality Act.
  Madam Speaker, I am Alma Adams, and my pronouns are she, her, and 
hers. Tonight, I rise during Pride Month to honor some of the many 
LGBTQ elected officials who are working to make North Carolina a more 
equal and inclusive State.
  Last week was Charlotte Black Pride Week, so I am happy to say that 
North Carolina's 12th Congressional District, which I represent, is 
home to LaWana Mayfield, who made history in 2011 as Charlotte's first 
openly gay elected official. Since then, Al Austin and Billy Maddalon 
joined her as LGBT members of the Charlotte City Council.
  In Davidson, Jane Campbell, a retired captain in the United States 
Navy, serves on the Davidson Town Commission. And Charlotte's John 
Arrowood made history as the first openly LGBT judge on North 
Carolina's Court of Appeals.
  All of these individuals put themselves forward for public service 
because they know that we can't sleep on fairness and equal rights. And 
I am working hard as an ally in Congress, alongside members of my 
congressional office, supporting the LGBTQ community, and I promise to 
continue to fight for their rights.
  I wish everyone across our country happy Pride. Now go forth and 
continue to fight because we can't wait for equality; we have to win 
it.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for her eloquent 
words and for being part of our Pride celebration here tonight.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Newman), 
my new colleague who has been such an extraordinary, relentless 
advocate for our community. I know she does it on behalf of her child 
but also for children all across America.
  Ms. NEWMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cicilline for 
organizing this Special Order tonight. It is so important.
  Madam Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of the millions of LGBTQ-plus 
Americans who, in 2021, are still fighting for equality in our country.
  This year is already record-breaking for anti-trans legislation. 
Right now, a trans teenager in America is growing up in a country where 
there are 33 States that have introduced more than 100 bills that aim 
to curb their rights. The bills are not grounded in science. The bills 
are not grounded in fact. The lawmakers who have introduced them can't 
even cite examples of any problem they are designed to solve.
  To put it simply, these bills are grounded in hate, and they are not 
only hateful but demoralizing and frustrating and agonizing, 
demoralizing to a population of our country that already suffers from 
high rates of depression, bullying, and suicide.
  In the United States, the lifetime depression rate for the general 
population is roughly 16.6 percent. For America's transgender women, it 
is 62 percent. Let that sink in.
  As a mother of a transgender daughter, I know firsthand how much this 
weighs on all of our brothers and sisters.
  Young LGBTQ-plus Americans need somewhere to turn to for help because 
most of them don't have someone to turn to. That is true.
  In Illinois, we have a 24/7 youth hotline that supports students in 
crisis and engages trusted adults in their community. Bullying and 
threats of suicide are the two most common reports through the line. 
This resource has saved countless lives in Illinois.
  But not every State has one of these. That is why I will be 
introducing legislation to support States' youth mental health and 
safety helplines and to help States develop these resources if they 
don't yet have one.
  These resources are particularly critical for young Americans who are 
at a higher risk for bullying and suicide, such as those who belong to 
the LGBTQ-plus community.
  While I continue to urge the Senate to pass the Equality Act, I also 
want to urge this entire body to work together so we can do more to 
support our LGBTQ-plus Americans.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for being part 
of this Pride Special Order and for her incredible advocacy on behalf 
of our community, particularly her heroic work on behalf of the 
transgender community. It is making a real difference.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Auchincloss), a new colleague and someone who has been an extraordinary 
advocate for the LGBT community, a great ally for our caucus. He is a 
member of the LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, an original cosponsor of the 
Equality Act, and a really powerful voice in our fight for equality.
  Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Pride Month, I rise 
to recognize my constituent, my friend, Newton City Councilor Holly 
Ryan. Councilor Ryan is a long-serving activist in my district and my 
hometown. She is the first openly transgender woman to serve on a city 
council in Massachusetts and the first openly LGBTQ-plus person to 
serve on the Newton City Council.

  Holly is a distinguished champion of equality, serving as the 
founding member and former co-chair of the Massachusetts Transgender 
Political Coalition. Her advocacy led to the passage of both the 2011 
trans rights law and the 2016 public accommodation law, ensuring that 
no one in the Commonwealth can face discrimination because of gender 
identity.
  I was fortunate to serve with Councilor Ryan on the city council 
before coming to Congress. Councilor Ryan is a trailblazer, paving the 
way for a more equal future. Massachusetts is better off thanks to her 
accomplishments.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for participating 
in our Special Order and for being such a great ally to our community.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson 
Lee), a distinguished senior member of the Judiciary Committee, someone 
who has long been a champion of justice and equality, a great ally to 
the LGBTQ community, an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, and a 
member of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend and courageous 
leader who brought us all together so many years ago and, I believe, 
built up the Equality Caucus into such an effective spokesperson for 
all of those who are voiceless in many instances.
  Madam Speaker, I thank   David Cicilline. I remember the journey he 
made on the Equality Act. It was a lot of meetings, a lot of 
engagement, but he brought us all together. I am very proud to be an 
original cosponsor and one that gave insight into the necessity for 
that legislation.

[[Page H3001]]

  Let me say the very obvious, and that is happy Pride Month. It is an 
important statement for America, and it is about Americans.
  Madam Speaker, these statistics from Texas would give you just a 
bird's-eye view of what our State is like: percent of adults who are 
LGBTQ-plus, 4.1 percent; total LGBTQ-plus population, 1,053,000 and, of 
course, growing; the workforce, 5 percent.

                              {time}  2120

  Those who are workers, 647,000; and the LGBTQ-plus, adults raising 
children, 29 percent--just regular Texans, regular Americans. That is 
why we stand on the floor of the House today to be able to celebrate 
Pride Month. And though many of the occasions we have had in Houston 
and around the Nation are virtual, we are still making our voices 
heard.
  We look forward in Houston to our big Pride Parade, and, of course, 
we look forward to recommitting ourselves to making equality in every 
aspect of American life real for members of the LGBTQ community.
  We have a shared struggle, a collective joy that is found in the 
history of that struggle and life experiences that are unique. Unique 
because individuals have that experience of the LGBTQ-plus. Experiences 
that many of us have not had, but experiences that sometimes ground 
themselves in unfair discrimination.
  Mr. Cicilline, I heard a Member on the floor just a few minutes ago 
indicate how he wanted to amend the Juneteenth legislation. He was 
sorry he could not amend it. And I was thinking to myself, well, my 
friend, we have been trying to amend it, establish it, declare it, for 
156 years, since the Emancipation Proclamation, the second time around 
in 1865, in Galveston. And we waited too long. And I would say that we 
have been fighting for justice for this community, starting with 
Stonewall in Greenwich Village, and I would say that we could not wait 
any longer. That was an enormous moment of rising up for your own 
dignity and freedom and a watershed moment in the LGBTQ movement, 
reigniting the fight for justice and signaling a new chapter of 
progress in our country's quest to ensure that fair treatment is the 
rule, never the exception.
  We appreciate the Supreme Court's decision in the fight to respect 
same-sex couples' right to marry--that took a long time--and to love. 
Our country's commitment to justice has been maintained by the tireless 
work of advocates.
  I had been here during the Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and just the 
enormous pride when that was removed from the United States military 
under President Obama's administration. The auditorium was standing 
room only as that was signed to ensure that it never would happen 
again.
  This a social movement, enshrined with truth and belief, and the 
basis of creating all of us worthy of human dignity.
  In keeping with this belief, we cannot forget the great champions of 
my great State, who have been proud Texans, who have not been afraid, 
even in the climate that we live: Sara Fernandez, Judy Reed, Tommie 
Ross, JD Doyle, Dalton DeHart, Judge Jerry Simoneaux, and Judge Fran 
Watson. But, also, our senior stateswoman, and that is our former 
mayor, Annise Parker, who led the cause for the status of LGBTQ in our 
community. We thank you, former Mayor Parker.
  We thank you for the fight of equality, though we did not make it in 
this city when we tried to do an ordinance to indicate that bathrooms 
were not important and no one in this community should be characterized 
as attacking anyone but just wanting freedom and justice.
  I would like to recognize a few organizations that continue to do 
great work: The Houston GLBT Political Caucus, Save Our Sisters United, 
Montrose Grace Place in the Montrose Center--many of these were 
pioneers in doing the work that was so important.
  Madam Speaker, I am reminded of the Ryan White Treatment Act. As a 
member of the Houston City Council, I was honored to be the only Member 
of Congress that came from Houston, Texas, to stand by Ryan White and 
his family here in the United States Congress with the late former 
Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Orrin Hatch, the two cosponsors; stand 
right next to him in a sweaty, very small room. I am not sure why they 
selected that small room. They must have believed that we were not 
coming from everywhere to witness this historic moment of the Ryan 
White Treatment Act and to meet Ryan White at that time. It was an 
amazing recognition at that time of the need for AIDS treatment.
  But sadly to say, I sat by the bedside of many of my constituents 
whose families would not acknowledge that they had HIV/AIDS, and they 
died alone. What a moment that we lived through. So many died; so many 
alone, except for friends who would be willing to be by their bedside. 
We have come a mighty long way.
  Madam Speaker, very quickly, as I close, that honor continues to go 
to those who continue to fight. My meeting with Matthew Shepard's 
mother, of sitting with her in my office when we talked about the 
Matthew Shepard Act, and being so proud for her to include me in her 
book. How heinous to lose your son in that way. How many parents have 
had to face that?
  But again, I pay tribute to Monica Roberts in Houston, who leaves a 
gaping hole in the hearts of the LGBTQ-plus community. Monica worked as 
a trailblazing journalist and advocate, never failing to censure the 
stories of Black trans people and shining the light on the issues of 
those often ignored.
  We intend to introduce legislation dealing with the sizeable number 
of murders against Black trans persons--mostly women. Ray Hill co-
organized the first gay rights organization in Houston in 1967, 
fiercely advocating for those living with HIV and AIDS.
  And so the more than 46,000 same-sex couples in Texas, a third of 
them LGBTQ Texans, who are raising children. This is a new day, but our 
work for justice has not ended.
  We thank the Williams Institute of the UCLA School of Law. 
Approximately 900,000 Texans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
transgender. And maybe one day my State will recognize the fullness of 
the equality of all. Thank goodness for the H.R. 5, Equality Act, that 
covers Texas as well.
  Madam Speaker, in my third closing--with a little bit of humor--but 
with all seriousness, I wanted to make sure that I added to this Record 
the Texas Tribune article, ``Texas lawmakers advance bills blocking 
access to gender-affirming healthcare despite opposition from LGBTQ 
Texans, medical associations,'' directly impacting 17-year-old Indigo 
Giles, who was able to get surgery before this law, now 19.

  Madam Speaker, ending the depression that they faced, ending the 
attacks that they felt, feeling more comfortable in their skin--that is 
what this month is all about, saying to them, saying to America: We are 
pride and we are proud. And we stand together as an extended family of 
LGBTQ-plus and all of those who, frankly, recognize that our freedom is 
intertwined with your freedom.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her really 
eloquent words and for being such a good ally for our community for so 
long.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. 
Scanlon), an education and voting rights advocate, an original 
cosponsor of the Equality Act, vice-chair of the Equality Caucus here 
in the House, and an extraordinary champion for our community.
  Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, 
Representative Cicilline, for organizing this Special Order hour and 
for his leadership in introducing and passing the Equality Act, and I 
look forward to it being signed into law.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pride Month and to 
celebrate the rich history of LGBTQ activism in the greater 
Philadelphia area.
  In 1965, years before the Stonewall uprising, protestors borrowed 
from the tactics of the civil rights movement and staged a sit-in at 
Dewey's lunch counter in Philadelphia in opposition to its policy of 
refusing service to ``homosexuals,'' ``masculine women,'' ``feminine 
men,'' and ``persons wearing non-conforming clothing.'' Can you imagine 
what they would think today?
  Philadelphia is home to this--the first and oldest LGBTQ bookstore in 
the United States--Giovanni's Room,

[[Page H3002]]

as well as Philadelphia Gay News, the oldest LGBTQ publication in the 
United States. As early as 1981, activists were meeting with the local 
Department of Public Health to discuss the virus that would eventually 
become known as AIDS and put pressure on them to address this growing 
crisis.
  In more recent history, Amber Hikes, in the City's Office of LGBT 
Affairs introduced a more inclusive Pride flag in 2017, adding black 
and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ people of color.
  Today, activism within Philadelphia's LGBTQ community continues 
through groups like the William Way Community Center, and people like 
my friend, Kendall Stephens, who is pushing for Pennsylvania to update 
its hate crime statute to finally include LGBTQ people as a protected 
class.
  From early protests to the continued advocacy of today, the 
Philadelphia region has plenty to be proud of during Pride Month.

                              {time}  2130

  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for being part 
of this Special Order hour tonight.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Jacobs), a colleague on the Foreign Affairs Committee, someone who has 
dedicated her work, even before she got to Congress, to ending 
childhood poverty to the promotion of human rights and equality. She is 
an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, a member of the LGBTQ 
Equality Caucus, and a great advocate for our community. We are 
delighted she is with us this evening.
  Ms. JACOBS of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Cicilline for 
yielding to me.
  I am honored to join my colleagues tonight to mark Pride Month. I 
should know note, San Diego actually officially celebrates Pride in 
July. So I am happy I get an extra month to celebrate with all of you.
  Madam Speaker, I stand here today as the proud sister to a trans 
brother and a gender nonconforming sibling; a proud member of the LGBTQ 
Equality Caucus; and the proud representative of Hillcrest, the heart 
and soul of San Diego's diverse and vibrant LGBTQ-plus community.
  This year has been difficult for so many of us, but especially for 
the LGBTQ-plus community. COVID-19 took friends, family members, and 
beloved community leaders from us. It forced so many into isolation; 
closed our communal spaces; and added to the economic, mental health, 
physical health, and childcare burdens.
  And to all of the young people stuck at home, away from their 
friends, and may be with family who doesn't accept you, know this: You 
are perfect just the way you are and we need you.
  But during this pandemic, San Diego's LGBTQ-plus community also 
rallied together to support one another and to support our community at 
large. The San Diego LGBTQ Community Center hosted food banks and made 
home deliveries for folks who were homebound. San Diego Pride hosted 
vaccine events for LGBTQ-plus people of color, trans, and non-binary 
people, and those living with HIV.
  And next month, at long last, we will finally be able to celebrate 
Pride together again in person. And as we celebrate, we are also 
focused on the future. I am proud to work alongside all our LGBTQ-plus 
siblings to fight for an end to discrimination in all its forms based 
on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
  Earlier this year, I was honored to join every one of my Democratic 
colleagues as an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, legislation 
that will be life-changing for so many of my constituents.
  The first version of this bill was filed 15 years before I was even 
born. It had one cosponsor and never got a vote. It is humbling to 
think about the progress that has happened in my lifetime, progress 
that was made possible by all those who marched and protested and 
raised their voices. I am proud to work alongside all of you to 
continue that work. We will keep up the fight until everyone has equal 
rights under the law.
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for being part 
of this Special Order hour and for her great support of the LGBTQ-plus 
community.
  Madam Speaker, before I end, I just want to recognize Annise Parker. 
I also want recognize Barney Frank, Jared Polis, our former colleagues 
who have served in this House. And now Governor Polis is the Governor 
of Colorado. Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema in the United States 
Senate. Sean Patrick Maloney, Mark Pocan, Angie Craig, Sharice Davids, 
Mark Takano, Chris Pappas, Mondaire Jones, and Ritchie Torres, who are 
current Members of Congress. There are nine LGBTQ Members in the House 
and two in the Senate. So 11 Members in total.
  And part of the reason we celebrate Pride is to send a message to the 
entire community, but especially to young people who may be struggling 
with their sexual orientation or their gender identity. Pride is a 
moment for us to say: You are valued. We celebrate you. We honor you. 
You have a right like every other American to be treated with dignity 
and respect. You are hearing that from the floor of the United States 
House of Representatives, where nine Members of our community serve 
openly and honestly, and two Members in the Senate.
  Let that be a message to every young person, every family struggling 
with the issues of sexual orientation or gender identity, that they are 
heard, they are valued, they are affirmed and respected.
  Happy Pride Month.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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