[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 57 (Thursday, March 31, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1914-S1915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 35--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
              INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

  Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Casey, Ms. Hirono, Ms. 
Warren, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Booker, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Carper, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Wyden, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Heinrich, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Murphy) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 35

       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility was 
     founded in 2009 to honor the achievements and contributions 
     of the transgender community;
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is 
     designed to be encompassing of a large community of 
     individuals, including individuals who identify as nonbinary, 
     gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse;
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a 
     time to celebrate the lives and achievements of transgender, 
     nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse 
     individuals around the world, and to recognize the bravery it 
     takes to live openly and authentically;
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is also 
     a time to raise awareness of the discrimination and violence 
     that the transgender community still faces, which make it 
     difficult and even unsafe or fatal for many transgender 
     individuals to be visible;
       Whereas the transgender community has suffered oppression 
     disproportionately in many ways, including--
       (1) discrimination in the workplace;
       (2) discrimination in educational institutions; and
       (3) subjection to violence;
       Whereas forms of transgender oppression are exacerbated for 
     transgender individuals of color, individuals with limited 
     resources, immigrants, individuals living with disabilities, 
     justice-involved individuals, and transgender youth;
       Whereas a record number of anti-transgender State bills 
     have been introduced in recent years;
       Whereas the transgender community has made it clear that 
     transgender individuals will not be erased and deserve to be 
     accorded all of the rights and opportunities made available 
     to all;
       Whereas, before the creation of the United States, 
     Indigenous two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, gender-
     nonconforming, and gender-diverse individuals existed across 
     North America in many Native American communities;
       Whereas many Native American communities have specific 
     terms in their own languages for the gender-variant members 
     of their communities and the social and spiritual roles these 
     individuals fulfill;
       Whereas, while many two-spirit and gender-variant 
     traditions in Native American communities were lost or 
     actively suppressed by the efforts of missionaries, 
     government agents, boarding schools, and settlers, many of 
     these traditions have seen a revival in recent decades;
       Whereas transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and 
     gender-diverse individuals continue to bravely tell their 
     stories and push for full equity under the law;

[[Page S1915]]

       Whereas the civil-rights struggle has been strengthened and 
     inspired by the leadership of the transgender community;
       Whereas 23 States have at least 1 transgender elected 
     official, and there are 12 transgender, gender-nonconforming, 
     or nonbinary elected officials in State legislatures, 
     including--
       (1) Danica Roem;
       (2) Gerri Cannon;
       (3) Cesar Chavez;
       (4) Brianna Titone;
       (5) Lisa Bunker;
       (6) Joshua Query;
       (7) Sarah McBride;
       (8) Stephanie Byers;
       (9) Taylor Small;
       (10) Mauree Turner;
       (11) Stacie Laughton; and
       (12) Mike Simmons;
       Whereas voters in the State of Delaware elected Sarah 
     McBride as the first openly transgender State senator in the 
     United States;
       Whereas voters in the State of Oklahoma elected Mauree 
     Turner as the first openly nonbinary State legislator in the 
     United States;
       Whereas, in the State of Illinois, Mike Simmons became the 
     first openly nonbinary or gender-nonconforming State senator 
     in the United States;
       Whereas 4 States have a transgender jurist on the bench, 
     including--
       (1) Judge Phyllis Frye of Texas;
       (2) Judge Victoria Kolakowski of California;
       (3) Commissioner Tracy Nadzieja of Arizona; and
       (4) Judge Jill Rose Quinn of Illinois;
       Whereas Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, was the first openly 
     transgender Federal official confirmed by the United States 
     Senate and is the highest ranking openly transgender Federal 
     Government official in the history of the United States;
       Whereas Stella Keating became the first transgender teen to 
     testify before the United States Senate;
       Whereas more transgender individuals are gracing the covers 
     of magazines to raise awareness of their gender identity and 
     the importance of living authentically;
       Whereas transgender individuals have created culture and 
     history as artists, musicians, healers, workers, and 
     organizers; and
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a 
     time to celebrate the transgender community around the world: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of International 
     Transgender Day of Visibility;
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     International Transgender Day of Visibility with appropriate 
     ceremonies, programs, and activities;
       (3) celebrates the accomplishments and leadership of 
     transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-
     diverse individuals; and
       (4) recognizes the bravery of the transgender community as 
     it fights for equal dignity and respect.

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