[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E521-E522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MARKING INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, BIPHOBIA, AND TRANSPHOBIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DAVID N. CICILLINE

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 2022

  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to show my united and 
unwavering support of LGBTQI+ people across the globe and their right 
to live their lives openly, free from discrimination, harassment, and 
violence.
  Yesterday, May 17th, we marked the International Day Against 
Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. I had hoped that by 2022, we 
would no longer need this day to draw attention to the violence and 
discrimination experienced by LGBTQI+ people around the world.
  In too many countries, it is still a crime to be LGBTQI+. At least 68 
countries have laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations between 
consenting adults. In six of those countries, people can be sentenced 
to death for same-sex sexual relations. And at least nine countries 
have laws criminalizing forms of gender expression that target the 
transgender community.
  In countries like Russia, LGBTQI+ people are targeted for 
discrimination. And under Putin's regime, they also have seen their 
ability to organize and fight for their rights curtailed.
  In countries like Chechnya, LGBTQI+ people are subjected to state-
sanctioned torture and violence, including murder.
  The United States has a moral obligation to address these human 
rights abuses against LGBTQI+ people. That is why the House passed--
with a bipartisan vote--the Global Respect Act, legislation I authored 
to deny visas to those who commit human rights abuses against LGBTQI+ 
people abroad. This legislation will also codify reporting requirements 
on these issues in the State Department's annual Human Rights Report. 
The Senate now needs to send it to the President's desk.
  We need to equip our government with the tools it needs to help 
secure LGBTQI+ equality and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ people here 
at home and abroad.
  We are fortunate to have strong allies in the White House in 
President Biden and Vice President Harris. Their administration has 
stated unequivocally that it is the policy of the United States to 
``pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual 
orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.'' 
They have done important work to advance those goals and have also 
taken meaningful action to ensure we are leading by example here at 
home as well.
  In his State of the Union Address, President Biden specifically asked 
us, this Congress, to send him the Equality Act for his signature.
  The Equality Act will, finally, explicitly prohibit LGBTQI+ 
discrimination in key areas of our everyday lives--including 
employment, housing, public accommodations,'' education, federally-
funded programs, credit, and jury selection.
  The House passed this bill, and I am now asking the Senate to do the 
same.
  As we espouse values of equality abroad, we need to look inwardly 
too.
  In too many states, LGBTQI+ people, especially trans youth, have been 
under attack. More than a dozen anti-LGBTQI+ bills have been signed 
into law in the states this year. These laws are discriminatory, and 
cruel, and are doing real harm to the LGBTQI+ community.
  The Trevor Project recently published a study which found that in the 
past year 45 percent of LGBTQ+ children seriously considered attempting 
suicide.
  Stop for a minute and take that in. Almost one out of every two 
LGBTQ+ children seriously thought about taking their own life. If that 
statistic was the same for your child, would you act?
  The Trevor Project also found that 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary 
children attempted suicide and 60 percent of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted 
mental health care couldn't access it.
  We must do better. And for us in Congress, that means strengthening 
protections for the LGBTQI+ community here at home and abroad. It means 
taking this meaningful action

[[Page E522]]

to show these children, and all LGBTQI+ people that they are not alone.
  And so I would like to thank the LGBTQI+ activists across the world.
  Their work is so important. We know how difficult it can be to fight 
for LGBTQl+ equality, especially in countries where it is a crime to 
simply be yourself. The work that they are doing will have a positive 
impact for generations. They are on the right side of history, and we 
will use every lever of the federal government to support them and the 
fight for global equality.

                          ____________________