[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5829-H5830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Levin) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with 
transgender and nonbinary young people and condemn the relentless 
discriminatory, anti-LGBTQ+ bills and hateful rhetoric we are 
witnessing across the Nation.
  In recent months, Republican State legislatures and elected officials 
have targeted the LGBTQ+ community for cheap political gain and 
referred falsely to anyone who opposes attempts to infringe on the 
rights of others as ``groomers''.
  There are at least 206 active bills across State legislatures this 
year alone that target the LGBTQ+ community.
  Here are some samples of this hateful legislation:
  Excluding trans youth from participating in school sports.
  Restricting trans youth from accessing the bathroom.
  Banning curriculum to deny the existence of LGBTQ+ people in the 
classroom.
  Criminalizing medical providers who provide gender-affirming 
healthcare.

  Targeting parents of LGBTQ+ children who simply want to support their 
kids as best they can.
  That is right: LGBTQ+ rights are being attacked from all angles.
  In Texas, providing gender-affirming healthcare is now considered 
``child abuse,'' and parents of transgender youth face a real risk of 
being separated from their children.
  This month, in Idaho, a group of extremists were arrested after 
plotting to riot and cause violence during a Pride event. In recent 
days, as people around the United States have sought out the joyous 
parades and events that come with Pride Month, including in my own 
district, GOP politicians and preachers have put out calls for killing 
LGBTQ+ people.

[[Page H5830]]

  There is no doubt: Bigotry toward the LGBTQ+ community has grave and 
potentially life-threatening consequences. According to the Trevor 
Project, in the past year, 45 percent of LGBTQ+ young people seriously 
considered attempting suicide, including more than half of transgender 
and nonbinary youth. Similarly, 93 percent of transgender and nonbinary 
youth reported worrying about being denied access to medical care due 
to State and local laws.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today as the dad of a gay son and a 
longtime ally of the LGBTQ+ community to say that these radical 
policies have no place in America and that this Congress must take 
concrete action.
  In February of this year, I was proud to vote to pass the Equality 
Act, which protects LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in jobs, housing, 
and public accommodations. While it would not undo every single one of 
these horrible State policies I have mentioned, it would go a long way 
to enhance the civil rights of the LGBTQ+ community and send the 
message that we stand against bigotry and hate.
  Unfortunately, the filibuster is holding this bill up in the Senate. 
One thing is for certain: The filibuster must be abolished to create 
any viable pathway to send the Equality Act to President Biden's desk. 
I urge my colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to hear the cries 
of the LGBTQ+ community members, and particularly trans and nonbinary 
young people, who need these protections desperately and are counting 
on your support.
  Here in the House, our work is far from done. I am glad we are 
considering the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act, which improves data 
collection on sexual orientation and gender identity to provide better 
resources for the LGBTQ+ community so that we have the data we need to 
make good law. We must also pass legislation to provide mental health 
care for LGBTQ+ people, offer hate crimes protections, and uplift and 
support the dignity of all LGBTQ+ individuals across this Nation.
  All of us, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, must 
stand collectively against this hate and foster inclusion for all. 
Let's get to work.

                          ____________________