[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E679-E680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN CELEBRATION OF JUNE AS NATIONAL PRIDE MONTH

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2022

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, during this month of 
June, I would like to take the time to recognize Pride Month. Pride is 
a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and their contributions to our 
families, communities, and society at large. Pride is an opportunity 
for Americans to take pride in who we are without fear of 
discrimination and to stand in solidarity for equality and against 
hate. As we celebrate, it is imperative that we also recognize that, 
while our nation has made important progress with respect to LGBTQ+ 
rights, much work remains to be done.
  I am proud to have helped advance statutory improvements to support 
LGBTQ+ rights during this Congress. We enacted the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE 
Act that combats hate crimes including crimes motivated by sexual 
orientation or gender identity. In addition, the law allocates money 
and resources to collect data on and to support victims of hate crimes. 
We also designated the Pulse Nightclub as a National Memorial in 
remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Pulse Nightclub 
shooting in 2019. Further, I'm proud that the People's House championed 
equality and opposed hate by passing the Equality Act that would afford 
LGBTQ+ Americans the critical protections under the Civil Rights Act as 
well as the Global Respect Act to deny visas to perpetrators of human 
rights abuses against LGBTQ individuals. The Equality Act is a landmark 
piece of legislation that eliminates discrimination in every major 
aspect of life, including education, housing, and federal funding 
programs that have historically excluded members of the LGBTQ+ 
community. The Senate should act quickly to pass these important bills 
to protect LGBTQ individuals in our country and internationally.
  As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support with 
jurisdiction over child welfare, I am committed to protecting foster 
youth and foster parents from discrimination based on sexual 
orientation and gender identity. I worked with my late friend and 
colleague, John Lewis, to investigate the inappropriate waivers of 
nondiscrimination rules granted during the Trump Administration that 
promoted discrimination against foster youth and prospective foster 
parents. A critical step to protecting foster youth is enacting my 
legislation--the John Lewis Every Child Deservers a Family Act--that 
would prohibit any entity that receives federal child welfare funds 
from discriminating against children, youth, families of origin, kin, 
or prospective adoptive or foster parents based on religion, sex, 
sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. Unfortunately, 
LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system. An 
estimated one in three foster youth identify as LGBTQ+, and they are 
more likely to experience poor treatment, discrimination, or violence 
while in care. This bill helps increase the number of supportive, 
loving, and permanent homes for foster youth.
  I am troubled by the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that 
threatens the safety, health, and equal rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, 
policies that restrict access to healthcare

[[Page E680]]

and permit discrimination by public/private institutions and businesses 
against members of the LGBTQ+ community in various ways. Leaders in my 
home state of Illinois are working to protect the rights of members of 
the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, not every state offers protection 
to everyone. I will continue to support my state's efforts and to 
advance federal efforts to promote equality and protect the civil 
rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
  I encourage those in my home City of Chicago, my state of Illinois, 
and across our country to embrace Pride Month, join in advocacy for 
LGBTQ+ rights, and embrace equality. And, if you're in Chicago, I 
encourage you to celebrate Pride via a number of wonderful events, 
including Pride Fest, the Chicago Pride Parade, the Pride in the Park 
music festival, Navy Pier Pride with wonderful family activities, or 
the Proud to Run 5k/10k or half marathon.

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