[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8554-H8555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TURNING TRANSGENDER AWARENESS INTO ACTION

  (Mr. TAKANO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Transgender 
Awareness Week.
  Trans Americans made history this year by running and winning in more 
elections than ever before. Breakthrough representations in media have

[[Page H8555]]

led to historic numbers of transgender and nonbinary characters on 
screen. In many ways, transgender Americans are more visible than ever.
  At the same time, the trans community has been forced to withstand 
severe attacks from laws that would strip fundamental rights to 
dehumanizing vitriol deployed by elected officials and public figures. 
These attacks treat trans people as threats to society rather than 
neighbors, parents, children, friends, and loved ones.
  There are more than 2 million people in the United States that 
identify as transgender or nonbinary. Trans Americans exist in all 
walks of life all across the country. This transgender week, I call on 
my colleagues to turn awareness into action.
  To the trans community, you have allies in Congress. Let it be known 
that there has been no greater friend of trans people in this country 
or LGBTQ people than Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
  We will not cease the fight to protect and advocate for our 
transgender siblings, not just this week but all year long.

                          ____________________