[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 58 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 154--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF INTERNATIONAL 
                     TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

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

                              S. Res. 154

       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 diverse 
     individuals;
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a 
     time to celebrate the lives and achievements of transgender 
     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 through--
       (1) discrimination in employment and in the workplace;
       (2) discrimination in educational institutions; and
       (3) 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, including more than 700 
     anti-transgender bills during the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, 
     targeting areas including--
       (1) education, including bans on books and curricula 
     relating to gender identity;
       (2) health care; and
       (3) identification documents, including restrictions on 
     realignment or correction of birth certificates and other 
     forms of identification documents;
       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 individuals existed across 
     North America in many Native American communities, with 
     specific terms in their own languages for these individuals 
     and the social and spiritual roles they fulfilled in their 
     communities, and, while many traditions were lost or actively 
     suppressed by the efforts of missionaries, government agents, 
     boarding schools, and settlers, these traditions have 
     experienced a revival in recent decades;
       Whereas transgender individuals continue to tell their 
     stories and push for full equity under the law;
       Whereas the civil rights struggle has been strengthened and 
     inspired by the leadership of the transgender community;
       Whereas transgender individuals in the United States have 
     made significant strides in elected office and political 
     representation;
       Whereas not fewer than 29 States have at least 1 
     transgender elected official at the State or municipal level;
       Whereas there are 17 transgender, gender-nonconforming, or 
     nonbinary elected officials in State legislatures, 
     specifically--
       (1) Gerri Cannon;
       (2) Emily Dievendorf;
       (3) Leigh Finke;
       (4) S.J. Howell;
       (5) Dominique Johnson;
       (6) Alicia Kozlowski;
       (7) Sarah McBride;
       (8) Samantha Montano;
       (9) Alissandra Murray;
       (10) DeShanna Neal;
       (11) Danica Roem;
       (12) James Roesener;
       (13) Taylor Small;
       (14) Izzy Smith-Wade-El;
       (15) Brianna Titone;
       (16) Mauree Turner; and
       (17) Zooey Zephyr;
       Whereas voters in the State of Virginia elected Danica Roem 
     to be the first openly transgender female State legislator in 
     the United States;
       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 gender-nonconforming State senator in the United 
     States;
       Whereas voters in the State of New Hampshire elected James 
     Roesener as the first openly transgender male State 
     legislator in the United States;
       Whereas 8 States have at least 1 transgender jurist on the 
     bench;


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S1105, March 30, 2023, in the second column, in the 
thirteenth ``Whereas'' paragraph, the following appears: Whereas 8 
States at least 1 transgender jurist on the bench;
  
  The online Record has been corrected to read: Whereas 8 States 
have at least 1 transgender jurist on the bench;


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


       Whereas Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D., was the first 
     openly transgender Federal official confirmed by the Senate 
     and is the highest ranking openly transgender Federal 
     Government official in the history of the United States;
       Whereas more transgender individuals are appearing in 
     movies, on television, and in all forms of media, raising 
     awareness of their experiences and the importance of living 
     authentically;
       Whereas transgender individuals have created culture and 
     history as artists, musicians, organizers, and leaders; and
       Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a 
     time to celebrate the transgender community around the world: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, 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 individuals; and
       (4) recognizes the bravery of the transgender community as 
     it fights for equal dignity and respect.

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