[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 51 (Friday, March 22, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 32--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
              INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

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

                            S. Con. Res. 32

       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--
       (1) discrimination in employment and in the workplace;
       (2) discrimination in health care and housing;
       (3) discrimination in access to public services;
       (4) discrimination in educational institutions; and
       (5) violence;
       Whereas forms of anti-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 
     bills in 2021, 2022, and 2023 combined, targeting areas such 
     as--
       (1) education, including by prohibiting school staff from 
     acknowledging or respecting transgender pupils, colleagues, 
     and family members, and barring transgender students from 
     accessing gender-appropriate programs and facilities;
       (2) health care, including both medically necessary 
     transition-related medical care and general health care 
     services;
       (3) public accommodations, such as safe access to public 
     restrooms; and
       (4) identification documents, including by restricting the 
     ability to realign or correct birth certificates and other 
     forms of identification;
       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 members of 
     their communities and the social and spiritual roles they 
     fulfilled, and while many were lost or actively suppressed by 
     the efforts of missionaries, government agents, boarding 
     schools, and settlers, two-spirit individuals have promoted 
     increased public awareness 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 at least 31 States and the District of Columbia 
     have at least 1 transgender elected official at the State or 
     municipal level;
       Whereas there are at least 18 transgender, gender-
     nonconforming, or nonbinary elected officials in State 
     legislatures, including--
       (1) Lorena Austin;
       (2) Gerri Cannon;
       (3) Brion Curran;
       (4) Emily Dievendorf;
       (5) Leigh Finke;
       (6) S.J. Howell;
       (7) Dominique Johnson;
       (8) Sarah McBride;
       (9) Samantha Montano;
       (10) Alissandra Murray;
       (11) DeShanna Neal;
       (12) Danica Roem;
       (13) James Roesener;
       (14) Abigail Salisbury;
       (15) Taylor Small;
       (16) Izzy Smith-Wade-El;
       (17) Brianna Titone; and
       (18) Mauree Turner;
       Whereas voters in the State of Virginia elected Danica Roem 
     to be the first openly transgender 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 voters in the State of New Hampshire elected James 
     Roesener as the first openly transgender man State legislator 
     in the United States;
       Whereas 6 States have at least 1 transgender or gender-non- 
     conforming jurist on the bench;
       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 by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (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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