[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9712-9713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN SUPPORT OF HOUSTON PRIDE WEEK AND LGBT PRIDE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2014

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate LGBT Pride Month 
and the remarkable progress that has been made in making our country 
more diverse and tolerant and embracing of differences in the 45 years 
since the infamous Stonewall Uprising in 1969 in New York City.
  Our country made progress with the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't 
Tell,'' which I was proud to support. Our nation is now stronger and 
our people are safer thanks to the sacrifices made by these brave 
Americans, who no longer need to choose between service and silence.
  There have been other changes for the better. In July 2011, President 
Obama and his administration concluded that a critical section of the 
Defense of Marriage Act is no longer constitutionally defensible. The 
Supreme Court agreed and on June 26, 2011, handed down the landmark 
decision in United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 12 (2013), which struck 
down Section 3 of DOMA because it violated the Equal Protection Clause 
of the 14th Amendment by treating relationships that had equal status 
under state law differently under federal law.

[[Page 9713]]

  That decision accelerated the movement for marriage equality and 
today 19 states now recognize same-sex marriages.
  Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, brilliantly shepherded to passage by one of 
the greatest Texans, President Johnson, which outlawed discrimination 
in public accommodations, education, and employment on the grounds of 
race, creed, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
  The Civil Rights Act has made our country better.
  I am pleased to report that progress is being made at the local level 
as well. Last month, the Houston City Council approved the Houston 
Equal Rights Ordinance, which extends the right to seek and hold 
employment, obtain housing, and enjoy public accommodations free from 
discrimination to all individuals in Houston without regard not just to 
sex, race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin but also to age, 
familial status, marital status, military status, disability, sexual 
orientation, genetic information, gender identity or pregnancy.
  The HERO Ordinance represents another giant step forward in our 
nation's and my city's continuing efforts to form a more perfect union. 
I believe the anti-discrimination protections Houstonians now enjoy 
should be extended to all persons in our country, which can be done 
this year were Congress to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act 
(ENDA).
  Although more remains to be done to realize the full promise of 
America that all are equally treated and protected by the law but it is 
undeniable that America is closer to realizing that promise than it was 
during the dark days of Stonewall.
  So there is much reason for joy and optimism when my home city of 
Houston celebrates Houston Pride Week later this month, from June 20-
29.
  According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the 16th largest LGBT community in 
the nation is located in the Houston metropolitan area, which I am 
privileged to represent. This dynamic community is culturally diverse 
and economically and artistically vibrant.
  Houston Pride Week has been an annual event for the last 35 years, 
since 1979, held to promote the individuality of Houston's ever-growing 
LGBT community. The Pride Festival and Parade are at the center of the 
Celebration and are annually attended by more than 400,000 people from 
Houston and around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, progress is made through the efforts of courageous 
leaders who actively engage their communities and face adversity to 
ensure that the rights of all are clearly defined and protected.
  People like the legendary Bayard Rustin, who organized the 1947 
Journey of Reconciliation which inspired the Freedom Rides of the 1960s 
and helped Dr. King organize the Southern Christian Leadership 
Conference and who was the driving force behind the 1963 March on 
Washington.
  Other members of the LGBT community whose contributions have made 
enriched American culture and made our country better include the great 
poet Langston Hughes; Billy Strayhorn the musician and gifted composer 
whose 30-year collaboration with Duke Ellington gave the world some of 
the greatest jazz music ever; and James Baldwin, one of the towering 
figures in the history of American literature.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to acknowledge the achievements of just a few 
of the countless number of Americans who overcame prejudice and 
discrimination America be a more welcoming place for succeeding 
generations of LGBT community members.

                          ____________________