[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF DAN R. TANNER

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Dan R. 
Tanner.
  From a very young age Dan knew that he was different, years later 
coming to the realization that he was gay--a significant challenge for 
him, as he lived in a very conservative part of the United States. Dan 
was influenced by his experiences as a child to become a teacher, a 
position where he had a platform to be a positive role model for his 
students by impacting their educational success and sense of self-
worth. But he later left teaching because of the fear of losing his job 
if the school district administration, parents, or community found out 
he was gay. The ability to teach children and spark their academic 
interest is something that Dan misses to this day.
  As Dan became more comfortable in his own skin and less fearful of 
the fallout from bridging his personal and professional lives, he 
realized he wanted to be involved in his community and have a positive 
impact on it. In April 1993 on C-SPAN, Dan watched the brave LGBT 
community members and supporters who convened on our nation's capital 
to demand the rights and respect entitled to all Americans. He saw the 
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) equality logo for the first time and 
wondered if the HRC would help him find his voice and make a difference 
in the lives of others.
  After moving to Orlando in 1998, Dan became fully engaged in a new 
LGBT community and continued his search for a volunteer organization 
where he could learn, make a positive impact, and develop his 
leadership skills. The opportunity to build an HRC community in central 
Florida came in 2004, when Dan was given the responsibility of 
acquiring pledges from HRC supporters and overseeing the local 
organization and volunteer structure.
  Dan believes that who he is today, and what he has accomplished, is 
due to the many LGBT leaders who came before him. Soon he knows the 
country will see federal laws change again through protection for LGBT 
employees and full recognition of marriage equality in all 50 states.
  Dan's years of experience in the LGBT community and his volunteer 
leadership with HRC have enabled him to be his best. Today, Dan is able 
to be the man he dreamt of being as a young boy in Oklahoma--a great 
father to Finn, a loving husband to Steven, and a positive contributor 
to the world. He feels an unrepayable debt and great thanks to those 
that took the challenge before him and gave him the voice that he has 
today.
  I am happy to honor Dan R. Tanner, during LGBT Pride Month, for his 
contributions to the LGBT community in Central Florida.

                          ____________________