[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8478]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CELEBRATING LGBT PRIDE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2016

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the continued 
struggle for LGBT equality as we celebrate National LGBT Pride Month 
this month.
  I am, and will continue to be, an ally of the LGBT community in its 
fight for a more equal and just future. LGBT rights are human rights 
and our diversity of identities and experiences makes us a stronger and 
more dynamic nation.
  I remember just 20 years ago standing in the House chamber voicing my 
strong opposition to and voting against the Defense of Marriage Act. A 
lot has changed since that vote, and marriage equality is now the law 
of the land.
  Despite that progress, LGBT individuals are still marginalized and 
discriminated against every day. And so our fight for equality 
continues. A couple weeks ago, I visited Highland Park, in my district, 
the 6th District of New Jersey, where the Board of Education 
unanimously voted for a policy ensuring transgender rights. The new 
policy--one of the strongest and most inclusive policies in the 
country--protects transgender students' privacy and allows all students 
to access school bathrooms, locker rooms, and programs based on their 
affirmed gender. I am proud to represent such an inclusive and 
accepting community.
  So as we in Congress work to pass critical legislation--such as the 
Equality Act, which would include sexual orientation and gender 
identity as protected classes in much of our civil rights legislation--
to promote a more equal society, I will continue to recognize the 
voices and people in the towns and cities I represent, who fight hard 
every day to build more open and accepting neighborhoods and 
communities.
  I stand with the LGBT community in New Jersey--and across the 
country--in celebrating diversity and equality and in reaffirming the 
commitment to secure a future free of irrational fear, prejudice, and 
discrimination.

                          ____________________