[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9476-9477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH AND MOURNING THE LIVES LOST IN THE 
                   ORLANDO SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 20, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Pride Month 2016, 
which celebrates the remarkable achievements and progress made by LGBTQ 
Movement in extending the promise of America to LGBTQ persons over the 
last 47 years since the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 in the 
Greenwich Village section of New York City.
  As hard as it is to believe, in 1969 homosexuality was still 
classified as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric 
Association, gay men and lesbian women received almost universal moral 
condemnation from mainstream religions, and the most intimate 
expression of love and human connection between gay or lesbian persons 
was regarded as a criminal act punishable by imprisonment.
  Today, marriage equality is the law of the land, the policy of 
``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' has been rescinded, and LGBTQ persons today 
are serving the communities and our nation in every field of human 
endeavor, as full members of the American community.
  Yet for all we have to celebrate and cheer, our happiness over the 
progress made to date is tempered by the heavy sadness we feel as we 
mourn the loss of 49 innocent persons who were killed and the 53 
persons injured in the horrific mass shooting at Pulse, a popular and 
welcoming nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
  This act of unspeakable horror, which was at once both a terrorist 
attack and a hate crime, represents the deadliest mass shooting in the 
American history and the nation's worst terror attack since 9/11.
  The Pulse Nightclub in Orlando was a community gathering place 
offering fellowship, sanctuary, and refuge; a place where men and women 
met in fraternity and with the freedom to be their authentic selves.
  Pulse was a safe space until June 12, 2016, when it was defiled by a 
gunman who used an AR-15 assault rifle to murder 49 people and wound 53 
others.
  Mr. Speaker, the struggle for equality and dignity for the lesbian, 
gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) community is a struggle each of 
those individual communities have faced.
  Pride Month was established to recognize the collective progress of 
love's triumph over hate.
  Tempered by remorse, today we remember those who were in the 
struggle; we honor their memory and the resilience of the LGBTQ 
community.
  The hearts and spirits of the fallen breathe new life into the 
valiant stars and stripes that continue to wave.
  Let us remember the majestic words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr., who said that ``injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 
everywhere.''
  Notwithstanding the extraordinary progress we have made in the area 
of civil rights over the past several decades, LGBTQ Americans still 
face discrimination simply for being who they are.
  There is still more work to do so long as it remains true that LGBTQ 
persons can get married on Saturday and fired on Monday.
  Our commitment to combatting discrimination against the LGBTQ 
community must not stop at our borders; the fair treatment of all 
people must always be a cornerstone of American diplomacy.
  We must make defending and promoting the human rights of LGBTQ 
individuals a priority in our engagements across the globe.
  This commitment must be based upon the ideal that all people are 
created equal and deserve to be treated fairly with respect.
  As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated in her International 
Human Rights Day Address in Geneva on December 6, 2011:

       ``Like being a woman, like being a racial, religious, 
     tribal, or ethnic minority, being LGBT does not make you less 
     human. And that is why gay rights are human rights, and human 
     rights are gay rights.''

  Mr. Speaker, my congressional district is home to many remarkable 
members of the LGBTQ community who, day in and day out, work alongside 
their American brothers and sisters to make our country better in every 
sector of the economy including the arts, sciences, professions, and as 
teachers and service members defending our country.
  Leaders such as Jason Black, Director of Public Health Services for 
Legacy Community Health Services, who has for decades been tireless in 
his efforts to remove the stigma associated with people living with HIV 
and AIDS and to increase the availability of care for marginalized 
communities.
  Persons like Fran Watson, Esq. the first African American female 
President of Houston's GLBT Political Caucus, who works tirelessly to 
ensure that the LGBTQ community fully participates in our democracy and 
its interests are seriously considered.
  Organizations such as Gamma Mu Phi and Delta Phi Upsilon 
Fraternities; Houston GLBT Political Caucus; Stonewall Democrats and 
Stonewall Young Democrats; Legacy Community Health; The Montrose 
Center; Houston Area Community Services; AIDS Foundation Houston; 
Houston Splash; and LGBTQ friendly organizations that work to empower 
Americans to live their truths.
  Freedom is not free and the fight to realize the promise of America 
for every American continues.
  I commend the courage of the millions quietly toiling in the 
vineyards to make this happen.
  Mr. Speaker, today I am reminded of the classic ballad, ``Stand By 
Me,'' by the legendary Ben E. King:

     ``When the night has come,
     and the land is dark,
     and the moon
     is the only light we'll see;
     No, I won't be afraid.
     Oh, I won't be afraid.
     Just as long as you stand,
     stand by me!''

  America is stronger when its people stand together; all of the people 
that make up the rich and wondrous tapestry of our country, including 
the members of our LGBTQ communities.
  Mr. Speaker, in honoring the lives lost in the Orlando tragedy, it is 
important that we say and remember the names of the loved and lost like 
Shane Evan Tomlinson, who was 33 years old and beloved by all who knew 
him; an amazing young man who captivated the hearts of so many with his 
angelic voice and charisma.
  And there were so many more:
  Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old,
  Amanda Alvear, 25 years old,
  Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26 years old,
  Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old,
  Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old,
  Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old,
  Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old,
  Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old,
  Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old,
  Cory James Connell, 21 years old,
  Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old,
  Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old,
  Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old,
  Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old,
  Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old,
  Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old,
  Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old,
  Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old,
  Frank Hernandez, 27 years old,
  Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old,
  Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old,
  Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old,

[[Page 9477]]

  Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old,
  Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old,
  Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old,
  Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old,
  Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old,
  Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old,
  Kimberly Morris, 37 years old,
  Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old,
  Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old,
  Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old,
  Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old,
  Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old,
  Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old,
  Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old,
  Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old,
  Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old,
  Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old,
  Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old,
  Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old,
  Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old,
  Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old,
  Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old,
  Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old,
  Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old,
  Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old,
  Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old,
  Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old.
  Maya Angelou said: ``Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, 
leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of 
hope.''
  And let me add that right now justice requires us to do two things.
  First, Congress needs to pass H.R. 3185, the ``Equality Act of 
2015,'' to write into the books of law the same protections for our 
LGBTQ brothers and sisters that other Americans have long enjoyed.
  Second, Congress must pass H.R. 4269, the ``Assault Weapons Ban Act 
of 2015,'' to restore the ban on assault weapons so that school 
children, church going and community members can live their lives free 
of the fear of falling victim to gun violence.

                          ____________________