Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement to mark the beginning of this year’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month:
“With the passing of another year, we come together this June to celebrate the diversity and many contributions of our nation’s LGBT community. In particular, 2014 marks the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and while discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is still very much a reality all across the country, the momentum for LGBT equality continues to build following the historic Supreme Court decisions regarding Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). I am pleased to report that the number of marriage equality states has grown to 19, including the District of Columbia, with the recent addition of Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. As a result, 44 percent of Americans now live in a state that recognizes the equal rights and protections of committed gay and lesbian couples.
“Looking to the workplace, efforts continue to urge House Speaker John Boehner to bring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which has already passed the Senate, to the Floor for a vote. Many in our nation’s business community, including the majority of Fortune 500 companies, have long prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as provided domestic partner health insurance benefits to their employees. I am pleased that more and more business leaders have come out in support of LGBT rights and, specifically, joined grassroots efforts to oppose discriminatory laws at the state level. However, countless qualified, hardworking Americans continue to be denied job opportunities, harassed, fired, or otherwise discriminated against solely because of who they are. As a nation, we must strive to protect the equal rights of all Americans and see to it that ENDA becomes law.
“In our nation’s military, the 2011 repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has proven that open service and service to country are not mutually exclusive. For far too long, the contributions and sacrifices of our gay and lesbian service members went unacknowledged, and their loved ones burdened by holes in military family benefits and protections. I was proud to support efforts that ultimately brought an end to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and am working to ensure that Transgender Americans in uniform are also afforded the equal recognition that they deserve.
“History is made every day. Whether you are coming out as an openly LGBT pro athlete, working as a concerned parent to help implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies, raising awareness of HIV/AIDS as an active member of your community, advocating for immigration reform for your family, or challenging negative stereotypes and misconceptions in popular culture, you make a difference. I look forward to the great progress that we will continue to make together to advance equality for all Americans in the coming year. To all my friends in the LGBT community, I wish you Happy Pride!”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.
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