Celebrating Pride Month
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey for reserving this hour of time for us to talk about something that is incredibly important, the LGBTQ Pride Month.
It is just remarkable to look back just in the time that I have been here in the Congress to see the equality that has come about in these years. Just 8 years ago, in my home State of California, there was a proposition to prohibit gay marriage, and it passed. When proposition 8 passed, it was really heartbreaking for not only California's LGBTQ community and its allies, but really for our families because, quite honestly, every family in some way or another is connected. We have family members who belong to the LGBT community.
But we didn't let this be a setback to us. Like other Americans, LGBTQ Californians believed that they deserved equality under the eyes of the law. So in July of 2013, the Supreme Court finally struck down core components of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act law that was passed right before I got to the Congress. This important ruling made proposition 8 null and void, returning marriage equality back to my great State of California.
Last year, the Supreme Court guaranteed an individual's right to marry whomever they love regardless of sex. The Supreme Court recognized what we have known for a long time, that it is wrong to deprive citizens of the right to marry the loves of their lives. They recognize that to do so would be to treat same-sex couples like second class citizens. Equality, fairness, and love won in the highest court of this Nation.
In our military, LGBTQ servicemembers have also achieved remarkable progress towards equality and ending anti-LGBTQ discrimination. Just 5 years ago, an LGBTQ American could not proudly serve their country in the military. But since the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, our LGBTQ servicemembers are now able to serve openly in our military. What a great day.
While we celebrate this extraordinary progress, we also have to recognize that we still have a ways to go. There are many States in our country where you can be fired from your job simply because you are gay. Across the country and in Congress, we are still seeing discrimination, discrimination, discrimination. Under our current laws, LGBTQ Americans aren't guaranteed the vital protections against discrimination. That is why I am a proud sponsor of the Equality Act. It is time for Congress to pass this essential civil rights legislation.
So, once again, I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey for celebrating today and to understand that regardless of sexual orientation, all Americans deserve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source