Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, first of all, I want to thank my wonderful colleagues for their leadership, Senator Merkley and Senator Baldwin, for not just being on the floor today and speaking out but speaking out every day for introducing the Equality Act, of which I am very proud to be a cosponsor, and for continually standing up for the rights of all Americans.

In 2013, a Michigan funeral director wrote a letter. It said:

What I must tell you is very difficult for me and is taking all the courage I can muster. I felt imprisoned in a body that does not match my mind, and this has caused me great despair and loneliness.

She told her coworkers, from now on, she was choosing to live her truth; from now on, she would be living and working as a woman. Unfortunately, she paid dearly for her courage, and 2 weeks later she was fired.

That woman was Aimee Stephens of Redford, MI

This week, Aimee's courage literally changed history--literally changed history. In a 6-to-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that what happened to Aimee was illegal. It was illegal. Period. Employers cannot fire or otherwise discriminate against employees simply because of who they are or whom they love. Period.

Sadly, Aimee didn't get to celebrate the landmark victory, and we all wish she were here right now to be able to join and lead the celebration. She died last month at age 59. She will go down in history as someone who took a stand for equality, for basic fairness, and made our Nation a better place. So many people have joined her in this fight, getting to this victory.

It is now time to further honor her courage and the courage of so many others by passing the Equality Act, and we can do it today. That is the good news. Right now, on the floor today, we can do that together. What a great way to end this week; this month of June, this Pride Month. What a great way this would be.

The Equality Act is pretty simple. It protects people against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in all aspects of their lives. Unfortunately, this legislation, as my colleagues have said, which has already passed the House, has been sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk gathering dust for nearly 400 days-- 400 days since the House of Representatives took action. It is time to shake off that dust and get this thing done for Aimee and for everyone who has fought alongside her and continues to fight today to make our Nation a more equitable place.

Now, our Republican colleagues, however, are more interested in pushing through extremist judges who have no interest in LGBTQ equality.

Later today and next week, we will be voting on two judicial nominations--Justin Walker and Cory Wilson. It is, frankly, insulting that these two nominations are even coming to the floor--insulting to the American people that they are coming to the floor.

Justin Walker's nomination is opposed by 275 outside groups, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

As for Cory Wilson, he supports H.B. 1523, the so-called Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, and that would give broad permission for people and businesses to deny services to people based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Both of these nominees--both of them would overturn the Affordable Care Act, which has made lifesaving differences for so many members of the LGBTQ community and Americans all across our country.

Justin Walker wants the courts to throw out the entire Affordable Care Act, including protections for people with preexisting conditions. He called the Supreme Court decision upholding the ACA ``indefensible and catastrophic.''

Millions of people get their healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. Everyone who has an insurance policy is able to do that and get covered, even if they have a preexisting condition, because of the Affordable Care Act.

Cory Wilson used even more colorful language. He called the law ``illegitimate and perverse.'' Providing people healthcare he thinks is perverse, and this is somebody the Republicans are going to put on the court.

He even opposed expanding Medicaid coverage in Mississippi, a change that would literally save lives in the middle of a pandemic.

We know what we need to do because Aimee showed us. We need to pass the Equality Act now--today. We can do that today. Wouldn't that be wonderful, on a bipartisan basis, to pass this today?

We need to vote no on two judicial nominees who are far out of step with the basic American ideals of equality and fairness.

Aimee Stevens was courageous. Four hundred days is way too long for millions of Americans to wait for the U.S. Senate to step up and do its job. It is time for all of us to truly stand up for equality for the LGBTQ community and set the foundation that we believe in equality for all Americans.

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