During Pride Month, Norton Warns that, Without Statehood, D.C.'s LGBTQ Community at Unique Risk from Republican Congress

Statement

Today, during Pride Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) warned that, without statehood, a future Republican Congress could use Congress' power over the District of Columbia to discriminate against D.C.'s LGBTQ community.

"In the past, Republicans have used Congress' undemocratic authority over the District of Columbia to discriminate against D.C.'s LGBTQ residents," Norton said. "Based on the flood of anti-LGBTQ bills in the states, ranging from so-called Don't Say Gay Bills to anti-transgender bathroom bills, we have every reason to believe that a Republican Congress will launch such attacks against D.C.'s LGBTQ residents. I would vigorously fight each such bill, but the ultimate solution is statehood for the District, which would remove Congress' authority over D.C."

Republicans in Congress have a long history of discrimination against D.C.'s LGBTQ community, including trying to overturn D.C.'s marriage equality law, blocking a D.C. domestic partner law, and allowing religiously affiliated schools in D.C. to discriminate against LGBTQ students.

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