Supporting Transgenderism

Floor Speech

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Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, Congress is going to vote on a bill that would ban some transgender kids from participating in sports. To be honest, I haven't thought about this issue very much. I don't actually know any transgender students.

I think many of you may not have thought of this issue either. You have busy lives.

If you still have an open mind on this, I would like to read to you part of a letter that the Republican Governor of Utah wrote. This letter is the veto message of Governor Spencer Cox of Utah where he vetoed a similar State bill regarding transgender kids.

He writes: ``I must admit I am not an expert on transgenderism. I struggle to understand so much of it, and the science is conflicting. When in doubt, however, I always try to err on the side of kindness, mercy and compassion.''

It goes on to say: ``Here are the numbers that have most impacted my decision: 75,000, 4, 1, 86, and 56.''

What does he mean by those numbers? Well, this is what he writes:

``75,000 high school kids participating in high school sports in Utah.

``Four transgender kids playing high school sports in Utah.

``One transgender student playing girls' sports.

``86 percent of trans youth reporting suicidality.

``56 percent of trans youth having attempted suicide.''

He goes on to write: ``Four kids and only one of them playing girls' sports. That's what all of this is about. Four kids who aren't dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day. Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don't understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live. And all the research shows that even a little acceptance and connection can reduce suicidality significantly.''

Like the Republican Governor of Utah, I also am not an expert on transgenderism, but I do know this: We are all Americans, and these are kids. Most of them wake up every morning living in fear that they are going to have a bad day, that they are going to be shunned, made fun of, discriminated against and bullied.

Mr. Speaker, we are the United States House of Representatives. We should not be bullying kids. In Solemn Remembrance of the 108th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

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Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn remembrance of the Armenian genocide. April 24 marks the 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, one of the most horrific losses of life in modern history.

The Ottoman Empire's brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing led to the deaths of roughly 1.5 million Armenians in the period between 1915 to 1923.

Despite this tragedy, the Armenian-American community today is strong and vibrant. Remembering the atrocities like the Armenian genocide is crucial to ensuring that this never happens again. A key part of this process is education.

I am proud to co-lead this year's Armenian Genocide Education Act with Representatives Anna Eshoo, Gus Bilirakis, and David Valadao, which we will introduce on April 24.

This legislation will authorize $10 million in funding to the Library of Congress over 5 years to develop Armenian genocide education programs and resources which can be used by educators across the country. Those resources will ensure that future generations learn about and never forget about these atrocities.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with the Armenian-American community in my district and across the U.S. as they honor and remember those who perished during the genocide.

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