Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a founding member and Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, released the following statement in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month:
“Every June, we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in honor of the invaluable contributions and accomplishments of our LGBTQ+ neighbors, family members, and friends.
“Historically, Pride has always been a celebration and demonstration of activism to uplift and liberate the LGBTQ+ community. Over 50 years ago, Pride began with the demonstration at the Stonewall Inn in New York City where Marsha P. Johnson, a Black drag queen, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latina drag queen, were leaders in actively resisting the police brutality perpetrated against the LGBTQ+ community.
“Thanks to the tireless commitment of LGBTQ+ advocates and activists, including courageous Californians like Harvey Milk, we have secured protections and marriage equality for LGBTQ+ individuals. Our country has made immense progress toward full equality, but there is still a long fight ahead.
“The House passed the Equality Act, which guarantees long overdue federal civil rights protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and combats discrimination in housing, education, and public services. Now, the Senate must pass this critical legislation for President Biden to sign into law.
“This Pride Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to uphold civil and human rights for people around the globe regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, I will continue to work alongside House Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration to protect the dignity, safety, and equality of the LGBTQ+ community at home and abroad.”