Reps. Lee, Torres, Pocan Introduce Resolution to Celebrate Black LGBTQI+ Leaders
Washington D.C. – Congressional Equality Caucus Vice Chair and Founding Member Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12), Co-Chair Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-2) introduced a resolution celebrating the remarkable and unique contributions of Black LGBTQI+ individuals. The bill has 32 cosponsors in the 118th Congress including co-leads.
Black LGBTQI+ individuals have made countless important contributions to American culture and society. This resolution seeks to identify, celebrate and uplift these people and commemorate their impact.
“For generations, we have seen the erasure of Black LGBTQI+ Americans from our history, despite all of the rich and impactful contributions these individuals have made to our culture, society, and the advancement of civil rights” said Vice Chair Lee. “Even today, the work of Black LGBTQI+ leaders is regularly not given the credit or recognition it deserves. As we celebrate Black History Month, we must pay homage to remarkable Black LGBTQI+ figures like Marsha P. Johnson, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Bayard Rustin, and many more. I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution with my Equality Caucus colleagues to honor their legacies and ensure our history is told in full.”
“Black LGBTQ+ Americans have made countless and indelible contributions to our society that have enriched our lives, informed our history, and enhanced our culture across many industries and institutions,” said Co-Chair Torres. “But too often, their stories and their legacies are erased or ignored and many people remain aware of the impact Black LGBTQ+ individuals have had on our country. I’m proud to again cosponsor this resolution that seeks to uplift and honor the voices and talents of Black LGBTQ+ Americans, providing them with recognition they deserve.”
"Black History Month gives us an important opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Black LGBTQI+ people and the impact they have,” Chair Pocan said. “Black history is American history and that includes Black LGBTQI+ history. I am honored to join Equality Caucus Vice Chair Barbara Lee and Co-Chair Ritchie Torres in introducing this resolution honoring the legacies of Black LGBTQI+ trailblazers across the country.”
"Since the very start of the LGBTQ+ movement, Black Americans have played an integral role in advancing civil rights at the intersection of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity," said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. "From Bayard Rustin standing at the side of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington to Marsha P. Johnson taking a stand for dignity and respect at the Stonewall uprising to James Baldwin elucidating so beautifully both the pain and exquisite joy of his shared communities -- the history of Black contributions to the LGBTQ+ experience is a rich and fruitful one and continues to this day. We are grateful for the reintroduction of this resolution by Congresswoman Barbara Lee."
This resolution has been endorsed by the Congressional Equality Caucus and Equality California. The full text of the resolution can be viewed here.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. She serves as Co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee, former Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chair Emeritus of the Progressive Caucus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Health Task Force, and Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus. She also serves as Chair of the Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity. As a member of the Steering and Policy Committee, she is the highest-ranking Black woman appointed to House Leadership.