CHICAGO,
IL – I want to congratulate It’s Time, Illinois and commend Chair Miranda
Stevens-Miller for all the hard work in publishing the 5th Annual Report
on Discrimination and Hate Crimes Against Gender Variant People.
I am sure it was not an easy task.
This
report serves as a reminder to the people of Illinois that some members
of our community are at risk of being the victims of hate crimes and discrimination.
It clearly illustrates that discrimination based on an individual’s gender
characteristics or identity is growing in prevalence. We must all
work together to end hate crimes against members of our gender variant
community in Illinois and throughout the nation.
I
am proud to be the first member of Congress to modify my nondiscrimination
policy to include gender variance and am working with other members to
promote this policy. It was the right thing to do. And I want
to thank Miranda for her help in designing that policy. As an active
member of the Human Rights Caucus, it is one of my top priorities to pass
tougher laws to combat hate crimes in our communities and to put an end
to discrimination. But it is not enough to just act here at home.
The United States must make it clear to the whole world that we will not
tolerate international human rights abuses against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals,
and transgendered individuals. That is why I am working with Representative
Tom Lantos to pass a resolution calling for an end to international human
rights abuses based on sexual orientation.
Hate
crimes tear at the fabric of our society. It is the responsibility
of Congress to step up and make it clear that hate crimes and discrimination
committed against our friends, neighbors, and coworkers will be punished
to the fullest extent of the law. I am optimistic that this day will
come and will continue to work to protect the rights of all Americans. |