Mobile Menu - OpenMobile Menu - Closed

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty

Representing the 5th District of Connecticut

Connect

Equality

Equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans is deeply personal for me. I gave a gay rights speech when I was just 15 years old, and I’ve been a strong advocate ever since. It was truly an honor to welcome my brother’s husband into our family a few years ago. One of my proudest moments in the state legislature was voting for marriage equality.

Throughout my career – as a Supreme Court lawyer working on AIDS policies in the 1990s, later as a PTA mom and town councilmember, and now as a member of Congress – I have always worked hard to model and support love and respect for all people. I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the 2013 PFLAG National Convention, especially because my mother, Mitzi Henderson, is a past president of PFLAG.

The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges has made marriage equality the law of the land in all 50 states. This was an incredible victory in the movement for full equality, but there is still a great deal of work left to do to ensure that no American is fired from their job, denied an education, or evicted from their home simply because of who they are or whom they love. 

I am a coauthor of the Social Security and Marriage Equality (SAME) Act. My bill would ensure that all couples — regardless of who they love or where they live — receive the Social Security benefits they‘ve earned after lifetimes of hard work.

I’m currently fighting to pass the Equality Act – a historic civil rights bill to end discrimination against LGBT individuals in education, employment, housing, public accommodations, public accommodations, and other core areas of life. This legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I remain committed to the continued fight for full equality under the law.
For more information concerning my work and views on LGBT equality, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Rep. Elizabeth Esty Speaks on House Floor in Honor of LGBT Pride Month

More on Equality

January 11, 2017 Press Release
Two bills authored jointly by Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) passed the U.S. House of representatives yesterday with broad support from both parties. Both bills aim to help women launch careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields where they are underrepresented and encourage women to start their own STEM-focused small businesses.
January 10, 2017 Press Release
Two bills authored jointly by Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) passed the U.S. House of representatives today. Both bills aim to help women launch careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields where they are underrepresented and encourage women to start their own STEM-focused small businesses.
January 6, 2017 In The News

House Speaker Paul Ryan’s declaration that fellow Republicans in Congress will move to defund Planned Parenthood sparked a response from the organization’s Connecticut chapter and from the state’s federal lawmakers condemning the GOP’s plan.

According to CNN, Ryan made the announcement during a news conference on Capitol Hill as part of the GOP’s process of repealing Obamacare. Many Republicans have long opposed funding Planned Parenthood because of its abortion services.

January 5, 2017 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today issued the following statement after House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that House Republicans would move to strip Planned Parenthood of all federal funding.
January 3, 2017 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) was officially sworn in as a Member of the 115th United States Congress today,
December 20, 2016 Press Release

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation are applauding an announcement made today from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the State of Connecticut will receive approximately $44.5 million in federal grants to help support the state’s goal of ending homelessness.

December 12, 2016 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today released the following statement regarding the conclusion by the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered in the U.S. elections for the purpose of altering the outcome:
December 8, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today applauded the inclusion of provisions to support summer nutrition for low-income children and prevent lead contamination in our water infrastructure in the continuing resolution to fund the government through April 28, 2017.

“Every child needs and deserves healthy meals and clean water. These are not partisan issues,” Esty said. “This funding represents smart, critical investments in our nation’s children, and I’m proud we could work in a bipartisan way to make them a reality.

December 6, 2016 In The News
“This country is great because of its people,” Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., told the graduates, three of whom are from Bridgeport and one from Shelton. “If we don’t like it, it’s up to us to change it.’’
November 30, 2016 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today praised the news that the final 2017 National Defense Authorization Act has been revised to eliminate a provision that would have expressly permitted federal contractors subsidized by U.S. taxpayers to engage in workplace discrimination against LGBTQ people.