LGBTQ

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi joins Pink Triangle cofounder Patrick Carney, Illuminate founder Ben Davis, Mayor London Breed and local LGBTQ leaders on Twin Peaks to illuminate The Pink Triangle, signaling the beginning of Pride Month in San Francisco. Pelosi emphasized that San Francisco is blessed with a vibrant LGBTQ community and has long led the charge for justice and equality.

San Francisco is blessed with a vibrant LGBTQ community and has long led the charge for justice and equality.  Since my first day in Congress, fighting back against anti-LGBTQ discrimination – especially when it comes to the HIV/AIDS crisis – has been one of my top priorities.  As right-wing forces continue working to silence LGBTQ voices and threaten to wind back hard-won progress, the struggle against hate remains as urgent as ever. 

Democrats have long been proud to fight alongside tireless LGBTQ leaders and advocates, from combating the HIV/AIDS crisis to enacting the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to sending the hateful “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to the dustbin of history.

Since retaking the Majority in 2018, House Democrats have proudly continued the fight for progress, twice passing the Equality Act.  This landmark legislation extends the protections of the Civil Rights Act to LGBTQ Americans – barring discrimination in employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding, housing and public accommodations.  The House also took a bold step forward by passing the Global Respect Act, legislation to ensure that America offers no safe haven to those who violate the human rights of our LGBTQ family, friends and neighbors around the world.  

On the other hand, extremist Republicans continue to wage an all-out assault on the safety and well-being of the LGBTQ community – from targeting trans children in Texas to bullying LGBTQ students in Florida.  And on our nation’s highest court, with its decision overturning Roe v. Wade, a Republican-appointed majority erased nearly 50 years of legal precedent and privacy rights – putting many of our fundamental freedoms on the chopping block.  This decision undermines judicial victories that secured marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans.

In the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, House Democrats passed the Respect for Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality into federal law, repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and bar state officials from denying full faith and credit to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.  While 157 House Republicans shamefully voted against upholding Americans’ right to marry the person they love, House Democrats will never stop fighting to ensure marriage equality remains the law of the land – now and for generations to come.

Additionally, under the leadership of President Biden, the Administration is reaffirming the fundamental dignity of every person: securing stronger health care protections for LGBTQ Americans, ending the previous Administration’s shameful ban on transgender Servicemembers, confronting anti-LGBTQ human rights violations abroad and extending Title IX protections to LGBTQ students here at home.

As LGBTQ Americans endure a heartbreaking and accelerating campaign of violence and persecution, the Democratic Congress will continue to serve as a resolute voice for respect, equality and dignity for all.  Strengthened by a record number of LGBTQ Members, House Democrats will continue the fight to build a safer, fairer future for all.