Dear John,

Happy Pride Month!

During the month of June, communities across the nation come together to celebrate Pride. During this time, we honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan; and recognize the legacy and impact of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals who have contributed to our shared histories.

We also remember the success of the Obergefell v. Hodges case, in which the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled the 14th Amendment requires states to license marriages between same-sex couples and recognize all marriages lawfully performed in another state.

Earlier this month, I attended the Pride in the Hills celebration in Litchfield. As an organization, Pride in the Hills celebrates and uplifts the local LGBTQIA+ community, funding programs that support, empower, and create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth in our state.

Since 2020, the organization has awarded 13 grants to high schools to support Gay-Straight Alliance activities and annually provides 3 college scholarships to LGBTQIA+ high school seniors. 

I continue to be a champion for protections for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a member of the Equality Caucus, I have been a strong supporter of the Equality Act, which ensures full civil rights protections for the LGBTQIA+ community are codified in law. I also joined my colleagues in passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which enshrines into law marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples. The Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by President Biden on December 13, 2022.

Additionally, as the Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I continue to speak out against harmful legislation that seeks to demonize and erase this community. This includes the so-called “Parents Bill of Rights Act”, legislation that would enable schools to ban books that mention LGBTQIA+ identities; and H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports programs that align with their identity. 

Last summer, we welcomed Dan Moran of Cheshire, as an intern in my Washington, D.C. office. Dan created a resource document outlining many of the actions I have taken to support the LGBTQIA+ community in the Fifth District and across the country. Dan’s capstone can be viewed here.

As an ally, I am committed to using my agency, my advocacy, my voice, and my vote to protect the LGBTQIA+ community. As your Congresswoman, I recognize the intersectional struggle for equality and will continue to stand up to discrimination in all its forms. 

As we continue to celebrate Pride with the LGBTQIA+ community, we celebrate with a sense of unbridled joy.

Happy Pride, CT-05. 

Jahana Hayes
Member of Congress