Friend,
In 2013, I stood with our LGBTQ+ community to celebrate the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act and celebrated a meaningful step in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.
In 2015, I again stood with our LGBTQ+ community to celebrate the decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized same-sex marriage nationally.
In 2022, I was able to vote on the Respect for Marriage Act as a member of the Democratic majority in Congress and celebrate as President Biden signed into law a codification of those two Supreme Court decisions, making it federal law to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial civil marriages.
But our nation’s history has shown us that progress brings backlash, and the LGBTQ+ community – most specifically the transgender community – has borne the brunt of that backlash over the last eight years.
Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is not just about who you love; it is about who you are. And in too many states across the country, our trans brothers’ and sisters’ identities are not only being disrespected and ignored, they are being criminalized.
And in our progressive state, we are not immune from it. This spring, just an hour away in Nassau County, the legislature passed a ban on trans athletes in sports. And according to the NYPD Hate Crimes dashboard, there were over 120 hate crimes directed at LGBTQ+ individuals in 2023 – and we know many more go unreported.
We know that the path to full equality, safety, and security of our LGBTQ+ community is long, but we also know that the road to progress is never easy. And that is why I have been dedicated to this fight, and I will continue to work against conservatives in our country who are trying to roll back the meaningful progress we’ve made and criminalize people’s identities.
In New York, as our community celebrates Pride this weekend, I hope you’re able to take in the incredible joy this community emits and re-energize for the fight to come. We need everyone to stand together against hate this year as we work to ensure our federal government is led by those who will do everything in their power to protect the LGBTQ+ community.
Nydia
