John –

As we approach the end of Pride Month, I find myself reflecting on my time in Congress. I started my campaign by looking at my students and asking: Who will speak for them?

Not who will speak for them when something is already popular and everyone else has weighed in – but who will step out in front and stand up for what is right? Who will give voice to the voiceless?

I decided that person would be ME – so, I ran for Congress. We need representatives who believe there is value in all people and are willing to speak for them. We need representatives who believe the lives of the LGBTQ+ community matter and every person deserves to be treated fairly with dignity, equity, and respect. We need representatives who speak for them.

I wanted to take a moment to celebrate the progress we have made on issues concerning the LGBTQ+ community and the actions I have taken in Congress to use my voice:

• In January 2020, as promised, I joined the Equality Caucus. After working closely with the caucus all year and supporting 100% of their legislative initiatives, I formally joined as a member.
• I am an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act, historic legislation that extends full anti-discrimination protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Equality Act passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.
• I introduced the Eliminating the HHS Discrimination Division Act to close the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division in the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services. Freedom of religion cannot be used as a crutch to prop up discriminatory policies.
• I highlighted the alarming levels of bullying, harassment, and abuse of LGBTQ+ youth in Connecticut and schools across the nation at a hearing in the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee. ALL students deserve to attend school in a safe, inclusive environment.
• I cosponsored the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act, which would amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure protections for LGBTQ youth and their families.
• I cosponsored the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education.
• I cosponsored the LGBTQ Data Inclusion Act, which would require the collection of voluntary, self-disclosed information on sexual orientation and gender identity in certain federal population surveys.
• I supported resolutions that would create a National Day of Silence to Bring Attention to Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination Aimed at LGBTQ Students and an International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, to acknowledge the struggle of LGBTQ youth, the victories of the movement, and the work that remains.
• I led a 28 member Congressional delegation in condemning the Secretary of Education’s decision to strike down Connecticut’s transgender-inclusive athletic policy. Title IX protects ALL young women – no matter their sex assigned at birth – from discrimination. ALL young women deserve equal opportunities at school.

Discrimination against any group is discrimination against us all. We need representatives willing to speak out across all levels of government to affirm and recognize the dignity of LGBTQ+ Americans and to ensure equal rights under the law.

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