Friends,

On November 8, 2016, I took my daughter with me to vote for the first woman president.

Then I reported for duty with the Navy to take part in a training seminar on how our military will welcome and integrate service members who are transgender.

I thought to myself: "The world is about to change for the better today." As the election results rolled in, that optimism waned -- but was quickly replaced with the resolve to not sit on the sidelines, but to use my voice to advocate for my LGBTQ friends and neighbors.

I was proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act, which would expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination.

So this Pride Month, let’s honor those who have helped lead the fight for true equality by using our voices to call for action. It’s far past time to ensure that LGBTQ Americans have equal protection under the law -- we’re mobilizing 3,000 signers to demand the Senate pass the Equality Act immediately!

This is a first step -- not the last -- on the path to equality and justice for our LGBTQ community.

The world can change for the better today. Let’s make it happen.

Onwards,

Elaine Luria