It’s June, and that means a few things: school’s out for the summer, the weather is warming up, and most importantly, it’s Pride Month! I’m excited to celebrate all the progress the LGBTQ+ community has made while continuing our shared fight for equal protection under the law.

I have fought alongside the LGBTQ+ community since my earliest days on New York City Council — whether it be through advocacy or through legislation and leadership. I was the first City Councilwoman to introduce a domestic partnerships bill, something deemed so controversial at the time that I had to fight to even have it printed.

Fights like these and sacrifices by the LGBTQ+ leaders have paved the way for the progress we’ve achieved, but we still have a long way to go to ensure protections for all LGBTQ+ folks are enshrined nationwide.

That’s why I’m proud to have continued my allyship in Congress, working to pass legislation like the Family Medical Leave Inclusion Act and the Equality Act — two vital bills that ensure LGTBQ+ folks are treated justly. We can’t stop working until the battle is won, and we can’t give up even when the going gets tough.

So John, please join me this month and every month in celebrating the LGBTQ+ community across our nation and here in NYC — the home of Stonewall and Gay Pride.

Thanks,

Carolyn Maloney