Democrats Want June 26 To Be Celebrated As 'LGBT Equality Day'
Mon. December 7, 2015 2:51 PM by OnTopMag.com
Chicago, IL -
Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat, last week introduced a congressional resolution that seeks to designate June 26 as "LGBT Equality Day."
Ninety-three House Democrats have backed the resolution.
Three landmark gay rights rulings were handed down by the Supreme Court on the day selected, including Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down sodomy laws in 2003; Windsor v. United States, which stuck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013; and Obergefell v. Hodges, which found that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry in 2015.
"In the last two decades, our nation has seen the Defense of Marriage Act overturned, an end to the criminalization of same-sex conduct and now nationwide marriage equality – all through Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26," DelBene said. "But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, LGBT people continue to face inequality and discrimination simply for who they are and who they love. My resolution designates the 26th of June as 'LGBT Equality Day' not only to celebrate how far we've come, but also to acknowledge how much work remains to be done."
DelBene's office told the Washington Blade that the resolution is supported by the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund and the LGBT Equality Caucus.
David Stacy, government affairs director at HRC, told the Blade: "Over the last decade and a half, June 26th has seen three remarkable victories at the Supreme Court in favor of fairness and equality for LGBT Americans. At the same time, far too many LGBT people face unfair, unjust, and unacceptable discrimination in their daily lives – a deplorable reality that Congress must address by passing the Equality Act. Establishing June 26th as LGBT Equality Day would not only commemorate the day as one of significance and progress, but it would serve as a reminder of the tremendous work that lies ahead in the fight for full federal equality."
Ninety-three House Democrats have backed the resolution.
Three landmark gay rights rulings were handed down by the Supreme Court on the day selected, including Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down sodomy laws in 2003; Windsor v. United States, which stuck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013; and Obergefell v. Hodges, which found that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry in 2015.
"In the last two decades, our nation has seen the Defense of Marriage Act overturned, an end to the criminalization of same-sex conduct and now nationwide marriage equality – all through Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26," DelBene said. "But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, LGBT people continue to face inequality and discrimination simply for who they are and who they love. My resolution designates the 26th of June as 'LGBT Equality Day' not only to celebrate how far we've come, but also to acknowledge how much work remains to be done."
DelBene's office told the Washington Blade that the resolution is supported by the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund and the LGBT Equality Caucus.
David Stacy, government affairs director at HRC, told the Blade: "Over the last decade and a half, June 26th has seen three remarkable victories at the Supreme Court in favor of fairness and equality for LGBT Americans. At the same time, far too many LGBT people face unfair, unjust, and unacceptable discrimination in their daily lives – a deplorable reality that Congress must address by passing the Equality Act. Establishing June 26th as LGBT Equality Day would not only commemorate the day as one of significance and progress, but it would serve as a reminder of the tremendous work that lies ahead in the fight for full federal equality."
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine