Congressman Pallone Celebrates LGBT Pride Month
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement in honor of LGBT Pride Month.
"This June, I join the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to honor and celebrate their perseverance, their identities, and their lives. Through the courage of so many we have made tremendous gains including marriage equality and allowing Americans to serve in the military regardless of who they love.”
“As we celebrate the progress of the LGBT community, it is important to remember that there is much more work to do to ensure equality. Last month, I was proud to join 194 of my House colleagues in reintroducing the Equality Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that will provide nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people across this nation. “
“LGBT Americans must be guaranteed safety and security as a basic right. One year ago this month, the community lost 49 lives in a violent attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We stand with all the survivors and family members of this attack, and pledge to keep fighting to prevent another.”
“We must also show leadership in securing LGBT equality around the world. I have called on the Trump Administration to use its considerable influence to pressure the Russian government to put a stop to the brutality in Chechnya, where gay man have been rounded up, tortured, and even killed. Our country must lead by example, and always stand up for the rights and the lives of LGBT people.”
Tomorrow, Congressman Pallone will be taking part in a Facebook Live Q & A with Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality, to discuss important issues for the LGBT community in New Jersey and throughout the country. He will also be taking part in New Jersey’s 26th annual LGBTQ Pride celebration in Asbury Park this Sunday.
In 2013, Congressman Pallone, along with Rep. Jared Polis, led 110 Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Obama calling for an executive order prohibiting federal contracts with businesses that do not have sexual orientation and gender identity anti-discrimination policies. The following year, President Obama signed this much-needed executive order.