Congressman Al Green Introduces Resolution Encouraging the Celebration of the Month of June as LGBTQ Pride Month

(Washington, DC)—On Thursday, June 18, 2015, Congressman Al Green (TX-09) introduced a resolution encouraging the celebration of the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month. The original cosponsors included all six of the co-chairs of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus: Reps. Jared Polis (CO-02), David Cicilline (RI-01), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-08), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), and Mark Takano (CA-41).

“All human beings deserve the dignity of equality and the pride respect begets,” Congressman Al Green said. “This resolution is one more step toward granting the LGBTQ community equal protection and equal respect under the law.”

This resolution specifically acknowledges the accomplishments of Mayor Annise Parker as the first openly gay Mayor of Houston, TX; former Congressman Barney Frank as the first voluntarily, openly gay Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; and LGBTQ icon Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California. The resolution also recognizes the importance of the early contributions of the LGBTQ protestors at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 in the formation of the modern LGBTQ human rights movement. Additionally, the resolution pays tribute to recent victories in the LGBTQ human rights movement, including Hawaii becoming the 15th state to permit same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court striking down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“As we reach a turning point both culturally and legally for the full equality of LGBTQ individuals under the law, we cannot let ourselves become complacent about the ultimate outcome,” Congressman Al Green said.  “As an ally of the LGBTQ community, I believe we must redouble our efforts such that all know that: An injustice against a member of the LGBTQ community is a threat to justice in every community.”