Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Resolution Honoring Pride Month

Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Resolution Honoring Pride Month

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined 44 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing June as Pride Month. This resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ+ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal rights and reaffirms the Senate's commitment to protecting LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms. This year's resolution comes on the heels of the President's year of tumultuous attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ people, including efforts to ban transgender military service, shutter the LGBTQ 988 National Suicide Hotline and defund research into health disparities among LGBTQ+ people. The resolution also recognizes the continued challenges across the United States, including efforts at the state and federal levels to restrict civil rights and liberties, limit access to essential services, and undermine the visibility and recognition of LGBTQ+ Americans.

"Every American should be able to live their truth and love who they love," said Duckworth. "As our nation continues to see a dangerous surge in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies, celebrating and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community remains as important as ever. Our resolution honors the countless contributions LGBTQ+ Americans make to our nation and reaffirms our commitment to advancing equality for all."

"Pride Month is a time to celebrate and remember all the activists sand trailblazers who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights and the progress we have made. But the fight is far from over. I'm proud to reaffirm my commitment to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans," Durbin said.

"The freedom to live and love openly without fear of retaliation is a fundamental American value," said Smith. "During Pride, it's important that we honor the courage and accomplishments of those who have been on the front lines of this movement. But we also have to recommit ourselves to the fight for justice and equality in the face of ceaseless attacks from hateful politicians."

The first-ever Senate Pride Month Resolution came in June 2017, after then-President Trump broke the eight-year tradition of offering an official presidential proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month.

Along with Duckworth, Durbin and Smith, the resolution was also co-sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Angus King (I-ME).

Full text of the resolution is available on Senator Duckworth's website.

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