MENENDEZ, BOOKER COSPONSOR RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUNE AS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH

Press Release

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The Senate resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equality in the LGBTQ community, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the U.S. Supreme Court's pending decision to overturn Roe v. Wade could potentially undermine and erode other constitutional rights also grounded in privacy, including the right for same-sex couples to marry or engage in consensual relationships without the risk of criminal prosecution.

"This month we celebrate the hard-fought progress and achievements made by the LGBTQ+ community, which has made the United States a more accepting and inclusive nation, where all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or their gender identity, are able to live up to their full potential," said Sen. Menendez. "Still, there is much work to be done. This Pride Month, I reaffirm my commitment to fight for Senate passage of the Equality Act, which would codify protections for the LGBTQ+ community across America."

"This Pride Month, we reflect on and celebrate the efforts of trailblazers, activists, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are working to bend the arc of our nation towards justice," said Sen. Booker. "We recommit to furthering the cause of equality for LGBTQ+ people, who continue to experience hate and prejudice. I remain steadfast in my fight to ensure that all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity are protected from discrimination and I'm proud to co-lead the Equality Act, which would codify protections into federal law."

The first-ever Senate Pride Month Resolution was introduced in June 2017, after then-President Trump broke the eight-year tradition of offering an official presidential proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month. This is the fifth year in a row that the resolution was introduced. On June 1, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month.

In 2021, Senate Democrats re-introduced the Equality Act, legislation to ensure civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Equality Act would unequivocally ban discrimination in a host of areas, including employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding assistance, and education.

Along with Sens. Menendez and Booker, the resolution was co-sponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Elizabeth (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

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