LGBTQ+
Upon entering Congress in 2013, I was proud to be the first openly gay person of color elected to the House of Representatives. I am determined to promote and safeguard equal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community in the Inland Empire and across the country.
As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I am proud to be leading the fight to establish and expand the rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in America. But the sad reality is that in far too many states, the LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination in key areas of life, and they do not enjoy the same civil rights as other Americans.
The Equality Act
Anti-LGBTQ+ bills have skyrocketed in state legislatures across the country, ranging from bans on providing lifesaving healthcare to LGBTQ+ youth, barring transgender individuals from participating in sports, to discriminatory education bills, and legislation on the right to religious refusal. That is why Congress must come together to pass legislation that protects all LGBTQ+ Americans.
Access to civil rights should not depend on your zip code. I am proud to lead the Equality Act, a landmark bill that would establish federal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding housing, and public accommodations nationwide. This legislation is a long-overdue guarantee to all members of our community that we, too, benefit from explicit civil rights protections and the full promise of American democracy and it continues to be a top priority of Democrats in Congress. Click here to learn more about my leadership of the Equality Act.
LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans
For decades, LGBTQ+ members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans have faced intense discrimination. Approximately 114,000 servicemembers were discharged on the basis of their sexual orientation between WWII and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” while an estimated 870,000 LGBTQ servicemembers have been impacted by hostility, harassment, assault, and law enforcement targeting due to the military policies in place. Countless other members of the Uniformed Services were targeted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but involuntarily separated on the pretext of other grounds. Still today, many veterans who were discharged on discriminatory grounds are unable to access their benefits, and those still serving face inconsistent protections that make them vulnerable to harassment and put their careers at risk.I am a proud author of the Commission on Equity and Reconciliation in the Uniformed Services Act, legislation which would establish a commission to investigate the historic and ongoing impacts of discriminatory military policies and practices on LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans.
It should not be so difficult for all servicemembers to abide by the uncompromising code of integrity to themselves, their families, and their units when they join the United States Uniformed Services. We must fulfill our promise to honor and respect those who have served by removing the barriers between them and the benefits they have earned through their service, regardless of who they love or how they identify.
Healthcare for LGBTQ+ Americans
The onslaught of public discourse and vitriol over the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals on the national stage have a particularly severe impact on young members of the community. In the past year, the Trevor Project found that 94% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that national politics had a detrimental impact on their mental health. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth report they wanted to seek mental health counseling but were unable to receive it, and 42% of LBG youth seriously considered attempting suicide. As transgender youth face mounting public discussion over their rights to use public bathrooms, participate in school activities, or simply exist in their gender identity, the mental health impacts have been correspondingly severe: over half of transgender young people have seriously considered suicide, and one in five transgender youth have attempted to take their own lives.
I will continue to support practical solutions to expand equitable access to quality healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. I am a longtime cosponsor of the Pride in Mental Health Act, which would provide grants that improve access to LGBTQ+ youth mental health services and support. It is critical that young people have access to culturally competent providers, supportive home and educational environments, and resources that are easily accessible, and this legislation seeks to make those more readily available to LGBTQ+ youth.
If you are in crisis and need support, call 988 and press 3 or text 988 and answer Y to reach counselors trained to meet LGBTQI+ youth needs at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.