Pelosi Statement on International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

"Each International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we affirm our unshakable commitment to ensuring that that all people enjoy equality and dignity, no matter who they are or who they love.  We celebrate the progress that the LGBT community has made while remembering that the fight for justice continues at home and abroad.

"Around the world, many LGBT people suffer from violence and persecution simply for living their lives.  The United States must not stand idle in the face of such outrages against humanity.  We will continue to press the Trump Administration to respond to the horrors facing LGBT people in Chechnya and provide refugee and resettlement for LGBT Russians, who live every day in imminent danger of brutal torture, imprisonment and murder.

"We must continue to defend and advance LGBT rights at home as well.  In Congress, Democrats continue to press for the Equality Act, to remove all doubt that sexual orientation and gender identity belong in the protections of the Civil Rights Act that guards our democracy.  While the Trump Administration abandons transgender students and keeps LGBT Americans invisible in the Census, the tide of history is to expand freedom and end discrimination.  Today and every day, we renew our vow to confront homophobia, transphobia and bigotry wherever it is found."