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Really want to say to all of my colleagues who have been such a big part of this effort, some of whom You'll hear from today all of the great advocacy organizations with a special nod to the extraordinary leadership of H R C and Chad. Thank you and you're gonna hear from so many of the organizations that have been a part of this very long struggle of this work began a little over five years ago Based on this very simple idea that members of the L G B T Q community should be allowed to In America, free from discrimination of any kind and so we began to work to take the existing civil rights architecture and make sure that we expand it to include our community to make certain that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity No longer would be legal in this country and today we're gonna have a very historic vote when the House passes the Equality Act and our work. Then we will turn to the Senate where we're gonna have to demand that Mitch Mcconnell not be the grim reaper that he's described himself as but give voice to this very Strong belief in equality in our country what's really important to recognize is that a majority of voters and citizens and every single state in this country support equality for our community is overwhelmingly popular. The Equality Act all across this country the only place it remains controversial in the Republican caucus This is a question we're really. Congress has to catch up with the country because in fact, most places in the country when you talk to folks about the reality Of members of our community that you can literally be married on Saturday Post your wedding pictures to Facebook on Sunday and be fired from your job or kicked out of your apartment on Monday in a majority of States in this country people don't believe That's true I think that Can't possibly be true and the reason it's hard for them to believe it is because it It is so contrary to the deeply held belief in equality and equal Justice under law, the founding values of our country so today is a really historic day because we will pass the Equality Act and give meaning to Founding values for all of us and it will create the kind of momentum we need to be sure that the Senate takes the quality up and that we all live in a country once and for all that recognizes that discrimination against the L G B T community is wrong and won't be tolerated. So I just wanna say thank you to everyone. Who's been part of this and I have now the great honor of introducing my coach here. One of the cochairs of the Equality caucus from the Great State of California Mark Takano Well Congressman David Sis Illini Thank you for your yeoman's work and I think you would agree today is a great day to be gay in just a few hours we're going to cross that plaza walk up those steps and go down to the floor and we're gonna. Be one step closer to passing the Equality Act historic legislation that will make equality the law of the land and so I wanna thank my friend and fellow caucus Cochair representative assist Lenny for leading this important effort and members of the Equality caucus for championing this bill now especially want All of the organizations here today, who have been tireless in the trenches, fighting for rights and defending our community every step of the way this would not have been possible without your support or without the millions of Americans who helped elect pro equality Democratic majorities last November So let's. Hear it for the American people We, the people we, the people as a bold opening statement and shrine in our constitution But far far too long L G B T Americans have not been included in we the people and that changes today This legislation will ensure that students workers shoppers and renters in every state cannot be discriminated against because of their identities No person no matter where they live in America should face discrimination Equality should not depend on the zip Code where you live When this bill becomes law Osc people facing discrimination We'll have the law Their side there will be recourse in the face of injustice and this is long overdue So I wanna send a special message to the youth watching this vote today we are on your side and we are fighting for you and your rights Full equality for all people is within reach now It's up to all of us it's up to the American people it's up to all of us here to demand that leader Mitch Mcconnell and President Trump Act public sentiment The power of the people is what is gonna, get us across the finish line after the United States be winter decision was announced right there on the steps of the of the Scream Court I said that I was feeling fabulous that I was feeling every gay word that I could think of and That's exactly how I feel this morning First of all the words you feel right now S I can think of a lot I urge my colleagues to be on the right side of history So let's go vote yes on the Equality Act Because we deserve to be a part of we, the people too Thank you and I wanna bring up my colleague representative Chris Pappas in New Hampshire Chris Thank you well. Thank you chairman Econo. It is great to be here with so many incredible allies so many members of the community who have got us here to this momentous occasion here on Capitol Hill this morning This is an incredible day and this is one I am going to remember when I get to cast my ballot on the floor in favor of full equality for the L G B T Q community there's. Nothing more American This liberty and Justice for all and you know what well we haven't always recognize it throughout the course of our nation's history We have been making incredible progress and we are steering closer to the founding principles that created this nation back in the late 17 hundreds I'm honored to be here with you all today and I think of a few groups of individuals today I think of those who have come before us who faced down discrimination on a daily basis and who risk their lives, their health or safety to be who they are Stand on their shoulders and the fact that they were able to be out and be visible has allowed our community to achieve great success I also think of those across our country who still face discrimination today I think of a young woman who's coming out inspiring about being rejected by her family I think about a trans woman who doesn't want to become a hate crime statistics like so many others have I think of a young gay man who's considering suicide because he's been told that he's less than It's about time we correct this injustice is Doctor King with Justice delayed is Justice, denied and it's time that we correct this today and pass the Equality Act. Now so I'm really honored to stand with so many heroes here today one of them is Chad Griffin from the Human Rights Campaign and I'd like to invite them up now Chad thank you so much congressman Thank you congressman Papas. I also just want to extend my thanks and appreciation to Congressman Cicilline for his steadfast leadership to ensure that we are here for this day on the Equality Act in addition, I want to acknowledge and thank Mark Takano and Speaker Pelosi and all the groups Represented here today for their many many years of leadership that have gotten us to this historic moment As we stand on the verge of the House of Representatives voting to protect elc people from discrimination in their daily lives The Equality Act is grounded in common sense it's rooted in our most basic and shared fundamental American values and It's. Also rooted in that American promise of equal Justice under law That's. Why the Act has the support of more than 200 leading businesses representing more than 210 point four million employees in all 50 States and That's. Why it has the bipartisan support of seven out of 10 Americans including majorities in all 50 States So today we urge every member of Congress Republicans and Democrats alike to stand on the right side of history and vote yes on the Equality Act And after we pass this landmark legislation in the House this morning we will then take our fight to the Senate and we call on all Senators Democrats and Republicans to join us in demanding that Mitch Mcconnell allow a vote on the Equality Act because the time is now to finally ensure that every TV Q. A person especially our young people in every corner of this vast country is equal And protected under the law It's, now my pleasure to introduce a brave advocate for transit equality the founder of Black, transmit etc Carter Brown Hello I'm Carter Brown, I'm honored I'm honored to be here today in support of the Equality Act for myself my family and for thousands of other Americans whose livelihood is dependent upon this amendment to the law to include us as equal citizens, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation like many Americans, I want to subscribe to the American Dream and believing that if I pursue my education is secure secured a good career I would be able to provide a comfortable living for myself achieve homeowner Ship and eventually create a family of my own someday and I did just that. Despite many challenges along the way I got a decent education and built a career that I proudly excelled in which afforded me the ability to create and provide for my family Until the day I arrived at my workplace and was confronted by colleagues about rumors that I was a transgender man Following this confrontation, I had to endure months of offensive questions, harassment, gossip and many Tory interactions in the workplace all of which eventually led to my termination of employment because of my identity as a transgender person It was then that I quickly learned that the American Dream is not accessible to all Americans I made many attempts to seek recourse only to find that the law did not have any legal protections from discrimination for gender identity and therefore, my termination was legally justified in my home state of Texas Sadly, my story is only one of countless L G B T Americans living working and contributing in over 30 States that do not provide fully inclusive nondiscrimination protections for all citizens to have an opportunity to work and earn wages to care for themselves and their families I know that our society may not all share the same values But I believe every person should be value and have full opportunity to work hard to pursue happiness and the productive citizenship as an inalienable right That is why Fully support the Equality Act because having equal opportunities should not be a matter of gender identity for many It's, a matter of survival and next I'd like to bring forward Miss Marquez, sling of the National Center for Transgender Equality Good Morning Everybody I'm Mara Keeling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. I Wanna thank representative Papis, Chairman Tejano and especially representative David Cicilline. For leading the effort on this bill today's vote marks a triumph for the liberty of transgender people nationwide Trans people have been denied our freedom for generations trapped by ignorance, fear and violence that too often marks our lives I wanna Also, take a moment to thank three people who are here. I I've worked on this bill in various iterations for 20 years and I know there are three people here who I just want to call out who might not be speaking today. But when he's tackled Berg from the Center for American Progress David Stacey from the Human Rights Campaign and my own T colleague, Lisa Motte who all worked on this in the 1990 S Thank you very much for your work and leadership over the years Under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and representative system the House today is going to set the groundwork for a future in which trans people and all people are free to prosper and thrive alongside their fellow Americans but be clear about today We have not come this far to only come this far Once this bill is passed through the House leader Mcconnell must must bring it to the Senate floor for a vote We know he Didn't want to but denying trans people in the Bbc people, their most basic rights would be nothing short of a moral crime One that would stain the Senate for years now is not the time for partisanship bringsmanship or cowardess Now is the time senators must fulfill their duty to uphold the rights of all people in their States and serve the interests of the nation over the interest narrowly of their party Thank you very much and thank you all for being here today I now like My colleague and good friend, Mason Davis from Freedom for all Americans Thank you, Mara Mason Davis, C Freedom for all Americans and as You've heard today is a historic day for the first time ever the US House of Representatives the People's House will debate and vote on a bill that would ensure express an enduring protections for led T Q people in virtually all areas of American life It is time for this America The truth is discrimination is happening to L G B T Q people across this country every day yet in 30 States Our community lacks clear and basic protections under the law It's urgent that we secure the strongest possible nationwide protections for as many people, as we can as quickly as possible It's time to ensure that transgender youth and their families that they can be supported and safe in school It's time to sure rural gay men that they can share their wedding photos at work without fear of being fired It's time to ensure that aging lesbian couple will be treated fairly after local assistant care facility as a Man and as a transgender man myself I know how urgent and life saving these protections are and I'm not alone Seven out of 10 Americans at this point support basic protections for vq Americans across the country Businesses large and small, including the US Chamber of Commerce, have come out in support of the Act and increasingly we're seeing Progressive and conservative alike coming together to support L G B T Q e Freedom in the States Dignity Respect shouldn't depend on who we are who we love or where we live and That's. Why I urge and I hope you will urge Congress to pass the Today thank you I'll turn it over to Christine Lucious, executive vice President for policy from the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights Good Morning Thank you so much The leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights as a coalition of more than 200 National organizations dedicated to working towards an America as good as its ideals and one of those ideals is equal Justice under law we must all Able to live free from discrimination to express our whole selves and build our families openly without fear or bigotry Passage of the Equality Act is a crucial step in fulfilling our nation's commitment to civil and human rights for all people And we have made it this far because so many people have worked so long and share their heartbreaking stories about why we need this bill Our work is not complete until every person in America is able to earn a living further, their education put a roof over their head Engage in public life without fear of harassment or discrimination and no one 's civil rights should depend on their zip codes When our society is more equal, we are all better for it. That's. Why the Equality Act has a support of civil rights groups, faith leaders, business leaders and the majority of people in this country. I wanna thank our partners from the civil rights leaders here with us today to our friends in Congress Co sponsoring this legislation, we are very grateful to And to chairs Nadler Scott waters Mcgovern and especially to Speaker Pelosi for their steadfast leadership in advancing this bill In a few hours, we hope the House will do what's right and pass the Equality Act Well today's vote is historic It is not the end Everyone who spoke up we'll need to demand that the Senate Act and not just Mitch Mcconnell each and every senator should make their position clear on the Equality Act and be held accountable It's Time to Pass the Equality Act now thank you so much for your support and I'm Gonna, turn it over to another great civil rights leader. Soon Chandy Legal director of the National Women's Law Center Good Morning I'm Sonya Chandy I'm here as a legal director of the National Law Center my parents came from India in the early 1970 S to attend seminary My father went on to be a Minister and a hospital chaplain and my mother Well. She was a high school teacher. She also took her Masters in religion. Needless to say I grew up going to Wednesday night Bible Study prayer meeting and spent all of my Sundays in church I share that to say as a pastor's kid even as a full fledged unitarian now It's scripture that comes to me in the most exciting times I'm sharing the 412 a person stand Alone can be attacked and defeated but two can stand back to back and conquer three or even better for triple braided cord is not easily broken we here today for this vote because all of the groups here and all we represent and these members and their staffers made a decision to engage together and fight for a common cause We decided to trust each other and be authentic to all we represent I want to lift up at the National Women's Law Center Fatima Goss Graves and Emily Martin, who worked along many of the folks gathered here To do this work in the years past I especially want to thank the racial Justice groups for supporting the Equality Act cuz that means you're doing right by us as queer people of color and championing the true message that racial Justice work must include a fight against sex discrimination including discrimination faced by Cvc folks This braiding of the Cord sends a powerful message that we are on one team to haul who may oppose us delighted to be here on behalf of the National Women's Law Center a leading women's rights Organization for the past 45 years from that Mission I'm Here to say the fight against discrimination against the L G B T Q E folks is part and parcel of the fight against sex discrimination The courts have recognized that E UC is on record saying that it's time that our federal laws become explicit on that point, too Through the Equality Act as a women's rights Organization we are committed to L B T Q rights because we are committed to the fight against sex discrimination When It's faced by anyone the National Women's Law Center is delighted to be here And celebrate the solidarity between all of the groups here and the members here and we look forward to the historic vote today and passing the Equality Act in the House Thank you and I I'm here to also introduce Wendy's Taco Berg who you heard was a pioneer and worked on this for years from the Center for American Progress I think that just means I'm old My name is Winnie Stack Oregon, the executive vice President of external Affairs at the Center for American Progress. I wanna thank chairman Takano and representative Papas I wanna thank Congressman Cicilline for your incredible leadership and I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and all of the members of the House leadership who stood behind the Equality Act I also want to acknowledge the amazing organizations who have fought relentlessly to advance this bill and to bring it to where it is today Later this morning, the House of Representatives will pass one of the most important and sweeping pieces of civil rights legislation in modern American Straight we all know that the journey to arrive at this vote has been long and at times grueling In fact, it has been nearly 45 years since the first version of the Equality Act was introduced in Congress I know that at times some of us may have wondered if we'd ever arrive at this day Yet, despite all the challenges we face and we will continue to face this morning Should serve as a beacon of hope Today's vote is proof that progress is not only still possible but that it is actually unfolding each and every day It is a testament to the fact that love compassion and Justice can triumph over the forces of division and intolerance But today's victory has never been inevitable It is the result of hard work and unrelenting commitment of those who have refused to accept temporary defeats as a permanent Treat I wanna thank every single person every L G B t Q e person here today and our allies who has joined in the cause and travel this long journey with us and I know We'll all keep pushing after the House of representative votes. As we move to the Senate and beyond We've got to reach the end of this journey and the Equality Act becomes love the land everywhere in our country I'm So Thrilled to be fighting with each and everyone of you Thank you so very much And now I am pleased to introduce the Reverend Peter Simmons side from the Metropolitan Amy Church Good Morning Good Morning I am Reverend Peter Simmons from the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church here in Washington DC First, I would like to give honor to the ancestors who shoulders I stand on and allow me to be here on today Now we are all created wonderfully and beautifully in the image of the eternal spirit Though we may have similar characteristics because of the wisdom of the eternal spirit no two individuals are completely alike We are authentic in our individual reality We must honor Expected diversity of humanity we have different identities and there is no one better than or worse than anyone else as a same gender loving black man who is also a 14 year active duty veteran of the US Armed Forces I have experienced discrimination for being black and being same gender loving our enforced to live by standards that are framed by White held a normative patriarchal biases today In 2019 there are neighborhoods where I am viewed as a threat and my life is automatically in danger because of the color of my skin There are some places where my husband, Bryan who is also a veteran and I are not welcome because we have openly committed our love and life to each other The Equality Act is a positive step towards making sure that all humanity in this country have the opportunity have the opportunity to what Thomas Jefferson Pint we hold Truth to be self evident that all humanity are created equal that they are in doubt by their creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness by the vote of Yes to the Equality Act you will say no to White head of a normative patriarchal supremacy You will say no to homophobia You will say no to transform transform for me, or you will say no to racist authorities which encourage hate and violence Vote of Yes to the Equality Act is a vote for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every citizen in these United States of America, regardless of race gender identity or sexual orientation Thank you next we will have several Mcguinn which is legal director and chief strategy officer of Nanda Legal Good morning, everyone, it is wonderful to be here celebrating a step forward as opposed to one of the many setbacks we have experienced in these recent years I want to Salute Congressman Cicilline Mia, Congressman Takano, Congressman Papis at Bank chairman Nadler and Speaker Pelosi for leading this effort with a conviction courage and fortitude that these times call for for 45 years Lambda Legal has been the law firm for the T Q community we have taken hundreds of calls every year from people who have experienced discrimination in employment in housing in credit in places of public accommodation and often we have not had the tools that we have needed to be able to address the discrimination they have experienced Sometimes that is because it is an area of the law in which they are blatantly, insufficient protections and other times. It's There are laws on the books that should protect the people but courts have turned a blind eye and said You're. Not welcome here We are going to read you out of this law The Equality Act will make sure that that never happens again The words will be on the page in a way that can be undeniable and so even though we know that it is a form of sex discrimination When you terminate someone for having a same sex spouse or for having undertaken a gender transition the Equality Act today will make sure that no one ever again will be confused about what Law requires and we know from these calls that We've experienced this discrimination falls disproportionately on people of color people living in the South people who are living in the economic margins and we know that the Equality Act will not solve all those problems Racism classism able ism will continue to deny so many people full and equal opportunity But today my friends is a necessary if not sufficient step forward to making this country live up to the ideals that we all want this country to stand for every day we need to make this country the country we all deserve and so I stand here with so many wonderful colleagues knowing that today is an incredible step forward I joined the calls Courage from Leader Mcconnell Because I tell you there are more than 60 votes in the Senate For this bill there are more than 60 votes in the Senate when you have seven out of 10 Americans of every party of every political stripe of every faith knowing that it is wrong for someone to be denied housing tonight. Employment denied equal education because of their sexual orientation and gender identity My friends now is the time we need not wait any longer We need not wait for stars to align the stars Aligned and the day is here and so I thank you all for all that, you have already done an urge all of you to do everything else you can as I say, get grandma on the phone get your local PC leader on the phone There is nothing that we cannot do when we stand together and demand the country that we deserve And so with that I want to hand it off to another incredible leader in this movement and a dear friend, Diego Sanchez from Pee Flag You know today we're gonna. Share a tremendous victory We share something else. Though Flag is a family Organization We all come from some type of family, and when we were babies our parents probably all told us one thing Honesty is the best policy I'm sure some of you heard it before over and over my parents taught me that and I've always been honest sometimes to my apparel when I was Out of high school I wanted to go to West Point and my father said This is a land of honesty So I had of integrity You have to disclose So I did disclose and therefore never got to serve the country. I wanted to in the military when I was in my thirties four s other years ago when I work for a global Corporation, I've always worked for global corporations, but this one I Charge communications in diversity and I was told I could not put transgender into the global diversity statement and I said I have to because I cannot leave myself out of our policy then I'm creating and my boss looked at me was executive P, they charged, said We, Can't have people like you transgender people working here and I was summarily fired against the desire to see Ceo and Ceo but she owned my body for that moment But I own my body and I will tell you that How are some I'm rarely humbled and quiet but you really said something that I realized that I own a pair of those shoulders I've been doing this work for about 50 years starting when I was 12 and have worked on this bill in many But this one is the one That's gonna move It's gonna move in a way that no other has the numbers are there The votes are there the pressure to push the Senate to do the same is there but we don't take a Time to thank our friends so I just wanna do this last thing I wanna thank the cochairs of the Equality caucus Thank you for being here I want to thank the Committee chairs Maxine Waters Jerry Nadler, Bobby Scott Jim Mcgovern of Massachusetts Pramila Jayapal for telling a very courageous story in the Judiciary Committee Committee meeting hearing and my own Member of Commerce Congress a Yana Presley I also especially want to thank Speaker Pelosi Majority leader Hoyer and Majority whip Jim Clyburn from my neighboring South Carolina I'm from Georgia. Originally the groups here today have been a coalition for a long time and I worked with them all of them on a lot of things But I will tell you that this was the most concerted that most tightly worked the most penetrated of all it leads to where we're going today together So with that I Like to introduce my dear friend, a tremendous leader in Thompson from May seal you Good Morning, everybody, my name is Ian Thompson I'm, a senior legislative representative with the American Civil Liberties Union as You've already heard today is historic for many reasons for the first time in the entire history of our country Congress will vote on comprehensive nationwide nondiscrimination protections for Cbc people today As I watched the debate and vote on the Equality Act I will be thinking about the thousands of people who were fired from their jobs at the federal government During the lavender scare of the 19 five S I will be thinking about trans pioneers like Marsha P Johnson who 50 years ago next month fought back against police violence and persecution against the VA people at the Stonewall in I'll, be thinking about an entire generation of gay men who are not here to witness this moment due to government and difference to H V Aids during the Reagan and Bush years Also, be thinking about the use incredibly courageous Bqe clients who have fought back against the discrimination they endured people like Megan Taylor Gavin Grim Andre Cooley Patricia Dawson Dave Mullins and Charlie Craig Walking car Cano Amy Stevens and Darns Arta Well we're not yet out to finish line that we have arrived at this moment is a testament to the determination over many generations of Cbc people across the country we Also know that it would not have been possible without the support and solidarity of partners and allies across the civil rights community As we witness history unfold before us today let us also rededicate ourselves to continuing the fight for true lived equality for all elec people because we can settle for no less and with that I'm happy to turn things over to Kierra Johnson from the National Task Force Good Morning Y'all Didn't Know You're gonna Get Equality Church this morning. Huh What a very historic moment and It's, so exciting to be with you all here. Today my name is Kiara Johnson I am a black woman I'm, a bisexual person I am a mother of two I am a Georgia native in my heart and a DC resident by choice And the Equality Act means the world to me We are here and the winds of change are at our bags It feels fitting that yesterday was the anniversary of the Brown Brown versus Board of Education decision which declared segregation in schools was unconstitutional It was here that the notion of separate but equal was delegitimized separate but equal It is an illusion It has no place and separating us by race and it has no place in separating us by gender identity It has no place in separating us by sexual Station like Brown versus Board of Education The Equality Act is more than ink on paper It is more than a vote It quality lives in our backs and today we stand a little bit straighter It quality lives in our voices, and today we sing a little bit louder equality lives in our spirit and our hope our hope The future is fortified today as we turn our eyes, our ears, our hearts and our minds to the Senate I want them to know that championing. The Equality Act means championing health for all of us all the time It means championing opportunity the opportunity to thrive for all of us all the time It means championing dignity for each and Every one of us all the time thank you and I get to introduce Julie Cruz, the director of federal Policy Family Equality Council Hi, my name is Julie Cruz and I'm, the director of federal Policy and Family Equality Council Organized S The millions of Americans Thrilled It harms our children Our babies have been born Emergency pediatric Because of their life has been faster than that Burden with additional responsibilities and care Because of low some discrimination this is why just as Kennedy during the Supreme Court marriage equality decision said. What about the children of these unions and decided our families need full legal equality but marriage equality is not enough We need an end to discrimination that Harms L v Q and two spirit people and that harms and endangers our children and families and that harms the American family that we are all part of so thank you to Congress Francisco thank you to Congressman Papas to chairman that or the Chairman's got to leader Pelosi for acting today to protecting our families and the American family which is bound together by love Thank you and I am turning it over to my good friend Eric Good Morning My name is Jen Herrick I am the senior policy analyst at people for the American Way People and It's. More than one and a half million supporters nationwide are committed to gender equity and for us that includes promoting equality and recognition for transgender gender expansive and all L ve. Q. Plus people the Equality Act will help us achieve that goal by protecting the T plus community against discrimination in housing employment and other key areas of life and on 60 fifth anniversary of the Brown versus board decision It's important to note that the Equality Act also strengthens existing civil rights protections for people of color and other systemically oppressed communities And it takes a stand against those who are misusing the federal religious freedom law in order to harm others discriminate against them and take away their rights This is a bill that every American should be proud of fighting for Justice for all is the American Every member of the House should vote for R five today and every member of the Senate should urge Leader Mcconnell to swiftly bring it to a vote Thank you for joining us in this fight Everybody our Speaker, some of our speakers, will be available for individual one on one for folks interested in a group photo and











