This resolution expresses Congressional support for LGBTQI+ equality and designates June 26th as "LGBTQI+ Equality Day" to commemorate key legal victories and highlight the need for further anti-discrimination legislation.
Suzan DelBene
Representative
WA-1
This resolution expresses the House's support for the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI+ individuals across the United States. It recognizes key Supreme Court decisions that advanced equality and highlights the ongoing need for comprehensive legal protections against discrimination. Finally, the bill proposes designating June 26th as "LGBTQI+ Equality Day" to commemorate these legal victories.
Congress Backs LGBTQI+ Equality Day on June 26th, Citing Need for More Civil Rights Laws
This Congressional resolution is essentially a formal statement of support—a high-five from the House of Representatives—for the rights and freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people across the country. It’s not a law that changes regulations or budgets, but it’s a significant political declaration.
The House Endorses Equality and Legal History
The resolution starts by hitting the rewind button on recent legal history, specifically recognizing three major Supreme Court rulings that cemented LGBTQI rights. It calls out the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision, which stopped the government from criminalizing private, consensual same-sex conduct. It also highlights the 2013 ruling that chipped away at the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that made marriage equality the law of the land nationwide. The key takeaway here is that Congress is officially acknowledging these legal battles as victories for civil rights.
Why June 26th? A Date for the Calendar
Because all three of those major Supreme Court decisions were handed down on June 26th in their respective years, the resolution proposes officially designating June 26th as “LGBTQI+ Equality Day.” This isn't just about throwing a party; it’s about establishing a date to remember the progress made and, crucially, to focus on the work still to be done. It’s a formal nod to the fact that legal wins often happen incrementally, on specific dates that deserve to be recognized.
The Fine Print: More Laws Are Still Needed
While celebrating the court victories, the resolution makes a strong point: courts alone can’t fix everything. It explicitly states that more laws are needed to ensure LGBTQI people are truly free from discrimination in key areas like employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. The resolution highlights that transgender people and LGBTQI people of color often face disproportionate burdens—issues like violence, poverty, and isolation—that require legislative solutions, not just judicial ones. For the average person, this means Congress is signaling that the conversation is shifting from just marriage equality to broader, everyday protections that affect your ability to get a job or rent an apartment without fear of discrimination.