Congresswoman Barbara Lee Introduces Legislation Commemorating International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

Washington, DC - Today, on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Vice-Chair and founding member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, reintroduced legislation calling on Congress to recognize the unique challenges members of the LGBTQ+ community face, including violence, homelessness, and health disparities.

Anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination continues to impact communities across the country. The Center for American Progress found that 1 in 3 LGBTQ people reported experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation in the past year.

Additionally, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination has impacted physical and mental health disparities for LGBTQ+ individuals including COVID-19 health outcomes, depression, substance use, cancer, as well as abuse and violence. This legislation calls for full equality and acceptance for all LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and around the globe to protect the well-being and rights of our communities.

'On the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, we commit to ending anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and ensuring the safety and basic human rights of people around the globe,' said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Vice-Chair and founding member of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. 'I'm proud to reintroduce my legislation to combat discrimination and exclusion in health care, education, and partner in the efforts of organizations as well as our federal government. Ensuring the health and well-being of our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and colleagues in the East Bay and around the globe must remain a top priority.'

This resolution encourages:

• Health care providers to offer culturally and clinically competent care to the LGBTQ+ community;
• Schools to support the creation of gender and sexuality alliances to achieve safer learning environments;
• Individuals to learn about national resources for those who identify as LGBTQ+; and
• Funding organizations, aid efforts, and governments to prioritize the health and human rights of LGBTQ+ people.