community. Pride reminds us that joy itself is an act of resistance.
Pride is about visibility, solidarity, and, yes, the unapologetic truth
that LGBTQ+ people belong, belong everywhere, always.

                              {time}  1830

  This Pride Month and every day onward, we must recommit to standing
against these attacks and ensuring that freedom, justice, and equal
opportunity are guaranteed to all--to all people under the law.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Tonko. Happy pride.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Stansbury), my colleague from the Land of Enchantment.
  Ms. STANSBURY. Happy pride, everyone.
  Today, we rise to celebrate Pride Month in LGBTQ+ communities all
across New Mexico and the country. To every member of the LGBTQ+
community, you are seen, you are loved, and you make this world
brighter. We celebrate you not just in June, but all year round because
pride is every day.
  Now, we know it is difficult times: from the relentless attacks on
the LGBTQ+ and especially trans communities; from the Trump
administration's attacks on our military, veterans, and history itself;
to the GOP's relentless and callous attacks on this floor; to the
Supreme Court's undermining of the basic civil rights of the LGBTQ+
community.
  Our communities are living in fear, uncertain of what comes next.
Many have seen this story before: Parents who are scared for their
children, elders who lived through the AIDS epidemic, and so many who
grew up in places and spaces where their lives were criminalized, where
they lived in danger, and where they could not live as their full and
authentic selves.
  In fact, we almost lost an entire generation because of antiLGBTQ+
policies in the 1980s, and I want to be clear that we are not going
back. I am here to stand with the community and fight for them every
single day, whether that is at the local, the national, or the State
level. I want them to know that in the Equality Caucus, we have got
their back, and we want them to be able to continue to live their lives
out loud as their authentic selves.
  I am going to continue to push for legislation to protect them,
regardless of where they live. I am going to continue to fight to pass
the Equality Act. I know that this is a matter of life or death for so
many out there, but I also know that we cannot do it alone. What I need
is for all of them to continue to show up, to speak out, and to live
their lives unapologetically--continue to celebrate, continue to live
openly, love openly, build community, and imagine that future, because
creating queer spaces and queer joy is an act of resistance. You just
being here on this planet and being your bad self is also an act of
resistance.
  Please, continue to show up. Know that your life, your existence
matters. Your light matters, and your fight matters.
  I am here to celebrate them and to wish them happy pride.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Stansbury. Happy
pride.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bell), my
colleague from the Show Me State and my good friend.
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with the LGBTQ
community as we close out a truly special month of celebration and joy.
  This past weekend, I had an amazing time walking in the St. Louis
Pride Parade. It was hot outside, but the energy and the feeling of
community was palpable.
  To me, that is what this administration fails to see: A community--a
community rooted in love, understanding, and acceptance. Instead of
supporting our fellow LGBTQ Americans, this administration has chosen
to turn them into targets--targets of hate, targets of bigotry, targets
of cruel and deliberate policies to erase them and their history.
  I have a promise for my LGBTQ friends and family: I will always stand
with you. I will always stand for you.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bell. Happy pride.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank a group of people who have been on
the front lines of the fight for LGBTQI+ equality: the litigators who
are challenging this administration's antiLGBTQI+ policies and, more
broadly, fighting to protect our rights, the rights of all Americans.
  Over the past 1.5 years, these litigators have filed dozens of
lawsuits to both protect LGBTQI+ rights and block the Trump
administration's antiequality efforts.
  When President Trump reinstituted the trans military ban, litigators
jumped into action and fought for our Nation's transgender
servicemembers.
  When the Department of Health and Human Services wiped critical
public health data from Federal websites for simply mentioning LGBTQI+
people, a lawsuit forced the Department to restore these web pages.
  As the administration has targeted trans people's access to medically
necessary care, litigators have filed lawsuit after lawsuit responding
to each attack.
  Litigators are standing up for our community--from local district
courts to the Supreme Court. Pride is a protest, and there are few
forms of protest that are more powerful or with more direct impact than
challenging discriminatory policies in court. Many of these
organizations leading these efforts are operating with less resources
than the last Trump administration, yet dealing with an even higher
volume of attacks.
  Behind every complaint filed and every win, our teams of litigators
and support staff are working countless hours to defend our rights. I
must say, when I say, ``our rights,'' I mean our rights as Americans,
because LGBTQI+ rights are American rights.
  As I stand before this body, I extend my gratitude and the gratitude
of the entire Congressional Equality Caucus to the teams of litigators
who are fighting so hard to defend our community in courts across this
Nation. To all of those litigators and their support staffs, I say to
them on this final day of Pride Month, happy pride. I thank them for
their great work.
  I now yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Grijalva), my
friend and colleague.
  Mrs. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Congressman Takano,
for hosting this Pride Month Special Order hour.
  For generations, LGBTQ+ people have been at the forefront of a fight
for a more just inclusive future. This month, we honor the resilience,
courage, and determination of a community that has never stopped
organizing, speaking out, and demanding equality.
  As a proud ally and a mom, I know that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is
connected to so many of the challenges we face today: from reproductive
freedom, to healthcare access, to housing, education, and the right to
live openly and authentically.
  Pride reminds us that progress doesn't come from the top down. It
isn't handed to us by billionaires or corporations. It is one when
ordinary people come together, build coalitions together, and refuse to
accept injustice. That work is not over.
  Just this morning, on the last day of pride, the Supreme Court ruled
to allow States to ban trans kids from playing in school sports.
Really? I think they are worried about the wrong 0.1 percent in this
country.
  To the queer youth and trans kids and their families across the
Nation, I know these are scary times, but you are not alone.
  As Republicans continue to scapegoat queer people, especially
transgender youth and their families, we must meet this moment with
courage. We have got to organize, speak truth to power, and keep
building a movement rooted in justice and equity.
  Let us never forget that pride is a protest, but it is also our
power, and together we will keep fighting for a future where everyone
can live with dignity and freedom.
  Happy pride.

                              {time}  1840

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Adelita Grijalva for
her remarks and wish a happy Pride to her and all the people of the
great State of Arizona.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to send a message directly to the transgender
community in America, and here is what I have to say: You are not
alone.
  I know it is easy to feel like there is no one left in Washington who
is willing to stand up for you, but that is not