III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 563 

Recognizing June 2018 as ‘‘LGBTQ Pride Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 28, 2018 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. SMITH, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mr. LEAHY, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. WARREN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. CASEY, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. 

WYDEN, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. COONS, Mr. SANDERS, 

Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. CARPER, Mr. REED, Mr. HEINRICH, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. NELSON, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. UDALL, Mr. 

BENNET, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. WARNER, Mr. CARDIN, 

Ms. HEITKAMP, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. 

PETERS, Mr. KING, Mr. JONES, Mr. TESTER, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. 

SCHATZ, and Mr. DONNELLY) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing June 2018 as ‘‘LGBTQ Pride Month’’. 

Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

transgender, and queer (referred to in this preamble as 

‘‘LGBTQ’’) include individuals from all States and the 

District of Columbia and all faiths, races, national origins, socioeconomic statuses, education levels, and political beliefs; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have made, and 

continue to make, vital contributions to the United States 


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and to the world in every aspect, including in the fields 

of education, law, health, business, science, research, economic development, architecture, fashion, sports, government, music, film, politics, technology, literature, and 

civil rights; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve as law 

enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders in 

all States and the District of Columbia; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have 

served, the United States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air 

Force, and Marines, honorably and with distinction and 

bravery; 

Whereas an estimated number of more than 100,000 brave 

men and women were discharged from the Armed Forces 

of the United States between the beginning of World War 

II and 2011 because of their sexual orientation, including 

the discharge of more than 13,000 men and women 

under the ‘‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy in place between 1994 and 2011; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have 

served, in positions in the Federal Government and State 

and local governments, including as members of Congress, Governors, mayors, and city council members; 

Whereas, throughout much of the history of the United 

States, same-sex relationships were criminalized in many 

States and many LGBTQ people in the United States 

were forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while living 

in secrecy and fear; 

Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the 

United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 

2584, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right 


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to marry and acknowledged that ‘‘[n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals 

of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.’’; 

Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (referred to 

in this preamble as ‘‘AIDS’’) has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ people in the United States partly caused 

by a lack of funding and research devoted to finding effective treatment for AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘HIV’’) 

during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; 

Whereas gay and bisexual men and transgender women of 

color have a higher risk of contracting HIV; 

Whereas the LGBTQ community has maintained its unwavering commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemic; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face disparities 

in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many 

other areas central to the pursuit of happiness in the 

United States; 

Whereas 30 States have no explicit ban on discrimination 

based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the 

workplace, housing, or public accommodations, and 35 

States have no explicit ban on discrimination against 

LGBTQ individuals in education; 

Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of suicide, 

homelessness, and becoming victims of bullying and violence; 

Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination, 

inequality, and violence throughout the history of the 

United States; 


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Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States, in particular 

transgender individuals, face a disproportionately high 

risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; 

Whereas members of the LGBTQ community have been targeted in acts of mass violence, including— 

(1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, 

on June 12, 2016, where 49 people were killed; and 

(2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New 

Orleans, Louisiana, on June 24, 1973, where 32 people 

died; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including state-sponsored violence; 

Whereas, in 2017 alone, hundreds of LGBTQ people around 

the world were arrested because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in countries 

and territories such as Chechnya, Indonesia, and Bangladesh; 

Whereas the LGBTQ community has gathered in some of the 

most dangerous places in the world to hold Pride festivals 

and marches, despite threats of violence or arrest; 

Whereas, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (division E of Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 

2835) into law to protect all people in the United States 

from crimes motivated by the actual or perceived sexual 

orientation or gender identity of an individual; 

Whereas the demonstrators who protested on June 28, 1969, 

following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an 

LGBTQ club in New York City, are pioneers of the 

LGBTQ movement for equality; 


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Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have fought for 

equal treatment, dignity, and respect; 

Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have achieved 

significant milestones, ensuring that future generations 

of LGBTQ people in the United States will enjoy a more 

equal and just society; 

Whereas, despite being marginalized throughout the history 

of the United States, LGBTQ people in the United 

States continue to celebrate their identities, love, and 

contributions to the United States in various expressions 

of Pride; and 

Whereas the inclusion of LGBTQ people in the United States 

continues to expand every day and LGBTQ people in the 

United States remain determined to pursue equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal 

3 treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and 

4 queer (referred to in this resolving clause as 

5 ‘‘LGBTQ’’) people in the United States and around 

6 the world; 

7 (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are 

8 human rights that are to be protected by the United 

9 States Constitution and numerous international 

10 treaties and conventions; 


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1 (3) commits to ensuring the equal treatment of 

2 all people in the United States, regardless of sexual 

3 orientation and gender identity; 

4 (4) commits to ensuring that the United States 

5 remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment of 

6 people around the world, including LGBTQ individ7 uals; and 

8 (5) encourages the celebration of June as 

9 ‘‘LGBTQ Pride Month’’ in order to provide a lasting 

10 opportunity for all people in the United States to 

11 learn about the discrimination and inequality that 

12 the LGBTQ community endured, and continues to 

13 endure, and to celebrate the contributions of the 

14 LGBTQ community throughout the history of the 

15 United States. 

Æ 


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