III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 511 

Expressing support for the designation of June 26, 2016, as ‘‘LGBT Equality 

Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 23, 2016 

Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. 

CANTWELL, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

FRANKEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. HEITKAMP, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. COONS, 

Mr. SANDERS, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CASEY, 

Mr. LEAHY, Mr. CARPER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. BOXER, 

Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. REID, Mr. MURPHY, and Mr. SCHATZ) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of June 26, 2016, 

as ‘‘LGBT Equality Day’’. 

Whereas the United States recognizes that all individuals 

should be treated equally; 

Whereas Members of the 114th Congress support the rights 

and freedoms of individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (in this preamble referred to as 

‘‘LGBT people’’); 

Whereas, on June 26, 2003, the Supreme Court of the 

United States ruled in Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558, 


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•SRES 511 IS 

that States could no longer criminalize the private conduct in which same-sex couples engage; 

Whereas, on June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the 

United States ruled in United States v. Windsor, 133 S. 

Ct. 2675, that section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act 

(Public Law 104–199; 110 Stat. 2419) was unconstitutional and the Federal Government could no longer restrict married same-sex couples from receiving Federal 

benefits and protections; 

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 

to marry and States could no longer discriminate against 

same-sex couples when recognizing or licensing a marriage; 

Whereas decisions handed down by the Supreme Court of the 

United States on June 26 in 2003, 2013, and 2015 

ended marriage discrimination and the criminalization of 

same-sex private intimate conduct under the law; 

Whereas LGBT people and their allies have worked together 

for more than 60 years to make progress toward achieving full equality for all individuals in the United States, 

regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity; 

Whereas LGBT people in the United States continue to face 

many barriers that cannot be solved through courtroom 

litigation alone; 

Whereas transgender individuals and LGBT people of color 

are disproportionately and uniquely burdened by such 

barriers, including violence, discrimination, poverty, and 

societal isolation; 


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•SRES 511 IS 

Whereas LGBT people continue to be targets for violence 

based on who they are and who they love, as demonstrated most recently by the terrible massacre at the 

Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, 

in which 49 individuals tragically lost their lives; 

Whereas, although victories at the Supreme Court of the 

United States have affirmed the dignity and equality of 

millions of same-sex couples, statutory reforms are needed to ensure that LGBT people in the United States are 

free from discrimination and have equal access to the 

American dream; and 

Whereas June 26, 2016, would be an appropriate date to designate as ‘‘LGBT Equality Day’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports equal rights and protections for all 

3 individuals, regardless of actual or perceived sexual 

4 orientation or gender identity; 

5 (2) supports the designation of June 26, 2016, 

6 as ‘‘LGBT Equality Day’’; 

7 (3) encourages the celebration of ‘‘LGBT 

8 Equality Day’’ to— 

9 (A) commemorate the significance of deci10 sions handed down by the Supreme Court of 

11 the United States on June 26 in 2003, 2013, 

12 and 2015; and 

13 (B) continue educating all people about the 

14 forms of discrimination, harassment, and intolVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR511.IS SR511

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•SRES 511 IS 

1 erance that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 

2 transgender individuals continue to face; and 

3 (4) acknowledges the need for further legisla4 tion to ensure that individuals in the United States 

5 are free from all forms of discrimination on the 

6 basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or 

7 gender identity, including in employment, housing, 

8 public accommodations, education, Federal funding, 

9 credit, and jury service. 

Æ 


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