[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 32 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 32
Supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of
Visibility.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 22, 2024
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Carper, Ms. Hirono, Ms.
Baldwin, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Markey, Mr.
Bennet, Mr. Welch, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Van Hollen,
Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr.
Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Kelly, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of International Transgender Day of
Visibility.
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 to honor
the achievements and contributions of the transgender community;
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is designed to be
encompassing of a large community of diverse individuals;
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the
lives and achievements of transgender individuals around the world, and
to recognize the bravery it takes to live openly and authentically;
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is also a time to raise
awareness of the discrimination and violence that the transgender
community still faces, which make it difficult and even unsafe or fatal
for many transgender individuals to be visible;
Whereas the transgender community has suffered oppression disproportionately in
many ways, including--
(1) discrimination in employment and in the workplace;
(2) discrimination in health care and housing;
(3) discrimination in access to public services;
(4) discrimination in educational institutions; and
(5) violence;
Whereas forms of anti-transgender oppression are exacerbated for transgender
individuals of color, individuals with limited resources, immigrants,
individuals living with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, and
transgender youth;
Whereas a record number of anti-transgender State bills have been introduced in
recent years, including more than 700 bills in 2021, 2022, and 2023
combined, targeting areas such as--
(1) education, including by prohibiting school staff from acknowledging
or respecting transgender pupils, colleagues, and family members, and
barring transgender students from accessing gender-appropriate programs and
facilities;
(2) health care, including both medically necessary transition-related
medical care and general health care services;
(3) public accommodations, such as safe access to public restrooms; and
(4) identification documents, including by restricting the ability to
realign or correct birth certificates and other forms of identification;
Whereas the transgender community has made it clear that transgender individuals
will not be erased and deserve to be accorded all of the rights and
opportunities made available to all;
Whereas, before the creation of the United States, Indigenous two-spirit,
transgender individuals existed across North America in many Native
American communities, with specific terms in their own languages for
these members of their communities and the social and spiritual roles
they fulfilled, and while many were lost or actively suppressed by the
efforts of missionaries, government agents, boarding schools, and
settlers, two-spirit individuals have promoted increased public
awareness in recent decades;
Whereas transgender individuals continue to tell their stories and push for full
equity under the law;
Whereas the civil-rights struggle has been strengthened and inspired by the
leadership of the transgender community;
Whereas transgender individuals in the United States have made significant
strides in elected office and political representation;
Whereas at least 31 States and the District of Columbia have at least 1
transgender elected official at the State or municipal level;
Whereas there are at least 18 transgender, gender-nonconforming, or nonbinary
elected officials in State legislatures, including--
(1) Lorena Austin;
(2) Gerri Cannon;
(3) Brion Curran;
(4) Emily Dievendorf;
(5) Leigh Finke;
(6) S.J. Howell;
(7) Dominique Johnson;
(8) Sarah McBride;
(9) Samantha Montano;
(10) Alissandra Murray;
(11) DeShanna Neal;
(12) Danica Roem;
(13) James Roesener;
(14) Abigail Salisbury;
(15) Taylor Small;
(16) Izzy Smith-Wade-El;
(17) Brianna Titone; and
(18) Mauree Turner;
Whereas voters in the State of Virginia elected Danica Roem to be the first
openly transgender State legislator in the United States;
Whereas voters in the State of Delaware elected Sarah McBride as the first
openly transgender State senator in the United States;
Whereas voters in the State of Oklahoma elected Mauree Turner as the first
openly nonbinary State legislator in the United States;
Whereas voters in the State of New Hampshire elected James Roesener as the first
openly transgender man State legislator in the United States;
Whereas 6 States have at least 1 transgender or gender-non- conforming jurist on
the bench;
Whereas Admiral Rachel L. Levine, M.D., was the first openly transgender Federal
official confirmed by the Senate and is the highest ranking openly
transgender Federal Government official in the history of the United
States;
Whereas more transgender individuals are appearing in movies, on television, and
in all forms of media, raising awareness of their experiences and the
importance of living authentically;
Whereas transgender individuals have created culture and history as artists,
musicians, organizers, and leaders; and
Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility is a time to celebrate the
transgender community around the world: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of International
Transgender Day of Visibility;
(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe
International Transgender Day of Visibility with appropriate
ceremonies, programs, and activities;
(3) celebrates the accomplishments and leadership of
transgender individuals; and
(4) recognizes the bravery of the transgender community as
it fights for equal dignity and respect.
<all>