Home News Rep. McCollum cosponsors LGBT Equality Day resolution

Rep. McCollum cosponsors LGBT Equality Day resolution

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Rep. McCollum cosponsors LGBT Equality Day resolution

John Boehner, Betty McCollum

Rep. Betty McCollum is among 93 sponsors of a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that would designate June 26 as “LGBT Equality Day.”

The resolution, drafted by Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat from Washington, would commemorate June 26 due to its historical significance. Three significant decisions were issued by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26: Lawrence v. Texas which struck down sodomy laws in 2003, United States v. Windsor which overturned part of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, and Obergefell v. Hodges which found a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry in 2015.

“In the last two decades, our nation has seen the Defense of Marriage Act overturned, an end to the criminalization of same-sex conduct and now nationwide marriage equality — all through Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26,” DelBene said in a statement last week. “But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, LGBT people continue to face inequality and discrimination simply for who they are and who they love. My resolution designates the 26th of June as ‘LGBT Equality Day’ not only to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also to acknowledge how much work remains to be done.”

The resolution has been referred to the Republican-dominated Judiciary Committee.

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Andy Birkey has written for a number of Minnesota and national publications. He founded Eleventh Avenue South which ran from 2002-2011, wrote for the Minnesota Independent from 2006-2011, the American Independent from 2010-2013. His writing has appeared in The Advocate, The Star Tribune, The Huffington Post, Salon, Cagle News Service, Twin Cities Daily Planet, TheUptake, Vita.mn and much more. His writing on LGBT issues, the religious right and social justice has won awards including Best Beat Reporting by the Online News Association, Best Series by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an honorable mention by the Sex-Positive Journalism awards.