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.