Hoyer: Congress Must Stand with LGBT Community, Take Action to Prevent Gun Violence

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke at a press conference this morning with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley (NY-14), and Congressman Steve Israel (NY-03), calling on House Republican leaders to stand in support of the LGBT community and take action to prevent gun violence following this weekend's shooting in Orlando. Below is a transcript of his remarks: 

“Thank you very much Madam Leader.

“First, we need to empathize with the fear that the LGBT community is experiencing right now. Unfortunately, today we are going to adopt a rule which precludes the expression of Congress that we will not discriminate against those who are LGBT.

“How sad. That is one thing we could do today: say to all Americans, ‘you will not discriminate, we will not discriminate, our government will not discriminate against citizens who are members of the LGBT community.’

“And our Chairman of the Caucus is correct as well. Nor will we discriminate against somebody based upon the origin of their nationality or their surname.

“So those are two things we could do right now. Stand up, speak out for what America believes in and that is equality for all.

“Secondly, a moment of silence is appropriate. But days and weeks and months of action to preclude the violence that is occurring and taking the lives of so many in America is absolutely essential.

“‘No fly, no buy’ is a start. It is an important start, and as the Leader points out, it is a start that the American people have broad consensus on. So let us start there.

“Let us have an amendment on the Floor that says no discrimination. Let us have action today, or later next week at the very latest on ‘no fly, no buy.’

“And thirdly, although I would urge all of our Members to vote for three bills that have already passed, Americans ought not to be deceived that that is action. We have already passed those bills, they are in the United States Senate, and the Republican Leader ought to move those bills.

“So let us not pretend to take action, let us take action. No discrimination, ‘no fly, no buy,’ no simply moment of silence but days of action. And I now yield to my dear friend, the Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.”