Hoyer: LGBT Americans Have A Right to Be Counted
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke at a press conference today with Reps. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-3), Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), and Mike Honda (CA-17), as well as Members of the LGBT Equality Caucus and actress and LGBT advocate Laverne Cox, in support of the LGBT Data Inclusion Act. The legislation calls for voluntary federal data collection for LGBT Americans. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
I’m proud to stand with Rep. [Raúl] Grijalva and other Democratic colleagues and declare that LGBT Americans have a right to be counted.
“The LGBT Data Inclusion Act is an important piece of legislation that will make certain that all Americans are equally counted in federal surveys, including the Census.
“Ensuring that everyone is counted is the first step in making sure everyone counts.
“When we fail to give members of a group the opportunity to raise their hands and say ‘we’re here, we count,’ they run the risk of losing their equal share of access to federal resources.
“For too long, LGBT people, their families, and their communities have been forced to live in the shadows of society.
“As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month, let’s commit to ending that once and for all – to making clear that everyone counts, and everyone deserves equal treatment.
“I want to thank Rep. Grijalva for sponsoring this legislation, and I hope we can move it to the Floor.
“I also thank the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus for spearheading this effort with him.”