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June 11, 2012

Rep. Schiff Statement of LGBT Pride Month

Washington, DC – Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) released the following statement today in honor of LGBT Pride Month, which is observed each year during the month of June:

"The tide is turning in favor of equality and this year’s LGBT Pride Month is punctuated by many important changes. The growing support for marriage equality is significant and I welcome President Obama’s recent declaration in support of access to the right of marriage for all Americans. I’m encouraged by the recent ruling by the federal circuit court that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, and the ninth circuit’s decision not to revisit its ruling against California’s Proposition 8. I stand in solidarity with the many LGBT Americans serving our country in celebrating the end of the military’s discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. The drum beat for equality is getting louder and stronger.

“Even as we celebrate these critical milestones, it is important to be mindful that we are not there yet. While there are a growing number of states where same sex couples can express their commitment for each other through marriage, these states are the exception rather than the rule. Full marriage equality would extend one of our most basic rights of citizenship to all Americans – that is, the right to marry the person you love.

“I have friends, family members, colleagues, and members of my own staff that simply want to have that commitment recognized by their government. I respect that, I honor that, and I stand with them in their fight to have their relationships legitimized in the same way as my own marriage to Eve.

“This month I join countless others in marking June as LGBT Pride Month. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans have contributed significantly to the fabric of our nation, and it is fitting that we celebrate those contributions and stand with them in their fight for full and total equality.”

Schiff is a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus, a strong supporter of marriage equality, a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act to repeal DOMA, and advocated to put an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."