Messages from Congresswoman Hayes

Dear Friend,

It is Pride Month! Not only is this a time to celebrate our LGBTQ+ family, friends, and neighbors, but it is a time to recognize how far we have come in the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights- and how far we have to go. 

Last month, I was proud to vote with my House colleagues to pass the Equality Act, a historic piece of civil rights legislation that would extend existing federal civil rights laws to LGBTQ+ Americans. No less importantly, I proudly cosponsored the following pieces of legislation: 

• H.R. 2747, the Tyler Clementi High Education Anti-Harassment Act, which would require colleges and universities to have policies in place to prohibit harassment and LGBTQ+ students, and establishes a grant program to support campus anti-harassment programs, including prevention, counseling, and training.
• House Concurrent Resolution 34, the National Day of Silence Resolution, which recognizes Friday, April 12 as a National Day of Silence in which students at thousands of schools across the country observe a day-long vow of silence to bring attention to the bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination aimed at their LGBTQ+ friends and classmates.
• House Resolution 388, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Resolution, which recognizes May 17th as an international holiday in which we acknowledge widespread discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.

Additionally, at an Education and Labor Committee hearing on the Equality Act, I spoke out against the alarming levels of bullying, harassment, and abuse of LGBTQ+ youth in Connecticut and the nation. It's simple: no child should ever feel unsafe going to school, be thrown into depression because of their identity, or have to change school districts to be treated with basic respect.

No matter the issue, I will always stand with the LGBTQ+ community in furthering progress for full equality and dignity for all, regardless of one's sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Thank you for your attention. To keep up with my work in Congress, sign up for my e-newsletter here, and follow my Facebook and Twitter!

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