Throughout the month of June, many in Iowa and around the nation have come together to celebrate National Pride Month. During this time, we honor the courage, identities, and lives of our friends, family and neighbors in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. I am privileged to be able to stand up and fight to ensure all LGBTQIA Iowans are included and welcomed. While National Pride Month is a joyous time, we must also pause to remember those whose lives have been taken because of violence and hatred. One year ago this month, the LGBTQIA community was violently attacked at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We will always remember the 49 victims who lost their lives, and all of the survivors and family members devastated by this hateful attack. It is abundantly clear that our fight for LGBTQIA equality is not over, and during National Pride Month, we must redouble our efforts and come together in the fight for equality. As a strong advocate for the LGBTQIA community, I am committed to fighting for full equality. Recently, I was proud to join 194 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives to reintroduce the Equality Act (H.R. 2282). This legislation is a comprehensive civil rights bill that will provide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQIA folks all across this country. Iowans are no strangers to leading the fight for greater civil rights, whether it is based on race, gender or sexual orientation. It was only eight short years ago that Iowa became the third state in the union to grant marriage equality for all LGBTQIA couples. During National Pride Month, let us take time to look back and reflect on all that has been accomplished in moving LGBTQIA rights forward. I was proud to join with many Iowans in commemorating National Pride Month this June. Please know that I remain committed to doing all I can to spread awareness of National Pride Month and will continue to fight to ensure equal rights for all Iowans. Sincerely,
Dave Loebsack Iowa's Second District
