Affirming Marriage Equality

Floor Speech

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Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of affirming marriage equality and providing equal protection guarantees to LGBT Americans throughout our country. Mr. Speaker, the overwhelming majority of the American public supports marriage equality. They know that same-sex couples should have access to dignity and security that only marriage can provide.

In 37 States in our Nation, this is already a reality. Today, more than 70 percent of our population live in jurisdictions where they are free to marry whom they love. However, at this very moment, marriage discrimination is still openly practiced in 13 States, taking away the securities and protections, financial and otherwise, that many Americans have, but not our LGBT Americans.

Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker; the failure or prohibition to recognize and allow same-sex couples to marry is discrimination. The fight for marriage equality for our LGBT brothers and sisters is one of the great civil rights battles of our lifetime, and it continues through our tireless efforts to achieve full equality under the law for all.

A positive Supreme Court decision on marriage is an important step towards ending the discrimination that too many American families are suffering because of where they live and whom they love. Mr. Speaker, it is the year 2015. It is well past time we end the discrimination against our LGBT Americans.

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