Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22), a Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and the Chair of the LGBT Aging Task Force, issued this statement marking one year since the shooting at the LGBT Pulse nightclub:
“Pride Month is an opportunity for us all to join together to celebrate the remarkable progress made toward LGBT equality. Marriage equality is the law of the land, and cities and states around the country have moved beyond the federal government to extend significant non-discrimination laws to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Pride Month is also a chance for us to remember the immense struggles, heartbreaking losses, and countless tragedies experienced by this community in the fight for equality. Accomplishments made by the LGBT community were not achieved easily. The LGBT community has suffered decades of intolerance, violence, and repression.
“One year ago, dozens of innocent lives were taken in an act of anti-LGBT terrorism in the worst mass shooting in our nation’s history. Guilty of nothing more than celebrating who they are, 49 Pulse victims lost their lives, and more than 50 others were injured in a horrific act of gun violence.
“Hatred and bigotry have no place in our society, and neither do guns in the hands of suspected terrorists. We must act on sensible gun safety legislation; moments of silence alone do nothing to prevent future attacks. And unfortunately, there has been too much silence coming from the halls of Congress.
“After every devastating event, from the Stonewall riots to the Pulse attack, the LGBT community has endured. As a proud LGBT ally honored to represent a vibrant LGBT community in South Florida, I stand with the community in fighting any attempts to legalize discrimination, even as we relentlessly push for full equality once and for all."
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