Oregon Fights for the Transgender Community

Floor Speech

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Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to send an unequivocal, simple message to the transgender community: We have your back.

The dangerous rhetoric we have seen across the country--including in this very body--in the last week is nothing short of reprehensible, and I for one will not allow this hateful and vitriolic rhetoric to go unanswered.

Transgender people don't need to be changed, criminalized, or eradicated. They need to be loved, they need to be supported, and they need to be able to look to their leaders in Washington and trust that we will protect their rights to live freely and safely, just as we would any other person in America.

Oregon has consistently led the way in the fight for transgender rights, and I am so proud to be from a State that prizes support over suspicion, compassion over culture wars, and humanity over hatred.

In Oregon we say gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, two spirits, queer, intersex, and asexual.

Oregon is proof that we can be better than this, and for the sake of the transgender community we must be.

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