LGBTQ and Equality
No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love. As the first openly gay member of Congress from New Hampshire, I am committed to fighting for the dignity and equality of all Americans.
As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I will fight to get the Equality Act signed into law, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I will also continue to stand up to nationwide efforts to roll-back the progress made by the LGBTQ community. America's strength and potential is rooted in our nation’s diversity, and it is time that our laws reflect that.
More on LGBTQ and Equality
Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress and member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, re-introduced his legislation to establish an LGBTQ Veterans Advisory Committee at VA alongside Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01).
Out Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) have asked Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to expedite the process for former LGBTQ+ soldiers still seeking to upgrade their less-than-honorable discharges after being kicked out of the military under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) and other historic bans on out queer military service members.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) introduced legislation on Monday that would prohibit all U.S. federal courts from allowing use of the LGBTQ panic defense, a legal tactic that has been banned in 16 states and D.C.
In criminal trials involving violent crimes against LGBTQ people, the so-called “gay panic,” “trans-panic,” or more broadly, “LGBTQ panic” defense is raised to argue for more lenient sentencing or otherwise in an attempt to lessen the defendant’s culpability in the eyes of a judge or jury.
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Equality Caucus, and Senator Edward J.
Amid a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country, Congressional Democrats have reintroduced the Equality Act.
The bill would update existing federal civil rights legislation to explicitly ban discrimination against LGBTQ+ people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a number of areas, including employment, education, access to credit, housing, and public accommodations.
At a Wednesday news conference, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) (one of the bill’s lead sponsors) noted the timing of the Equality Act’s reintroduction.
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress, helped re-introduce the Equality Act in the 118th Congress. Pappas is an original co-sponsor of this legislation and fought to pass the bill last Congress.
Dignitaries took to Market Square Thursday to commemorate the start of Pride Month in June, honoring the LGBTQ+ community and the 1969 Stonewall riots, and raising a rainbow flag to embrace diversity and acceptance.
Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern raised up a Pride flag as a crowd of LGBTQ+ advocates, elected officials and community members assembled, many dressed in vibrant colored clothing to welcome in Pride Month.
U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire and state Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, D-Portsmouth, were among those in attendance.
Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress, issued the following statement to mark the start of Pride Month:
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 734, the so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which passed the House today.
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, released the following statement after voting against H.R. 5, the so-called Parents Bill of Rights Act, which passed the House today.