Pappas Marks Start of Pride 2024

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 tomorrow:

“During Pride, we come together as a community to celebrate living as our full authentic selves and stand together against hate and the ongoing efforts to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals across our country,” said Congressman Pappas. “No one should be a second-class citizen in the United States, and everyone deserves the opportunity to participate fully in their community and to live free from discrimination and the harm it brings. When we work to create a positive environment that respects everyone and protects personal freedoms, we all win. That is how we will continue to change our world for the better. I’m proud to be fighting for equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in Congress.”

Pappas serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and is New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress. In his role as Co-Chair of the Equality Caucus, he has helped to introduce and pass the Equality Act through the House of Representatives and enact the Respect for Marriage Act into law. Pappas also leads the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act, which would ban the use of so-called  “gay panic” and “trans panic” defenses in federal court; the SERVE Act, which would guarantee and protect VA benefits for LGBTQ+ veterans; legislation to improve VA resources for LGBTQ+ veterans; and has led successful calls for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reassess policy that blocked members of the LGBTQ+ community from donating blood. In the 116th Congress, Pappas led the Put Patients First Act, which would have blocked a Trump-Pence Administration rule that permitted discrimination in health care.