LGBT Equality

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) vowed to fight a lawsuit today that seeks to force him to remove a historic Pride Flag from outside his Washington, D.C. Congressional office. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the suit claims that the plaintiff is “offended and injured by the placement of the Gay Pride Rainbow Flag,” and requests that the court order the flag removed and declared a “religious symbol,” homosexuality be declared a “religion,” and marriage equality be... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal today issued the following statement regarding the nomination by President Trump of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court: “Any nominee selected to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court should be properly vetted and examined as to their ability to serve as the best voice for advancing justice in our nation and as a fair defender of the Constitution and the constitutional rights of individuals. Justices serve, by the design of the Founders, within a separate b... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) has delivered a letter to the Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament calling for the legislative body to reject recently proposed anti-LGBT legislation that mimics Russia’s 2013 propaganda law that would levy fines for spreading "propaganda of homosexual relations among minors" through the internet, mass media, assemblies, and in other ways. The letter was authored by Congressman Lowenthal and signed by 23 other Members of Congress. In the letter to Moldovan Speake... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) has signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT individuals in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life. “The time has come to put an end to discrimination against LGBT individuals. Though we saw a great victory at the Supreme Court recently, that decision only underscores the need to ensure that not only do LGBT individuals have the same right to mar... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v Hodges that has made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states: “This is a historic day in our national journey towards ending discrimination and extending the freedom for all Americans to live, love, and prosper. In their decision, the Supreme Court has upheld our nation's fundamental values of equality, fairness, and diversity. “Most importantly, the court has made clear t... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) today joined with Senator Edward Markey (MA) and nearly 60 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Barack Obama calling for further executive action to ensure that federal funds are not used to subsidize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) discrimination either in the United States or abroad. “To promote our fundamental values of equality, equity, and diversity, we cannot go half way at home and we certainly cannot halt the extensio... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal, in recognition of his commitment and dedication to equality and LGBT issues, has been named as a vice-chair of the U.S. House of Representatives LGBT Equality Caucus. "I am honored to serve in a leadership position on the LGBT Equality Caucus. For my entire adult life, I have fought to defend the basic human rights of equality and equal treatment for all people. While we still have a long journey ahead, in a short space of time, we have made tremendous strides towards... Read more

Congressman Alan Lowenthal today issued the following statement on the announcement that Secretary of State John Kerry has appointed Randy Berry as the State Department special envoy to promote global LGBT rights: "Randy Berry brings not only his professional experience as a highly successful diplomat to the table, but also a profound understanding of the issues of universal human rights. His appointment is a great step toward assuring that we as a nation serve as a beacon to the rest of the wor... Read more

Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today applauded the announcement from the U.S. State Department that it is creating a new Special Envoy position to advocate for LGBT rights. The lawmakers called for the position in legislation introduced last week, the International Human Rights Defense Act. The legislation was originally introduced by Senator Markey in June 2014. The legislation directs the State Department to make preventing and responding to discriminatio... Read more

Seeking to build on the Obama Administration commitment to making the United States fight for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) equality both at home and abroad a foreign policy priority, Congressman Alan Lowenthal, along with Senator Edward Markey, have introduced the International Human Rights Defense Act of 2015 in both the House and Senate. "We must do what we can as a nation to enforce the precept that all human beings, regardless of where they live, are entitled to a basic set... Read more