Washington, DC – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee released the following statement about LGBT Pride Month:

“For generations, LGBT Americans have helped to shape and strengthen the diverse American fabric. They have waged a courageous fight for dignity and respect and as a result, built a more diverse and tolerant society. I am proud to join in celebrating LGBT Pride Month and the remarkable progress that has been made in the areas of social justice and equal rights.

“We are richer as a nation because of the many strides made by LGBT leaders but the work is not done. Today, LGBT Americans are still the target of hate crimes and some states are still refusing to recognize marriage equality.

“More remains to be done to realize the full promise of America that all are equally treated and protected by the law. But it is undeniable that we are closer to realizing America’s promise than ever before. Houston’s LGBT community is the 16th largest in the nation. The Houston LGBT community is culturally diverse, economically dynamic and artistically vibrant.

“This month, I will join the Houston Pride Festival and Parade, a celebration that annually attracts more than 600 thousand people from Houston and around the world. We will come together in joy and optimism, reveling in the tremendous strides that have been made yet resolute that the work to forge a more just and perfect union must go on.”