Over the past several years, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. In the 2022 state legislative season alone, more than two dozen anti-LGBTQ+ state bills have been signed into law. These laws have disproportionately targeted transgender and nonbinary youth. David Cicilline is fighting back against these state laws, advocating for robust federal protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

As Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, and one of only nine openly LGBTQ+ members of the House of Representatives, David has been a vocal and passionate advocate in defense of equal rights for all Americans. Recent studies underscore that despite growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ individuals in America continue to report high rates of discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. That is why David authored and introduced the Equality Act, historic legislation that passed the House in 2021 and would explicitly prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, public accommodations, government funded programs, education, credit, and jury selection.

As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, David is fighting to ensure U.S. foreign policy is holding governments abroad accountable for their failure to prevent violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. The House passed his Global Respect Act, a bill that would help prevent international violators of LGBTQ+ human rights from entering the United States and enhance U.S. State Department tracking and reporting of violence and other human rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals in foreign countries. David has also secured increased funding at the State Department and at USAID to support LGBTQ+ communities abroad.

As Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, David has played a leading role in pushing pro-LGBTQ+ legislation through the House of Representative. Not only did the House pass his Equality Act and Global Respect Act this Congress, but also under David’s tenure as Caucus Chair, two Equality Caucus endorsed bills have been signed into law: the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act which improves resources to respond to hate crimes — including those committed against the LGBTQ+ community — and legislation to designate the Pulse nightclub as a National Memorial.