Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Issues Statement in Response to the Supreme Court’s Decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, Recent Trump Administration Rollbacks of Protections for Transgender Americans

HOUSTON, TX – Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, and recent Trump administration rollbacks of critical protections for transgender Americans.

"I commend the Supreme Court on their 6-3 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, which makes it clear that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination in the workplace, said Congresswoman Garcia. "In America, no one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This decision ensures that LGBTQ workers will be treated with dignity in the workplace and will afford them the same rights and protections as any other worker."

"Yet despite this decision, we still have much work to do to ensure that LGBTQ Americans are treated fairly under the law, especially by the Trump Administration," continued Congresswoman Garcia. Last Friday, on the anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, the Trump Administration finalized a rule rolling back critical protections for transgender Americans in healthcare, which will impact the ability of transgender patients to fight against discrimination by doctors, medical facilities and health insurance providers. The Administration has also announced that it will be proposing a rules change under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that would bar transgender women from women's homeless shelters."

"These are just two more examples of how this administration continues to attack transgender Americans for political gain. This is why the Senate must immediately pass the Equality Act, which was passed last year in the House of Representatives. We cannot tolerate any form of discrimination in America, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity," concluded Congresswoman Garcia.

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.