Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives where he is serving his seventh term. He serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth and the National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.
Jim grew up as the child of a single working mom in a small town. As a member of Congress, Jim works hard to provide all American children the same opportunities he had to succeed: access to a first-rate public school, affordable and effective health care, a decent and safe home, and a supportive community.
As a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, I am immensely proud of our progress towards ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans. In my first term, I was proud to join my colleagues in ending the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy so that our men and women in uniform can serve openly in our Armed Forces.
In the years since then, the Supreme Court’s rulings in Obergefell v. Hodges and Bostock v. Clayton County have brought us closer to realizing the goal of equality for all under the law. But there is still much we can do to make our country more inclusive, loving, and accepting.
In many states, it is still legal for public housing officials, education administrators, jurors, and businesses open to the public to discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equality Act, which I’ve co-cosponsored and voted for, would address this by guaranteeing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in instances of public accommodations, housing, employment, federal funding, education, credit, and jury service.
I will continue to work to end all forms of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
In order to fulfill the promise of America, we need to move towards a future of equal opportunity and equality before the law.