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Equality

Rep. Pocan is Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, where he helps lead the more than 100 caucus members on civil rights and equality issues. Rep. Pocan is a leading co-sponsor of the Equality Act, legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex. He is also the sponsor of the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, a bill to prevent discrimination at colleges and universities, and the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, a bill to restore the status and benefits of service members discharged due to their sexual orientation.

Rep. Pocan has strongly opposed the Trump Administration’s numerous attacks on the LGBTQ community, including speaking out against the Administration’s transgender military ban, the Department of Justice’s support for the defendant in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and the stripping of protections for LGBTQ Americans. Rep. Pocan has also spoken out against the Trump Administration’s attacks on transgender students and support for discrimination against LGBTQ students by voucher schools. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Rep. Pocan vocally opposed the Aderholt Amendment, which would allow providers to discriminate against the LGBT individuals and couples in adoption and foster care services.

More on Equality

Pocan Applauds House Passage of Amendment to Restore Honor to Service Members Discharged Due to Sexual Orientation

Jul 12, 2019 Press Release
Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) applauded the House of Representatives for passing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would correct the military records of service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned.

Pocan, Hill, Schatz, and Gillibrand Reintroduce Legislation to Restore Honor to Service Members Discharged Due to Sexual Orientation

Jun 26, 2019 Press Release
Today, as Americans celebrate LGBT Pride Month, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Katie Hill (CA-25), along with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), reintroduced the Restore Honor to Service Members Act.

Pocan Celebrates House Passage of the Equality Act

May 17, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act.

Murray, Baldwin, Pocan Introduce Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act

May 15, 2019 Press Release
Today, U.S. Reprsentative Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) re-introduced legislation aimed at reducing bullying and harassment, including cyberbullying, at colleges and universities around the country.

Pocan Introduces the 21st Century President Act to Clarify that Women and LGBTQ Americans Can Be President

Jan 17, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today introduced the 21st Century President Act, which would change outdated legal definitions in the U.S. code to clarify that Presidents do not have to be men and their spouses do not have to be wives.

Pocan Leads More than 50 House Democrats in Calling on Speaker Ryan to Include LGBT Content in Workplace Training

Jun 14, 2018 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today led a group of 58 House Democrats in calling on Speaker Ryan and Rep. Gregg Harper to include guidance on sexual orientation and gender identity as part of the Workplace Rights and Responsibilities education program attended by Members of Congress and staff.

Pocan Statement on Oral Arguments for Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission

Dec 5, 2017 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), Co-Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court holding oral arguments for Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Pocan Statement on Trump Banning Transgender Americans from Serving in the Military

Jul 26, 2017 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, today released the following statement regarding President Trump’s decision to reverse military policy and ‘not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.’

As LGBTQ Students, Schools Grapple with “Trump Effect,” Murray, Baldwin, Pocan Redouble Efforts to Pass Anti-Harassment Legislation

Apr 27, 2017 Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing bullying and harassment that affects one in five students at colleges and universities across the country. The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2017 would require institutions of higher education to establish policies to prohibit harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.

Rep. Pocan, 121 Members of Congress Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging the President to Reinstate Guidelines for Transgender Students

Mar 2, 2017 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) led a bipartisan letter with 121 Members of Congress to the President urging him to reverse the recent decision to rescind guidance regarding protections for transgender students under Title IX. The letter also asks the President to meet with transgender students and their families to hear their stories and learn from their experiences.

In the bipartisan letter, the Members of Congress state: