WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), released the following statement after the House successfully passed the final funding bills for Fiscal Year 2024:
"Anti-equality Republicans' attempts to use the appropriations process for an all-out assault on LGBTQI+ rights has officially failed," said Rep. Mark Pocan, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. "Democrats successfully eliminated more than 45 anti-equality riders from the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills during negotiationsincluding harmful riders targeting medically necessary care for transgender people or undermining nondiscrimination protections for our community. Unfortunately, Republicans fought to maintain a rider that restricts Pride flag displays at State Department buildings, and the final funding bills did not include some LGBTQI+ community funding projects. Our membership will keep fighting for our community in the FY2025 Appropriations process by working to keep bad riders out of future funding bills and ensure no community projects get cut."
About anti-LGTBQI+ riders:
In 2023, House Republicans introduced 12 hyper-partisan appropriations bills with more than 45 provisions targeting the LGBTQI+ community. The majority of bills included provisions creating licenses to discriminate against the LGBTQI+ community, restrictions on gender-affirming care, bans on pride flags, and bans on implementing President Biden's LGBTQI-inclusive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Orders. Additional riders included, but were not limited to, drag show restrictions and provisions to block federal agencies' LGBTQI+ nondiscrimination regulations. Republicans also held dozens of anti-LGBTQI+ votes on the appropriation bills that were considered on the House floor.
An in-depth summary of House Republicans' anti-LGBTQI+ attacks can be found in the Equality Caucus's 2023 report OBSESSED: House Republicans Relentless Attacks Against the LGBTQI+ Community in 2023.
On March 6, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which included six appropriations bills. None of the anti-LGBTQI+ riders in the original Republican bills were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
On March 22, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, which included the remaining six appropriations bills. Almost none of the anti-LGBTQI+ riders in the original Republican bills were included in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. However, one anti-LGBTQI+ rider, a restriction on displaying or flying Pride flags over State Department facilities, was included.
Founded in 2008, the Congressional Equality Caucus is dedicated to promoting equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, including intersex traits. The Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and around the world.