Text of VT JRH 4 (2023)

State of Vermont House of Representatives Montpelier, Vermont Joint House Resolution J.R.H. 4 Joint resolution recognizing March 31, 2023 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Vermont, expressing support for the transgender rights of all Vermonters, and opposing legislation restricting the rights of transgender Vermonters regardless of their age Offered by: Representatives Small of Winooski, Andrews of Westford, Andriano of Orwell, Anthony of Barre City, Arrison of Weathersfield, Arsenault of Williston, Austin of Colchester, Bartholomew of Hartland, Berbeco of Winooski, Birong of Vergennes, Black of Essex, Bluemle of Burlington, Bongartz of Manchester, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Boyden of Cambridge, Brady of Williston, Brown of Richmond, Brownell of Pownal, Brumsted of Shelburne, Burke of Brattleboro, Burrows of West Windsor, Buss of Woodstock, Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Carpenter of Hyde Park, Carroll of Bennington, Casey of Montpelier, Chapin of East Montpelier, Chase of Chester, Chase of Colchester, Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, Christie of Hartford, Cina of Burlington, Coffey of Guilford, Cole of Hartford, Conlon of Cornwall, Corcoran of Bennington, Cordes of Lincoln, Demrow of Corinth, Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Dolan of Waitsfield, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Elder of Starksboro, Emmons of Springfield, Farlice-Rubio of Barnet, Garofano of Essex, Goldman of Rockingham, Graning of Jericho, Headrick of Burlington, Holcombe of Norwich, Hooper of Randolph, Hooper of Burlington, Houghton of Essex Junction, Howard of Rutland City, Hyman of South Burlington, James of Manchester, Jerome of Brandon, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, Krasnow of South Burlington, Krowinski of Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, LaLonde of South Burlington, LaMont of Morristown, Lanpher of Vergennes, Leavitt of Grand Isle, Lipsky of Stowe, Logan of Burlington, Long of Newfane, Masland of Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McCarthy of St. Albans City, McGill of Bridport, Mihaly of Calais, Minier of South Burlington, Morris of Springfield, Mrowicki of Putney, Mulvaney-Stanak of Burlington, Nicoll of Ludlow, Notte of Rutland City, Noyes of Wolcott, Nugent of South Burlington, O’Brien of Tunbridge, Ode of Burlington, Pajala of Londonderry, Patt of Worcester, Pearl of Danville, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Rice of Dorset, Roberts of Halifax, Satcowitz of Randolph, Scheu of Middlebury, Sheldon of Middlebury, Sibilia of Dover, Sims of Craftsbury, Squirrell of Underhill, Stebbins of Burlington, Stevens of Waterbury, Stone of Burlington, Surprenant of Barnard, Taylor of Colchester, Templeman of Brownington, Toleno of Brattleboro, Torre of Moretown, Troiano of Stannard, Waters Evans of Charlotte, White of Bethel, Whitman of Bennington, Williams of Barre City, and Wood of Waterbury Whereas, in 2009, March 31 was established as International Transgender Day of Visibility to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the transgender community, to raise awareness of the discrimination and potentially fatal violence transgender persons experience, and to recognize the bravery required to live a visibly transgender life, and Whereas, before the establishment of the State of Vermont, Indigenous two-spirit and transgender individuals existed in many Native American communities, and although many of these traditions were lost or suppressed, they have experienced a revival, and Whereas, the State of Vermont believes that every resident deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal justice and fair access to societal opportunities, and Whereas, in accordance with 9 V.S.A., chapter 139, discrimination based on gender identity in public accommodation and housing is prohibited, and 21 V.S.A. § 495(a)(1) and (2) prohibit such discrimination with respect to employment, and Whereas, anti-transgender legislation, which has been introduced and adopted in a number of states, is an attack on the mental health and safety of transgender youth and creates a hostile environment for all children and their families, and Whereas, in opposing such legislation, the State of Vermont takes a stand in proclaiming our State to be inclusive and to stand with the LGBTQIA2S+ community, as well as to encourage other states to join with Vermont in giving a stronger voice to transgender children and youth, and Whereas, President Joe Biden recognized the importance of Transgender Day of Visibility with a proclamation issued on March 30, 2023, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the General Assembly recognizes March 31, 2023 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Vermont, expresses support for the rights of all transgender Vermonters, and opposes legislation restricting the rights of transgender Vermonters regardless of their age, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Outright Vermont, the Pride Center of Vermont, and Out in the Open.

R-166 Page 1 of 2 2024 VT LEG #373610 v.1 No. R-166. Joint resolution recognizing March 31, 2023 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Vermont, expressing support for the transgender rights of all Vermonters, and opposing legislation restricting the rights of transgender Vermonters regardless of their age. (J.R.H. 4) Offered by: Representatives Small of Winooski, Andrews of Westford, Andriano of Orwell, Anthony of Barre City, Arrison of Weathersfield, Arsenault of Williston, Austin of Colchester, Bartholomew of Hartland, Berbeco of Winooski, Birong of Vergennes, Black of Essex, Bluemle of Burlington, Bongartz of Manchester, Bos-Lun of Westminster, Boyden of Cambridge, Brady of Williston, Brown of Richmond, Brownell of Pownal, Brumsted of Shelburne, Burke of Brattleboro, Burrows of West Windsor, Buss of Woodstock, Campbell of St. Johnsbury, Carpenter of Hyde Park, Carroll of Bennington, Casey of Montpelier, Chapin of East Montpelier, Chase of Chester, Chase of Colchester, Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, Christie of Hartford, Cina of Burlington, Coffey of Guilford, Cole of Hartford, Conlon of Cornwall, Corcoran of Bennington, Cordes of Lincoln, Demrow of Corinth, Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Essex Junction, Dolan of Waitsfield, Durfee of Shaftsbury, Elder of Starksboro, Emmons of Springfield, Farlice- Rubio of Barnet, Garofano of Essex, Goldman of Rockingham, Graning of Jericho, Headrick of Burlington, Holcombe of Norwich, Hooper of Randolph, Hooper of Burlington, Houghton of Essex Junction, Howard of Rutland City, Hyman of South Burlington, James of Manchester, Jerome of Brandon, Kornheiser of Brattleboro, Krasnow of South Burlington, Krowinski of Burlington, Lalley of Shelburne, LaLonde of South Burlington, LaMont of Morristown, Lanpher of Vergennes, Leavitt of Grand Isle, Lipsky of Stowe, Logan of Burlington, Long of Newfane, Masland of Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, McCarthy of St. Albans City, McGill of Bridport, Mihaly of Calais, Minier of South Burlington, Morris of Springfield, Mrowicki of Putney, Mulvaney-Stanak of Burlington, Nicoll of Ludlow, Notte of Rutland City, Noyes of Wolcott, Nugent of South Burlington, O’Brien of Tunbridge, Ode of Burlington, Pajala of Londonderry, Patt of Worcester, Pearl of Danville, Pouech of Hinesburg, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of Burlington, Rice of Dorset, Roberts of Halifax, Satcowitz of Randolph, Scheu of Middlebury, Sheldon of Middlebury, Sibilia of Dover, Sims of Craftsbury, Squirrell of Underhill, Stebbins of Burlington, Stevens of Waterbury, Stone of Burlington, Surprenant of Barnard, Taylor of Colchester, Templeman of Brownington, Toleno of Brattleboro, Torre of Moretown, Troiano of Stannard, Waters Evans of Charlotte, White of Bethel, Whitman of Bennington, Williams of Barre City, and Wood of Waterbury Whereas, in 2009, March 31 was established as International Transgender Day of Visibility to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the transgender community, to raise awareness of the discrimination and potentially fatal violence transgender persons experience, and to recognize the bravery required to live a visibly transgender life, and Whereas, before the establishment of the State of Vermont, Indigenous two-spirit and transgender individuals existed in many Native American communities, and although many of these traditions were lost or suppressed, they have experienced a revival, and R-166 Page 2 of 2 2024 VT LEG #373610 v.1 Whereas, the State of Vermont believes that every resident deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal justice and fair access to societal opportunities, and Whereas, in accordance with 9 V.S.A., chapter 139, discrimination based on gender identity in public accommodation and housing is prohibited, and 21 V.S.A. § 495(a)(1) and (2) prohibit such discrimination with respect to employment, and Whereas, anti-transgender legislation, which has been introduced and adopted in a number of states, is an attack on the mental health and safety of transgender youth and creates a hostile environment for all children and their families, and Whereas, in opposing such legislation, the State of Vermont takes a stand in proclaiming our State to be inclusive and to stand with the LGBTQIA2S+ community, as well as to encourage other states to join with Vermont in giving a stronger voice to transgender children and youth, and Whereas, President Joe Biden recognized the importance of Transgender Day of Visibility with a proclamation issued on March 30, 2023, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the General Assembly recognizes March 31, 2023 as Transgender Day of Visibility in Vermont, expresses support for the rights of all transgender Vermonters, and opposes legislation restricting the rights of transgender Vermonters regardless of their age, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Outright Vermont, the Pride Center of Vermont, and Out in the Open.