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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 3h

Every major U.S. medical association disavows conversion "therapy."

24 states have laws banning licensed professionals from engaging in these practices—8 of which were signed by GOP governors.

This isn't about politics—it's about protecting kids.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 6h

Republicans have kept the government shut down for 8 days because they refuse to avert a crisis they created and lower Americans' healthcare costs.

Our members will never stop fighting to keep your healthcare affordable, no matter how long Republicans extend their vacation.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 1d

“Conversion ‘therapy’ is a discredited and deceptive practice that hurts patients and families. Almost half of states have taken steps to protect young LGBTQI+ people from these cruel practices, which I hope the Supreme Court will rightly recognize as a just and constitutional use of their powers. Earlier this summer, I was proud to lead 187 Members of Congress—alongside Rep. Ted Lieu, the author of California’s conversion therapy ban and the first federal bill to ban conversion therapy, and Senator Jeff Merkley—in calling on the Supreme Court to uphold states’ ability to protect young LGBTQI+ people from these harmful practices opposed by every major medical association. Today, as the Court hears oral arguments, I renew my call to the Justices: protect young LGBTQI+ people from conversion ‘therapy’, and uphold Colorado’s ban.” Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.

“Chiles v. Salazar is about states being able to protect kids from the fraudulent practice of conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is a scam, plain and simple. That is why I authored and passed the first statewide ban on conversion therapy for minors in the country. I am pleased to join my Congressional Equality Caucus colleagues in the fight to uphold these state bans.” Rep. Ted Lieu, Vice Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 1d

In August, Chair @repmarktakano.bsky.social & Vice Chair @reptedlieu.bsky.social led 187 Members of Congress in an brief urging SCOTUS to uphold states' conversion "therapy" bans.

Today, we renew our call to protect young people from these practices as the Justices hear arguments in this case. 🧵

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 2d

Never in history have the good guys been the ones banning books, but politicians like Trump are using their power to censor LGBTQI+ & other stories. His Administration has banned 596 books at DoD schools.

As we mark #BannedBooksWeek, we take a stand for the freedom to read.

Ban hate, not books. National Banned Books Week. October 5-11, 2025.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 2d

First, Republicans created a healthcare crisis.

Then, they caused a total government shutdown.

Now, Speaker Johnson has extended their vacation and canceled this week's votes while Americans are hurting.

This isn't leadership—it's cowardice.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 5d

Under Trump, agencies have implemented policies to rollback nondiscrimination policies, disband LGBTQI+ employee groups & censor Pride—creating a hostile environment for LGBTQI+ employees.

This firing is another example of how common anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination is in this Admin.

The Advocate: "Angry Democratic lawmakers slam ‘despicable’ Kash Patel for firing FBI agent over LGBTQ+ Pride flag." "“Trump and his Administration have been obsessively trying to purge our community from the federal workforce since they took power. This firing is just their next attack,” Takano told The Advocate in a statement. He pointed to agencies rolling back nondiscrimination protections, disbanding LGBTQI+ employee resource groups, and censoring Pride celebrations. “It’s not just censorship, they’re also firing people for simply being LGBTQI+ or doing work that supports the LGBTQI+ community. These despicable acts are just another example of how commonplace anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination is in this Administration.”" Read the full story at the link in our bio. IMAGE: FBI Director Kash Patel.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 5d

It's the 3rd day of the Republican shutdown and the House hasn't had votes since September 19!

Trump and the GOP are more interested in inflicting pain on the American people than protecting them from skyrocketing healthcare costs & ending the shutdown.

Mean Girls (2004): On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was. "It's the third day of Republicans' government shutdown."

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 5d

Despite attacks by anti-equality politicians against our community's very existence, our members are committed to the fight to protect LGBTQI+ history and are working to ensure that each next chapter of LGBTQI+ history is better than the last. #LGBTQIHistoryMonth

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 6d

SHUTDOWN FACT:
Every time the government has shut down since 1995, Republicans controlled the House of Representatives.

Republican-made crises have continually put Americans in harm's way, and this shutdown is no different.

SHUTDOWN FACT: Every government shutdown in the last 30 years has happened when Republicans had the majority in the House of Representatives. Do you see the pattern here?

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

There's actually a very easy solution to this crisis: a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and lower healthcare costs.

CANCEL THE CUTS. LOWER THE COST. SAVE HEALTHCARE.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

Our members and the @housedemocrats.bsky.social have been here all week trying to avert a shutdown without sacrificing Americans' healthcare.

Meanwhile, Republicans cancelled votes and took an extended vacation.

While Members of the Congressional Equality Caucus have been in D.C. all week fighting to keep the government open without sacrificing Americans’ healthcare, Republicans have been on vacation. IMAGE: Members of the Equality Caucus and House Democrats at a press conference outside the US Capitol holding signs that say “Republicans fled town, it’s their shutdown.”

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

To make things worse, Republicans in Congress are refusing to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that make health insurance more affordable.

More than half of LGBTQI+ adults already report difficulty affording healthcare—increasing rates will make it even harder.

Republicans are refusing to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that make healthcare more affordable, meaning Americans will pay more for their premiums. 52% of LGBTQI+ adults already report difficulty affording healthcare. Hiking premiums will make it even harder for our community to access care. Source: “Health Care Access and Financial Barriers Among LGBT People Amidst Looming Health Care Cuts” KFF, July 2025

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

Even though they knew more than 15 million Americans would lose their health insurance, Republicans passed Trump's Big Ugly Law earlier this year.

Our community is 2x as likely to rely on programs like Medicaid, meaning we'll be disproportionately hurt by the GOP’s cuts.

The GOP passed Trump’s Big Ugly Law earlier this year, despite knowing it would cause 15 million Americans to lose health insurance, including millions on Medicaid. LGBTQI+ Americans are twice as likely to rely on Medicaid, meaning they’ll be disproportionately impacted by these cuts. Source: “LGBT adults are twice as likely as non-LGBT adults to have Medicaid as their primary source of health insurance” UCLA Williams Institute, May 2025.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

We wanted to mark the start of #LGBTQIHistoryMonth with good news. Instead, Republicans shut down the government to avoid addressing the healthcare crisis they created.

Here's how the GOP healthcare crisis is impacting the LGBTQI+ community & why our members are fighting back:

Republicans just shut down the government to avoid addressing the healthcare crisis they created. Here’s how the GOP healthcare crisis is impacting the LGBTQI+ community (arrow pointing right).

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 7d

It's official: Republicans just let the government shut down in the middle of a healthcare crisis they created.

Anyone got eyes on Mike Johnson? If you do, tell him to stop holding the entire federal government hostage while members of his party are on vacation.

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Reposted by Congressional Equality Caucus

Congresswoman Julie Johnson @repjuliejohnson.bsky.social · 8d

Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the presidency.

They should have negotiated with us and put forth a funding bill that protected health care.

Instead, they chose to skip town. Republicans own this shutdown.

#RepublicanShutdown

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Reposted by Congressional Equality Caucus

Mike Quigley @quigley.house.gov · 8d

In less than 10 hours, the U.S. government will shut down, and Mike Johnson’s to do list will almost be complete.

Rather than negotiate with Democrats on a bipartisan bill, Republicans would rather take healthcare away from 5 million Americans.

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 8d

HAPPENING NOW: Leader @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @housedemocrats.bsky.social are calling on Republicans to come back from vacation and avoid a government shutdown.

Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dm-...

Stop the Republican Shutdown

YouTube video by Rep. Jeffries

www.youtube.com

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 8d

Co-Chair @balint.house.gov joined leaders of @hispaniccaucus.bsky.social, @capac.house.gov, @hispaniccaucus.bsky.social, @demwomencaucus.bsky.social, @newdemcoalition.bsky.social, & @usprogressives.bsky.social in calling on Trump to end the healthcare crisis he created & work to avoid a shutdown.

Rep. Becca Balint (Vermont) speaking at a press conference. Members of Congress are holding signs that say "Republicans fled town, it's their shutdown" and "Save our healthcare."

Members of Congress holding signs that say "Missing Person (Image of Speaker Johnson): Last seen wrecking healthcare. Republicans fled town, it's their shutdown" and "Republicans fled town, it's their shutdown" and "Save our healthcare."

Rep. Becca Balint (Vermont) speaking at a press conference in front of the US Capitol building. Members of Congress are holding signs that say "Republicans fled town, it's their shutdown" and "Save our healthcare."

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 8d

HAPPENING NOW: Equality Caucus Co-Chair @balint.house.gov joins Congressional caucus leaders to call out the Republican health care crisis and highlight the need for bipartisan negotiations to avoid the Republican shutdown.

Watch live: www.youtube.com/@Congression...

Congressional Hispanic Caucus

The 43-Member Congressional Hispanic Caucus advocates for issues important to Hispanics via the legislative process in Congress.

www.youtube.com

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 9d

Trump and the GOP have created a healthcare crisis that is hurting millions of Americans. Now, as we barrel towards a GOP shutdown, House Republicans are out of town.

Meanwhile, our members are in D.C. fighting to keep the government open while lowering health care costs.

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Reposted by Congressional Equality Caucus

Mike Quigley @quigley.house.gov · 9d

I enjoyed attending the 25th annual @aidsfoundationchi.bsky.social AIDS Run & Walk this weekend!

It’s going to take all of us to support the HIV community and end this epidemic once and for all. I’m proud to join the fight!

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 9d

The recent threats against @jayapal.house.gov by a state lawmaker in Arizona are abhorrent and must be unequivocally condemned.

There is no place for political violence in our society. Every American has a duty to call it out and hold those who would encourage violence accountable.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal @jayapal.house.gov · 12d

My statement in regard to comments made by State Representative John Gillette of Arizona:

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Congressional Equality Caucus @equality.house.gov · 11d

Trump & the GOP's cuts to HIV & AIDS education, prevention, & treatment will set us back decades in the fight to eradicate HIV—threatening the entire public's health, including gay men.

We must keep up the fight against HIV & AIDS among gay men! #NGMHAAD

National Gay Men’s HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. IMAGE: Red HIV awareness ribbon over a rainbow; Congressional Equality Caucus and Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus logos.

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