4 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS January 3, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONGRATULATING THE UNIVER- SAGO MINE COAL MINING imposed on our fellow gay, lesbian, bisexual SITY OF MARYLAND MEN’S SOC- ACCIDENT and transgender citizens. CER TEAM ON WINNING THE 2005 But the stirrings of change were apparent NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP HON. NICK J. RAHALL II for those who look closely. One of the most OF WEST VIRGINIA important examples of this was an event little IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES noticed at the time, but which has turned out HON. STENY H. HOYER to be of great significance in the ongoing bat- Tuesday, January 3, 2006 OF MARYLAND tle against homophobia. On January 26, 1976, Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all a courageous, thoughtful, committed young IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES West Virginians, our hearts and prayers are gay man named Mark Segal presided over the Tuesday, January 3, 2006 with the families and loved ones of those who publication of the first issue of the Philadelphia are trapped in the Sago Mine in Upshur Coun- Gay News. Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ty, West Virginia. We extend our hope that PGN is now widely known for its leadership congratulate the University of Maryland Men’s families will be reunited and lives will be role in one of the great fights for social justice Soccer Team, the 2005 National Collegiate saved. that has marked recent American history. It Athletic Association Champions. The Maryland Once again, when it mattered most, West was started in a rundown building at 13th and Terrapins claimed the 2005 NCAA Champion- Virginians have risen to the occasion. The Locust Streets in Philadelphia, a building ship, 1–0, over the University of New Mexico men and women who are tirelessly dedicating which lacked plumbing and electricity. What it Lobos at SAS Complex in Cary, North Caro- their efforts to recovering our fellow Americans did not lack was heart and brains. From the lina, on December 11, 2005. are to be commended and applauded. The outset, under the leadership of Mark Segal, The University of Maryland Men’s Soccer community that is extending their support to PGN has been a strong force for fairness in Team has had a very successful season of the families and friends who are patiently wait- our society. It was under PGN’s auspices that the first which we can all be proud. In addition to the ing at this critical time are also helping in this mayoral forum was held in Philadelphia where National Collegiate Athletic Association Cham- difficult and tenuous time. all of the candidates for that office spoke to pionship, the Terrapins won the 2005 Atlantic Though we are all anxiously anticipating the issues facing the LGBT community. Later Coast Conference Regular Season Champion- their safe return, I urge everyone to take a PGN organized the first AIDS awareness day ship and had an overall record of 19–4–2. moment and ask our Creator for his full sup- in the city, and it has grown both in size and They also set a school record of 66 goals. Ad- port in these efforts. As a West Virginian, I am proud of the way both our state leaders and influence throughout its history. ditionally, the Maryland Terrapins are the first Mark Segal deserves congratulations for his team since 1992 to win the tournament as the residents have responded to this disaster. f role as the sole owner and publisher of PGN number one seed. for 30 uninterrupted years—a longevity record The Terrapins’ Men’s Soccer Program has a 30 YEARS OF JOURNALISTIC for LGBT newspapers, and an admirable history of successes. In just the past four sea- LEADERSHIP record for any media outlet in these days of sons, the Terps have amassed 76 wins, the increasing corporatization and the diminution most in the NCAA during the 4-year span. In HON. ROBERT A. BRADY of journalistic independence. addition, the Terrapins won their first national OF PENNSYLVANIA The work of Mark Segal and PGN has been soccer title in 1968, when it shared the title IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES honored by a wide range of organizations, in- with Michigan State. cluding LGBT advocacy groups, and profes- Tuesday, January 3, 2006 The coaches who have led the Terrapins to sional journalistic associations. They include victory are Head Coach Sasho Cirovsky, As- Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defa- sistant Coach Russell Payne, and Assistant on behalf of myself and my colleagues, the mation; the Pennsylvania Newspaper Associa- Coach Rob Vartughian. Also assisting the gentlewoman from Wisconsin, Ms. BALDWIN, tion; The Society for News Design; and The team were Associate Athletics Director Shawn and the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Society for Professional Journalists. Flynn, Trainer Terry Gee, and Adam Zundell FRANK, I submit these remarks commemo- Emblematic of Mark Segal’s refusal to ac- with Sports Information. University of Maryland rating a very important anniversary in the his- cept anything less than equality for himself Athletics Director Debbie Yow was also essen- toric struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and and members of the LGBT community is the tial to their success. transgender people for equal treatment under fact that he now sits on the Board of the the law. Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, which The gifted athletes include the following Uni- Thirty years ago, in 1976, the notion of or- for 15 years had refused to allow PGN even versity of Maryland students: Spencer Allen, ganized activity to combat discrimination to join. Mr. Speaker, as the Member of the Matt Beckman, Kenney Bertz, Marc Burch, based on sexual orientation and gender iden- House in whose district PGN is published, I Robbie C’deBaca, Kwame Darko, A.J. tity was an extremely controversial one. No- speak from personal experience of its impor- Delagarza, Michael DelIo-Russo, Maurice Edu, where in America did lesbian, gay or bisexual tance as a respected and invaluable source of Jason Garey, David Glaudemans, A.J. people have any legal protections against information, much of which would otherwise Godbolt, Aki Kadotani, Stephen King, Chris being dismissed or otherwise disadvantaged in go unpublished. And I know that my col- Lancos, Michael Marchiano, Kevin Reiman, the job market. Eleven years before that, leagues from Wisconsin and Massachusetts Doug Rodkey, Robbie Rogers, Craig Salvati, when Congress passed what was generally share my high opinion of the extraordinary im- Chris Seitz, Kevin Tangney, Michael Vallie, considered to be a liberalization of U.S. immi- portant role that PGN plays in our fight against Pat Wilson, and Graham Zusi. gration law, that law included on the rec- prejudice. Mr. Speaker, in addition to promoting dis- ommendation of Democratic Presidents and Mr. Speaker, for 30 years, in the face of a cipline and health, collegiate athletics provide adopted without dissent in a Democratic Con- good deal of initial hostility and subsequent in- a wonderful training ground for future leaders gress a tightening on the prohibition against difference at best, Mark Segal and PGN have and I expect that we will see great things gay or lesbian people even being tourists in shone the light on sexual orientation and gen- come from these young men in the future. I the United States. Here in the Congress, no der identity prejudice not just in the United applaud the University of Maryland’s 2005 serious effort was underway to deal with the States but in the world, and have helped to di- Men’s Soccer Team on its success. severe legal and other handicaps that were minish it—although we obviously have a long ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:09 Mar 08, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BOOK1\BR03JA06.DAT BR03JA06 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE January 3, 2006 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 5 way to go. I am very proud to be able to sa- WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY On its sesquicentennial, I salute the city of lute this important pioneer in the fight for so- SUGAR BOWL VICTORY Middleton and its people and wish them many cial justice, and to express my confidence, more years of prosperity. and that of my colleagues from Wisconsin and HON. NICK J. RAHALL II Massachusetts, that as long as there is a OF WEST VIRGINIA f need to combat homophobia, we will be able IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to count on PGN’s leadership role. IN MEMORY OF SGT REGINA Tuesday, January 3, 2006 REALI f Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I want to take CONGRATULATING THE UNIVER- this time to personally congratulate West Vir- HON. JIM COSTA SITY OF MARYLAND WOMEN’S ginia University on their victory last night in the OF CALIFORNIA FIELD HOCKEY TEAM ON WIN- 2006 Sugar Bowl. All of us in West Virginia NING THE 2005 NCAA CHAMPION- are proud of the players and the coaches for IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHIP their tremendous effort put forth on behalf of Tuesday, January 3, 2006 the Mountain State. I would like to personally Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coach Rodriguez, his players HON. STENY H. HOYER honor and remember the memory of SGT Re- and his coaching team on such a ‘‘sweet’’ vic- OF MARYLAND gina Reali who lost her life defending our na- tory.