Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ)pledged to fight on behalf of LGBTQ+ Americans during a speech she made after being sworn into Congress on Wednesday. She had waited 50 days to be sworn in after winning a special election, and immediately promised to sign a discharge petition to release government files about the high-profile clients of convicted and deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.Its past time for Congress to restore its role as a check and balance on this administration and fight for we the American people, Grijalva said in her speech. We need to fight for our immigrant communities and our veterans. We need to stand up for our public schools, children, and educators. We need to respect tribal sovereignty and our environment. We need to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights because thats what the American people expect us to do fight for them. Related Jeffrey Epsteins email says Trump knew of his child sex trafficking Our Democracy only works when everyone has a voice, she said, adding, This includes the millions of people across the country who have experienced violence and exploitation. She then acknowledged two survivors of Epsteins crimes, Liz Stein and Jessica Michaels, sitting in the congressional gallery.Just this morning, House Democrats released more emails showing Trump knew more about Epsteins abuses than he [has] previously acknowledged, Grijalva continued. That is why I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files, because justice cannot wait another day. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today She then said, Adelante mi gente. Muchas gracias! which is Spanish for Forward, my people. Thanks very much!Grijalva won a special election in her state on September 23 to fill a House seat left empty due to the death of her father, longtime Rep.Ral Grijalva (D-AZ).After Adelita Grijalvas election victory, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) refused to swear her in before the start of the government shutdown, which began on September 30, claiming that he wanted to wait until her election results were certified (even though he had sworn in other Congress members before their own elections were certified).Johnson also refused to swear her in during the shutdown, even though the House Speaker retains the right to swear in new members when the House is not in session. Upon her swearing in, Rep. Grijalva immediately signed the discharge petition torelease the Epstein files, which now has the necessary 218 signatures to move to a vote on the House floor in the coming weeks.Oversight Democrats in Congress pushed for the files release and accused Republicans of delaying Rep. Grijalvas swearing in to protect the president and other high-profile people from potentially embarrassing or criminal disclosures in the Epstein files. The issue feels especially significant for the LGBTQ+ community since MAGA Republicans have repeatedly accused queer people and allies of grooming children for sexual abuse. Trump has long indulged conservative followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory who see him as a messianic figure who will expose a global child sex trafficking ring that, they believe, involves Democrats and powerful Hollywood elites.Now that congressional Republicans have an opportunity to expose the details of Epsteins actual child sex trafficking operation, Trump and other White House officials have balked at the prospect, accusing Democrats of using the hoax to distract from their partys alleged political failings. However, Johnson has promised to hold a House vote on the files release by next week.In a statement, Democratic Womens Caucus Chair, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernndez (D-NM), wrote, Rep. Grijalva is also a fierce supporter of justice and survivors. We applaud her immediate action to sign our legislative effort to release the Epstein files, which we now know Trump is in, thanks to the efforts of Oversight Democrats.Speaker Johnson has protected pedophiles by delaying this vote for far too long, Rep. Fernndez continued. He must hold the vote as soon as possible so we can find out who participated, who benefited, and where the money flowed even and especially if it includes the President. Epsteins survivors and their loved ones deserve a chance at justice and the freedom to move on.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.