Patricia Schroeder: “today my city of Denver and many other Coloradans went to the Supreme Court and a very, very powerful argument was put…”

“today my city of Denver and many other Coloradans went to the Supreme Court and a very, very powerful argument was put together by my city and many others that would say that all Americans, all Americans, have the right to equal protection of the laws, including gay men and lesbians. Amendment 2 was adopted by a slim majority in my State of Colorado in 1992, and this is the final culmination of it in the Supreme Court. Mr. Speaker, as I stand in this well, the word ``tolerance'' is right here to my left. The word ``justice'' is right behind me. Those kinds of words are printed all over and chiseled on stone all throughout this great city. The issue today is do we really mean it. Justice Ginsburg made a compelling analogy to the suffragettes, pointing out that when they could not win the right to vote nationally, they went to localities to do that. I certainly hope that the outcome continues to be in accordance with the words that we have chiseled on all of our stones around here about tolerance and justice and equal protection for all. Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court today heard a powerful argument on behalf of the city of Denver and other parties that a majority of voters cannot override the right to equal protection of the laws enjoyed by all Americans, including gay men and lesbians.”