Political Quotes

“in this ragtag, middle-of-the-night procedure, the Senator from Utah asks a basic question: What if my freedom conflicts with your freedom? Specifically, what if my freedom of religious belief says that I don't have to sell my home to an African American? What if my religious belief says that I don't have to pay women the same thing as men who work for me? What if my religious belief says that I can discriminate against a person because of their sexual orientation? I read the Senator's amendment as saying the answer is obvious: religion prevails. I don't think it is that simple. It is not that simple in this building or across the street in the Supreme Court. If we are dealing with the fundamental question of discrimination based on religious belief, we all want to make certain that we acknowledge and respect religious belief, but we also feel pretty strongly about the rights of individuals when it comes to their gender, their identity, their sexual orientation, their color, the fact that they may be disabled. Arguing that religious belief would allow me to discriminate with impunity is a pretty large question to assert at this time of night. I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing this Lee amendment.”