Political Quotes

“I thank Congresswoman Coleman for yielding time, and I thank her for organizing this Special Order and for her leadership on this issue. She is a new Member, but not a new person to public service, not a new person to leadership, not a new person to fighting for the rights of every American, and I thank her very much for her leadership, her commitment, and her courage. I also want to thank, Mr. Speaker, the LGBT Equality Caucus for its powerful advocacy on this issue. The Supreme Court next week is hearing more than just an argument about same sex marriage. It is considering a question fundamental to what it means to be an American. Our Nation, as we say so proudly, was founded on the premise that all people are created equal--not the same, but equal--irrespective of the differences. Our Declaration of Independence, as all of us quote so often, says: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men''--of course, if Jefferson were writing today, it would be either all people or all humankind--``are created equal, that they are endowed by''--not a Congress, not by a Constitution, not by a will of the majority--``their Creator''--by God--``with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' That, of course, has not always been America's performance, notwithstanding it has been its promise. Next week, the highest Court in our land will be asked to consider whether these words apply to same-sex couples who love one another.…”