Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Equality Act. America must live up to its values, and that means treating everyone as equals and ending discrimination. The Equality Act is about making sure all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can participate in our society without fear. New Mexico is home to diverse religious and traditional communities and has stood up for its LGBTQ population for a long time. We stood up early to ban the cruel practice of conversion therapy. The Equality Act allows us to adhere to our faiths while prohibiting harmful and isolating acts of discrimination experienced by too many LGBTQ Americans. Consider this: 38 percent of transgender New Mexicans are unemployed; 40 percent live in poverty; 26 percent have been discriminated against during the hiring or promotion processes; 41 percent have been homeless at some point; and 33 percent have been discriminated against at a place of public accommodation. No one should have to worry about being discriminated against when planning their wedding or struggle to simply get a cake. The Equality Act will outlaw such discrimination, which is why we should pass it as soon as possible. ____________________”