Political Quotes

“While there have been occasional steps backward in America's march towards equality for all citizens, progress and understanding have marched steadily onward. As a result, America is more diverse, and it is better for it; but we must continue to work hard to create a truly equal and just society. Discriminating against an individual based on race, religion, or sexual identity is deplorable and unacceptable. Historically, the LGBT community has faced significant discrimination, but the country has come a long way in recent years in attitude. Most Americans are more accepting regardless of one's sexual orientation, but there remain too many areas where society still must translate the attitude of most Americans into rights and protections for all citizens. LGBT students should be able to learn in a safe school environment, free of cruel bullying, psychological or physical abuse. The term ``bullying'' actually does not capture the behavior and the threat. Foster children should be adopted by loving families regardless of the parents' sexual orientations. Of course, most fundamentally, Americans should be afforded the right of marriage whether they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual--the same as heterosexual couples. I've been involved with these issues since I first chaired a hearing in the Oregon House of Representatives on antidiscrimination in 1973, right through today, in advocating the repeal of DOMA.…”