Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Equality Act. First and foremost, I must begin by saying that I believe the LGBTQ community is a critical part of the fabric of our country. They are deserving of our unequivocal love and respect, and their contributions to my home State of Utah are utterly invaluable. As the mayor of Provo, I prioritized inclusion and love, and sought to ensure my administration did everything possible to recognize the intrinsic value of all of our citizens, including our LGBTQ community. I fought hard against discrimination and was grateful for my associations with organizations like Provo Pride, Equality Utah, Encircle, and others, who I was honored to stand with to ensure that our city motto of ``Welcome Home'' extended to everyone. Perhaps even more important than that, I am grateful for the association and relationships of my life that have helped me better understand the experiences of the LGBTQ community, and who have been patient with me, a conservative Utah boy raised in the 1960s, who took longer than I am proud of to gain empathy for this important issue. Again, I say I am incredibly grateful for the contribution of the LGBTQ community and will always stand with them in respect and support. With the Equality Act, we face a unique challenge: balancing the needs and protections against discrimination with the importance of protecting religious liberty, which is one of the fundamental rights enshrined at the foundation of our Nation.…”