Here in the United States, we're united by a fundamental
principle: we're all created equal and every single American deserves to be
treated equally in the eyes of the law. We believe that no matter who you are,
if you work hard and play by the rules, you deserve the chance to follow your
dreams and pursue your happiness. That's America's promise.
That's why, for instance, Americans can't be fired from
their jobs just because of the color of their skin or for being Christian or
Jewish or a woman or an individual with a disability. That kind of
discrimination has no place in our nation. And yet, right now, in 2013, in many
states a person can be fired simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
transgender.
This editor is not aware that this last statement is true nor has it been for several years.
As a result, millions of LGBT Americans go to work every day
fearing that, without any warning, they could lose their jobs -- not because of
anything they've done, but simply because of who they are.
It's offensive. It's wrong. And it needs to stop, because in
the United States of America, who you are and who you love should never be a
fireable offense.
Again, this is what is called a "straw dog." Obama actually owns a entire kennel of these animals.
That's why Congress needs to pass the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act, also known as ENDA, which would provide strong federal
protections against discrimination, making it explicitly illegal to fire
someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This bill has
strong bipartisan support and the support of a vast majority of Americans. It
ought to be the law of the land.
Americans ought to be judged by one thing only in their
workplaces: their ability to get their jobs done. Does it make a difference if
the firefighter who rescues you is gay -- or the accountant who does your
taxes, or the mechanic who fixes your car? If someone works hard every day,
does everything he or she is asked, is responsible and trustworthy and a good
colleague, that's all that should matter.
Business agrees. The majority of Fortune 500 companies and
small businesses already have nondiscrimination policies that protect LGBT
employees. These companies know that it's both the right thing to do and makes
good economic sense. They want to attract and retain the best workers, and
discrimination makes it harder to do that.
So too with our nation. If we want to create more jobs and
economic growth and keep our country competitive in the global economy, we need
everyone working hard, contributing their ideas, and putting their abilities to
use doing what they do best. We need to harness the creativity and talents of
every American.
EEOC laws including rules governing discrimination, retaliation, free marriage to whomever, and workplace fairness considerations, all combine to protect those who are gay or play dress-up.
So I urge the Senate to vote yes on ENDA and the House of
Representatives to do the same. Several Republican Senators have already voiced
their support, as have a number of Republicans in the House. If more members of
Congress step up, we can put an end to this form of discrimination once and for
all.
Passing ENDA would build on the progress we've made in
recent years. We stood up against hate crimes with the Matthew Shepard Act and
lifted the entry ban for travelers with HIV. We ended "Don't Ask, Don't
Tell" so our brave servicemen and women can serve openly the country they
love, no matter who they love. We prohibited discrimination in housing and
hospitals that receive federal funding, and we passed the Violence Against
Women Act, which includes protections for LGBT Americans.
My Administration had stopped defending the so-called
Defense of Marriage Act, and earlier this year the U.S. Supreme Court struck
down that discriminatory law. Now we're implementing that ruling, giving
married couples access to the federal benefits they were long denied. And
across the nation, as more and more states recognize marriage equality, we're
seeing loving couples -- some who have been together for decades -- finally
join their hands in marriage.
Of course, Obama violated the law in refusing to defend it in court. Like the rest of us, he had no inside track on what the The Supremes were going to decided. We never know.
America is at a turning point. We're not only becoming more
accepting and loving as a people, we're becoming more just as a nation. But we
still have a way to go before our laws are equal to our Founding ideals. As I
said in my second inaugural address, our nation's journey toward equality isn't
complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under
the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to
one another must be equal as well.
Under Obama's rules of logic, you should know that his so-called "fairness doctrine" equally applies to bigamists and animal lovers. Need proof? Fashion a statement that includes same sex marriage as a "constitutional right" but excludes bigamy and a love affair with your Saint Bernard. Put that bit of logic in our comments, below.
In America of all places, people should be judged on the
merits: on the contributions they make in their workplaces and communities, and
on what Martin Luther King Jr. called "the content of their
character." That's what ENDA helps us do. When Congress passes it, I will
sign it into law, and our nation will be fairer and stronger for generations to
come.
