[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 94 (Tuesday, July 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   IN YOUR HEART, YOU KNOW HE'S RIGHT

                                 ______


                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 1994

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, for some reason, it has 
become accepted in this country that to be genuinely conservative is 
somehow to believe in discriminating against people based on their 
sexual orientation. No one has done more to exemplify honest 
conservatism in recent times in America than Barry Goldwater. And no 
one speaks out more eloquently these days than he does against 
discrimination based on people's being gay or lesbian.
  Mr. Speaker, to those now active in politics who have drawn 
inspiration from Barry Goldwater in the past, and who may in fact have 
gotten involved in politics in part because of his example, I believe 
that Barry Goldwater's 1964 slogan is appropriate: In Your Heart, You 
Know He's Right.

                        Job Protection for Gays

                          (By Barry Goldwater)

       Last year, many who opposed lifting the ban on gays in the 
     military gave lip service to the American ideal that 
     employment opportunities should be based on skill and 
     performance. It's just that the military is different, they 
     said. In civilian life, they'd never condone discrimination.
       Well, now's their chance to put up or shut up.
       A bipartisan coalition in Congress has proposed legislation 
     to protect gays against job discrimination. Congress is 
     waking up to a reality already recognized by a host of 
     Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, Marriott and General 
     Motors. These businesses have adopted policies prohibiting 
     discrimination based on sexual orientation because they 
     realize that their employees are their most important asset.
       America is now engaged in a battle to reduce the deficit 
     and to compete in a global economy. Job discrimination 
     excludes qualified individuals, lowers work-force 
     productivity and eventually hurts us all. Topping the new 
     world order means attracting the best and creating a 
     workplace environment where everyone can excel. Anything less 
     makes us a second-rate nation. It's not just bad--it's bad 
     business.
       But job discrimination against gays and lesbians is real, 
     and it happens every day. Cracker Barrel, a national 
     restaurant chain, adopted a policy of blatant discrimination 
     against employees suspected of being gay. Would anyone 
     tolerate policies prohibiting the hiring of African 
     Americans, Hispanics or women?
       Today, in corporate suites and factory warehouses, 
     qualified people live in fear of losing their livelihood for 
     reasons that have nothing to do with ability. In urban and 
     rural communities, hatred and fear force good people from 
     productive employment to the public dole--wasting their 
     talents and the taxpayers' money.
       Gays and lesbians are a part of every American family. They 
     should not be shortchanged in their efforts to better their 
     lives and serve their communities. As President Clinton likes 
     to say, ``If you work hard and play by the rules, you'll be 
     rewarded''--and not with a pink slip just for being gay.
       It's time America realized that there was no gay exemption 
     in the right to ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
     happiness'' in the Declaration of Independence. Job 
     discrimination against gays--or anybody else--is contrary to 
     each of these founding principles.
       Some will try to paint this as a liberal or religious 
     issue. I am a conservative Republican, but I believe in 
     democracy and the separation of church and state. The 
     conservative movement is founded on the simple tenet that 
     people have the right to live life as they please, as long as 
     they don't hurt anyone else in the process. No one has ever 
     shown me how being gay or lesbian harms anyone else. Even the 
     1992 Republican platform affirms the principle that ``bigotry 
     has no place in our society.''
       I am proud that the Republican Party has always stood for 
     individual rights and liberties. The positive role of limited 
     government has always been the defense of these fundamental 
     principles. Our party has led the way in the fight for 
     freedom and a free-market economy, a society where 
     competition and the Constitution matter--and sexual 
     orientation shouldn't.
       Now some in our ranks want to extinguish this torch. The 
     radical right has nearly ruined our party. Its members do not 
     care enough about the Constitution, and they are the ones 
     making all the noise. The party faithful must not let it 
     happen. Anybody who cares about real moral values understands 
     that this isn't about granting special rights--its about 
     protecting basic rights.
       It is for this reason that more than 100 mayors and 
     governors, Republicans and Democrats, have signed laws and 
     issued orders protecting gays and lesbians. In fact, nearly 
     half the states have provided some form of protection to gays 
     in employment. But of course many others have not, including 
     my own state of Arizona.
       It's not going to be easy getting Congress to provide job 
     protection for gays. I know that firsthand. The right wing 
     will rant and rave that the sky is falling. They've said that 
     before--and we're still here. Constitutional conservatives 
     know that doing the right thing takes guts and foresight, but 
     that's why we're elected, to make tough decisions that stand 
     the test of time.
       My former colleagues have a chance to stand with civil 
     rights leaders, the business community and the 74 percent of 
     Americans who polls show favor protecting gays and lesbians 
     from job discrimination. With their vote they can help 
     strengthen the American work ethic and support the principles 
     of the Constitution.

                          ____________________